FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Seminary president Paige Patterson has endorsed Ronnie Floyd for Southern Baptist Convention president, prompting a rare rebuttal from SBC chief executive Morris Chapman and exposing a growing rift between the two SBC executives. Meanwhile, critics…
Kentucky Baptist board affirms college’s ouster on gay student
BAGDAD, Ky. (ABP) — Members of the Kentucky Baptist Convention Mission Board have voted to affirm the University of the Cumberlands' recent decision to dismiss an openly homosexual student. Citing “the recent public controversy surrounding the Baptist school's dismissal of…
House passes bill undercutting military chaplain guidelines
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The House of Representatives has amended a defense-spending bill to appease activists who believe new military guidelines encroach on the religious freedom of evangelical chaplains. The bill, as amended, passed the House May 11 on a 396-31…
More Americans reading Bible, says poll
(BP) — Forty-seven percent of American adults read the Bible during a typical week other than when they are at church, according to a study by The Barna Group released in April. Researchers found a significant increase in religious activity…
Ecumentical groups tentatively join evangelicals in day of prayer
(BP) — As President Bush spoke to an ecumenical group at the White House to mark the National Day of Prayer May 4, religious moderates and progressives gathered in locations around the country in an effort to broaden an event…
NAMB moving on after resignation, won’t disclose Reccord’s severance
(ABP) — Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board took the first steps down the road to recovery May 1-2, two weeks after their embattled president resigned under pressure. “We walked away with a great deal of…
Mass. court hears arguments in gay marriage case
(RNS) — Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court took up arguments on May 4 about whether to kill a proposed citizens' referendum to ban gay marriage. A lawyer for a gay rights organization told the state's highest court that…
Robertson claims church-state group co-opted by communists, ACLU
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson is once again making waves with comments on his “700 Club” television broadcast — this time criticizing a church-state watchdog group he frequently battles. Robertson, who has made worldwide headlines several times in…
Texas Baptists to hire outside lawyer to investigate church-starting funds
DALLAS (ABP) — An attorney will guide an investigation into alleged mishandling of Texas Baptist money to start churches in the Rio Grande Valley. Charles Wade, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, has asked the convention's elected…
Mysteries behind Da Vinci movie based on ‘hoax’ of secret society, experts say
DALLAS (ABP) — The most debated movie of the year, The Da Vinci Code, is built on a premise that was revealed as a hoax more than 10 years ago, say historians, art experts and theologians. Dan Brown's best-selling book…
Ronnie Floyd nomination sparks talk of weak SBC support, fire-truck baptistry
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (ABP) — News of the nomination of Arkansas megachurch pastor Ronnie Floyd to be the next Southern Baptist Convention president has brought new attention to his church's high-tech evangelism methods and lackluster financial support of the denomination he…
SBC narrowness calls for repentance, reform, say disgruntled conservatives at meeting
About 30 Southern Baptist conservatives from diverse backgrounds are repenting of the triumphalism, arrogance and isolationism they say threatens the integrity of the 16 million-member denomination. Saying they represent “disparate constituencies” in the Southern Baptist Convention, the participants met behind…