WASHINGTON (ABP) — For the first time, a federal judge has overturned a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. On May 12, U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon of Nebraska said that state's ban on gay marriage and other same-sex legal…
CBF church in N.C. ends bid for associational membership
WILMINGTON, N.C. (ABP) — A new Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church in southeastern North Carolina has withdrawn its application for membership in the Wilmington Baptist Association after it became the subject of debate at the association's meeting May 12. North Brunswick…
Federal appeals court rules in favor of ‘In God We Trust’ inscription
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — A federal appeals court has said an inscription of the national motto, “In God We Trust,” on a North Carolina government building is constitutional. In a unanimous ruling May 14, a three-judge panel of the Virginia-based…
ACLU challenges government funds for ‘evangelistic’ sex-ed program
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A civil-liberties group is challenging the constitutionality of government support for an abstinence-only sex-ed program that bills itself as an “evangelistic ministry” and gives teenagers silver rings inscribed with a Bible passage. The Massachusetts branch of the…
Endowed chairs for Garlands are double rarity for Baylor
WACO, Texas (ABP) – A married couple who teach at Baylor University, David and Diana Garland, have had two academic chairs endowed in their honor. The endowments are a double rarity: Baylor never has established individual chairs for both husband…
Eastern Baptist Seminary to be renamed after former president
WYNNEWOOD, Pa. (ABP) – To honor the legacy of former president Gordon Palmer, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary will change its name to Palmer Theological Seminary July 1. Eastern, located in suburban Philadelphia, is one of 10 seminaries related to American…
Waynesville pastor resigns after conflict over politics
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Embattled pastor Chan Chandler announced his resignation during a business meeting May 10, surprising both supporters and detractors at East Waynesville Baptist Church. Chandler, 33, had been pastor of the church for two and a half…
Chaplain echoes alleged bias at Air Force Academy
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A chaplain at the Air Force Academy is seconding accusations that there is a bias at the school in favor of evangelical Christians. According to news reports, Capt. Melinda Morton spoke out publicly May 11, as a…
Report: U.S. anti-Muslim incidents increase 49 percent in 2004
WASHINGTON (ABP) — An annual report by an American Islamic group shows that reports of anti-Muslim incidents increased dramatically last year. Officials of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Islamic civil-rights group, announced May 11 that reports of…
California legislators scuttle proposed gay-marriage bans
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Legislators in California have scuttled, at least temporarily, an attempt to amend that state's Constitution to ban gay marriage. Committees of both the state's legislative chambers — the California Senate and California Assembly — rejected the amendment…
Baptists sent as much $15 million in tsunami aid, BWA hears
BANGKOK, Thailand (ABP) — Baptist groups from around the world affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance have contributed as much as $15 million so far in relief for victims of the December 26 South Asian tsunamis, according to a BWA…
Commission on global religious freedom adds Uzbekistan to violators list
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A federal panel charged with monitoring religious freedom worldwide is asking the Bush administration to take sanctions against Pakistan, Uzbekistan and several other nations for severe violations. Members of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom…