WASHINGTON (ABP) — Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has played a crucial role in many of the Supreme Court's most controversial decisions over the past 24 years, announced her plans to retire from that body July 1. The surprise announcement…
CBF assembly OKs partner proposal that caps funding, classifies schools
GRAPEVINE, Texas (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship affirmed a proposal for how the moderate group relates to its partner institutions and agencies, in spite of concern that the plan favors the strongest partners and harms the most vulnerable. “We've…
CBF’s new purpose statement critiqued for not mentioning Jesus, evangelism
GRAPEVINE, Texas (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship approved revisions to its constitution and bylaws July 1, turning aside a move to make a commitment to Jesus Christ and evangelism explicit in the CBF purpose statement. The old statement said,…
CBF council adjusts partnership report, approves $30,000 grant for BCE
GRAPEVINE, Texas (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council, meeting June 29 prior to the organization's annual general assembly, approved revisions to the partnership study committee report and approved a one-time gift of $30,000 to the Baptist Center for…
House of Commons legalizes gay marriage across Canada
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As Canada's lower house of Parliament voted to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide June 28, evoking strong responses from groups on both sides of the issue across the border in the United States. The House…
Dunns donate $100,000 to endow Moyers Scholar program
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A family relationship fostered under extraordinary circumstances more than 50 years ago has led two stalwarts of religious liberty, James and Marilyn Dunn, to establish a scholar program in honor of their friends, Bill and Judith Moyers….
Supreme Court declines Decalogue cases, agrees again to abortion-protestor cases
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In its final act of business for its 2004-05 term, the Supreme Court agreed June 28 to hear a pair of cases involving the rights of abortion-clinic protestors while turning away appeals in four cases in which…
Air Force names rabbi to ‘values’ post as controversy over religion grows
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As Pentagon officials appointed a rabbi to a new post overseeing the Air Force's religious environment, members of Congress and religious leaders disagreed over the extent of religious problems that have created a stir at the branch's…
Supreme Court offers split decisions in Ten Commandments cases
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The U.S. Supreme Court offered split decisions June 28 on an issue that often splits Americans — display of the Ten Commandments — ruling one such display in Texas was appropriate while two different displays in Kentucky…