WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Senate's majority leader, citing his expertise as a physician, announced July 29 that he would support an expansion of federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. The decision puts Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) at odds with the…
U.S. Islamic groups issue formal fatwa against terrorism
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of North American Islamic scholars issued a formal fatwa, or religious ruling, condemning terrorism July 28. Although several Muslim groups and leaders in the United States have repeatedly condemned terrorism, the fatwa carries the force…
Baptists celebrate 100th anniversary of BWA with diversity, togetherness
BIRMINGHAM, England — An estimated 12,000 Baptist Christians from around the world celebrated a century of togetherness July 27, opening their five-day meeting in Birmingham, England, with vibrant music, vivid pageantry and stirring stories of faith. The Baptist World Centenary…
BWA council OKs larger budget, Virginia, Texas groups as members
BIRMINGHAM, England (ABP) — Two state Baptist conventions became full-fledged members of the Baptist World Alliance following election by the BWA's General Council July 27. The Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist General Association of Virginia join 211…
Rick Warren: Global Baptists ‘are all in this together’
BIRMINGHAM, England (ABP) — Affirming that Baptists from around the world can “have unity without uniformity,” Rick Warren told reporters at the Baptist World Alliance's centenary congress that the withdrawal of Southern Baptists from BWA was a “silly” mistake. “God…
Baptist women choose first African president
BIRMINGHAM, England (ABP) – South African Dorothy Selebano was elected president of the Baptist World Alliance's women's department, the first woman from Africa to be named to that post. Selebano was election to the five-year term in office during the…
Persecution the norm for Baptists in some parts of world, panel says
BIRMINGHAM, England (ABP) – Yanis Smits, bishop of the Latvian Baptist Union, said his countrymen encounter “difficulties” spreading the gospel within his home nation. Those troubles would be regular pressure from groups that are out to halt the work of…
Asian Baptist seminary consortium elects first female president
BANGKOK, Thailand (ABP) — A consortium of Asian Baptist seminaries has elected a Singaporean woman as its president and admitted a Japanese seminary to its membership. The board of the Asian Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary elected Lilian Lim president and…
Religious-freedom watchdogs dismayed by proposals for Iraq Constitution
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The drafting process for Iraq's permanent constitution is raising serious concerns among United States officials who monitor religious freedom. Reported July 27 comments from the Shiite Muslim who heads the nation's constitutional drafting committee — as well…