WASHINGTON (ABP) — In his speech on the last day of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's annual meeting, Daniel Vestal stressed the historical tradition of Baptists to champion freedom — a tradition rooted in a biblical idea, he said. As an…
American Baptists observe centennial, Baptist unity at quiet biennial meeting
WASHINGTON (ABP) — American Baptists both observed and made history during an otherwise-quiet biennial meeting June 28-July 2 in Washington. Delegates and guests of the American Baptist Churches USA's largest national gathering celebrated their centennial as a denomination and observed…
In commissioning service, Fellowship sends 18 missionaries, some jointly with ABC
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In a duo of historic commissioning services held June 28 and 29 in Washington, supporters of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship sent 18 new missionaries and field personnel for service in the United States and abroad. Sixteen of…
Gospel music from Baptists pulls big crowds in Japan
TOKYO (ABP) — Thanks to a Japanese fascination with gospel music — inspired in part by the Sister Act movies — churches in the United States have started offering gospel concerts and classes in Japan as ways to reach others….
Opinion: ‘Historical amnesia’ and the Christian creeds
Professor Walter Shurden has commented recently on the diverse dangers arising for what he terms the “historical amnesia” of the Baptist people. Foremost among these dangers he places the movement “from a Christ-centered to a creed-centered faith.” The substitution of…
Joint meeting of American Baptists, CBF models newfound cooperation
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Worship infused with music and missions, cooperation and communion, and doses of laughter marked a historic reunion of Baptists June 29 in the nation's capital city. The American Baptist Churches USA and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship held…
CBF to consider endorsing UN’s goals for fighting poverty, hunger, disease
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship took the first step June 29 toward joining the United Nations' campaign against global poverty and disease, called the Millennium Development Goals. In a break from business as usual during the Fellowship's national…
At BJC event, historian Ballmer seeks America’s ‘true Baptists’
WASHINGTON (ABP) — One of the most prominent historians of American evangelicalism called on “true Baptists” June 29 to re-assert their prophetic role “as watchmen on the wall of separation between church and state.” Randall Ballmer, a history professor at…
CBF event: American Baptists, new moderator, U.N. development goals
WASHINGTON (ABP) — More than 2,500 Baptists gathered June 28-29 for the annual Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Washington. For the first time, it featured a joint gathering with the American Baptist Churches USA. The service in Washington's convention center marked…
CBF moderator McCall says God’s covenant gives Christians responsibility
WASHINGTON (ABP) — God's covenant with Christians “places the responsibility for being the presence of Christ squarely on our shoulders,” Emmanuel McCall told participants at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship general assembly June 28. God is a covenant-keeping God, insisted McCall,…
Baptist sex-traffic mission worker urges others to ‘show up’ for ministry
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The key to ministry in Jesus' name — even in difficult and dangerous places — is to “show up,” Lauran Bethell told participants in the William H. Whitsitt Baptist Heritage Society annual meeting. Bethell, an American Baptist…
CBF panelists urge Baptists to see ‘humanity’ of AIDS crisis
WASHINGTON (ABP) — AIDS asks one question: Are you human? That's what Genie Hargrove told participants in a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship panel discussion on HIV/AIDS. Churches must see the humanity behind the crisis, she said. Hargrove, pastor of Beulah Baptist…