WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Senate stalemate over the Iraq war claimed another victim July 18: a hate-crimes statute that supporters had hoped to attach to a defense bill. But although the attempt to add gender, sexual orientation and disability to…
‘Let the little children come — to worship
An increasing number of churches offer separate worship services for children, but that may not be what is best for either the children or the church, many children's ministry professionals agree. The faith formation of children is greatly enhanced by…
Court affirms religious obligation in case pitting sacred vs. secular
AUSTIN, Texas (RNS)—The Texas Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a suit brought by a former member of a Fort Worth church who accused her pastor of violating her confidentiality. The case centered on questions of what roles civil courts should have…
Affluent pastors use wealth differently: some give back, others buy yachts
DALLAS (ABP) — There's a rare breed of creature often spotted in exotic locations leading a large pack. No, it's not a yellow-tailed wooly monkey. It's a wealthy pastor, and its very existence is controversial. Success in many professions is…
Effective children’s ministry more than numbers
An effective children's ministry is more than an appendage to a congregation's programming: It's an integral part of a church's mission and vision, children's ministry leaders say. Although it's tempting to evaluate the success of children's ministry only by the…
Urban population crunch prompts crowds in church
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Predictions that increased urbanization around the world would lead to a more secularized society are un-founded, and in fact the opposite may be true, according to a new report from the United Nations Population Fund. “Rapid urbanization was expected…
Baptist churches on ‘influential’ list
NEW YORK (ABP) — Two of the top 10 most influential churches in America are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, according to a recent magazine report. The SBC-affiliated Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and Fellowship Church in Grapevine,…
Baylor gets $4M estate gift to benefit religion department
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University announced June 20 an approximately $4 million gift from the estate of Allene Hubler, which will establish an endowed chair, an endowed professorship and an endowed scholarship in Baylor's religion department. Hubler's gift will…
Collaborative blog wins endorsements from top Southern Baptist leaders
NEW YORK (ABP) — In a ringing show of support, several prominent Baptist leaders have publicly endorsed a groundbreaking blog operated by reform-minded pastors within the Southern Baptist Convention. The endorsers include the presidents of three SBC entities and a…
Gay-friendly Baptist groups excluded from New Baptist Covenant event
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — The organization sponsoring an upcoming historic pan-Baptist gathering has told two gay-friendly Baptist groups they cannot participate in an official capacity. The North American Baptist Fellowship, under whose auspices next year's “Celebration of a New…
Church corruption, questionable gifts live on, long after Bakker scandal
DALLAS (ABP) — For some, Tammy Faye Messner's death July 20 stirred fond memories of a joyful Christian TV personality, and for others, painful memories of the sex-and-money scandal that destroyed her former husband's popular Christian television network. Her death…
Baugh family challenge nets BJC nearly $1.2 million in two weeks
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Texas Baptist family's spontaneous challenge to jump-start a Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty capital campaign netted the organization nearly $1.2 million dollars in just a couple of weeks. Brent Walker, executive director of the Washington-based…