The Southern Baptist Convention expects very little from its vice presidents–nothing, in fact–unless the SBC president becomes incapacitated. Traditionally, those elected each year to the mostly honorary VP positions are seen but not heard. But when Southern Baptists elected Wiley…
The Virginia Baptist tradition
Editor's Note: As Virginia Baptists move toward their annual meeting, Nov. 9-10 in Virginia Beach, and face a national election Nov. 7, it seemed to be a good time to remind us of who we are. A classic statement of…
Muslim group decries Baptist leader’s claims about Islamic ‘takeover’ of U.S.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (ABP) — Leaders from a prominent American Muslim group have denounced reported comments by the Missouri Baptist Convention's executive director claiming that “Islam has a strategic plan” to take over the United States. Ibrahim Hooper, communications director…
Global Women urged to demonstrate ‘strategic savvy’ to expand impact
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — “The world is changing, and we need to catch up a little bit,” Robbi Francovich of Austin, Texas, told members of Global Women at an interactive missions conference Oct. 27-28. Francovich, who has spent 10 years…
Gardner-Webb University President Announces New Member of Senior Staff
UNEDITED NEWS RELEASE — BOILING SPRINGS, NC – “We need to intensify the University's efforts in development and, most important, secure the endowment and significant financial resources necessary to realize our vision of a great future for Gardner-Webb University.” In…
Judge dismisses lawsuit targeting evangelism at Air Force Academy
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ABP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Air Force that claimed the branch's top training academy violated the Constitution by promoting evangelical Christian beliefs among cadets. On Oct. 27, U.S. District Judge James Parker…
Probe finds Texas church-starters got up to $1.3 million for bogus churches
DALLAS (ABP) — A five-month investigation uncovered evidence church-starting funds from the Baptist General Convention of Texas were misused between 1999 and 2005 in the Rio Grande Valley. Independent investigators discovered about 98 percent of the 258 church starts reported…
Election day features major issues beyond control of Congress
WASHINGTON (ABP) — While Americans are focused on whether Democrats will regain control of one or both chambers of Congress during the Nov. 7 elections, several other issues important to religious voters will appear on state ballots. In eight states,…
Missouri Baptist executive claims Muslims plotting to take over U.S.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (ABP) — The executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention reportedly claimed the “real threat” to the United States is that “Islam has a strategic plan to conquer and occupy America.” David Clippard, in his address at…
Missouri Baptist Convention ousts 19 churches over ties to moderates
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention voted Oct. 31 to oust 19 congregations — some of which have been part of the group since its beginning — because of their affiliations with moderate Baptist groups. The move…
Arkansas businessman, donor to moderate Baptists, dies
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — John Heflin Jr., an Arkansas businessman and philanthropist, died Oct. 26. He was 61. Heflin, who died from cancer, was a major donor to Baptist causes, including the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Arkansas and Ouachita…
Environmental movie motivates evangelicals to get involved
DALLAS (ABP) — On Nov. 3, a Canadian film team will release in U.S. theatres The Great Warming, a movie about climate change and the initiatives aimed at reversing its trend toward permanent ecologic damage. Unlike other recent environmental movies,…