SELMER, Tenn. (ABP) — On the day of Mary Winkler's initial court appearance, authorities have yet to disclose a motive for her crime, even though she has confessed to shooting her husband of 10 years. Winkler, 32, has been charged…
Wayland Baptist loses Hardage in California plane accident
DALLAS (ABP) — A top-level administrator at a Texas Baptist college has died in a plane crash, according to government and school officials. Wayland Baptist University Executive Vice President Bill Hardage died March 25 when a plane he was piloting…
Trustees impose controls on Reccord after report reveals NAMB abuses
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board met in an eight-hour closed session March 23, emerging with recommendations that impose “executive-level controls” on NAMB President Bob Reccord and other administrators at the agency….
IMB trustees clash with Rankin over doctrinal charges, information access
TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) — The often-contentious relationship between Jerry Rankin, president of Southern Baptists' International Mission Board, and his trustees boiled over again during the board's March 20-22 meeting in Tampa. Trustees clashed with their CEO over accusations of doctrinal…
Baptist Union of Great Britain picks Edwards for secretary role
OXFORDSHIRE, England (ABP) — In a move members will approve April 28, the Council of the Baptist Union of Great Britain has nominated Jonathan Edwards as its next general secretary. The nomination followed the retirement announcement of former General Secretary…
UPDATED: Surviving Christian activists reportedly freed from Iraqi captors
BAGHDAD (ABP) — Three Christian peace activists have been freed from captivity in Iraq, according to the organization under whose aegis they traveled to the war-torn country. Christian Peacemaker Teams learned early March 23 that British Baptist Norman Kember, 74;…
Ouachita trustees urge feasibility study for graduate program in theology
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (ABP) — Ouachita Baptist University trustees, meeting in executive session March 9, urged the OBU administration to explore the feasibility of launching a graduate program in theology. The action came in the form of a resolution by a…
Tennessee couple encourages others while battling cancer
JACKSON, Tenn. (ABP) — When Eric and Sharon Langshur's son, Matthew, was born five years ago with a congenital heart defect, they created a simple web site to provide updates, a message board, and a photo gallery for friends and…
Alabama fires suspects stay in jail, face arson and burglary charges
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — The three men charged in the string of 10 church fires in rural Alabama will not seek release on bond from their federal charges, their lawyers said. Matthew Lee Cloyd, 20; Benjamin Moseley, 19; and Russell…
Diverse groups urge administration to intervene in Afghan man’s case
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The plight of an Afghan man who could face the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity has united a broad array of religious, human-rights and advocacy groups that often find themselves ideologically opposed to each…
North Carolina CBF approves budget, elects new leaders
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — In its 13th General Assembly, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina reelected Don Horton, a layman from Zebulon Baptist Church, as moderator. Gail Coulter, pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Hendersonville, became moderator-elect. “It was…
IMB won’t remove blogging trustee but prohibits dissent in future actions
TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) — Trustees of the International Mission Board decided not to seek the removal of one of their own for criticizing trustee actions, but they adopted new guidelines to prohibit and punish such criticism in the future. After…