A prominent Southern Baptist leader on April 27 advocated Christian support of immigrants but stressed that lawbreakers should be punished and newcomers should work hard to assimilate. “Put the emphasis on the American part of Hispanic-American and you are welcome,”…
Broadman & Holman plans name change
Broadman & Holman Publishers, the trade publishing division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, announced April 27 plans to change its name to B&H Publishing Group, effective June 1. B&H Publishing Group will serve as an umbrella…
Mercer confirms Baptist identity
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 state that “no less…
Alliance pledges anti-racist thrust
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 at the Alliance's annual convocation April 21-23 in Birmingham, Ala. While the three-day meeting focused…
Elder rule increasing in Baptist life, and so is controversy over role
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) — Sam Shaw, senior pastor at Germantown Baptist Church, has a problem on his hands. As in a growing number of Baptist churches, Germantown leaders — including Shaw — want to elect elders. And while many people…
Reinstated Africa missionaries accept IMB guidelines for church-planting
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — 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 West African nation…
Even among elder-led churches, the buck stops in different places
(ABP) — What do some contemporary, Calvinist and cowboy churches have in common? They all have elders. But the similarity pretty much stops there. As with many other churches, the identity, role and authority of elders varies widely. In contemporary-style…
Federal panel again names U.S. allies as violators of religious freedom
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Several of the United States' allies remain among the world's most egregious violators of human rights, according to a non-partisan federal panel's report. In addition, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said, two nations whose oppressive…
SBC narrowness calls for repentance, reform, disgruntled conservatives say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) — 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,…
Peace talks falter as thousands rally against Darfur genocide
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Peace talks aimed at ending what the United States government and international human-rights groups have labeled “genocide” in Darfur faltered May 2, just days after thousands of protesters rallied in Washington for beefed-up measures to help the…
American Baptist regional group moves ahead with plan to separate
POMONA, Calif. (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…
NAMB ‘moving on’ after resignation, but won’t disclose Reccord’s severance
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (ABP) — Trustees of the North American Mission 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 unity…