SPRINGDALE, Ark. (ABP) — News of the nomination of Arkansas megachurch pastor Ronnie Floyd to be the next Southern Baptist Convention president has brought new attention to his church's high-tech evangelism methods and lackluster financial support of the denomination he…
NAMB cancels controversial contracts in effort to restore ‘Baptist confidence’
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (ABP) — The North American Mission Board has canceled four controversial contracts initiated by former president Bob Reccord that critics said were wasting Southern Baptist missions money. The cancellations, which reportedly will save millions of dollars, were…
Boost for college ministries urged, but where will money come from?
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — Baptists are losing momentum in connecting with college students, Mercer University President Kirby Godsey said May 4. “These college students will not demand our attention. They will simply ignore us.” Godsey urged the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship…
Peace treaty signed for Darfur, but not all factions on board
ABUJA, Nigeria (ABP) — Although the Sudanese government and the main rebel group in the nation's troubled Darfur region signed a peace treaty May 5, international representatives were still working May 9 to keep the deal from falling apart. Cracks…
Tenn. Baptists reject Belmont offer, will likely sue to retain control
NASHVILLE (ABP) — Tennessee Baptists voted May 9 to reject an offer of $5 million from Belmont University that would have given the school power to elect its own trustees. Instead, the Tennessee Baptist Convention likely will now sue the…
Floyd to be nominated SBC president, but other candidates likely to follow
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (ABP) — Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the largest Southern Baptist church in Arkansas, will be nominated as president of the Southern Baptist Convention next month. Georgia pastor Johnny Hunt, who until a week ago was the nominee favored…
Teaching world religions increases respect for freedoms, study suggests
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — A new study suggests mandatory teaching about world religions in public schools can increase teenagers' respect for religious freedom and other constitutional rights. The research, released May 8 by a Virginia-based think tank, studied 400 ninth…
Memphis-area megachurch defeats elder-led governance proposal
GERMANTOWN, Tenn. (ABP) — After a divisive and highly publicized debate about the role of elders in Baptist church governance, members of a large Memphis-area church have defeated a motion to switch from congregational polity to the elder system. The…
IMB trustee Burleson attacked again, but accuser may be violating new policy
ENID, Okla. (ABP) — In what could lead to another attempt to remove trustee Wade Burleson from the International Mission Board, a fellow trustee of the Southern Baptist agency is publicly criticizing Burleson for his views on baptism, alcohol and…