WASHINGTON (ABP) — The federal judge who recently lost her husband and mother to a disgruntled claimant had strong words of caution for “some members of Congress” and televangelist Pat Robertson May 18. Federal District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow criticized…
World Baptists more interested in unity than U.S. squabbles, BWA head says
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Baptists of the world are more interested in unity and ministry than in denominational squabbles like the one dividing Baptists in the southern United States, said Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. “It's…
Beheading of Christian leader in Bangladesh second in a year
JALALPUR, Bangladesh (ABP) — A Baptist lay pastor has been beheaded in Bangladesh, the second Christian leader to lose his life in that country in a year, according to a Christian news organization. Dulal Sarkar, 35, was attacked as he…
Protesters oppose Christian university planned for Moscow neighborhood
MOSCOW (ABP) – About 100 people picketed a district assembly building in Moscow May 17 because they said plans for a private Russian-American Christian college in a local neighborhood is a threat to the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the…
Church & People News for May 19, 2005
Staff Changes Larry Davis, to Skinquarter Church, Chesterfield, as pastor. Andrew J. Matthews, to Elon Church, Pamplin, as pastor. Shea Shrader, to Harman Memorial Church, Maxie, as pastor. Frank Johnson, to First Church, Woodbridge, as full-time executive pastor. Charles Weatherford,…
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…
Senate leaders call off negotiations, set sights on filibuster showdown
WASHINGTON (ABP) — With the breakdown of negotiations between the Senate's Democratic and Republican leaders, the chamber is closer than ever to a “nuclear” showdown over the filibuster. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced May 16 that his attempts…
Danny Akin warns of ‘grave weakness’ behind SBC’s slumping evangelism
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (ABP) — “All is not well” among Southern Baptists, according to seminary president Danny Akin, who cited slumping evangelism statistics as evidence of “grave weakness” in the denomination. The Southern Baptist Convention has “experienced a conservative resurgence,…
Federal judge strikes down Nebraska amendment banning gay marriage
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…