ATLANTA (ABP) — What might be called the “Baptist diaspora” — a wide array of Baptists dispersed by a quarter century of denominational discord — will come together in downtown Atlanta Feb. 25-26 to consider “A New Day in Baptist…
First look at tsunami destruction stuns volunteers in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (ABP) — Even the most graphic television images and emotional verbal descriptions couldn't prepare the American volunteer team for the devastation that is coastal Sri Lanka, one of the countries hardest hit by the Dec. 26 tsunamis….
Georgia church, WMU donate $87,000 for water systems, promise more
(ABP) — Pure drinking water — a critical need to avoid an outbreak of deadly diseases in the wake of South Asia's tsunamis — got a boost from two sizeable donations from Baptists. First Baptist Church of Rome, Ga., donated…
Tsunami volunteers not needed yet but should prepare, leaders say
(ABP) — Volunteers are not needed to help yet with the relief effort in South Asia, but they need to be prepared for action. Relief leaders, including Baptists from around the world, continue assessing needs in the countries affected by…
Gonzales won’t repudiate torture memo despite appeals from religious leaders
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Although pledging not to tolerate torture of prisoners by American soldiers or law-enforcement agents, Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales also repeatedly refused Jan. 6 to renounce a controversial memo his office authored in 2002 supporting the legality…
Sudanese government, southern rebels sign long-awaited peace accord
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In what many hope will be the beginning of the end of a bloody conflict fueled by ethnic and religious differences, Sudan's Arab-dominated government signed a peace agreement Jan. 9. Meeting in neighboring Kenya, Vice President Ali…
Supreme Court sidesteps case on Florida adoption ban
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court has declined, without comment, to hear a challenge to Florida's ban on adoptions by homosexuals. Returning to the bench from their month-long winter break Jan. 10, the justices turned away an appeal in Lofton…
Wife of former Baptist executive, Bettye Cothen, dies in Miami at 83
MIAMI (ABP) — Bettye Cothen, 83, wife of former Southern Baptist executive Grady Cothen, died Jan. 10 in a Miami hospice. She had Parkinson's disease. For 63 years, she was married to Grady C. Cothen, retired president of the Southern…
Rick Warren to write column for Ladies’ Home Journal
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Southern Baptist pastor Rick Warren, whose books on spirituality have dominated secular best-seller lists for the past two years, will now write a monthly column for Ladies' Home Journal. The column, which debuts in the…
Louisiana College trustees nominate president, but lawsuit may block vote
Editor's Note: This updates and corrects a story released Jan. 6. PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) – Trustees of embattled Louisiana College will meet Jan. 17 to try again to elect a president, but they likely will be sued to prevent him…
Louisiana College trustees nominate president, but lawsuit may block vote
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — Trustees of embattled Louisiana College will meet Jan. 17 to try again to elect a president, but they likely will be sued to prevent him from taking office. Joe Aguillard, 47, a conservative professor and chair…
Cash is best for tsunami relief, Baptist disaster leaders say
(ABP) — If you want to help tsunami victims, money is better than supplies, disaster-relief leaders say. It is costlier to ship items overseas when the same supplies can be bought drastically cheaper in the country where relief workers are…