INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — In an eventful first day of their annual meeting, Southern Baptists heard a rousing speech from President George W. Bush, broke ties with the Baptist World Alliance, and elected a new convention president June 15. During the…
American Baptist leader labels Patterson’s charges ‘outrageous’
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — Paige Patterson's assessment of the American Baptist Churches USA's stand on homosexuality is “completely outrageous,” declared ABC General Secretary Roy Medley. Patterson, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention's Baptist World Alliance study committee, cited BWA's affiliation…
House committee removes controversial church-politicking provision from trade bill
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A House committee has scuttled a provision in a trade bill that would have allowed churches to engage in partisan politics. On June 14, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously removed an addendum to the “American…
Terry Nichols ‘born again,’ avoids death sentence again
McALESTER, Okla. (ABP) — A jailhouse conversion to Christianity may be what saved Terry Nichols from the death penalty during a state trial for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings, according to both the prosecution and defense lawyers. Nichols faced 161…
Supreme Court avoids ‘under God’ issue in rejecting father’s challenge to pledge
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Fifty years to the day after the words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to remove them — but only on technical grounds. On June 14, the…
Supreme Court avoids ‘under God’ issue in rejecting father’s challenge to pledge
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Fifty years to the day after the words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to remove them — but only on technical grounds. On June 14, the…
Doctors daunted by insurance rates affecting Christian-based health care
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (ABP) — High-priced malpractice insurance, which is prompting many physicians across the country to reduce their practices or leave the field, is also limiting health care for patients who use free and Christian-operated clinics. In Kentucky, a free…
Reagan’s battle with Alzheimer’s turns spotlight to stem-cell research
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Despite the sudden national attention directed to stem-cell research following the death of former President Ronald Reagan, researchers say Alzheimer's disease may not be a candidate for stem-cell treatment. “I think the chance of doing repairs to…
Federal court upholds Tennessee decision to ban Bible classes in public schools
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., (ABP) — The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower-court ruling Monday that it is unconstitutional for a Tennessee school district to allow devotional Bible education in the classroom. Sue Porter, superintendent for the Rhea County…