A controversial new documentary movie contends age-graded Sunday school and youth ministry are doing more harm than good. In Divided, young filmmaker Philip Leclerc sets out to discover why so many people of his generation are leaving the church. The…
Can Sunday School be saved? Experts look at its future
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sunday school, a staple of Protestant church life in the United States in the 20th century, is in decline, prompting some scholars to question whether the institution has a future. The Southern Baptist Convention has reported declines…
Seven arrested in protest of NYC church ban
By Bob Allen Editor’s note: This story was edited after publication to correct misinformation in tne next-to-final paragraph and to add a comment from the NYC Law Department. A New York City councilman was among seven people arrested Jan. 5…
Women’s Bible commentary promotes ‘complementarian’ roles for sexes
By Bob Allen A Bible commentary by women and for women is now out in Old and New Testament volumes that seek to counter a prevailing view of women’s equality in the church and home. The two-volume Women’s Evangelical Commentary,…
Former pastor claims reassignment was race-based
By Bob Allen A former staff member at Kentucky’s largest African-American congregation claims in a recently filed lawsuit that he was reassigned from a pastoral position because he is black. Billy Hollins, a Southern Baptist North American Mission Board-appointed missionary…
Clergy sex offender released from prison
By Bob Allen An African-American preacher once popular in preaching circuits of the Southern Baptist Convention completed his three-year prison sentence for sex crimes with two girls in his congregation Dec. 28 and is now a registered sex offender on…
‘Birther’ lawsuit has setback
By Bob Allen California pastor Wiley Drake’s three-year legal battle challenging President Obama’s eligibility received a setback Dec. 22, when the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said he and other plaintiffs lacked legal standing to file their complaint. A…
Non-Catholics join opposition to contraceptive-coverage mandate
By Bob Allen More than 60 Protestant and Orthodox Jewish religious leaders wrote the White House Dec. 21 asking President Obama not to implement a mandate requiring all private insurers to provide contraception and sterilization coverage. Guidelines announced by Health…
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2011 notable deaths
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) – Here is a list of notable deaths in 2011 that were reported by Associated Baptist Press. — Morris Ashcraft, 88, who taught at three Southern Baptist Convention seminaries before serving as acting president at the launch…
Year in review: Newsmakers in 2011
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) – Between headlines of “Church backing pastor jailed on molestation charges” on Jan. 3 and “Scholar says Christmas as celebration of domesticity a modern invention” on Dec. 22, Associated Baptist Press published 586 news and feature stories…