BATON ROUGE, La. (ABP) — A lack of bureaucracy made churches “the true first responders” when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast last year, a new survey found, but a little more coordination could have made them even more effective….
Trustees delay SWBTS plan to move $90 million endowment in-house
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary delayed action on a recommendation to transfer $90 million in seminary endowment funds from the Baptist Foundation of Texas to Southwestern's in-house foundation. According to a trustee document provided…
UPDATED: Former Bush official claims in new book, faith push politically motivated
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new book by a former White House faith official is causing shockwaves with reportedly explosive allegations that President Bush's aides have been duping religious conservatives for political gain. MSNBC's “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” program first reported…
CBF leaders told to eschew blogs, work with Baptists, raise money
ATLANTA (ABP) — Moderator Emmanuel McCall welcomed national leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to Atlanta Oct. 12 by urging them to “be the presence of Christ” on a new level — to other Christians. McCall, retired pastor of Christian…
CBF council picks four schools as identity partners, reports shortfall
ATLANTA (ABP) — The coordinating council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship approved four schools as identity partners Oct. 13 in the second day of its annual meeting, which focused on affirming partnerships with the organization. In a unanimous vote proceeded…
Prosperity gospel not all good, some Baptist leaders say
DALLAS (ABP) — A recent TIME magazine cover story asked: “Does God want you to be rich?” While the answer from many pulpits is a resounding yes, some Baptists have spoken against an increasingly popular health-and-wealth message. The prosperity gospel…
High court turns down case involving Scouting policy
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court declined Oct. 16 to hear an appeal of a California Supreme Court decision against a Scouting group denied free use of a Berkeley municipal facility because the Boy Scouts ban gays and atheists from…
Kuo book outlines journey away from faith’s reliance on politics
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A tell-all book by a former White House insider is roiling the conservative movement with its charge that top officials in President Bush's administration have been pandering to Christian conservatives for their votes while delivering little of…
Excerpts from David Kuo’s Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction
On President Bush's personal faith and its use: “Out of the public eye Governor Bush was doing a lot of spiritual sharing. Whether he was meeting with religious leaders in Austin, or speaking to church groups, he emphasized a single…