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…
Correction
In the Nov. 19 ABP story “Critics: Doctrinal standard leaves evangelical society ‘exposed',” please change the 23rd paragraph to the following: “So far, Beckwith, who is no longer a member of the society, has not commented publicly on the proposed…
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…
Some denounce Florida Baptist move requiring teetotaling from leaders
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (ABP) – Baptist critics are calling the Florida Baptist Convention's move to require alcohol abstinence from members of its boards and committees misguided. The new measure was easily approved by the 1,258 messengers attending the annual meeting,…
Workers bring clean water, love of Christ to Ethiopia
ATLANTA (ABP) — Nearly 75 percent of Ethiopians — about 55 million people — don't have access to clean water. And according to missionary workers there, it's a crisis not discussed often enough. Many Ethiopians are forced to drink from…