Staff Changes Lowell Wright, to Trinity Church, Louisa, as pastor. Robert Johansen, to Spring Creek Church, Darlington Heights, as pastor. Calvin Sacra, to North Bedford Church, Forest, as pastor. David Burgess, resigning as pastor of Seventeenth Street Church, Roanoke. Ray…
Baptist battles dominated news in 2006, editors say
DALLAS (ABP) — The election of an outsider as president of the Southern Baptist Convention was chosen by Baptist journalists as the most important story in Baptist life in 2006 — a year when denominational affairs outweighed world news in…
Embattled Bellevue Baptist faces new conflict: ‘moral failure’ allegations
CORDOVA, Tenn. (ABP) — The president of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary has called for the senior pastor at one of the largest Southern Baptist congregations in the United States to resign. Michael Spradlin, who leads the seminary situated across the…
NBC Nightly News to feature American Baptist ministry
VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) — A small American Baptist ministry has hit the big time. On Dec. 22, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams will feature Hope Unlimited on its weekly “Making a Difference” segment. Co-founded by David Swoap and…
Not just for Christmas anymore
Some might say Mary, the mother of Jesus, doesn't know her place. Instead of staying in her traditional Protestant role—quietly overlooking the manger in Christmastime crèches—Mary is emerging as an increasingly popular figure in books, articles and movies. And here's…
Missouri Baptist leaders approve team to investigate executive
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — In a sign of continuing turmoil within the Missouri Baptist Convention, the body's Executive Board has appointed a committee to investigate their embattled executive director. The group also discussed allegations that a four-year-old church in…
For Christians, Nativity overcomes mixed reviews, potential scandal
One week after its debut, a movie based on the Gospels' simple Nativity narrative is spurring optimism among Christian film fans, who seem willing to overlook potentially scandalous news about one of the movie's stars. The Nativity Story debuted Dec….
More Baptist churches cut ties with North Carolina convention
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) — First Baptist Church of Henderson, N.C., and Wingate Baptist Church of Wingate, N.C., have cut ties with the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, becoming the first churches to withdraw since the convention dealt with several contentious…
Rosalynn Carter ordained as deacon by Baptist church Plains, Ga.
PLAINS, Ga. (ABP) — Former First Lady Rosalynn Smith Carter was ordained as a deacon Dec. 10 by Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. Though raised a Methodist, Carter, 79, has been active in Baptist congregations since her marriage more…
Opinion: Christmas trees and menorahs: Sharing space or sharing a story?
I'm willing to bet that no one has a favorite holiday story about time spent in an airport. The main thought that we have involving airports is that we spend as little time as possible in them. Of course, if…
BCE, others urge Wal-Mart to practice Golden Rule
DALLAS (ABP) — Wal-Mart, the self-styled low-price leader, can't seem to get a break these days. While the giant retailer has recently come under attack from pro-gay groups for backpedaling on diversity initiatives, a group of Baptist pastors and leaders…
110th Congress features Baptist leaders, notable firsts in its religious profile
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptists of all stripes will feature prominently in leadership of the 110th Congress, which itself will feature some religious firsts. As both chambers pass from Republican into Democratic hands, several Baptists have been elevated to leadership positions…