LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — He once was considered by many the best preacher in the country. But it wasn't until he fell from that pinnacle and began selling funeral services door to door that Joel Gregory says he learned “that…
In this Souper Bowl, the hungry are winners
HOUSTON (ABP) — No matter who competes in the next Super Bowl, youth from across the country are drawing up a game plan to make sure hungry people win on Super Bowl Sunday. They're preparing to participate in the Souper…
Wingfield leaves Standard, joins Dallas church staff
DALLAS (ABP) — Mark Wingfield, managing editor of the Baptist Standard, is leaving denominational journalism after 21 years to join the staff at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. At a called church conference Nov. 19, the Dallas congregation overwhelmingly voted…
Republicans add DC voucher plan to unamendable appropriations bill
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Republican leaders in the House and Senate have quietly slipped a measure into a federal appropriations bill that would create the first federally sponsored school-voucher program. The proposal, which would create a publicly funded scholarship program for…
Eldorado bus crash claims another victim
ELDORADO, Texas (ABP) — The October bus crash that killed five members of First Baptist Church in Eldorado, Texas, and three of their friends has claimed another life. Billy Frank Blaylock, 78, died Nov. 17 at a San Angelo hospital…
Daytona Beach church ousted over female co-pastor
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — Central Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., has been removed from membership in the Halifax Baptist Association because of the congregation's female co-pastor. Sonja Phillips and her husband, Dave, were hired as co-pastors of the…
Alabama Baptists affirm display of 10 Commandments
MOBILE, Ala. (ABP) — Messengers to this year's Alabama Baptist State Convention voiced their support for publicly displaying the Ten Commandments and approved a status quo Cooperative Program budget for 2004. Messengers overwhelmingly adopted a Ten Commandments resolution that encouraged…
Board member named interim at Central Seminary
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (ABP) — James McCrossen, an ordained American Baptist, has been appointed interim president at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kan. McCrossen, a member of the school's board of directors, was named to the position by…
Tampa-area pastor re-elected at peaceful Florida Baptist meeting
TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) — Florida Baptists experienced a harmonious meeting and re-elected Tampa-area pastor Tommy Green to an uncontested second term as president during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention meeting Nov. 10-11 at the Sun Dome in Tampa. The…
Tampa-area pastor re-elected at peaceful Florida Baptist meeting
TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) — Florida Baptists experienced a harmonious meeting and re-elected Tampa-area pastor Tommy Green to an uncontested second term as president during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention meeting Nov. 10-11 at the Sun Dome in Tampa. The…
S.C. Baptists hold line on budget, approve South Asia partnership
COLUMBIA, S.C. (ABP) — The 1,230 registered messengers attending the 183rd annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention adopted a $32.15 million budget for 2004, approved a three-year missions partnership with South Asia, and elected a Boiling Springs pastor…
Massachusetts court legalizes gay marriage but stops short of issuing marriage licenses
[UPDATED] WASHINGTON (ABP) — The first shoe dropped in America's legal debate over gay-marriage when a closely divided Massachusetts court ruled Nov. 18 that a state agency could not deny same-sex couples the right to marry. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial…