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…
Inconsistent actions
I read with interest two Baptist Press articles printed on the same page in the May 4 issue of the Herald. The first, headlined “ ‘Everyone Can' to be the focus of SBC meeting,” concerns the upcoming annual meeting of…
Reinstated Africa missionaries accept IMB guidelines for church planting
Under a new agreement, officials at the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board have reinstated a missionary couple they threatened to fire for establishing a church that was not explicitly Baptist in the African nation of Guinea. Wyman and Michelle…
Floyd to be nominated SBC president, but other candidates likely to follow
Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the largest Southern Baptist church in Arkansas, will be nominated as president of the Southern Baptist Convention next month. Georgia pastor Johnny Hunt, who until a week ago was the nominee favored by the SBC's conservative…
NAMB cancels controversial contracts in effort to restore ‘Baptist confidence’
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (ABP) — The North American Mission Board has canceled four controversial contracts initiated by former president Bob Reccord that critics said were wasting Southern Baptist missions money. The cancellations, which reportedly will save millions of dollars, were…
Boost for college ministries urged, but where will money come from?
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — Baptists are losing momentum in connecting with college students, Mercer University President Kirby Godsey said May 4. “These college students will not demand our attention. They will simply ignore us.” Godsey urged the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship…
Peace treaty signed for Darfur, but not all factions on board
ABUJA, Nigeria (ABP) — Although the Sudanese government and the main rebel group in the nation's troubled Darfur region signed a peace treaty May 5, international representatives were still working May 9 to keep the deal from falling apart. Cracks…
Tenn. Baptists reject Belmont offer, will likely sue to retain control
NASHVILLE (ABP) — Tennessee Baptists voted May 9 to reject an offer of $5 million from Belmont University that would have given the school power to elect its own trustees. Instead, the Tennessee Baptist Convention likely will now sue the…
Floyd to be nominated SBC president, but other candidates likely to follow
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (ABP) — Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the largest Southern Baptist church in Arkansas, will be nominated as president of the Southern Baptist Convention next month. Georgia pastor Johnny Hunt, who until a week ago was the nominee favored…
Teaching world religions increases respect for freedoms, study suggests
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — A new study suggests mandatory teaching about world religions in public schools can increase teenagers' respect for religious freedom and other constitutional rights. The research, released May 8 by a Virginia-based think tank, studied 400 ninth…