WASHINGTON — Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the Founding Fathers meant for the United States to be a Christian nation, and more than half believe the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation, a national survey revealed. The survey also showed…
Who’s an evangelical? Question looms over annual meeting of scholars, theologians in ETS
SAN DIEGO (ABP) — As hundreds of scholars, pastors and theologians gathered Nov. 14 for the opening day of the 59th annual conference of the Evangelical Theological Society, a question loomed over their heads: How narrowly to define who qualifies…
Jezebel: Did the Bible’s bad girl get a bad rap?
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Few historical characters rival Jezebel for negative stereotypes. Today, “she's a household word for badness,” one scholar said. Culturally, she's portrayed as a brash, sexually provocative woman wearing too much make-up, another observed. So in her new…
Florida Baptists say alcohol disqualifies leaders from service
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — Only teetotalers will be allowed to serve as trustees of the Florida Baptist Convention's agencies and boards, as a result of a vote at the convention's annual meeting. With no discussion and less than half…
FAITH DIGEST
Black Baptist prof told to choose college or church. Professor Denise Isom loves her work at Calvin College and her Grand Rapids church, Messiah Missionary Baptist. But her employer has told she must choose one or the other. The Calvin…
Finding the niche: Creative pastors finding ways to share gospel and reach communities for Christ
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) — Niche marketing is not just a business term. Creative pastors are finding ways to discover a niche to reach their communities for Christ. One pastor, Stan Wyant, discovered a niche in his community. In his state…
OUT LOUD
“We are not preaching any type of civil disobedience, we're just simply saying if someone comes to us and they're in need of food, they're in need of going to the doctor, we're not going to take the time to…
Southern Baptist TV network sold to Stanley’s Atlanta ministry
ATLANTA (RNS) — A Southern Baptist television network has been sold to the broadcast ministry of Atlanta pastor Charles Stanley. The president of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries, signed documents finalizing…
Dozens of BC students make spiritual decisions during emphasis week
BLUEFIELD — Nearly 50 Bluefield College students made new professions of faith, while an additional 40 to 50 students renewed their commitments to a relationship with Jesus Christ during the school's 16th annual Duremdes Christian Emphasis Week, Sept. 26-28. Since…
Moderates, conservatives each get mixed bag during Tennessee convention
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (ABP) — Neither an organized conservative group nor a coalition of moderates and unaligned conservatives were the clear-cut winners during the Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting, held Nov. 13-14 in Kingsport, Tenn. Messengers elected presidential and vice presidential…
Bluefield College to assist children of CBF missionaries
BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College will offer undergraduate tuition scholarships for children of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship global missions field personnel, it was announced last week. The school will offer an eight-semester scholarship for full-time study to field personnel dependents who meet…
N.C. Baptists cut WMU funding, loosen ties to colleges, retirement home
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — Messengers changed the face of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, loosening ties to its five colleges and retirement home, cutting funding to its women's auxiliary, and expelling a church that accepts gays in leadership…