WASHINGTON (ABP) — The advent of state-sanctioned same-sex marriage in the United States was greeted May 17 with celebrations at city halls in Massachusetts — and a somber condemnation from President Bush. At 9:15 a.m. Eastern time, Marcia Kadish and…
Sloan survives regents vote; could cost Baylor millions
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Embattled Baylor University President Robert Sloan came within one vote of losing his job at the school's May 14 board of regents meeting. And the board's failure to change leadership at Baylor could cost the university…
Competing public-school resolutions proposed for Southern Baptist messengers
PETROS, Tenn. (ABP) — While a proposed resolution asking Southern Baptists to remove their children from public schools is getting widespread media attention, another resolution is being proposed in support of public education. The opposing statements will be considered by…
Observers: Indian election results renew hope for religious freedom
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The future for religious freedom in the world's biggest democracy looks much brighter after Indian voters overwhelmingly defeated a Hindu nationalist party, experts in the subject say. Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee resigned May 13, after…
Baylor regents elect new chair during closed-door session
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Will D. Davis, a lawyer from Austin, Texas, was elected chair of the Baylor University board of regents May 14, succeeding Drayton McLane of Temple. McLane, owner of the Houston Astros, was eligible for re-election as…
Tornado damages South Texas church
CONROE, Texas (ABP) – A tornado slammed RiverPointe Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston, May 11, ripping off a large section of the sanctuary roof and damaging much of the facility's interior. In about 90 seconds, the tornado…
Endowment to provide care for CBF missionary families
ATLANTA – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has received a $100,000 gift from Ed and Laura Anne Vick of Raleigh, N.C., to begin an endowment to promote the spiritual, emotional and physical health of missionaries and their families. The fund will…
Terror attacks pointing Spaniards to faith, Baptist leader says
DALLAS (ABP) – Spanish evangelicals are feeling an increased urgency for evangelism in the aftermath of terror attacks that killed almost 200 people March 11, according to a Baptist leader in Spain. Spanish Baptists, though still recovering after four explosions…
Gay cruise draws new attention to SBC agency’s Carnival stock
DALLAS (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Annuity Board faces another round of criticism for owning $14 million worth of stock in Carnival Cruise Lines, which is hosting “the First Annual Official Gay Days Cruise” beginning May 30. The four-night Bahamas…
Religious freedom commission warns about Iraq in annual report
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The future of religious freedom in the rebuilt Afghanistan may be in grave danger — and the United States should avoid similar problems as it rebuilds Iraq, according to a federal panel's annual report. Those observations were…
Federal panels turn spotlight on Turkmenistan’s rights violations
WASHINGTON (ABP) — When one thinks of international violators of religious freedom, totalitarian communist regimes such as North Korea or China often come to mind — as do theocratic Islamic nations such as Saudi Arabia or Iran. But members of…
As gay-marriage deadline nears, states, Congress scramble to respond
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As the May 17 deadline for the United States' first legal gay marriages approaches, members of Congress debated a nationwide ban on same-sex marriage, and one more state legislature narrowly rejected a similar amendment. “Gays are not…