WASHINGTON (ABP) – Americans United for Separation of Church and State said Dec. 14 that a proposed hospital merger in Louisville, Ky., is unconstitutional and urged Gov. Steve Beshear to block it. Leaders of the church-state watchdog organization say if…
Reducing malaria in part of Ghana is the aim of potential project in Ghana
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Nativity scene dispute puts focus on Texas town
ATHENS, Texas (ABP) – An East Texas town is being dubbed Ground Zero in this year’s round of skirmishes known collectively as the Christmas Wars. Attention turned to Athens, Texas, about 50 miles southeast of Dallas, after the Wisconsin-based Freedom…
Carter Center, Hong Kong Baptist University launch joint venture
ATLANTA (ABP) – Former President Jimmy Carter was in Hong Kong Dec. 12 to formally launch a joint venture between the Carter Center and Hong Kong Baptist University. The Carter Center — Hong Kong Baptist University Initiative aims to draw…
School district settles suit with Tennessee ACLU
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) – A Tennessee school district has settled a lawsuit over the proper role of religion in public schools. The Sumner County Board of Education voted Dec 6 to accept an agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union…
Pastor found guilty of child abuse
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (ABP) – A California jury deliberated nearly four days before finding an American Baptist pastor guilty on 11 of 12 child molestation charges Dec. 8. Tommy Gene Daniels, 49, faces sentencing Jan. 13 for crimes involving five girls…
Task force completes study of SBC name change
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) – A task force appointed to study a possible name change for the Southern Baptist Convention has completed its work and will bring recommendations to the SBC Executive Committee Feb. 20. “We are excited to make these…
Churches balance reality, reverence when Christmas falls on Sunday
DALLAS (ABP) — “You mean we have to go to church Christmas Eve and Christmas morning?” Many worship leaders know their own children likely will ask that question this year. They also know quite a few families in their congregations…
WINN RECOMMENDS
The Pietistic Impulse in Christianity, editors Winn, Gehrz, Carlson and Host (Pickwick) In many circles, particularly academic ones, the word pietism is used as an insult. Though self-proclaimed pietists have at times encouraged unfortunate postures (individualism, privatism, bad ecclesiology), the…
ASK THE ARCHITECT: How to hire a contractor
There are, fundamentally speaking, three distinct delivery methods for construction: • Design/Bid/Build • Design/Build • Partnering A simple explanation of each would go something like this: Jim DePasquale • Design/Bid/Build follows that exact sequence. The architect, directly under contract to…
As winter moves in, churches are helping Occupy movement
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As Occupy camps nationwide deal with police crackdowns and the inevitable onset of winter temperatures, religious communities of all stripes are stepping in with offers of shelter and solidarity, say church leaders and protest organizers. Soon after…
OPINION: Always reforming
Ecclesia Semper Reformanda, so the saying goes — “The church is always reforming.” Those words came to mind last week when I heard sociologist-prophet-iconoclast Tony Campolo preach at the New Baptist Covenant II meeting, that multiracial effort at affecting Baptist…