WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush signed into law Nov. 5 the first federal restriction on abortion in 30 years, but barely an hour later a federal judge partially blocked its enforcement. Bush signed a bill banning a kind of abortion…
Arkansas Baptists back diversity, Federal Marriage Amendment
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (ABP) — In a harmonious Arkansas Baptist State Convention meeting Nov. 4-5 in Fayetteville, about 900 messengers approved a 2004 Cooperative Program budget of $19.5 million, heard a report on racial harmony and diversity, endorsed a resolution in…
New Mexico Baptists support family, answer call to minister in Bangkok
ROSWELL, N.M. (ABP) — Signaling a theme that likely will surface in many of this fall's Baptist conventions, Baptists in New Mexico adopted resolutions Oct. 29 favoring government support of the traditional family, endorsing public affirmations of God, and denouncing…
Georgia settlement addresses ‘faith-based’ employment rights
ATLANTA (ABP) — A closely watched case regarding government funding for “faith-based” social-service organizations has ended in a settlement that critics of the practice are counting as a victory. The State of Georgia and the United Methodist Children's Home in…
Missouri Baptists cut funds for William Jewell College
ST. LOUIS (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention broke a 154-year tradition and voted Nov. 4 to stop funding William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., over issues of homosexuality and morality. Messengers at the annual meeting eliminated the Baptist school…
Carroll Institute hires first faculty, denies competition with Southwestern
DALLAS (ABP) — Although the new B.H. Carroll Theological Institute is being founded by former administrators and faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, founders insist the new seminary is not formed in reaction to changing leadership at Southwestern and will…
Festival celebrates 10 years of connecting faith, film
LOS ANGELES (ABP) — In a place known for its glitz and greed, the City of the Angels Film Festival is all about inspiration and redemption. An annual event that brings filmmakers, theologians and film fans together to explore what…
Study finds grandparents play prominent role in care-giving
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (ABP) — Nearly 6 million grandparents live in the same household with their grandchildren in the United States, and 40 percent of those grandparents are the primary care-givers for their grandchildren. One third of grandparent care-givers live in…
Darrel Baergen, Baptist professor, playwright, dies of cancer
ABILENE, Texas (ABP) — Baptist professor, playwright, director and producer Darrel Baergen died Oct. 23 in Abilene after a long battle with cancer. He was 68. Baergen committed most of his career to teaching speech and drama in three Baptist…
Supreme Court declines to hear Roy Moore’s appeal on monument
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has dealt what would appear to be the death blow to Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's legal crusade to display a Ten Commandments monument in a state building. On Nov. 3 the justices…
Patterson airs professor’s charges of lax theological scrutiny at IMB
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (ABP) — The International Mission Board should rid itself of “unbiblical” practices and alliances with Christian mission groups that do not enforce strict theological parameters, a Southern Baptist missions professor urges. Keith Eitel, professor of Christian missions…
Virginia Baptists may cut Averett funds in dispute over homosexuality, Scripture
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists will be asked to withhold about $350,000 they planned to contribute to Averett University next year until a dispute over homosexuality and biblical interpretation can be resolved. The Baptist General Association of Virginia's budget…