Orthodox Jews in Israel and abroad have reacted angrily to the High Court's decision March 31 to grant citizenship to some non-Orthodox converts who studied to be Jews in Israel. The ruling was issued in response to a petition filed…
New fundamentalist group isn’t an alternative to the BWA
By Greg Warner Fundamentalist Baptists in February formed a new international organization they hope will include Southern Baptists, who last year withdrew from the Baptist World Alliance, an international fellowship Southern Baptist Convention leaders maligned as too 'liberal.” But the…
Virginia Baptists, Averett University agree to sever 145-year relationship
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists have approved a joint statement developed with leaders of Averett University that will end their 145-year-old ties to the school. The Virginia Baptist Mission Board adopted the statement during its spring meeting April 6….
Anti-conversion bill in Sri Lanka could restrict liberty, relief work
The Sri Lankan government appears poised to vote on anti-conversion legislation in April, according to a number of media reports. If approved, the vote would cap a three-year effort by Buddhist leaders to stem the tide of rural Buddhists turning…
DeLay doesn’t back down on judges, though others call judiciary ‘fair’
WASHINGTON (ABP) — House Majority Leader Tom DeLay continued his rhetorical assault on the federal judiciary April 7, despite more temperate comments from his allies in the Senate. In a videotaped message to a group of conservative religious activists, DeLay…
Baptist rescue workers seek survivors of latest earthquake
A search-and-rescue team from Baptist World Aid and Hungarian Baptist Aid is trying to find survivors on the Indonesian island of Nias after a March 28 earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale. According to reports, the quake killed hundreds…
Clinton calls for religious-freedom bill despite liberal groups’ objections
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) called for Americans to defend the principle of religious liberty at home and abroad April 7, with special emphasis on foreign policy and a controversial piece of domestic legislation. In a Capitol Hill…
On the scene, again
Just months after a devastating earthquake and tsuanmi, the Indonesian island of Sumatra was hit by a second earthquake that left thousands dead. Baptists once more were on the scene offering relief and ministry. By Erich Bridges Southern Baptist relief…
Missouri judge puts second lawsuit against Baptist convention on hold
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A second lawsuit involving the Missouri Baptist Convention and five affiliated institutions has been put on hold pending the outcome of an appeal in an earlier, similar lawsuit. At a hearing on April 5, Cole…
Women’s basketball team wins national title for Baylor
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — Baylor University's Lady Bears basketball team won the university's first NCAA title in a major sport with a decisive 84-62 victory over the Michigan State Spartans April 5 in Indianapolis. The Baylor women's team finished the season…
Voters make Kansas 18th state with marriage amendment
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Kansas voters made that state the 18th in the nation to adopt a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage April 5. With all but one of the state's 210 precincts reporting April 6, voters had approved an amendment…
Southwestern elects former Muslim dean of new undergrad college
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Trustees of Southwestern Theological Seminary elected a controversial Muslim convert to Christianity as dean of the seminary's new undergraduate school, the College at Southwestern. Emir Caner, 34, was brought up to be a devout Sunni…