PORTLAND, Ore. (ABP)—A federal appeals court ruled a Washington state high school is not required to charter a Bible club, since the club allows only Christians to be full members. In Truth v. Kent Public School District, a unanimous three-judge…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for September 20, 2007
STAFF CHANGES • Stephen J. Crane, to Poplar Springs Church, Richmond, as senior pastor. • Michael Sampson, to Cowans Branch Church, Gate City, as pastor. He had been serving as interim pastor. • Mark Holland, to Bethlehem Church, Penick Road,…
Book reveals Mother Teresa’s prolonged ‘dark night of the soul’
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Ten years after her death, a new book of Mother Teresa's personal letters illustrates a profound and private spiritual struggle—much of it unknown to the world that would come to admire her for her work with the poor and…
Divided Maryland high court rules against gay marriage
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (ABP) — Maryland's highest court has delivered the latest blow to supporters of same-sex marriage rights, narrowly ruling that the Maryland Constitution does not confer upon gays the right to marry each other. A sharply divided Maryland Court…
McCain’s claim of Baptist identity raises reporter, blogger queries
WASHINGTON (ABP) — GOP presidential candidate John McCain is raising questions about his religious affiliation with a comment he made Sept. 16 at a campaign stop in heavily Baptist South Carolina. The Arizona senator, according to the Associated Press, answered…
Southern Baptist pastor in California charged with sexually abusing two girls
FRESNO, Calif. (ABP) — Another Southern Baptist pastor has been charged with child molestation. Police arrested John Bonine, pastor of Sierra Heights Baptist Church in Fresno, Calif., at his home Aug. 10. The 43-year-old father of eight is accused of…
Southern Baptist pastor in California charged with sexually abusing two girls
FRESNO, Calif. (ABP) — Another Southern Baptist pastor has been charged with child molestation. Police arrested John Bonine, pastor of Sierra Heights Baptist Church in Fresno, Calif., at his home Aug. 10. The 43-year-old father of eight is accused of…
Hearing the Call: Congregations strive to create a culture of calling
(ABP) — Hearing God's call to vocational service may not be as easy in a Baptist church as it once was, but some congregations are determined to change that. Once upon a time, a public invitation at the close of…
Hearing the Call: Congregations strive to create a culture of calling
(ABP) — Hearing God's call to vocational service may not be as easy in a Baptist church as it once was, but some congregations are determined to change that. Once upon a time, a public invitation at the close of…
Missouri Baptist conference center wins latest round in legal battle
JEFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — Windermere Baptist Conference Center will not face a trial this year in its continuing legal battle with the Missouri Baptist Convention, thanks to a judge's ruling. The decision is a victory for the center, encouraging…
U.S. Attorney’s Office refutes rumors about Texas church-start scandal
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ABP) — Contrary to an Internet blogger's assertions, all documents pertaining to a probe into misappropriated Texas Baptist church-starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley have been turned over to federal authorities, a high-ranking official in the U.S….
Thompson: not regular churchgoer, won’t talk frequently about faith
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Although the newest GOP presidential candidate is gaining lots of positive attention from the leaders of the Religious Right, he is not involved in a local church and says he won't talk much about his faith on…