Heritage Column for April 6, 2006 By Fred Anderson The Arizona sheriff looked him in the eye and told him that he would amount to nothing, that by age 16 he would be in jail. An abusive stepfather seemed to…
A mystery about Father Courtney
Heritage Column for April 13, 2006 By Fred Anderson This columnist prepared a biographical sketch of John Courtney for the Dictionary of Virginia Biography, an ambitious publishing effort of the Library of Virginia. Obviously the project is still in its…
NAMB president Bob Reccord resigns over allegations of poor management
ATLANTA (ABP) — After a trustee investigation produced a scathing report of numerous examples of poor management, Bob Reccord resigned as president of the North American Mission Board, effective immediately. “I regret that events of recent weeks have created an…
IMB missionaries refuse to resign, face forced termination in May
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — 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…
Correction
Please replace the third paragraph of the April 13 story, “Outspoken activist, inspirational pastor from Manhattan's Riverside Church, dies,” with the following: Known for his outspoken leadership in civil-rights and peace movements during the 1960s and 1970s, Coffin hosted notable…
IMB critics propose resolution affirming right of dissent among Southern Baptists
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — A Dallas-area pastor says he will introduce a resolution “on Baptist dissent” — apparently aimed at controversial actions by some Southern Baptist agency trustees — during this summer's Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Benjamin Cole, a…
New Christian ecumenical group off the ground with 34 members
ATLANTA (ABP) — Four years in the making, a new group designed to be the broadest ecumenical coalition in American history was officially formed March 31. Thirty-four denominational and parachurch groups, representing a broad spectrum of American Christianity, constituted Christian…
Record number of U.S. church groups reflects immigration, yearbook says
DALLAS (ABP) — Amid intense national debate about immigration reform, the National Council of Churches recently announced immigrants have had a positive impact on U.S. churches: The council's annual yearbook reports a record number of church bodies for 2006. One…
Coffin, outspoken activist, pastor of NYC’s Riverside Church, dies
NEW YORK (ABP) — William Sloane Coffin Jr., former CIA agent, peace activist, Yale University chaplain, accomplished pianist and esteemed pastor of Manhattan's Riverside Church, died April 12. Coffin died from congestive heart failure at his home in Vermont. He…
IMB may dismiss Africa missionaries for starting non-Baptist congregation
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Another controversy is brewing at the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, which reportedly is set to dismiss two of its missionaries in West Africa for cooperating with non-Baptist colleagues to plant a church that isn't…
Church & People News for March 30, 2006
Staff Changes Randy Moore, to Clinchco Missionary Chapel, Clinchco, as interim pastor. Mike Jones, to Enon Church, Roanoke, as interim pastor. Nick Pegram, resigning as minister of education and administration at Manassas Church, Manassas, after 17 years of service. Krista…
Despite SBC urging, VP nominees don’t toe the line on donations
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — In a year when Southern Baptist Convention leaders are calling for the election of SBC officers “whose churches give at least 10 percent of their undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program” — the SBC's ministry budget…