ASHEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Historically, Baptists are reluctant to organize beyond local congregations out of fear that such structures will impinge freedom, said longtime Baptist leader Cecil Sherman during an April 21 event honoring his service. “To get a job…
‘Jericho’ walks help church planters begin indigenous church planting
AMARILLO, Texas (ABP) — Neal Hughes feels certain about two things: Churches need to be started in multihousing environments, and doing so begins with prayer. Hughes, a missionary for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, should know. As pastor…
Maine high court upholds law barring religious vouchers
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…
Upton joins other North American Baptists at meeting to transcend differences
Virginia Baptist leader John Upton was among other leaders of Baptist conventions and organizations comprising more than 20 million adherents in North America who explored “additional opportunities for fellowship and cooperation” in Atlanta April 10. President Jimmy Carter, a lifelong…
IMB missionaries refuse to resign, will face forced termination in May
After receiving an April 15 ultimatum to resign or face termination, Wyman and Michelle Dobbs have refused to resign as International Mission Board missionaries in Guinea, West Africa. The couple was targeted for starting a church in Guinea that isn't…
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….