TRENTON, N.J. (ABP) – In what could become the biggest legislative victory for opponents of capital punishment, the New Jersey Senate voted Dec. 10 to repeal that state's death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment. The chamber voted 21-16…
Huckabee’s surge in polls brings new media attention, scrutiny
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Mike Huckabee has gone from long-shot candidate to serious GOP presidential contender in only a few weeks — and his media coverage has gone from curious bemusement to serious analysis of his past record. The result is…
Church leaders seek clarity about split between CBF, ABC benefits plans
ATLANTA (ABP) — A seven-year partnership between American Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which has allowed CBF-related churches to buy retirement and medical benefits, will end Dec. 31. The end of the partnership is leaving some church leaders confused…
Opinion: Why are Christians ignoring the ultimate moral-values issue?
The data is in: Global warming is becoming the ultimate moral-values issue. Both religious and political leaders must mobilize immediately to address it. No society is more reluctant to accept these two claims than the United States. No religious community…
Did Romney speech do enough to keep evangelicals from bolting to Huckabee?
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Mitt Romney's Dec. 6 speech on faith and public affairs elicited both praise and criticism from a broad spectrum of observers, but it may not have sealed the much-coveted support of evangelical Christians. The highly anticipated speech…
Romney claims no candidate should be faith’s spokesman
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (ABP) — People of faith who value religious liberty “have a friend and an ally in me,” but promoters of the “religion of secularism” who want to strip religious references from the public square do not, said…
Samford names business school after banker, supporter Brock
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) – One of the nation's largest Baptist universities has named its business school after a local banker who is a longtime supporter. Samford University has named its business school after Harry Brock, the retired chairman and chief…
Out Loud
“A headline last Sunday about a Muslim man and an Orthodox woman who are partners in two Dunkin' Donuts stores described their religions incorrectly. The two faiths worship the same God — not different ones.” The New York Times The…
New Baptist Covenant preach-in features Forbes, other notables
ATLANTA (ABP) — A miniature preaching festival within next year's Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant will feature one of the nation's most famous preachers among a group that is broadly diverse in terms of ethnic background, gender, denominational affiliation…
Conservative Christians show growing acceptance of divorce
WASHINGTON (RNS)—When Pentecostal power couple Randy and Paula White recently announced they were headed to divorce court, the most remarkable part of the reaction was that there wasn't much reaction at all among their supporters. For increasing numbers of clergy,…
State resolutions focus on alcohol, gambling, homosexuality, abuse
WASHINTON (ABP) — The pleasures of the flesh — specifically liquor and sex — were among the most popular subjects of resolutions passed by Southern Baptist-affiliated state conventions this fall. Although many state conventions avoided resolutions on controversial issues of…
Groups say hunger stats, food prices up
WASHINGTON (RNS)—While millions of Americans stock their kitchens for holiday feasts, many groups are concerned about people who will go hungry during the festive season—and in the weeks and months to come. Inflation has made food more expensive, making it…