WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptists in Italy — a nation President Bush counts as an ally in the Iraq war — are asking their American counterparts to help bring an end to that conflict. In a letter sent Nov. 12, the…
Tennessee Baptists to investigate teaching at three colleges
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Tennessee Baptists turned back an attack on “anti-Christian” teaching in public schools but agreed to investigate the biblical views taught in their three affiliated Baptist colleges. Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention Nov. 9-10 in Sevierville…
Hispanic attorney general draws praise from conservative groups
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Socially conservative groups have expressed support — and civil-liberties groups have expressed concern — over President Bush's selection of Alberto Gonzales to replace John Ashcroft as attorney general. Bush nominated Gonzales, who serves as the White House's…
Conservatives unhappy with Specter as chair of Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Religious conservatives are raising loud objections to the elevation of a pro-choice Republican to the chairmanship of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is in line to become the committee's new chairman when the…
Arkansas Baptists endorse ban on gay marriage for state, nation
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (ABP) — Messengers to the 151st annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Nov. 9-10 endorsed the Federal Marriage Amendment, approved a $19.7 million budget and re-elected a slate of officers. The marriage resolution expressed gratitude…
Mississippi Baptists elect first Hispanic, endorse gay-union ban
JACKSON, Miss. (ABP) — For the first time in its 169-year history, the Mississippi Baptist Convention elected an Hispanic as an officer. Messengers also threw their support behind state and national bans on gay marriage. Joel Medina, bivocational pastor of…
Missouri Baptists set stage to exclude churches that fund moderate causes
RAYTOWN, Mo. (ABP) — The conservative-oriented Missouri Baptist Convention took the first step toward limiting membership to “Southern Baptist” churches and excluding churches that support moderate organizations, including the state and national Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist General Convention…
Langford joins CBF of Missouri as associate coordinator
LIBERTY, Mo. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri has named Jeff Langford as its new associate coordinator. Langford, 35, previously was general manager of the International Publishing Management Association in Liberty. He received a bachelor of arts degree…
BGCT supports biblical marriage, public schools in resolutions
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas passed resolutions Nov. 9 supporting traditional marriage and public schools, but messengers avoided controversy over gay marriage and a proposed “exodus” from public education. Many state Baptist conventions this fall…
BGCT avoids Baylor dispute, declines motion to escrow funds
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas sidestepped the controversy over leadership at Baylor University when convention president Ken Hall ruled a motion to escrow funds for Baylor was out of order. Hall, president of…
Florida Baptists denounce gay unions, tighten church theological standards
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Florida Baptists voted to back amendments to the state and federal constitutions to ban gay marriage and to work with other denominations for their passage. The motion passed apparently without opposition during the annual meeting of…
BGAV disputes property, elects first black officer
ROANOKE, Va. (ABP) — Messengers to the Baptist General Association of Virginia's 181st annual meeting elected the group's first African-American officer, agreed to apply for membership in the Baptist World Alliance, and engaged in unexpected debate over the sale of…