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…
Rick Warren, BWA president to speak at Texas Baptist annual meeting
DALLAS (ABP) — Rick Warren, heralded as “America's new people's pastor,” will speak Oct. 29 at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting. David Coffey, president of the Baptist World Alliance, will also speak at the meeting in Amarillo,…
Falwell’s son Jonathan takes helm of late father’s Va. megachurch
LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) — Jonathan Falwell, son of the late Jerry Falwell, will become pastor of the 24,000-member church his dad founded more than 50 years ago. Members of Thomas Road Baptist Church elected Jonathan Falwell, 40, in a unanimous…
In unique event, Democratic hopefuls respond to queries on faith, poverty
WASHINGTON (ABP) — On national television June 4, John Edwards admitted that he sins every day, Barack Obama said there's “a biblical injunction” to give prisoners the tools they need to rehabilitate themselves, and Hillary Clinton said the support of…
Religion, social issues again prominent in GOP debate
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Evolution, abortion rights and other issues important to religious conservatives reared their heads once again in the third debate between Republican presidential hopefuls June 5. Following a question that made headlines at the first GOP debate a…
Texas Baptists answer critics, post list of clergy sex-abusers
DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas has made public a list of registered sex-offenders currently or previously on staff at affiliated churches. The decision is significant in light of a spate of Baptist clergy-sex-abuse cases and increased…
OPINION: Christian principles for immigration reform
I have become persuaded that immigration reform is one of the most important moral and policy issues facing Christians and the nation today. And there is landmark legislation on the table — the bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill, supported by the…
Faith and hip-hop culture combine in Baptist beach ministry
GALVESTON, Texas (ABP) — Wearing the signature red bandana of the Bloods gang, Marcus jumped from his Mustang convertible, popped open the trunk and pulled out an AK-47. His friends shouted, “Shoot ‘em! Shoot ‘em!” The potentially deadly face-off had…