WASHINGTON (ABP) — Hispanic believers in the United States prefer “spirit-filled religious expression” and gravitate toward a “distinctively ethnic” worship experience, opting to go to church with other Hispanics and speak Spanish when they get there, according to a recent…
Betrayed trust: The recycle of abuse continues at Baptist churches
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Secrecy about clergy sexual abuse may protect an abuser’s current church from embarrassment but often comes at the expense of his next church — and its children. Like many small, rural congregations that find themselves without…
Betrayed trust: Churches work to escape trap of recycling abusers
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.(ABP) — What can churches do to prevent clergy sex-abuse and break the pattern of recycling abusers? Even among activists and experts, there is no consensus about the steps to be taken. Here are some steps on which many…
Betrayed trust: Should straying clergy be restored to ministry?
DALLAS (ABP) — When it comes to hiring church staff, some Baptists consider sexual misconduct to be an unpardonable sin, and many survivors of abuse agree. But others say it depends on which scarlet letter the minister wears: “W” for…
Betrayed trust: What to do if a minister is accused of sexual misconduct
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Most pastors and staff members know that ministry puts them in unique circumstances with all kinds of people. Most also know that even a hint of wrongdoing is enough to end an otherwise fruitful ministry. For…
Betrayed trust: Sex-abuse victims speak to help others & find healing themselves
NEW YORK (ABP) — Debbie Vasquez was 14 when her pastor started touching her inappropriately. She was 15 when he raped her and 19 when she had his baby. Tina Boyd first was molested at age 11. Later, she was…
Betrayed trust: Sexual predators fly under the radar at church
NEW YORK (ABP) — Most people think they can spot a sexual predator. He’s the pale loner with greasy hair and quivering lips. Or the grinning lech who hugs too long and slowly rubs the backs of female church members….
Huckabee denounces influence of cash, evolution queries in GOP race
WASHINGTON (ABP) — If conservative Christian voters want to know why a Baptist preacher is being bested in the GOP primary polls by three candidates who have had rocky relationships with the Religious Right, they need to look at the…
House again passes stem-cell bill as new study suggests solution
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The House of Representatives again approved a bill June 7 that would expand embryonic stem-cell research. But the move came just one day after the release of a scientific study suggesting scientists may, in the future, find…
Calvinist churches targeted by Florida Baptist Convention
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Some Baptists in this state say the Florida Baptist Convention is intimidating and demonizing churches that believe in Calvinism — and doing it with the churches' own money. Convention executive director John Sullivan last week sent…
Service-weary pastors stave off stress by scheduling ‘personal Sabbaths’
DALLAS (ABP) — Consummate counselor, powerful preacher, lasting leader. These are descriptions often used to characterize a respected pastor. Avid fisherman and beach bum are not. But Bruce Prindle, pastor of First Baptist Church in Midlothian, Texas, values fishing and…
Religious leaders, Clinton decry loss of ‘family values’ in immigration bill
NEW YORK (ABP) — Shortly before the immigration-reform bill failed a crucial test vote June 7, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) religious leaders decried an aspect of the complex compromise proposal they view as anti-family. The Senate rejected a Clinton-sponsored amendment…