WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush signed into law Nov. 5 the first federal restriction on abortion in 30 years, but barely an hour later a federal judge partially blocked its enforcement. Bush signed a bill banning a kind of abortion…
Arkansas Baptists back diversity, Federal Marriage Amendment
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (ABP) — In a harmonious Arkansas Baptist State Convention meeting Nov. 4-5 in Fayetteville, about 900 messengers approved a 2004 Cooperative Program budget of $19.5 million, heard a report on racial harmony and diversity, endorsed a resolution in…
New Mexico Baptists support family, answer call to minister in Bangkok
ROSWELL, N.M. (ABP) — Signaling a theme that likely will surface in many of this fall's Baptist conventions, Baptists in New Mexico adopted resolutions Oct. 29 favoring government support of the traditional family, endorsing public affirmations of God, and denouncing…
Georgia settlement addresses ‘faith-based’ employment rights
ATLANTA (ABP) — A closely watched case regarding government funding for “faith-based” social-service organizations has ended in a settlement that critics of the practice are counting as a victory. The State of Georgia and the United Methodist Children's Home in…
Missouri Baptists cut funds for William Jewell College
ST. LOUIS (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention broke a 154-year tradition and voted Nov. 4 to stop funding William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., over issues of homosexuality and morality. Messengers at the annual meeting eliminated the Baptist school…
Carroll Institute hires first faculty, denies competition with Southwestern
DALLAS (ABP) — Although the new B.H. Carroll Theological Institute is being founded by former administrators and faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, founders insist the new seminary is not formed in reaction to changing leadership at Southwestern and will…
Third World Anglican bishops denounce installation of gay man
DURHAM, N.H. (ABP) — Shortly after an openly gay man was installed as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, his brethren in the Third World reacted with anger — some of them cutting off their relations with…
Proposed Afghanistan constitution may not protect religious freedom
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Some observers are worried that a new constitution for Afghanistan may do little more to protect religious freedom than did the oppressive Taliban government. After months of negotiations among members of a constitutional commission, a draft of…
Kentucky Baptists unveil proposed staff reorganization
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — The Kentucky Baptist Convention plans to reorganize its staff, taking the first major step toward implementing a new mission plan. The proposed reorganization will eliminate two filled positions, reassign two employees and take advantage of five…