Leaders of the American Baptist Churches USA have approved selling the “Holy Doughnut”—the organization's Pennsylvania headquarters building—and confirmed the appointment of a new head for the denomination's international missions organization. The ABC's General Board voted nearly unanimously Nov. 14 to…
Are Baptist leaders doing enough about clergy sex-abuse revelations?
DALLAS (ABP) — Recent sex scandals among Catholic and evangelical leaders are prompting renewed calls for action against clergy sexual abuse. But with research indicating such abuse is more prevalent among clergy — including Baptists — than other counseling professionals,…
Uzbek court fines Baptists preachers
Following a raid on a Baptist church in the southern Uzbek town of Karshi, two visiting Baptists were, on October 25, given massive fines of over 45 times the country's minimum monthly salary each for participating in unregistered religious worship….
Conference, report highlight ongoing legal wrangling over faith programs
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In a year when President Bush's “faith-based initiative” faced considerable public-relations challenges, it also continued to raise challenging legal and institutional questions, according to a new report from an independent group. In the past year, the White…
Kazakh Baptists fined heavily
Two Baptists in Zyryanovsk in the eastern Kazakhstan, who were given large fines on June 27 for religious activity without registration, have failed in their appeals to have the fines overturned. Pastor Yegor Prokopenko was given the massive fine of…
Gay marriage now legal in South Africa
South Africa became the fifth country to legalize gay marriage Nov. 30 when Acting President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka signed a landmark bill into law. South Africa is the first African country to take such a step. Canada, Spain, Belgium and the…
Catching the Spirit of Advent
In churches across the Commonwealth, many of them Baptist, the Advent season was initiated by the lighting of the first Advent candle. The four candles on the wreath traditionally stand for hope, peace, joy and love—attributes of Christ's presence in…
ANOTHER VIEW: The Pension Protection Act of 2006
In 1930 author Watty Piper introduced to the world The Little Engine that Could, coining the now familiar refrain, “I think I can, I think I can.” This timeless adage has taught generations of Americans the powerful truth that positive…
Play acting at Beaver Dam
When the trophies are awarded to church anniversary committees, please send a large one to the 175th anniversary committee of Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Fluvanna County. The plans for the D-Day invasion were not as well conceived and detailed!…
Baylor bags plans to publish controversial school history
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University has reversed plans to publish a book about its recent history, following criticism of the work's depiction of recent disputes at the world's largest Baptist school. Critics dismissed the work as essentially a defense…
Leaders at Texas conference join McKissic’s call for more freedom
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — Pastors and other Baptist leaders at a Dec. 5 roundtable discussion voted unanimously to request Southern Baptist Convention officials to reconsider restrictive policies regarding speaking in tongues. The 100-plus pastors and laypeople who attended the half-day…
Moldovan Baptists, Global Women sponsor groundbreaking conference on sex trade
CHISINAU, Moldova (ABP) — Moldovan Baptist leaders recently joined forces with Baptist women from the United States to confront a subject that is still taboo among some Christians there: the sex trade in poor parts of Eastern Europe. Alabama-based Global…