ACCRA, Ghana (ABP)—Representatives attending the Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering in Accra, Ghana, celebrated freedom during a plenary session July 4. BWA President David Coffey of England noted the near-concurrence of America's Independence Day, Ghana's Republic Day (July 1), and…
Mission Board awards 58 scholarships
The ministerial education committee of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board awarded 58 scholarships to ministerial-seeking students for the 2007-2008 academic year. These recipients represent 50 Baptist General Association of Virginia churches, six colleges and six seminaries. Preparing emerging leaders for…
BWA promotes unity theme during meeting
ACCRA, Ghana – “Mu, mu, mu!” they sang—“Well done, well done, well done!” The Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering got off to a rousing start July 2 as more than 500 participants joined a choir from Calvary Baptist Church in…
EDITORIAL: The new slave trade
If I had ever learned of the Cape Coast Castle and Dungeon on what was then called the Gold Coast of Africa, I didn't remember it long after the exam. So when I arrived at the castle with 10 busloads…
CBF governing council endorses New Baptist Covenant
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABP)—Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship endorsed the New Baptist Covenant, saying the mission of the diverse Covenant coalition is consistent with the Fellowship's core values. The New Baptist Covenant, launched by former president and Baptist layman Jimmy…
Opinion: 17 rules for Christian engagement in politics
It's election season again. Actually, it never ceases to be election season in our politics-obsessed culture — and in politics-obsessed evangelical America. I have been thinking a lot about the intersection of evangelicals and politics. In a new book coming…
Gushee appointed professor of Christian ethics at Mercer
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — David Gushee, a Baptist theologian and author, has been named to the position of distinguished university professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University. Gushee currently serves as a professor of philosophy at Union University in Jackson,…
Pulitzer-winning Baptist cartoonist Marlette dies in Miss. car accident
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. (ABP) — Doug Marlette, whose editorial cartoons often lampooned fundamentalist religion but whose folksy comic strip celebrated a rural Southern Baptist pastor, was killed in an automobile accident July 10. He was 57. The Pulitzer Prize winner,…
Criticism of Southwestern homemaking courses angers professor, radio host
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Recent criticism of a “cookie-making” degree at a Southern Baptist seminary has brought some homemakers out swinging, calling the critics “pitiful” and “sanctimonious liberals.” The tiff emerged after a June 18 guest opinion piece by…
Philanthropic Texas Baptist family issues challenge for BJC campaign
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A prominent family of Texas Baptist philanthropists has given a big boost — and a challenge — to the campaign to create a permanent home for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. BJC Executive Director Brent…
The Great Commission: Churches increasingly become mission-senders
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — While Baptist missiologists are declaring church-based missions the future of global outreach, some pastors are saying it is already here. Although evidence is largely anecdotal, many Baptists believe church work overseas without the help of mission…
The Great Commission: Back to basics as missionaries raise own support
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — Career missionaries have started to cut out the middleman when it comes to generating money, they say. And while denominational agencies and mission partners will not be left completely out of the picture, their roles…