(RNS) Without the approval of the governor, the state of South Carolina will now permit drivers to put “I Believe” license plates on their vehicles. The legislation, which passed unanimously by the General Assembly on May 22, calls for the…
SBC officials reject idea of sex-offender database
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — Citing Baptists' “belief in the autonomy of each local church,” a Southern Baptist Convention official announced May 10 that the denomination's Executive Committee would not support the creation of a database of sexual offenders in SBC churches….
SBC business items include bids to re-join BWA, oust churches
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention will consider rejoining the Baptist World Alliance, removing churches that hire women pastors and restricting agency heads from serving as SBC president. Messengers presented those and 20 other motions during the SBC annual…
Volunteers in missions: Short-term workers make long-term impact
COLUMBIA, Mo. (ABP) — Kevin and Naomi Scantlan of Columbia, Mo. feel called to international missions. But as integrated technology services analysts at University of Missouri Health Care and church lay leaders, committing to years abroad really isn't feasible. That's…
Baptists to have place to worship, baptize near historic Jordanian site
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptist visitors to Jordan will soon have a place to worship near the historic spot traditionally viewed as the site of Jesus' baptism. King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of Jordan has conveyed a plot of land…
Volunteers in missions: Texas church’s reach extends to Macedonia’s families
PRIDDY, Texas (ABP) — Their church building may be small and unassuming, but members of one tiny Texas church are making a powerful impact on children living in the ghetto of Skojpe, Macedonia. A few years ago, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship…
God uses broken vessels, pastors are assured
INDIANAPOLIS—God calls and uses broken people for his service, participants at the Monday morning session of the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference learned. Brokenness is “the recognition of our shattered pride without a need to glue it back together again,” said…
Establishment candidate Johnny Hunt wins SBC presidency on 1st ballot
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) – Atlanta-area pastor Johnny Hunt was elected Southern Baptist Convention president over five contenders on the first ballot June 10, returning control of the 16 million-member denomination to its fundamentalist establishment. On the first day of the 2008…
Author/Journalist Christine Wicker to speak at ABP banquet
Last chance for the reduced price! Christine Wicker, author of the new book The Fall of the Evangelical Nation and former religion reporter for the Dallas Morning News, will speak during the Annual Associated Baptist Press Dinner at the CBF…
Keynote speaker Lauran Bethell before gathered Fellowship Baptists
Baptists aid displaced migrant workers in South Africa
WASHINGTON—Baptists in South Africa have come to the aid of refugees displaced by ethnic violence. More than 60 immigrants have been killed and about 700 injured in violence that erupted in Johannesburg, Cape Town and other cities in recent weeks….