Religious hate crimes dropped last year. Hate crimes directed against people on the basis of religion decreased in 2007, according to the FBI. In 2006, the FBI reported 1,597 hate crimes motivated by a religious bias. That figure dropped to…
All churches urged to participate in the Annual Church Profile
Each year through the Annual Church Profile (ACP) process, Virginia Baptist churches submit important data, including information about church leadership, membership, finances, baptisms, Sunday school, discipleship, missions and Vacation Bible School. The ACP is a statistical testimony to the work…
Baptist leaders from Russia, Georgia seek reconciliation
KIEV, Ukraine (ABP) — Baptist leaders from Russia and Georgia met Oct. 30 in Kiev to pursue improved relations between Baptists in the two countries, marred by war earlier this year. Representatives of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia and…
Azerbaijani pastor’s trial delayed, attorney cries foul
The long-awaited trial of an Azerbaijani Baptist pastor arrested in June has had another delay. Hamid Shabanov, 52, was supposed to stand trial Oct. 31 on what supporters say are bogus weapons charges. But his family and lawyer told the…
Baptist World Aid seeks funds for Congo
FALLS CHURCH (ABP) — The head of an international Baptist relief agency has sent out an urgent fundraising appeal to ease the suffering of victims of civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just back from a conference in…
Equality Riders arrested at Union University
JACKSON, Tenn. (ABP) — Three Christian gay-rights activists were arrested Nov. 10 on the campus of Southern Baptist-affiliated Union University. The arrests occurred during the next-to-last stop on the 2008 Equality Ride, an outreach bus tour of 15 religious schools…
Equality Riders arrested
at Union University
JACKSON, Tenn. (ABP) — Three Christian gay-rights activists were arrested Nov. 10 on the campus of Southern Baptist-affiliated Union University. The arrests occurred during the next-to-last stop on the 2008 Equality Ride, an outreach bus tour of 15 religious schools…
Texas Baptists elect Lowrie,
defer name-change proposal
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas elevated to its highest office the son of a former president, deferred action on a proposed name change and approved a reduced budget for 2009 at its most sparsely…
Baptist churches in Texas, California
draw gay-rights supporters’ protests
DALLAS (ABP) — About 100 people stood outside First Baptist Church of Dallas Nov. 9 to protest a sermon publicized on the church marquee with the title, “Why gay is not OK.” “To say in today’s culture that homosexuality is…
Baptist youth minister charged with child pornography
MONROE, Conn. (ABP) — An American Baptist youth minister in Connecticut was arrested on child-pornography charges after a nude photo of a 15-year-old girl he was counseling was found on his church computer. David Esarey, 30, was arraigned Nov. 5…
Dobson claims Obama election
sets pro-lifers back severely
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (ABP) — Focus on the Family founder James Dobson said Nov. 6 that Barack Obama’s election could set America’s pro-life movement back 35 years. In the first of a two-part broadcast on his radio show, Dobson admitted…
Black Baptist leaders: Obama win
moves us closer to King’s dream
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Black Baptist leaders said Barack Obama’s election as the first African-American president of the United States does not mean Martin Luther King’s dream of racial justice has been fully realized — but it’s a lot closer…