WASHINGTON (ABP) — Texas and its conservative governor, Rick Perry, have become the nation's first — and perhaps most unlikely — test case for requiring school-aged girls to receive a vaccine that can prevent both cervical cancer and a common…
Opinion: Are acceptance and rejection the only choices?
The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina got a lot of attention recently by passing the following resolution: “Among the churches not in friendly cooperation with the convention are churches which knowingly act to affirm, approve, endorse, promote, support or…
Shoes offer relief, hope to children in terror-torn Russia, Chechnya
BESLAN, Russia (ABP) — Thousands of children in war-torn regions of Beslan, Russia, and Grozny, Chechnya, recently received shoes donated through a Baptist charity shoe drive. Russian Ministries, a Christian group that collaborates with Buckner International, distributed the shoes as…
Lutheran court upholds, decries penalties against gay minister
ATLANTA (ABP) — An ecclesiastical panel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has issued a decision upholding — but decrying — punitive action against an openly gay Atlanta minister. In the Feb. 7 decision, the disciplinary hearing panel said…
Broad-based history conference in Charleston historic in itself
CHARLESTON, S.C. (ABP) — The “mother church” of Southern Baptists — from whose pulpit legendary pastor Richard Furman once defended the institution of slavery — will host Baptists of multiple races, denominations and regional identities for a historic conference in…
Baylor board approves $34 million for huge new campus complex
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University's board of regents has approved a plan that will begin integrating athletics into academic campus life at the Texas school. On Feb. 8, Baylor's 31 voting regents unanimously approved a $34 million plan to…
Lebanese, Palestinian Baptists ask for prayer amid continuing strife
BEIRUT (ABP) — Amid continuing strife in their areas, Baptists in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip requested prayers from their brothers and sisters around the world Feb. 13. Nabil Costa, director of the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development,…
Abolitionist Wilberforce’s life a model for modern Christians, historian says
DALLAS (ABP) — Though he lived in England two centuries ago, the life and work of William Wilberforce remain important examples for modern-day evangelicals, according to the lead historical consultant for a feature film chronicling the famous abolitionist's life. Kevin…
Young Baptist leaders address social justice at Current retreat
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — More than 100 leaders from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship gathered a few blocks from the Texas state capital Feb. 7-10 to discuss social justice. Current, the fellowship's network for young leaders, hosted its eighth annual retreat…
President Clinton to deliver lecture during Ouachita Inauguration Week
UNEDITED NEWS RELEASE — ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — President Bill Clinton will attend Ouachita Baptist University Inauguration Week activities honoring Ouachita's 15th president, Dr. Rex M. Horne, Jr. President Clinton will participate in the Birkett Williams Lecture series during Inauguration Week….
Christian Churches Together calls for united front against poverty
PASADENA, Calif. (ABP) — Leaders from 36 Christian bodies and religious organizations issued a joint statement Feb. 9 addressing the problem of domestic poverty and urging constituents to alleviate the problem as part of their Christian duty. “As Christian leaders…
Zimbabwe police arrest 9 pastors attending leadership seminar
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Zimbabwe police arrested nine pastors at a gathering of more than 300 church leaders in late January. At least one of the pastors was Baptist. The arrests were made public Jan. 30 by the Baptist World Alliance….