The early onset of the presidential campaign has brought with it a renewed call for a “return to civility.” There seems, however, little prospect for any immediate restoration of such civility, assuming that it ever existed. I think there are…
Mohler: Homosexuality likely genetic; Christians should support prenatal ‘cure’
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Even if a genetic cause for homosexuality is found, gay behavior would still be “sin,” and Christians should support prenatal treatment to “cure” it, said SBC seminary president Al Mohler. Comments by Mohler, president of Southern…
Southwestern Seminary leaders agree to meet with McKissic, halt removal
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Board leaders at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and an embattled trustee have agreed to meet and discuss their differences — with a threat to remove Texas pastor Dwight McKissic from the board taken off the…
Florida pastor Ron Crawford nominated to lead BTSR
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Florida pastor Ron Crawford will be nominated as president of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Crawford, pastor of College Park Baptist Church in Orlando, will be presented March 19 for election by the board of trustees…
Former Southern Baptist pastor acquitted of seeking gay sex
OKLAHOMA CITY (ABP) — A prominent former Southern Baptist pastor who became an unlikely gay-rights poster boy was cleared of criminal charges in a sex-solicitation case March 7. An Oklahoma judge acquitted Lonnie Latham of asking an undercover male police…
Hundreds of mourners honor John Baugh as Christian businessman, philanthropist
HOUSTON (ABP) — “'There was a man sent from God whose name was John,'” Daniel Vestal told about 800 people at a Houston memorial service for Baptist philanthropist John Baugh March 8. Quoting the biblical description of John the Baptist…
Gingrich, potential GOP ’08 candidate, admits affair while pursuing Clinton
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) chose one of the nation's most popular evangelical radio programs March 9 to admit he had an extramarital affair while pursuing impeachment charges against former President Bill Clinton. The admission came…
Dismissed professor files lawsuit against Southwestern seminary
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Former professor Sheri Klouda sued Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary March 8, charging fraud, breach of contract and defamation for forcing her out. Klouda, who was hired in 2002 to teach Hebrew in a tenure-track position…
‘Mainstream’ leaders credit freedom for staying Baptist
A refrain of freedom echoed through a Mainstream Baptist Network convocation in suburban Dallas Feb. 23-24. About 80 participants from across the South gathered for the sixth-annual event. During the session, seven speakers addressed the theme “Why I am still…
FIRST PERSON: On building bridges
Editor's note: Following this article is a brief email exchange between Dr. Rainer and me. When my three grown sons were small children, we would often play with a wooden train. Because they were so young, the boys would sometimes…
EDITORIAL: Some things can’t be ignored
It is a small country church that called as pastor a man they believed was God's choice for them. The members are good, salt-of-the-earth folks. Unsophisticated by intent, perhaps even naïve in their innocence, they believed the “man of God”…
Concerned about IMB
Having gone on record last year in the Religious Herald as being “optimistic” about the potential to be both a Virginia Baptist and a Southern Baptist, I must admit that my optimism is being greatly tested by the actions of…