NEW YORK (ABP) — Rep. Ed Schrock (R-Va.), one of Congress' staunchest opponents of gay rights, has declined to seek re-election to a third term in the House after a Washington activist's website claimed the congressman solicited sex with men…
Supporters fund documentary to highlight Bush’s faith image
NEW YORK (ABP) — A group of President Bush's supporters has produced a documentary that attempts to solidify his credentials among American evangelicals in time for the election. Producers held screenings of “George W. Bush: Faith in the White House”…
GOP speakers tout presidential faith in midst of anti-Kerry rhetoric
NEW YORK (ABP) — Amid searing rhetoric on national-security issues, at least two speakers at the Republican National Convention focused on the faith and character of presidents. Renegade Democratic Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia, delivering the convention's keynote address Sept….
Speakers present moderate face of GOP, as religion takes back seat
NEW YORK (ABP) — The Republican platform adopted Aug. 30 calls for reinstating prayer in public schools and banning all abortions. Meanwhile, delegates to the Republican National Convention heard prime-time speeches from leaders with more moderate views on some social…
70-year-old swims English Channel to promote church’s ministry in Haiti
RIDGEFIELD, Conn. (ABP) – George Brunstad gives new meaning to the term “putting feet to your faith.” In fact, he also put his arms and his legs into it. In an effort to raise awareness for his church's ministry in…
Whites no longer majority among Texas population
DALLAS (ABP) — It's official: Whites are no longer the majority population in Texas. Late last year, the number of non-Hispanic whites dipped below 50 percent for the first time since Texas became a state, according to the U.S. Census…
Richmond seminary shelters motorists stranded by storm
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — The Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond became a temporary shelter Aug. 30, providing safety to motorists stranded from the floods caused by Tropical Depression Gaston. Gaston dumped nearly a foot of rain during the afternoon and…
Gay, other moderate GOPers complain as party delegates approve platform
NEW YORK (ABP) — Shortly before delegates to their party's convention approved a platform that called for amending the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, the Log Cabin Republicans denounced what the group's director called a hijacking of the party by…
Christian leaders denounce Falwell, Robertson in New York Times ad
NEW YORK (ABP) — Declaring that “God is not a Republican. Or a Democrat,” a broad group of evangelical, mainline and Catholic Christian leaders has issued a high-profile response to recent comments by Religious Right leaders appearing to endorse President…
Longtime Mars Hill president dies following bout with cancer
MORGANTON, N.C. (ABP) — Fred Blake Bentley, president emeritus of Mars Hill College, died August 26 at his home on Lake James, near Morganton. Bentley, 68, had fought colon cancer since it was diagnosed in January 2002. When Bentley became…
SemiNEXT reaches out to strengthen church starters
HOUSTON (ABP) — Church planters worldwide will no longer have to leave their places of service temporarily to receive specialized theological training thanks to SemiNEXT, an online educational program being developed by Houston-area Baptist leaders. This fall organizers are unveiling…
Church re-start in Greenville spearheads future work with rural poor
GREENVILLE, Miss. (ABP) — Leaders in Mississippi are using the rebirth of a church in Greenville to spearhead long-term missions initiatives in the Mississippi Delta and establish a starting point for work with the rural poor. Located in Greenville, Harvest…