JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — Seven members of rival conservative groups in the Missouri Baptist Convention will go to mediation in an effort to bring about peace within the battle-torn statewide group. The MBC Executive Board voted on April 15…
Opinion: Discipleship and the ‘outside world’
(ABP) — Quite by coincidence, I had just finished reading Carolyn Jessup's Escape when the news stories broke about the raids on the Texas ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints. The “escape” of the book's title is…
Sudanese Baptists reunite after years-long division
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — After years of division precipitated by one of history's deadliest civil wars, Sudanese Baptists have finally — like their nation — reunited. The reunification of the Sudan Interior Church North and the Sudan Interior Church…
N.C. college receives donation of 1686 Luther Bible translation
MARS HILL, N.C. (ABP) — Across the centuries, across the ocean, through bombings and world wars, a sacred bit of history has emerged from the distant past to find a home at Mars Hill College. The North Carolina Baptist school…
Texas church, mired in controversy over gays in directory, loses pastor
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) – Brett Younger, pastor of Broadway Baptist Church index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=113 Fort Worth, Texas, survived a vote to fire him last month but is leavindex.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=113g the church anyway – to become associate professor of preachindex.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=113g at Mercer University's…
Pope, in first visit to United States, praises freedom, dings secularism
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In his first visit to the United States since ascending to the Throne of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI hailed America’s religious freedom and pluralism while simultaneously denouncing secularism’s influence. The pontiff’s tour of the United States…
ABP honors Texas convention, announces $100,000 challenge
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Directors of Associated Baptist Press honored the Baptist General Convention of Texas and announced a $100,000 matching-funds challenge from a Texas Baptist family during their semi-annual meeting, held April 14-15 in San Antonio. “Every year, since…
Delayed life choices demand new strategies, scholar insists
PRINCETON, N.J. (RNS) — As increasing numbers of young people postpone marriage and children, other life choices — like returning to church — are affected as well, according to a leading scholar of American Protestantism. As a result, Princeton Univer-sity's…
Theologian urges greater sensitivity to suicide
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) — Churches can be a major factor in preventing suicide if they are willing to learn about the problem and reach out with compassion, said a theologian who specializes in pastoral care related to suicide. “People who…
Some Jews ‘uneasy’ with high-profile Christian allies
WASHINGTON (RNS) — In recent years, conservative Christians have emerged as some of the most vocal supporters of the state of Israel — support many Jewish groups have welcomed at a time when they feel Israel is under siege. One…
FAITH DIGEST
Most ministries submit materials to Grassley. Two-thirds of the prominent ministries Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is investigating are cooperating with requests to provide financial information. Bishop Eddie Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., said it will provide…
Virginia author interprets Anne Frank in poem
CHESAPEAKE — One might wonder why a Christian woman in Virginia would feel compelled to write a book of poetry about a little European Jewish girl who died more than half a century earlier. “I've even had Jewish people ask…