DALLAS (ABP) — The lone survivor of a March 15 drive-by shooting in Iraq that killed four Southern Baptist mission workers is recovering well in a Dallas-area hospital, according to an International Mission Board spokesman. Carrie Taylor McDonnall, 26, of…
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…
Lone survivor of Iraq shooting upgraded to stable condition
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — The lone survivor of a drive-by shooting that killed four Southern Baptist workers in Iraq has been upgraded to stable but critical condition and is “doing well” in a German hospital, according to an International Mission…
Pentecostals lead modest growth in U.S. church membership
NEW YORK (ABP) — The number of Protestants — particularly Pentecostals — continues to increase in the United States, with a fourth Pentecostal denomination joining the list of 25 largest U.S. religious bodies. The new numbers come from the 2004…
Many Protestant ministers not willing to serve small churches, study says
DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) — Although there are more Protestant ministers than churches, many ministers don't want to work for those congregations, especially smaller ones, according to a study by Duke University. While nearly every denomination surveyed has more than one…