INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — Two moderate Baptist theology schools have received $2 million grants from the Lilly Endowment to work with churches to promote “ministerial excellence.” McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University’s theology school in Atlanta, will use the funds to…
Widowed Alabama pastor learns to ‘truly trust God’
STEVENSON, Ala. (ABP) — With joy in his voice, Derek Boyd talked about picking up his sons from school. It is one of the highlights of his day. Full of thoughtful reflections and humorous anecdotes, his conversation naturally flowed back…
Herod’s slaughter aside, Christians too familiar with genocide, author says
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Christians reading the biblical accounts of Jesus' birth are often jolted by King Herod's act of genocide. When told by the wise men of the birth of a Jewish king, Herod ordered all the Jewish infants…
UCC officials file FCC complaints against network TV affiliates
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The United Church of Christ has filed Federal Communications Commission complaints against two television stations in Florida over their parent networks' refusals to air a controversial church advertisement. Church officials, acting on behalf of UCC members in…
Accrediting agency places Louisiana College on probation
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — The major accrediting agency for schools in the South has placed a Louisiana Baptist college on probation for a year for violating the agency's standards. Louisiana College officials announced Dec. 7 that the Pineville, La., school…
Aiming at Southwest Virginia
Ministers and laity in the southwestern part of Virginia will benefit from a new theological training center approved last week by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, as part of an agreement with Averett University. By Robert Dilday A proposal by…
Faculty-wide vote at Baylor calls for president’s firing
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…