RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — A high-ranking Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board employee resigned May 5 because he disagrees with policies governing missionary qualifications. Rodney Hammer, IMB's regional leader for Central and Eastern Europe, cited disagreement with policies disallowing missionary…
UPDATE: Texas court rules against seizure of polygamist sect’s children
SAN ANGELO, Texas (ABP) — The state of Texas had no right to remove some — if not all — of the more than 460 children taken from their polygamist parents, a state appeals court ruled May 22. It was…
McCain rejects Hagee’s endorsement over televangelist’s Hitler comments
(ABP) — After months of pressure to reject the endorsement of conservative televangelist John Hagee, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain finally did so May 22 after the preacher’s views on Hitler raised new controversy. In a decade-old sermon, reported…
Prestonwood minister resigns after arrest in online sex sting
DALLAS (ABP) — An associate minister at a Dallas megachurch was arrested in Bryan, Texas, while trying to meet face to face with a “teen” he met online. A minister to adults at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Joe Barron, 52, of…
American Baptists launch fund to battle global food crisis
VALLEY FORGE, Penn. (ABP) — American Baptist Churches USA has launched a fund drive to provide money to help ministry partners in poor areas deal with the rising costs of basic foodstuffs. ABC International Ministries started the Global Crisis Food…
American Baptists launch fund to battle global food crisis
VALLEY FORGE, Penn. (ABP) — American Baptist Churches USA has launched a fund drive to provide money to help ministry partners in poor areas deal with the rising costs of basic foodstuffs. ABC International Ministries started the Global Crisis Food…
British Baptists to go to Jamaica with apology for slave trade
DIDCOT, England (ABP) — A delegation of British Baptists is set to apologize, in person, to Jamaican Baptists for the trans-Atlantic slave trade. During a May 22-29 stay, the delegation plans to meet with Jamaican Baptists and worship in their…
Baptists continue to respond as tolls rise in China, Myanmar
(ABP) — Baptists continue to mobilize supplies and prayer in an effort to minister to victims of natural disasters in China and Myanmar. Latest news reports May 19 indicated the death toll in China had risen to 34,000, with 220,000…
Wiley Drake cleared in IRS probe, but vows further endorsement
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Southern Baptist pastor-personality Wiley Drake did not violate tax law by using his church's letterhead or his radio show to endorse Mike Huckabee, he announced May 18. Drake, pastor of the 75-member First Southern Baptist Church in…
Baptists, other Christians already in China beat limits on foreign help
WASHINGTON (ABP)—While China has accepted a very limited number of foreign-aid workers in the wake of the disastrous earthquake that devastated much of Sichuan province, Baptists and other Christians from the United States already were situated to help. According to…
Iraq status reportedly divides panel on religious freedom
WASHINGTON (ABP)—An independent, nonpartisan federal panel’s failure to issue a recommendation to the State Department about Iraq reportedly is due to political division. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report and recommendations in early May….
Baylor President John Lilley’s future in doubt after meeting
WACO, Texas (ABP) — John Lilley may be the latest endangered leader at the world's largest Baptist school, according to reports in the local newspaper. The Waco Tribune-Herald reported May 17 that Baylor University leaders declined to discuss whether the…