RICHMOND — For more than 200 years, since the establishment of the nation during the Revolutionary War, chaplains have provided spiritual nourishment to American soldiers in battle. In recent decades, they've worked in an increasingly treacherous environment, in order to…
Author, at ‘post-partisan’ event, says churches must develop pluralism
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sharing, responsibility and teamwork figured prominently into Eboo Patel's speech June 27 at the New American Foundation. Patel, executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, wasn't teaching proper playground etiquette; he was discussing the importance of establishing…
The legacy of Miss Lu
Lucretia O. Litchfield of Petersburg died a wealthy woman on June 14. She was rich beyond measure in the values that make life sparkle, in the relationships that make life worthwhile, and in the years which made her life long…
Analysis: Courts only slightly less open to church-state suits after Hein case
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Church-state experts said the Supreme Court, in a June 25 decision that limited taxpayers' ability to sue the government over violations of religious freedom, didn't go as far as it could have. However, they agreed, the ruling…
EDITORIAL: SBC reflections
As I returned home from the Southern Baptist Convention, I brought with me three overriding perceptions. First, I was shocked that only 8,618 messengers gathered for the Southern Baptist Convention—and that only 331 Virginians from both the BGAV and the…
CBF leaders endorse Baptist Covenant as aligned with group’s ‘core values’
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABP) — Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship endorsed the New Baptist Covenant June 27, saying the mission of the diverse Covenant coalition is consistent with the Fellowship's core values. The New Baptist Covenant, launched by former president…
Pulpit politics run risk for churches
DALLAS (ABP) — Churches engaged in partisan politics risk losing not only their tax-exempt status, but also their credibility, several experts in church-state relations agree. Churches and religious organizations—like other IRS 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations—are free to speak out on…
‘Red-letter Christians’ a growing political force
NEW YORK (ABP) — In what is shaping up to be a faith-filled race for the presidency, Republican and Democratic candidates have pulled out all the stops — hiring religion gurus, conscientiously attending church, discussing the intimate details of their…
Review: Killer of Sheep provides thoughtful contrast to summer blockbuster fare
(ABP) — With Spidey swinging across one screen and pirate Jack Sparrow swaggering across another, moviegoers searching for substance this summer have another option. Into the box-office bluster comes Killer of Sheep, a gentle — and thoughtfully moral — look…
Mercer, medical center establish 4-year med program in Savannah
SAVANNAH, Ga. (ABP) — A Baptist university in Georgia and a Savannah hospital plan to expand an existing joint clinical program into a four-year medical program. Mercer University, based in Macon, already operates Mercer School of Medicine and two teaching…
Correction
The third paragraph of the June 25 ABP story, “High court decision in 'bong hits' case concerns religious leaders,” should be changed to read: “But school officials' suppression of the banner's speech also concerned the American Civil Liberties Union, the…
Southern Baptists in California create competing state convention
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (ABP) — Southern Baptists in California have started a new alternative state convention that will compete with the 67-year-old California Southern Baptist Convention for denominational loyalty. California is the fourth state to witness such a move, joining…