COVINA, Calif. (ABP) — Leaders of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest took the final step May 11 to remove the regional group from their national denomination, primarily over its handling of homosexuality. The region's board of directors…
Correction
In the May 15 story, “Kentucky Baptist board affirms college's ouster on gay student,” please change the long-term goal in the last paragraph from 60 percent to 40 percent.
Patterson’s endorsement of Floyd draws rebuke from SBC exec
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…
American Baptists still headed toward split over theology
(ABP) — After years of conflict centering mainly on the issue of homosexuality, a large regional body of the American Baptist Churches USA has voted to continue the process of separating itself from the denomination. In an April 29 meeting…
GuideStone cancels annual wellness walk
The Living@YourBest Wellness Walk/Run scheduled to be held during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Greensboro, N.C., has been canceled for this year, but will resume at the convention in 2007. “We are disappointed that we won't…
SECOND OPINION: Thoughts on Mother’s Day: My tribute
I have found over the years that there is a very fine line that separates joy and pain. I first discovered that line as a child, though as a child I did not understand the magnitude of the discovery. It…
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…