By Greg Warner Associated Baptist Press The Baptist Manifesto, a theological statement that emphasizes the role of community in understanding Scripture to counterbalance individual freedom, has been misinterpreted by critics as opposing freedom of conscience, say seven Baptist theologians. “We…
Charismatic-leaning Southern Baptists being betrayed, excluded, says pastor
By John Pierce Baptists Today When Paul Pressler and Paige Patterson launched a revolution within the Southern Baptist Convention, they found an eager soldier in Ron Phillips. Phillips, 58, has been pastor of Central Baptist Church of Hixson, near Chattanooga,…
N.C. Baptist newspaper to pick some directors to ‘protect freedom’
By Greg Warner Associated Baptist Press The Biblical Recorder, newspaper of North Carolina Baptists, will choose some of its own directors in a move to preserve its journalistic freedom, say the newspapers leaders. Beginning this fall, the 172-year-old newspaper will…
Jordan’s king urges unity on terrorism
King Abdullah II of Jordan, speaking at a Feb. 2 gathering organized by evangelicals, urged Christians, Jews and Muslims to unite around common values and to consider terrorism as an “attack upon civilization” instead of a “clash of civilizations.” Addressing…
Conservatives expel Texas church for ties to gay-friendly ministry
A conservative church in Baytown, Texas, has been kicked out of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention because it lets a ministry to homosexuals use church meeting space. Although the Eklektos ministry affirms homosexuality, the church does not, its pastor…
Iraq churches hit, 3 Christians killed
An apparently coordinated series of bomb attacks Jan. 29 targeted Iraq’s Christian minority, killing three and injuring more. Bombs exploded within minutes of each other during Sunday services at two churches in the northern city of Kirkuk. At the city’s…
Jimmy Draper retires from LifeWay
Standing in the pulpit of First Baptist Church in Mixon, Texas, on Sept. 3, 1950, 15-year-old Jimmy Draper preached his first sermon. “I had it down to 30 minutes,” Draper said, recalling his first step into the ministry. “When I…
Cartoon sparks violence against Lebanese Christians
Incensed Muslims sacked Christian neighborhoods and burned the Dutch Embassy in Lebanon Feb. 5, angered by the publication of caricatures of the prophet Muhammad. Although some Muslim leaders appealed for peace, more than 20,000 protesters threw rocks, burned buildings and…
Criswell dean out after conflict over speaking in tongues
Doctrinal differences among Southern Baptist conservatives apparently have claimed another victim-Scott Camp, dean of students at Criswell College in Dallas. Camp's contract as dean, which ran through Jan. 31, was not renewed, in part because Camp supports speaking in tongues….
Chowan College sees mascot change as ‘opportunity’
Chowan College will change its mascot to comply with NCAA policies on Native-American mascots-this, after the Baptist school's president and board decided to forego the potential legal battle, time and expense of keeping the school's current mascot, the Braves. “The…
Texas pastor says all IMB trustees should be dismissed
As debate escalates over an effort by the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board to remove one of its trustees from office, a Texas Baptist pastor has warned that he might seek to have the entire board dismissed. Benjamin Cole,…
String of Baptist church burnings leaves questions, but no answers
By Andy Netzel Religion News Service A charred Bible rested on a table in front of what used to be Dancy First Baptist Church’s pulpit, where investigators believe the fire started. Walter Hawkins Jr., ran his fingers across the book,…