By Bob Allen An American Baptist church in Evansville, Ind., drew local media attention with reports it has reversed its previous policy of acceptance and inclusion of members who are openly gay. NBC television affiliate WFIE reported Aug. 21 that…
Baptist minister enters prison system
By Bob Allen A former British Baptist pastor convicted last year of sexual abuse has been transferred to custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections. Robert Dando, former senior minister at Worcester Park Baptist Church in suburban London, is now…
Baptist minister enters state prison system
Baptists meet Isaac with humor, readiness
By Jeff Brumley Baptists meeting in Antigua greeted Tropical Storm Isaac’s passage through the Caribbean with humor and determination while Cooperative Baptist Fellowship officials in Florida and other Gulf states prepared for the worst. Isaac caused disruptions including flight cancellations at…
Saddleback civil forum called off
By Bob Allen Saddleback Church pastor and Purpose-Driven Life author Rick Warren announced Aug. 22 that a civil forum planned with President Obama and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has been canceled. Warren, who held a similar event in…
AU asks IRS to investigate Mo. Baptists
By Bob Allen A watchdog group that advocates strict separation of church and state has called on the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether a Missouri Baptist newspaper editor violated tax law by endorsing two candidates for political office in…
AU asks IRS to investigate Missouri Baptists
By Bob Allen A watchdog group that advocates strict separation of church and state has called on the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether a Missouri Baptist newspaper editor violated tax law by endorsing two candidates for political office in…
Concerns voiced about new curriculum
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist college president says new curriculum by LifeWay Christian Resources is biased toward a theological viewpoint not “representative of the vast majority of Southern Baptists.” Emir Caner, president of Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga., wrote…
Churches lag in social media oversight, say experts
(ABP)—Sheryl Fancher likes to tell social media nightmare stories that make ministers cringe. Like the one about a pastor who posted derogatory remarks about church members on his Facebook page without realizing his account was set to public. Ouch. Fancher…
Church uses ‘bean poll’ to assist hunger ministries
MECHANICSVILLE, Va.—“It can be fun to do good for others,” says Jeff Scott, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Va. That’s why the congregation is asking area voters, “Which presidential candidate is the most full of beans?” and using…
In media oversight, churches lag behind
(ABP)—Sheryl Fancher likes to tell social media nightmare stories that make ministers cringe. Like the one about a pastor who posted derogatory remarks about church members on his Facebook page without realizing his account was set to public. Ouch. Fancher…
Moderate Baptist blasts atheist billboards
By Bob Allen A moderate Baptist ethicist labeled billboards by American Atheists claiming religion has no place in presidential politics an unfair attack on people of faith. A billboard campaign timed with the national presidential nominating convention mocks the religion…