PORTLAND, Maine (ABP) — Maine's highest court has turned away an attempt to force a state voucher program to include religious schools. In a 6-1 ruling, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said April 26 a state law that bans a…
BGCT hires accountant to study church fund mismanagement
DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas has enlisted an independent accountant to investigate possible mishandling of church-starting funds in the lower Rio Grande Valley. “Allegations came to our attention, and we began an internal probe,” Charles Wade,…
Southside-YMCA partnership ‘win-win’ deal for both groups
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — The YMCA is moving back to its Christian roots with a pilot program they hope to replicate nationally, thanks to some creative thinking by church leaders at Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. After a chance…
Former SBC takeover leader indicted in tax conspiracy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — One of the men instrumental in the Southern Baptist Convention's 1990 move to defund its historic public-affairs agency is facing federal charges. Sam Currin, who served as a member of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious…
Alliance vows to go on offensive as ‘anti-racist organization’
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Meeting in a city known for both racism and reconciliation, the Alliance of Baptists pledged to remake itself into “an anti-racist organization.” The action came as the Alliance began its 20th year with its annual convocation…
At least half of Mercer trustees, all future presidents to be Baptist
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Following a formal separation initiated by the Georgia Baptist Convention last November and several pronouncements by university leaders calling for a clear Baptist identity, Mercer University trustees voted April 21 to amend the school's charter to…
BJC director: Americans believe lies about church-state separation
ABILENE, Texas (ABP) — Americans are besieged by lies about the relationship of church and state, Brent Walker insisted during the Maston Christian Ethics Lectures at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology, April 10-11. “The lies I want to talk…
As collaboration takes root worldwide, focus on exclusion isolates SBC missions
At a time when collaboration and cooperation characterize Christian missions, the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board appears to be moving toward isolation and exclusion, some veteran missionaries and missiologists insist. They point to new IMB policies — prohibiting private…
Driggers to retire from S.C. leadership post
(BP) — Carlisle Driggers will retire as executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention on Feb. 28, 2007, after 15 years at the helm of the nation's oldest state Baptist convention. Driggers, 68, made the announcement during the April…
FIRST PERSON: There are giants among us
Not that long ago I was talking to a friend who moved to a new pastorate. His predecessor served this “tall steeple” church for 25 years, but unfortunately, the “retired” pastor was having trouble letting go the reins of leadership….
Cooperative Missions CD is available
A new CD detailing Virginia Baptists' mission work is available for churches to use. The GO: Responding to the Signs of the Times CD can be ordered from the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. “Virginia Baptists are a body of believers…
Historical Society to focus on missions
‘It's All About Missions!” is the theme for the annual meeting of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society set for 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 16 at Huguenot Road Baptist Church in Richmond. The keynote speaker will be Rosalie Hall Hunt, a…