ALBANY, N.Y. (ABP) — Legislators in Massachusetts crushed an attempt to reverse that state's stance on same-sex marriage June 14, while their counterparts in New York were poised June 19 to move forward with becoming the second state to legalize…
Police again seize Baptist church in Gaza during latest unrest
GAZA CITY, Palestine (ABP) — Palestinian police have seized a Baptist church in the Gaza Strip for the second time in recent months, the church's pastor said June 15. Hanna Massad, pastor of the Gaza Baptist Church, said Gaza's Baptists…
Baptist bloggers calling it quits, turning to other methods, ministry
(ABP) — The most prominent Baptist bloggers who led a two-year revolt against the Southern Baptist Convention establishment have abandoned their Internet-fueled campaign, but they insist they will continue the crusade for more openness in the SBC with other methods….
In historic move, First Baptist Decatur calls woman as senior pastor
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga., has become the largest church associated with the Southern Baptist Convention or the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to hire a woman as senior pastor. In a closed business session after Sunday…
Southern Baptists doubt human cause, government solution to global warming
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…
Mark Olson named president of Washington-area seminary
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — Trustees of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies have named Mark Olson, former pastor of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., as the second president of the Virginia school. Olson, who was unanimously elected,…
Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, dead at 87
MONTREAT, N.C. (ABP) — Ruth Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham, died June 14 at her home at Little Piney Cove in Montreat, N.C. She was 87. An author, philanthropist, Congressional Gold Medal winner and mother of five, Graham…
SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—Virginia Baptists’ Christian life committee to issue report on sex abus
RICHMOND — Virginia Baptist churches will have an additional resource to assist them in dealing with sex abuse in their congregations when a key committee releases a report this summer. The Baptist General Association of Virginia's Christian life committee will…
Virginia Baptist named to lead TLW expansion in Africa
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Virginia Baptist Sharon Pumpelly, who with her husband, Larry, spent 25 years as an International Mission Board missionary in Uganda and Kenya, has been named lead consultant for True Love Waits International's expansion in Africa, LifeWay president and CEO…
SBC appoints strategy coordinator for churches’ ‘ex-gay’ ministries
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention has commissioned a Texas pastor to become its “national strategist for gender issues” — a position designed to promote “ex-gay” ministries to SBC congregations. Bob Stith, who said God convicted him more…
SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—ANALYSIS: What to do if a minister is accused of sexual misconduct
Most pastors and staff members are aware that ministry sometimes puts them in unique circumstances with all kinds of people. Most also are aware that a rumor of wrongdoing often is enough to end an otherwise fruitful ministry. For this…
Election of Romanian Baptist may signal unity
CLUJ, Romania (ABP)—In a move signaling a renewed interest in partnering with the European Baptist Federation, Romanian Baptists have elected Otniel Bunaciu as their president. The May 18 decision of the 34th congress of the Baptist Union of Romania was…