WASHINGTON (ABP) — A civil-rights group has filed suit against the state of Oregon on behalf of a group of gay couples, and Iowa legislators have rejected an anti-gay-marriage amendment to that state's constitution — the latest salvos in the…
Women’s ministry group relocates to Atlanta
ATLANTA (ABP) — Baptist Women in Ministry, started in 1983 to support Southern Baptist women serving as ministers, will move its offices to Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology in northeast Atlanta. The group celebrated its 20th anniversary last summer…
Baptist leader testifies as House examines faith-based programs
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A March 23 congressional hearing designed as a celebration of President Bush's faith-based initiative served as a platform for a Baptist lawyer to recite the dangers she believes it poses to religious freedom. Several religious-freedom experts and…
Suspected arson thwarts reopening of black church in Louisiana
CYPREMORT, La. (ABP) — March 12 was the day 100 former members of Mount Olive Baptist Church near Cypremort Point planned to gather for their first service since the church closed its doors five years ago. However, an arsonist set…
Senate panel holds first hearing on anti-gay-marriage proposal
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Senate panel held its first official hearing on an updated version of the Federal Marriage Amendment — less than 24 hours after the legislation was introduced. While supporters of the amendment praised changes in its language,…
Amendment sponsors change wording to allow more room for civil unions
WASHINGTON (ABP) — On the eve of the first official congressional hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, its principal sponsors announced a change they say clarifies the proposal — but the amendment's opponents say the change…
Appeals court rules against Shorter College reorganization
ROME, Ga. (ABP) — Shorter College's dissolution and reorganization that created a self-perpetuating board of trustees last year “cannot stand” without the Georgia Baptist Convention's approval, a state appeals court ruled March 17. The ongoing legal battle between the GBC…
Missionary family escapes Madrid terror attacks
MADRID, Spain (ABP) — Had it happened another day, David Dixon might no longer be dean of a Spanish seminary, no longer be pastor of an international church, no longer be father to three boys. Dixon normally would have been…
Louisiana College president leaves, VP resigns, trustees ignore protests
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — Trustees of Louisiana College met March 16 without revisiting a controversial textbook policy or commenting on the recent resignations of the Baptist school's president and academic vice president. Trustees did add an unscheduled meeting for April,…
BGCT names minorities to chair all seven appointed committees
DALLAS (ABP) — For the first time in the history of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, ethnic minorities chair all seven of the appointed committees. The convention's officers, led by BGCT president Ken Hall, made the appointments to integrate…
Romanian street children inspire Alabama man to start ministry
DOTHAN, Ala. (ABP) — In 1998 Sonny Glover went to Romania on a missions trip looking to do church construction. Instead, he looked into the big, brown eyes of a young girl who changed his life. The girl, a 4-year-old…
Florida church accused of defrauding ill woman out of $1.8 million
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — A lawsuit filed against First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach claims the church defrauded a mentally ill woman out of her $1.8 million inheritance. Lucinda Bennett, 34, attended First Baptist Church from 1998…