ATLANTA (ABP) — The central question in the debate on immigration reform is not about economics or politics, Hispanic Baptist leaders said June 23. “The basic issue is whether Jesus still has a mission to the poor,” Albert Reyes, president…
‘Information integrity’ essential to becoming world citizens, Nash tells ABP audience
ATLANTA (ABP) — Rob Nash, one day after being elected global missions coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, urged about 300 Baptists at an Associated Baptist Press banquet to pursue “information integrity” on their way to becoming “citizens of the…
Baptist politics ‘wreaking havoc’ on universities, Godsey warns
ATLANTA (ABP) — Baptist higher education faces a monumental crisis, due in large part to abuses of control and financial dependence, longtime university president Kirby Godsey told participants at the Whitsitt Baptist Heritage Society's annual meeting June 22 in Atlanta….
Baptism meanings and methods spark debate among some Baptists
DALLAS (ABP) — Disputes about baptism are troubling the waters among some Baptists. From a controversial guideline of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, which narrows the definition of an acceptable baptism of a new missionary, to churches that wrestle…
CBF supporters discuss ways to respond to AIDS pandemic
ATLANTA (ABP) — Although Baptists and other Christians responded slowly and poorly 25 years ago to the advent of AIDS, God has been in the trenches from the start, said David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “God is…
Abstinence resolution calls for trustees to be teetotalers
Declaring “our total opposition to the … consuming of alcoholic beverages,” Southern Baptist Convention messengers adopted a strongly worded resolution on the issue June 14. Messengers adopted 15 resolutions presented by the SBC Resolutions Committee on issues ranging from genocide…
SBC sends issue back to trustees
The SBC's International Mission Board will get a chance to resolve its own trustee dispute, despite a plea for outside arbitration. Trustee Wade Burleson asked SBC messengers to authorize the convention's Executive Committee to create a special committee to study…
Condi Rice tells messengers U.S.’s job is to spread freedom
In an address that was received like a campaign stump speech, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, exhorting her listeners to support the United States in spreading freedom around the globe. After a…
Rogers’ widow warns of narrowing parameters in SBC
(ABP) — Adrian Rogers' widow captured unexpected attention at the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference by asserting her husband would not approve of narrowing parameters of fellowship in the Southern Baptist Convention. Joyce Rogers, whose deceased husband was a former Southern…
Seminary presidents Mohler and Patterson debate Calvinism
Baptist seminary presidents Paige Patterson and Albert Mohler may have philosophical differences on the subject of divine election as interpreted by Calvinism, but those differences have small practical effect, an hour-long dialogue between the two revealed. Patterson and Mohler discussed…
SBC dedicates statue of Billy Graham at annual meeting
Billy Graham's impact on the Southern Baptist Convention will last for generations, and a bronze sculpture unveiled June 14 at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention will likewise cement forever the famous evangelist and his gospel message for…
Leland Center fully accreditated
The John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington has received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools. ATS, the premier agency for seminary accreditation in North America, granted the accreditation at its June 14 board meeting. “Full accreditation…