GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina adopted a resolution endorsing a state proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. Meeting Nov. 7-8 in Greensboro, the convention encouraged member churches to “vigorously organize a strong effort”…
Book covers Civil War in Baptists’ own words
TLANTA (ABP) – People debate what caused the Civil War 150 years after the fact, but Baptists of the era from both North and South agreed it was fought over slavery, says the author of a forthcoming book. Bruce Gourley…
Chalice seals bond between ‘Georgians’
ATLANTA (ABP) – A friendship between the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia and Baptists in the Caucasus Republic of Georgia that began with the coincidence of being “Georgians” grew deeper with return of a long-lost communion chalice that carries deep…
Fresh Expressions is focus of BGAV’s annual pastors’ conference
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — Resisting the temptation to provide a “sermon buffet,” officers of this year’s Virginia Baptist Pastors Conference opted instead to emphasize Fresh Expressions, a church revitalization movement supported by the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Fresh Expressions,…
Karel Harris shares the pains and joys of God’s call to ministry
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — If you ask Karel Harris to describe the ministry to single women she founded, you will get a quick disclaimer. “I call myself a co-founder,” she says in humility. “I’m not the leader of this group,”…
Historic chalice seals relationship between ‘Georgia’ Baptists
ATLANTA (ABP) — A friendship between the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia and Baptists in the Caucasus Republic of Georgia that began with the coincidence of being “Georgians” grew deeper with return of a long-lost communion chalice that carries deep…
Attorneys challenge Virginia county’s stance in 10 Commandments case
NARROWS, Va. — Attorneys challenging a Southwest Virginia county school board’s decision to hang the Ten Commandments in a high school hallway are calling “absurd” the board’s claim that is isn’t responsible for the display, the Roanoke (Va.) Times has…
Break through barriers, national leader tell WMUV annual meeting
LYNCHBURG, Va — God offers a way for Christians to break through barriers they encounter in being faithful disciples of Jesus, a national Woman’s Missionary Union leader told members of the organization’s Virginia affiliate Nov. 5. “I’m reminded here of…
SBC leader compares personhood movement to abolition
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) – The Southern Baptist Convention’s top ethics leader compared an upcoming vote on Mississippi’s proposed personhood amendment to the abolition of slavery. “If we’re going to be a civilized society, we need to extend to unborn children,…
BWA leaders bring ‘fullness of what it means to be Baptist’ to peace summit
ASSISI, Italy (ABP) — Two top leaders of the Baptist World Alliance brought “the fullness of what it means to be Baptist” to an interfaith summit of peace and justice, hosted Oct. 27 by Pope Benedict XVI and attended by…
Religious leaders urge probe into FBI training procedures
WASHINGTON (ABP) – Religious leaders from Jewish, Christian and interfaith organizations called on the White House to convene an interagency task force to investigate, address and resolve concerns over recent allegations that the federal government has used biased and misleading…
Pastor at center of school-prayer flap
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) – A Florida Southern Baptist pastor says he has no intention of ending weekly prayers around an elementary school flagpole that the school district’s attorney says are unconstitutional. “We’re not changing anything,” Ron Baker, the pastor of…