SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention rejected scientific claims that humans are to blame for global warming and dismissed the governmental efforts to reverse it. Messengers to the annual SBC meeting also stood by their resolution committee's decision…
At Washington rally, Christians join libertarians in protesting torture
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Thousand of Christians and other activists withstood Washington's oppressive summer heat June 26 to rally against torture, indefinite imprisonment and other tactics the United States has used in the war against terrorism. “Jesus not only commanded but…
Youth Encounter 2007: A year of transformation
RICHMOND — With transformation as its theme, Virginia Baptists' 20-year-old Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) has been transformed and is now Youth EnCounter 2007. The new YEC features a new name, new location, new schedule and more quality programming to transform…
Women in ministry report highlights progress, obstacles simultaneously
WASHINGTON (ABP) — While moderate and progressive Baptists continue to grow in their theoretical support for women as pastors, their churches remain far behind in practice. That's one conclusion from the second annual “State of Women in Baptist Life” report,…
Charlottesville pastor receives Bronze Star for meritorious service as Army chaplain
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…