WASHINGTON (BWA) — The European Baptist Federation, with the generous help of mission partners, has developed a mission project to facilitate evangelism and the planting of new Baptist churches in Europe and the Middle East. The Indigenous Mission Project, one…
Survey reveals lack of knowledge about First Amendment rights
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…
California Baptists adopt budget, reject bill related to Baptist Faith and Message
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (ABP) — Messengers to the California Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov. 13-14 adopted an $11.6 million budget, turned down a constitutional amendment related to the Baptist Faith and Message and re-elected the body's president. “Connecting to…
Opinion: Getting past reaction in shaping the Baptist future
One of the enduring tendencies in human life is reaction. Unhappy with the prevailing tendencies of a person or group we oppose, especially in situations of sharp conflict, we swing sharply in the other direction. Oftentimes when we do so…
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…
Georgia Baptist resolution criticizes Baptist blogs
AUGUSTA, Ga. (ABP) — Georgia Baptists approved a record budget and a controversial resolution against blogging during their annual meeting Nov. 12-13. Gathering in Augusta, more than 1,400 messengers attended the Georgia Baptist Convention meeting, themed “Back to the Basics.”…
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…
Mississippi Baptists enjoy peaceful annual meeting
JACKSON, Miss. (ABP) — Messengers to the 2007 annual meeting of the Mississippi Baptist Convention elected a president by acclamation for the fifth year in a row and adopted a record budget Oct. 30-31. Meeting at First Baptist Church of…
Oklahoma Baptists vow to continue ministering to illegal immigrants
MOORE, Okla. (ABP) — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Nov. 12-13 passed a resolution emphasizing non-discriminating ministry to illegal immigrants and adopted a record budget of $24.6 million. “Finishing the Task” was the…