BEIRUT (ABP) — As United States Marines began evacuating Americans in earnest from a besieged Beirut July 19 and U.S. Baptist groups reported their missionaries in the region safe, a Lebanese Baptist leader said his people's suffering would seem “quite…
Independent government study suggests lack of safeguards for religious grants
WASHINGTON (ABP) — An independent government study has found that federal programs providing grants to religious organizations do not sufficiently safeguard the separation of church and state. The determination echoes analysis by experts in the field and critics of President…
Republicans unveil voucher plan after recent education study
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Just days after a new Department of Education study suggesting children from similar backgrounds do about as well in public as in private schools, a group of congressional Republicans unveiled their latest plan for school vouchers. The…
Bush uses first veto in office on popular stem-cell bill
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Simultaneously pleasing his socially conservative base and overruling large majorities in Congress and the public, President Bush used the first veto of his political career July 19 to kill a bill that would have expanded embryonic stem-cell…
House passes bill to strip courts of ability to hear pledge cases
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Angering civil libertarians and supporters of church-state separation, the House of Representatives voted July 19 to strip the federal courts of the ability to decide cases involving the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. The so-called “Pledge…
American, other Baptists in Lebanon safe for now, helping refugees
BEIRUT (ABP) — Baptist personnel and organizations in Lebanon were reportedly safe July 18 but are asking for prayers from their Christian brothers and sisters around the world as they hunker down against ongoing air raids from neighboring Israel and…
As expected, House again defeats Federal Marriage Amendment
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As expected, the House of Representatives July 18 defeated a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage — for the second time in as many election years and after the Senate had defeated the same proposal. Known by its…
Bugg to step down from post as Gardner-Webb dean
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (ABP) — Barely a year after he became dean of Gardner-Webb University's school of divinity, Charles Bugg has resigned from the position. Bugg, who assumed the position in June 2005, as dean of Gardner-Webb University's school of…
For Baptists, libation debate continues in pages of Dallas Morning News
DALLAS (ABP) — Two prominent players in the Southern Baptist Convention's debate over alcohol consumption have taken it to a new forum — a major secular newspaper. On July 15, the Dallas Morning News ran an essay by Daniel Akin,…
Calif. missionary Stewart terminated after dispute with NAMB leader
Editor's Note: This article will be reissued later in two parts and in an abbreviated version. GILROY, Calif. (ABP) — Michael Stewart of California, a Baptist associational director who has crossed swords publicly with national Southern Baptist leaders, has been…
Baylor school gets $1.1 million grant to equip churches for social ministry
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Thanks to a $1.1 million grant, a Baylor University center will be able to help local congregations learn how to do more effective social ministry. The donation, announced June 21, will go to the Baylor Center…
NAMB meeting, July 30, 2006
This is a rough, uncorrected transcript of an audiotape recorded and transcribed by the North American Mission Board. Harry Lewis: Let me just say I appreciate you gentlemen coming. As we said we are recording this and I am understanding…