ATLANTA (ABP) — A study committee is recommending the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship set a cap on funding of its “partner” organizations and bring more structure to those relationships, including signed covenant agreements and public acknowledgements of those partnerships. The plan,…
CBF offering will honor Carters, support BWA, religious liberty, human rights
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will dedicate an annual offering for religious liberty and human rights — named for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter — and use a third of the proceeds to support the Baptist World Alliance. The…
CBF elects McNeill administrator, Baldridge as sole missions exec
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship hired Constance McNeill of Kansas City, Kan., as coordinator of administration for the Fellowship's Atlanta Resource Center. The CBF Coordinating Council on Feb. 17 approved a search committee's unanimous recommendation of McNeill, 51,…
‘Winn-Dixie’ producers hope good movies make good readers
LOS ANGELES (ABP) — It's a perennial question, like the chicken and the egg. Which was better, the book or the movie? For one film company, Los Angeles-based Walden Media, the issue is not either-or. Walden hopes its latest production,…
State executives, editors challenged to rethink denominational funding
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (ABP) — The financial future of denominational organizations like the Southern Baptist Convention could be in jeopardy if they do not recognize and adapt to changes in the church and the broader culture, David Schmidt told a…
Ga. Supreme Court hears arguments in Shorter College case
ATLANTA (ABP) — Georgia's highest court heard arguments Feb. 14 in a case that may decide the future of Shorter College. Trustees of the Rome school removed themselves from the Georgia Baptist Convention's control in 2002, arguing that convention officials…
Former Bush faith-based official blasts administration on plan
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Another former White House official has publicly criticized the Bush administration's efforts to support its “faith-based initiative.” David Kuo, a former deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, criticized his former colleagues…
Nominee Recommendation Sheet for Service in BGAV
Jimmy Draper to retire as LifeWay executive
Making good on a promise made a year ago, Jimmy Draper, president of Lifeway Christian Resources for 14 years, announced his retirement Feb. 7, to take effect next February. Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing house immediately named a…
Baylor University regents approve Sloan resignation
Baylor University regents Feb. 4 formally approved the transition of President Robert Sloan to chancellor beginning June 1 and asked two of their officers to name a search committee to seek his replacement. Sloan, who has served as Baylor's 12th…
House committee OKs discrimination bill
For the second time in as many years, a House panel has approved a bill that would allow some government-funded charities to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion. On a party-line vote Feb. 9, a subpanel of the…
Planned cap on CBF partner funding would reduce money for some, not others
By Greg Warner A plan under consideration by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship would cap CBF funding of outside organizations, which could reduce CBF support for some traditional ministry partners by as much as 31 percent. The long-awaited proposal from the…