They came. They saw. They gifted. That's about all we know of the foreign visitors who traveled to Bethlehem to see the infant Jesus. The scene ingrained in the public imagination — a stately procession of three kings in turbans,…
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…
Longtime Baptist statesman Wayne Dehoney dies at 89
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Former Southern Baptist Convention president Wayne Dehoney, longtime pastor of Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., died Nov. 15. He was 89. Dehoney, who served at Walnut Street from 1967 to 1985, was SBC president…
Need help understanding the Old Testament? Ask an African Christian
SAN DIEGO (ABP)—African Christians tend to understand and appreciate the Old Testament far better than their Western counterparts, author Philip Jenkins told a group of evangelical scholars. Jenkins, a professor of religious studies and history at Pennsylvania State University, spoke…
Child killed in Mexico after accident with Baptist volunteers
DALLAS (ABP) — A Baptist team of volunteers on their way to feed flood victims in Southern Mexico accidentally killed a child in a traffic accident Nov. 15. Members of Texas Baptist Men, a men's missions organization, were driving through…
Diverse group of Christians seeks better relationship with Muslims
WASHINGTON (RNS)—A wide range of Christian theologians and leaders have endorsed a document calling for increased efforts to work with Muslims for peace and justice. The move responds to an earlier call from Muslim leaders seeking common ground. The new…
Hillary Clinton pays a call on Rick Warren’s conference on HIV/AIDS
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (RNS) — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., reached out to conservative Christians on Nov. 29 at a church-run AIDS conference where the presidential candidate fused her faith with the event's push to combat HIV and AIDS. “It's…
FAITH DIGEST
Christian groups commit to cooperation. More than 240 Christian leaders said they left an international summit in Kenya committed to building closer ties among the world's Christian denominations. The Global Christian Forum, meeting near Nairobi, brought together Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox,…