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…
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…
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…
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…