LAKELAND, Fla. (ABP) — Despite years of dwindling membership and subsequent closure, Indigo Community Church is going out in style — to the tune of almost half a million dollars. On March 11, the Daytona Beach, Fla., congregation's remaining members…
Episcopal bishops reject Anglicans’ ultimatum; total split over gays looms
NAVASOTA, Texas (ABP) — With a March 20 resolution, bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States rejected calls from their global counterparts to backtrack on gay rights — and the rebuff may endanger the U.S. church's role in…
Missouri associate Jim Austin tapped for top Baptist spot in South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S. C. (ABP) – After spending less than two years as associate executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, Jim Austin is expected to become new executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. A South Carolina search committee…
Christians, ACLU join forces in favor of ‘Bong Hits 4 Jesus’
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Few events in American society could bring together the American Civil Liberties Union and Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice, especially to defend a banner mentioning drug use. But a case argued before the Supreme…
Despite icy weather, 3,000 Christians gather in Washington to protest war
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…
Taming that teen spirit: Teens watch parents, clergy for guidance on sex
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABP) — More than three quarters of teens think religious leaders should do more to help prevent teen pregnancy — that's even more than the 64 percent of adults who think the same. But while 76 percent of…
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…
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…