JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention's withdrawal from the Baptist World Alliance was the top Baptist news story of 2004, according to a survey of journalists. The murder of four SBC missionaries in Iraq was the second most…
North Carolina Bureau of Investigation looking into Southeastern’s finances
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (ABP) — The Wake County District Attorney has asked the State Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina to look into finances at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Colon Willoughby, the district attorney, said he has not received a…
CBF of North Carolina builds future for Kiev’s street children
KIEV, Ukraine (ABP) — As the world's attention focuses on Ukraine during a time of political unrest, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina is trying to bring hope to the region's forgotten homeless children. The street children of Kiev…
Americans United, ACLU offer first court challenge to ‘intelligent design’
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Two civil-liberties watchdog groups have filed the first known lawsuit to prevent public schools from teaching the theory of “intelligent design.” Critics of the theory, including supporters of evolution, call it “junk science” and say it is…
Bush administration, Baptist Joint Committee file briefs in Ten Commandments cases
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Two friend-of-the-court briefs filed recently in the U.S. Supreme Court present differing views on the role of the Ten Commandments in American history and whether government entities can display them. The Bush administration, represented by the Justice…
Latino Baptists go on mission to India through efforts of Texas school
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Two students — one a Mexican, the other a Nicaraguan — have just completed a semester doing missionary work in India through an Atlanta-based missions agency and their Texas theological school. Juan Acuña, a Californian who…
Virginia Baptists provide aid to one of China’s largest churches
Virginia Baptists have given a small but symbolically significant contribution to a Christian congregation that is building what is likely to be the largest church building in China. In October the Virginia Baptist Mission Board allocated $2,000 to Hangzhou Christian…
Canadian high court OKs gay marriage
Canada's Supreme Court paved the way Dec. 9 for the country to become the third country to allow nationwide recognition of gay marriages. The court ruled, in a clarification sought by Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal government, that the federal…
Advocates for a cause: Former SBC leaders rally to support BWA
By Greg Warner About 20 former Southern Baptist leaders met in Atlanta Dec. 4 to try to find ways to rebuild financial support for the Baptist World Alliance, which lost its largest member and funding source in October. The leaders,…
Third Catholic diocese files for bankruptcy
In an expected move, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Wash., filed for bankruptcy protection Dec. 6 to grapple with sexual abuse claims. Bishop William S. Skylstad announced in mid-November that the diocese planned to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy…
Cuban youth celebrate church’s renovation
More than 1,000 young people in eastern Cuba met in First Baptist Church of Moa Dec. 5 for a major celebration of the church's recent renovation. They came from seven provinces that make up the Baptist Convention of Eastern Cuba…
Faith-based agenda to continue, says staffer
The man spearheading President Bush's effort to increase government grants to religious social service agencies said the initiative will continue in Bush's second term, although he offered few specifics as to how that will happen. Speaking during a Washington conference…