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…
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….
Wide array of Christian groups set anti-war protest for March
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Although the Senate is stalemated over how strongly to protest President Bush's plan to escalate the Iraq war, a wide array of Christian groups will march on the White House — and perhaps get arrested — March…
Christians, others use film Amazing Grace to spotlight modern-day slave trade
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Nearly 200 years after William Wilberforce brought an end to England's slave trade, a wide audience will have a chance to see his story told on film. But the producers of Amazing Grace — and a wide…
Ousted Texas church planter says race factored into investigation
DALLAS (ABP) — Otto Arango, the central figure in an investigation that revealed misuse and mismanagement of Texas Baptist church-starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley, was singled out for suspicion because he was a financially successful Hispanic from the…
National WMU to suffer from more funding cuts
The Woman's Missionary Union of the Southern Baptist Convention, which has seen its annual revenues drop precipitously in the last eight years, now stands to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars more from one of the two mission boards it…