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…
Smiles, laughter pour out of Alzheimer’s respite group
ROUND ROCK, Texas (ABP) — Wednesday mornings at One Way Baptist Church are filled with laughter and fun. Tables in the fellowship hall are filled with people sharing stories and smiling at thoughts of days gone by. A woman recalls…
Judge says sex-ed program violates First Amendment
ROCKVILLE, Md. (ABP) — A federal judge has temporarily halted a sex-education program in a suburban Washington, D.C, school district, saying it violates the First Amendment's free-speech and religion clauses by promoting only one view of homosexuality. On May 5,…
Justice Department establishes task force on obscenity
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is pleasing conservative Christian leaders by focusing attention on pornography. Gonzales' deputy, Christopher Wray, announced May 5 that the Department of Justice is establishing a special task force that will try to curb…
Politics in pulpit spark church feud, members’ ouster in North Carolina
Editor's note: This story replaces one issued May 6. WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Nine members of a Baptist church in North Carolina say they were removed from membership because they disagree with the pastor's political views. Frank Lowe, one of…
Critics say church zoning measure in Alabama town violates federal law
PRICHARD, Ala. (ABP) — While sitting in the pews of a local church, Prichard City Council members unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on churches locating in business and commercial areas of town. The suspension, which passed April 21, has caused…
Megachurches more numerous than researchers thought, study shows
HARTFORD, Conn. (ABP) — The megachurch phenomenon may be even bigger than the experts thought. New research underway suggests there may be 1,200 or more of the biggie-sized congregations in the U.S. — not 850 as earlier studies showed. The…
As filibuster vote draws near, rhetoric reaches fever pitch
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A week chock-full of dueling press conferences is the latest sign that the Senate's war over the judicial filibuster is escalating — and may end with a “nuclear” detonation. As senators returned from a recess May 9,…
Virginia Baptist leader elected editor of Religious Herald
James E. White, a Virginia Baptist Mission Board department head and former Virginia Baptist pastor, will become editor of the Religious Herald on June 1. White, who has been team leader of the Mission Board's empowering leaders team since 2003,…
No Heritage column
There is no Heritage Column for May 5, 2005
Bluefield College dedicates Harman Chapel renovations
After nearly 40 years without significant repair, Bluefield College celebrated the completion of major renovations to its Harman Chapel and Performing Arts Center with a dedication ceremony April 15. Alumni, trustees, dignitaries and supporters of the project joined the Bluefield…