NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Several groups within the United Methodist Church have responded to Israel's clampdown on the Gaza Strip by urging divestment in companies that do business with Israel and publishing media critical of the Jewish state. The United…
Kidnapped in Guatemala: Mission trip turns harrowing
It was dark, and they were running behind schedule due to road construction in Guatemala City, but little did a group of eight mission-minded Christians from Grace Baptist Church in Halifax know that would be the least of their worries…
Human rights activists urge pressure on China
(BP) — A group of 26 prominent human rights activists have signed an open letter urging the international community to exert pressure on the People's Republic of China to improve its human rights practices before the Summer Olympics open in…
Opinion: The utilitarian temptation
A few weeks ago, I was reminded in a news article that Judge Paul Pressler had actually said, at the beginning of the Southern Baptist controversy, that his side must “go for the jugular.” This is an image of slaying…
British Baptist leader to head U.S. seminary
CHICAGO (ABP) — The head of British Baptists' mission agency will become the head of an American Baptist seminary, according to the Baptist World Alliance. Alistair Brown, general director of BMS World Mission since 1996, has been selected to be…
Jim Smith named CBF head of global-missions field teams
ATLANTA (ABP) — Jim Smith has been named the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's director of field team ministries for CBF global missions. The position was previously held by Jack Snell, who died in October after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer….
Pastor’s role in Obama campaign spotlights race, pulpit freedom
WASHINGTON (ABP) — While the political consequences of Sen. Barack Obama's March 18 speech on race have occupied much of the chatter on cable-news channels, the whole episode is noteworthy for another reason, according to experts in religion and politics….
IRS scrutiny of Obama’s denomination may signal political-speech crackdown
WASHINGTON (ABP) — What is the IRS thinking? That's the question that many church-state experts asked themselves when news broke in late February about the Internal Revenue Service's investigation of Sen. Barack Obama's denomination. By all accounts, this is the…
Prominent music minister faces molestation charges
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — An Alabama music minister prominent in moderate Baptist life has been charged with sexual abuse of a minor while he was employed in an earlier position in Maryland. Tim Mann, who has been minister of music…
Nabors resigns as BGCT chief financial officer
DALLAS (ABP) — David Nabors has resigned as treasurer and chief financial officer of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The resignation will become effective April 15. “We needed a change as it relates to the coming of a new…
IABCU taps Tenn. Baptist educator for top post
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Board members of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities have elected Michael Arrington, provost of Carson-Newman College, as executive director. The position became effective March 1. Arrington, 62, succeeds Thomas Corts, who in September…
Musings on a new Southern Baptist declaration on climate change
The question before all Christians at all times is whether we will follow Jesus by seeking wholeheartedly to do God's will. Too often in American Christian/evangelical/Baptist life we have allowed ourselves to displace our loyalty to Jesus Christ and replace…