SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Although the Southern Baptists re-elected as their president a pastor supported by denominational reformers, they defeated the reformers' candidate for first vice president. Messengers at the denomination's annual meeting re-elected South Carolina pastor Frank Page June…
Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, close to death
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) — Ruth Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham, went into a coma early June 13 and is close to death, a family spokesperson said. According to a statement released by Larry Ross, Graham's spokesman, Ruth Graham…
Bush greeted with standing ovation, thanks Southern Baptists at annual event
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Judging by his reception at the annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting, President Bush's popularity remains strong among Southern Baptists, whom he thanked for their support June 13. Bush was greeted with a standing ovation of sustained…
SBC messengers raise questions about IMB finances, trustees
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin presented an upbeat report June 12 to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, but he was unable to escape concerns from messengers at the San Antonio, Texas, meeting. A concern…
Global warming debate generates resolutions heat at SBC event
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Southern Baptist Convention messengers generated some heat at their annual meeting this year, strongly debating governmental responsibility for global warming. They quickly dispatched seven of eight proposed resolutions June 13, notably upholding the SBC resolution committee's…
SBC doctrinal statement ‘sufficient,’ but impact on hiring remains unclear
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the Baptist Faith & Message June 12 as the “sufficient” doctrinal guide for its agencies and institutions. But SBC leaders immediately disagreed over whether the action will keep those agencies from…
Radical Islam, radical atheism threaten America, Colson tells pastors
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The United States faces twin dangers of radical Islam and radical atheism, Chuck Colson, the former Watergate-conspirator who founded Prison Fellowship Ministries, told pastors at the Southern Baptist Convention. “No time in history have we looked…
Radical Islam, radical atheism threaten America, Colson tells pastors
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The United States faces twin dangers of radical Islam and radical atheism, Chuck Colson, the former Watergate-conspirator who founded Prison Fellowship Ministries, told pastors at the Southern Baptist Convention. “No time in history have we looked…
Missional gathering at SBC event contemplates global movement
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — A global church planting movement could begin in five to 10 years, Pastor Bob Roberts told a small but passionate gathering of missional leaders who met prior to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Meeting late…
William Tanner, former SBC leader, university president, dead at 77
BELTON, Texas (ABP) — William Tanner, the former head of home missions for the Southern Baptist Convention, died June 10 in Belton, Texas. He was 77. Tanner was president of the SBC's Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission…
SBC messengers re-elect Page, hear motions on agency policies, clergy sex abuse
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Frank Page was re-elected without opposition to the traditional second one-year term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the first day of the denomination's annual meeting, which also featured efforts to curb clergy sexual…
Opinion: Are local Baptist churches wholly autonomous?
A philosopher once said “the meaning of a word is its use.” He didn't mean that a word can mean anything but rather that words can mean different things according to their context. I remember arguing with a former professor…