Tens of thousands of voices from churches around the globe were expected to take a public stand Sunday, Feb. 18, against modern-day slavery by singing the hymn Amazing Grace. More than 2,500 churches from a range of denominations had committed…
Experts: More danger than meets eye in upcoming Supreme Court case
WASHINGTON (ABP) — There's more at risk for the separation of church and state than meets the eye in an upcoming Supreme Court case, a panel of legal experts agreed Feb. 21. The experts previewed oral arguments in Hein v….
Local missions gain prominence as Baptist churches join blitz
Operation Inasmuch, the one-day missions blitz organization that started at a Baptist church in Fayetteville, N.C., became a national ministry Jan. 30. David Crocker, who was pastor of Fayetteville's Snyder Memorial Baptist Church when Operation Inasmuch was born, is the…
Definition of ‘evangelical’ up for debate in theology
One out of every four adults who call themselves “evangelical” is not a “born-again” Christian, according to a recent report from the Barna Group. And that's just the beginning of the confusion surrounding the term “evangelical.” For instance, some political…
Touring children’s choir gives hope for Africa’s impoverished children
ABILENE, Texas (ABP) — Like most boys his age, 8-year-old David dreams about what he'll be when he grows up. This week, he wants to be an air-traffic controller. A year ago, he probably never dreamed he'd be in the…
FIRST PERSON: Insights gleaned from a pastor search committee
Chamberlayne Baptist Church in Richmond recently called Mark White as pastor after a nearly two-year pastoral transition and pastor search process. Based on White's positive experience with the pastor search committee and the process of his being called to serve…
Clinton to speak as part of Ouachita inauguration
Former President Bill Clinton will lecture at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., as part of a weeklong inaugural celebration for the school's 15th president, Rex Horne Jr., Clinton's former pastor. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Ouachita graduate and…
Gonzales’ SBC announcement riles some in religious-freedom field
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ Feb. 20 announcement to Southern Baptist Convention leaders about a new Justice Department focus on religious freedom garnered some praise — and significant criticism — from other Christian leaders. Gonzales announced the launch…
BTSR launches placement service
Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond has launched LeaderConnect, a web-based internet reference and referral service provided at no charge to the users. The new resource, which started Feb. 12, draws on the resources of a Lilly Endowment funded grant and…
Gay-friendly church in N.C. invites investigation
A church in Charlotte has turned itself in to the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, admitting it is in violation of the convention's new stance against homosexuality. The deacons at Myers Park Baptist Church sent an open letter to…
Church conflict is seminar focus
Conflict is inevitable in the church, but it need not be destructive, say planners of a conference set at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. “Responding to the Challenge of Congregational Conflict” will provide a better understanding of individual responses to…
Editorial: Christian hardball?
Pewboy: What in the world is going on at the International Mission Board these days? Altarego: Uh, I've heard some rumors, but why don't you tell me what you mean exactly? Pewboy: Well, first off, the Southern Baptist Convention told…