(ABP) — As “values voters” in 11 states sent a political message rejecting same-sex marriage, Baptist conventions in at least seven states offered a resounding “Amen” by adopting resolutions against the practice. Most of the statements voiced support for constitutional…
BGCT, university reach compromise over ties to conservative group
HOUSTON (ABP) — Houston Baptist University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas have agreed to a “memorandum of understanding” that maintains their long-standing relationship but with reduced funding for the school. According to Keith Bruce, coordinator of institutional ministries…
Congress adds anti-abortion provision to federal appropriations package
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Shortly before leaving town for their Thanksgiving break, members of Congress slipped into a spending bill a provision that supporters say limits “discrimination” against anti-abortion hospitals but that opponents say will circumvent state laws intended to guarantee…
Vermont, Virginia court rulings at odds in lesbian custody battle
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Vermont judge has ruled that gay couples united in civil unions should be treated no differently than heterosexual married couples who have had children by artificial insemination when it comes to custody disputes. The decision sets…
North Carolina church leaves convention over woman preacher
MARION, N.C. (ABP) — Parker's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church voted Nov. 7 to withdraw from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Baptist Association after learning that a woman had been slated to preach the annual…
A new wave
An estimated 4 billion people-about two-thirds of the world's population-learn through the spoken word rather than the written word. A new missions partnership is devising a strategy to plant churches among these “oral learners.” A “new wave” of missions outreach…
FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK: We don’t agree either
No part of the Religious Herald draws more comment than the opinion pieces we run on the “Voices” pages. It's one of the liveliest — and, to be honest, among the most stimulating — aspects of the Herald's ministry. The…
Racially-diverse faith coalitions tackle conservative issues
With the results of the election fresh on his mind, pastor Ken Friendly called a meeting of black and white ministers in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss forming a chapter of the Traditional Values Coalition. The African-American pastor of Lighthouse Christian…
Some clerics want values without conservative definitions
Twenty-four religious leaders have announced a nationwide effort to expand the political debate on values beyond abortion and gay marriage to incorporate subjects such as housing, education and crime control. The clergy, most of them politically liberal to moderate, have…