WACO, Texas (ABP) — Two years after the death of Patrick Dennehy, his former Baylor University basketball teammate Carlton Dotson pleaded guilty June 8 to his murder. Dotson, 22, surprised prosecutors and even his family by submitting an open plea…
Leaders launch ecumenical effort to end hunger in U.S. by 2015
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A broad array of religious leaders has launched an ambitious effort to combat domestic hunger and poverty. Several hundred Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other leaders culminated a weekend conference in Washington June 7 by visiting Capitol Hill…
Air Force Academy officials clear cadet but outside investigations expand
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — While the United States Air Force Academy has cleared its just-graduated top cadet of charges that he violated the First Amendment, Pentagon officials have announced further expansions of their investigation into the religious climate at the…
Church & People News for June 9, 2005
Staff Changes Kelly Dampeer Sr., to Cedar Bluff Church, Buchanan, as pastor. Sam Harvey Jr., to Riverdale Church, Roanoke, as interim pastor. Todd Kube, to Falmouth Church, Falmouth, as interim pastor. Richard Hanks, to Pocahontas Bassett Church, Bassett, as interim…
Lack of African-American support delays launch of ecumenical group
WASHINGTON (ABP) — An ambitious new ecumenical Christian group has postponed its formal organization due to a lack of enthusiasm from historically African-American denominations. Supporters decided to delay organizing Christian Churches Together during a June 1-3 meeting which was held…
Author of Bush abortion-rate study admits flaws, but challenges critics
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A controversial study suggesting the abortion rate has increased since President Bush took office was off the mark, its author now admits. But he also says new figures vindicate some of his contentions. A recent study of…
Church leaves SBC, N.C. convention over anti-Quran sign controversy
FOREST CITY, N.C. (ABP) — The church that received national media attention in late May for a sign that said the Muslim holy book should be put in a toilet has withdrawn from the Southern Baptist Convention. The congregation of…
Texas Baptist board approves revamped representation plan
DALLAS (ABP) –The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board has approved revised bylaws that would reduce the board's size by more than half. Messengers to the BGCT annual meeting Nov. 7-8 in Austin will vote on the amended bylaws…
Moderate Missouri convention elects executive, approves strategic plan
ROACH, Mo. (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Missouri approved a strategic plan and elected Jim Hill as executive director during the moderate convention's annual meeting April 29-30. Hill, named interim executive director at last year's meeting, will become…
Baylor interim sets decisive course with first-day appointments
WACO, Texas (ABP) – Baylor University's interim president steered the rudder of Baptists' flagship university during his first day at the helm. Bill Underwood announced three high-level administrative appointments, most pointedly replacing the university's top academic officer, David Lyle Jeffrey,…
Missouri appeals court ruling deals partial setback to agencies
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A state appeals court ruling means the Missouri Baptist Convention will be able to continue pursuing its lawsuit against five agencies that removed themselves from MBC control. In a preliminary opinion issued May 31, the…
Calif. legislators narrowly defeat legalization of gay marriage
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (ABP) — California legislators narrowly defeated a bill June 2 that would have made that state the first in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage legislatively. The 37-36 vote in favor of the bill, although a narrow majority,…