WACO, Texas (ABP) — A majority of Baylor University faculty who voted in a nonbinding referendum on the leadership of President Robert Sloan say he should be dismissed. Of the 490 votes cast, 85 percent were against retaining Sloan as…
Networks reject UCC ads, citing gay controversies
Two major television networks have rejected advertisements that stress a Protestant denomination's inclusiveness. The United Church of Christ announced Nov. 30 that negotiations with NBC and CBS officials over the TV spots had broken down. NBC executives told church leaders…
Church puts interactive twist on familiar Christmas drama
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP) – With just a portable heater as defense against the cool night, Kendra Jackson waits for the next group of Christmas celebrants to arrive. The 30-something mother of two daughters is portraying Anna in the interactive Christmas…
First U.S. Muslim cable network debuts
With American Muslims an untapped television market and heightened interest in Islam among non-Muslims, the first-ever American Muslim television network has begun broadcasting nationwide. Many American Muslims have anxiously awaited the debut as a signal that Muslims are gaining recognition…
Godsey to retire as Mercer president in 2006; search to begin for successor
MACON (ABP) — Kirby Godsey, Mercer University's longest-serving president, announced he will retire in 18 months, and trustees expect to start the search for his successor as early as spring. At a recent trustee meeting, Godsey, 68, revealed his plans…
Americans divided over how world was created
A Gallup Poll suggests that Americans are divided over how the world was created, but most appear skeptical that it happened exactly as described in the book of Genesis. The poll found that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution remains controversial…
One-day mission blitz grows into interdenominational effort
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Ten years ago, Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., was a church ready for a new challenge. To revitalize the congregation, staff members envisioned a brief local-missions blitz with the ambitious goal of involving more…
Supreme Court declines to intervene in gay case
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request to review a Massachusetts court's decision that legalized gay marriage in that state. The justices declined Nov. 29 without comment a request from a group of Massachusetts legislators to review a decision…
CBF partnership with congregational center provides free consultation to churches
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has launched a three-year partnership with the Center for Congregational Health, a consulting and training center in Winston-Salem, N.C., to provide a number of consulting services free to churches. The center will provide…
Crisis care training to be offered in January
Training for crisis care chaplains will be offered conjunction with disaster relief efforts Jan. 14-15 at the Virginia Baptist Resource Center in Richmond. In responding to destruction caused by hurricanes in Florida and the Caribbean this fall, Virginia Baptist realized…
Federal judge narrows scope of lawsuit challenging Bush faith-based plan
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A federal judge has dismissed the most sweeping portions of a lawsuit that challenged President Bush's faith-based initiative as unconstitutional. On Nov. 16, Judge John Shabaz of the U. S. District Court of Western Wisconsin dismissed most…
Disaster relief training to be offered next year
Virginia Baptists' disaster relief ministry will conduct five training events in 2005. All sessions are two-day events, begining at 6 p.m. on a Friday and concluding at 3 p.m. on a Saturday. Training will include orientation in disaster relief, mass…