WASHINGTON (ABP) — Thousands of Christians braved frigid temperatures, icy conditions and even arrest March 16 in Washington to protest the Iraq war. The “Christian Peace Witness for Iraq” began with a service at Washington National Cathedral and ended with…
Paul Powell retires as Truett Seminary dean; David Garland to replace him
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Paul Powell, who built up Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary in his six years as its dean, will retire in May and be succeeded by a veteran Baptist educator. David Garland, the school's associate…
Citing health reasons, author Lucado steps down from San Antonio pulpit
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ABP) — Prolific Christian author Max Lucado has announced plans to step down as senior pastor of his San Antonio megachurch due to a heart ailment. In a March 5 letter addressed to members of Oak Hills…
Pistol-wielding robber interrupts Tennessee deacons’ meeting
ATHENS, Tenn. (ABP) — Any Baptist pastor will tell you that deacons' meetings can sometimes get hairy, but this one has to take the cake. A man who robbed deacons at a small-town Tennessee March 12 is in custody now…
NAE rebuffs Bush administration in joining anti-torture statement
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (ABP) — The nation's umbrella group for evangelicals has endorsed a statement that takes aim at the Bush administration's alleged use of torture in the war on terrorism. Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals announced late…
Generous Arkansas family receives generosity from TV ‘makeover’
MURFREESBORO, Ark. (ABP) — Thanks to a popular network television show and an eclectic array of others, one Arkansas Baptist family now has a lot more room to breathe. Dennis and Kim Collins, their son, Mitchell, and the five young…
House panel rejects attempt to add faith-based hiring to Head Start
WASHINGTON (ABP) — For the first time under Democrats' new majority in Congress, a House panel refused March 14 to add language to a bill that would have allowed religious organizations receiving federal funds to discriminate in hiring on the…
New Ohio governor proposes cutbacks in state’s landmark voucher program
COLUMBUS, Ohio (ABP) — Ohio's new Democratic governor is proposing significant cutbacks in the state's groundbreaking school-voucher program. In his first “State of the State” speech March 14, Gov. Ted Strickland proposed that the voucher program be eliminated — except…
Opinion: Good manners and speaking the truth
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…
Publisher David Cassady leaving Smyth & Helwys after 16 years
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Publisher David Cassady, the first full-time employee of Smyth & Helwys Publishing, is leaving the company after 16 years. Cassady, publisher and executive vice president, will join the Macon media development firm The Brainstorm Lab in…
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…