AMARILLO, Texas (ABP) — Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting narrowly elected the state body's first female president and continued a two-decade string of officers endorsed by the moderate Texas Baptists Committed organization. Joy Fenner, a…
Texas Baptists introduce motion of ‘no confidence’ in board leaders
AMARILLO, Texas (ABP) — A motion expressing “no confidence” in the directors of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, as well as a competing motion objecting to it, were introduced during the Oct. 29 afternoon session at the group's annual…
Criswell’s cupids, Roman gods make waves at legendary auction house
NEW YORK (ABP) — Scantily clad nymphs attended by flower-bearing maidens. Strapping young gallants gently bending over lovers' bosoms. Frolicking cupids surrounded by doves and gilt-edged arrows. The mythological figurines are not exactly the kind of art you'd expect a…
Correction
CORRECTION: In the Oct. 16 ABP stosry “CBF council OKs UN anti-poverty goals, hears of year-end budget shortfall,” an error occurred in the wording about undesignated giving. Replace the 15th paragraph with the following: In budget matters, CBF leaders reported…
Tennessee church helps Katrina survivor with MS rebuild home, life
ATLANTA (ABP) — When Sonia St. Cyr survived Hurricane Katrina, she called it lucky. When she was flown out of the city during its aftermath, she called it unbelievable. But when she arrived at a Maryville, Tenn., evacuee shelter and…
Stumbling blocks
Some time back, I read about stumbling blocks and little ones and being thrown into Hell with a millstone around my neck, and got very frightened. So I cried out to God, to explain to me what a stumbling block…
Young people see Christians as judgmental, study shows
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Young people have graded Christianity, and so far, the report card doesn't look good. Majorities of American young people describe modern-day Christianity as judgmental, hypocritical and anti-homosexual. What's more, many Christians don't even want to call themselves “Christian” because…
Scholars say evangelicals and their votes are shifting
WASHINGTON (RNS)—The face of evangelicalism is changing, two authors at the Pew Research Center said, and with that change comes uncertainty about who evangelicals will vote for in next year's presidential election. Using the AIDS crisis as an example, Michael…
Same story, new language
Many scholars believe the church must bridge a divide before it can minister effectively in today's world. In a rapidly changing environment, they insist the church still speaks the language of pen and paper while the culture around it communicates…
Theology keeps Mormons from entering Christian mainstream
WASHINGTON (ABP)—While a Mormon presidential candidate continues to occupy a prominent place in the race for the White House, a recent study has found most Americans say they know little about the practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of…
Churches use podcasts as portable outreach tool
MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Little white headphones that began, about five years ago, revolutionizing the way Americans listen to music may also revolutionize the way they learn about God. Hundreds of churches and other Christian institutions are using podcasts or other easily downloadable…
Presidential hopefuls look to theologian Reinhold Niebuhr
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Thirty-six years after his death, Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr seems more alive than ever. Perhaps not since President Jimmy Carter acknowledged Niebuhr's influence during his 1976 campaign has his name been on the lips of so many politicians and…