LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — The Christian counseling department of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which defined the role of pastoral counseling for generations of ministers and Christian counselors, will make a wholesale change by emphasizing “biblical counseling” over behavioral science. The…
Psychology debate dates back to earlier era at Southern
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Duke McCall said the tension at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary between behavioral science and Christianity dates back to when he was president of the school and Wayne Oates was teaching pastoral counseling. “This discussion is not…
Kentucky convention cancels McLaren over author’s comments on salvation
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — The Kentucky Baptist Convention has withdrawn its invitation to pastor and author Brian McLaren to speak at its evangelism conference. Officials said they made the decision after reviewing McLaren's statements about salvation and the author's most…
Plan to amend Jefferson’s words fails in Virginia Senate
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — A Virginia legislative panel killed an amendment that would have altered one of the nation's oldest religious-freedom laws Feb. 21. On a bipartisan 10-5 vote, members of the Virginia Senate's courts of justice committee rejected a…
Competing rulings mean Schiavo will continue to receive food
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (ABP) — The legal saga of a severely brain-damaged Florida woman remains in limbo after competing court rulings. On Feb. 22, Pinellas County Circuit Judge George Greer ordered Terri Schiavo's feeding tube remain in place until at…
Donations for tsunami relief continue to grow, groups report
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's fund for tsunami relief topped $890,000 by the end of January, surpassing all previous CBF relief efforts “With nearly a million given by churches and individuals, CBF will be able to continue our…
Ministers should take leisure time seriously, Jim Henry tells editors
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (ABP) — To be healthy, ministers should plan their leisure time like they do other aspects of their ministry, said former Southern Baptist Convention president Jim Henry. Jesus practiced the ministry of leisure, said Henry, pastor of…
Fellowship council hears report to define ‘partners,’ limit funding
ATLANTA (ABP) — A study committee is recommending the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship set a cap on funding of its “partner” organizations and bring more structure to those relationships, including signed covenant agreements and public acknowledgements of those partnerships. The plan,…
CBF offering will honor Carters, support BWA, religious liberty, human rights
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will dedicate an annual offering for religious liberty and human rights — named for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter — and use a third of the proceeds to support the Baptist World Alliance. The…