CINCINNATI (ABP) — The Progressive National Baptist Convention has named T. DeWitt Smith as its new president. Elected at the convention's annual summer session, Smith will succeed Major Jemison as leader of the Washington, D.C.-based denomination. Smith is pastor of…
Trustee McKissic endorses prayer tongue during chapel sermon at Southwestern
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — A trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary endorsed the concept of a private prayer language in an Aug. 29 chapel sermon at the institution, setting off a wave of discussion in the Southern Baptist blogosphere…
Donations to non-hurricane charities strong despite record Katrina giving
NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — Despite expectations to the contrary, donations to many charities not related to Hurricane Katrina held steady or increased last year, according to reports from Charity Navigator, a nonprofit watchdog group that monitors the financial health of…
2 churches cited in Alliance fine get Cuba travel licenses anyway
WASHINGTON (ABP) — At least two congregations whose activities in Cuba triggered a $34,000 fine for the Alliance of Baptists have been granted their own travel licenses by the same agency that issued the fine. The Treasury Department recently approved…
Habitat official among victims of Comair crash in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABP) — A Habitat for Humanity official headed to the Gulf Coast was among 49 people killed in an early morning plane crash Aug. 27 in Lexington, Ky. Pat Smith of Lexington, a member of Habitat for Humanity…
Knoxville church partners with Baptists in Croatia to train pastors, laity
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — A local Tennessee church and the Croatian Baptist Union have formed a unique partnership to help support a pastoral center in ?akovec, Croatia. First Baptist Church of Knoxville, Tenn., and the Baptist Union will provide writing,…
Katherine Harris tries to quell furor over remarks in Baptist newspaper
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) has caused a major stir with comments, published in the Florida Baptist Convention's newspaper, suggesting that the separation of church and state is “a lie” and that failing to elect Christians to…
West Palm megachurch pastor resigns amid debt, résumé exposé
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — Embattled pastor Steven Flockhart resigned from First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Fla. — less than three months after he was hired to lead the 10,000-member church — reportedly because he lied about…
On mission at the Gulf: Virginia Baptists make ‘impact’ after Katrina
When something is plumb, it's lined up properly. In the context of a statewide mission endeavor, plumb means “straight for the Lord.” In conjunction with that theme, this year's Impact Gulf Coast had church volunteer workers going on a 19-hour…
EDITORIAL: Altar Ego confesses his sin
Pewboy looked troubled. Gone from his countenance was his usual bland expression by which he defied others to read his thoughts. Now he looked positively pensive. Altar Ego knew he would soon be drawn into dialogue by Pewboy's drivel and…
Missing the facts
Professor David Gushee is entitled to his position, but his passionate argument appears to arise from his view of the unborn rather than the specific legislation that passed Congress by overwhelming majorities [“The stem cell veto,” Aug. 3]. The readers…
Loves YEC
I have loved the Youth Evangelism Conference, sponsored by Virginia Baptists, for 14 years, since my return to Virginia as a youth minister in 1993. I served for 10 years on the advisory team for YEC and was always thrilled…