WASHINGTON (ABP) — New video footage of four Christian peace activists held hostage in Iraq has buoyed hope among their friends and loved ones — weeks after their captors' deadline for executing them. After more than a month of silence,…
Simultaneous Iraq bomb attacks hit churches, kill 3 Christians
WASHINGTON (ABP) — 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….
Conservatives expel Texas church for ties to gay-friendly ministry
BAYTOWN, Texas (ABP) — 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…
Former Brewton-Parker president Starr Miller, 84, dies in Georgia
NEWNAN, Ga. (ABP) — W. Starr Miller, president emeritus of Brewton-Parker College, a Georgia Baptist school in Mt. Vernon, Ga., died Jan. 26. Miller, 84, had lived in Newnan, Ga., in retirement. Miller served as Brewton-Parker's president from 1979 to…
No News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for January 26, 2006
North Carolina committee nominates consensus candidate for executive
ASHEBORO, N.C. (ABP) — Leaders of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina have nominated a candidate with support from both moderates and conservatives to the fractious statewide body's executive post. The convention's board of directors voted, without opposition, Jan….
Virginia legislators move closer to anti-gay-marriage amendment
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia legislators have moved their state one step closer to adopting a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The Virginia Senate voted 28-11 Jan. 24 to follow Virginia's lower legislative chamber, the House of Delegates, in approving…
Multiracial congregations exhibit seven characteristics, says Yancey
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Seven principles characterize successful multiracial congregations, according to studies conducted by sociologist and author George Yancey. Yancey, who has written a book titled One Body, One Spirit: Seven Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches, described those principles…
CBF of North Carolina hires Jones to missions post
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — The North Carolina state affiliate of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has hired an associate pastor from Wilmington to serve as its missions coordinator. The group's coordinating council called Linda Marie Jones to the post, introducing her…
Mercer leaders ponder potential as national Baptist university
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Can Baptists build and sustain a national Baptist university? It hasn't been done yet, said top leaders at Mercer University, but Mercer has as good a chance as anyone. “Mercer may be the best hope for…
Who’s speaking for the church?
Editorial for January 26, 2006 By Jim White Why aren't more unbelievers listening to what the church is saying? Perhaps they are. Sometimes I try to put myself in the place of the unchurched and I listen to what “the…
Mercer leaders want more ‘Baptistness,’ despite loss of convention affiliation
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — In the first major event since the Georgia Baptist Convention unilaterally voted to break a 173-year-old relationship with its flagship university, Mercer University officials welcomed more than 150 church leaders to the campus Jan. 19-20 to…