AMARILLO, Texas (ABP) — Messengers will gather Oct. 24-26 for the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting to conduct business related to kingdom work, they will be carrying out a tradition of making decisions to advance God's kingdom just as…
SBC leader cites Calvinism as top challenge
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) – A Southern Baptist Convention official says one of the top challenges facing the nation’s second largest faith group behind Roman Catholics is the increasing influence of Calvinism in churches. “I think one of the issues which…
Couponing helps family, leads to ministry opportunities
CLIMAX SPRINGS, Mo. (ABP) — Want to save money and be ready to minister when a need arises? Teresa Robinson believes couponing fills the bill — or actually cuts it often by more than half — allowing avid coupon users…
Baptists fined for unregistered worship in Belarus
OLSO (ABP) – An international Christian initiative that reports on threats and actions against religious freedom says after a few months of break that authorities in Belarus are once more cracking down on a Baptist group whose churches refuse on…
Trial date set for accused clergy predator
JACKSON, Miss. (ABP) – A former Southern Baptist minister accused of fondling boys in the 1980s pleaded not guilty Oct. 18 in a Mississippi courtroom to eight felony counts of gratification of lust and is scheduled to stand trial April…
Faith leader says panel facing funding challenge isn’t effective
WASHINGTON (ABP) – An interfaith leader and Baptist minister said Oct. 15 that a 13-year-old government commission on international religious freedom now facing funding obstacles is too politicized to effectively address the “tremendously important issue” of religious persecution. Interfaith Alliance…
Buckner closes retirement home
DALLAS (ABP) – A Texas Baptist multi-service benevolence agency announced Oct. 12 it will close a 75-bed facility Dec, 1 that offers assisted living, Alzheimer’s and hospice care, citing regulatory requirements for campus improvements administrators say they cannot afford. After…
Central Virginia Baptist Association rejects proposal to disband
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Messengers attending the fall meeting of the Central Virginia Baptist Association rejected a recommendation from its steering committee that the association vote to disband. By a vote of 22 in favor of the proposal to dissolve to…
Advocate says Baptists ill-equipped to address sexual abuse by clergy
DENVER (ABP) – A victims’ advocate says autonomous Baptist churches are ill-equipped to deal with the problem of sexual abuse by clergy because they lack the objectivity to respond appropriately to allegations against a trusted minister. Christa Brown, who owns…
Report: Tithing hits record low and recession only partly to blame
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (RNS) — Tithing to mainline Protestant churches as a percentage of income is at its lowest level in at least 41 years, according to a new report, and churches are keeping a greater share of those donations for…
Under pressure, D.C. shelter ends church-service requirement
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Prompted by civil liberties groups, a taxpayer-supported homeless shelter in the nation’s capital will no longer require its clients to attend religious services. “We’re pleased that the D.C. government will no longer be supporting such religious coercion,”…
Fresh Expressions to be focus of 2011 Virginia Baptist Pastors Conference
RICHMOND, Va. — Innovative expressions of churches in changing cultures will be the focus of next month’s Virginia Baptist Pastors Conference, set for Nov. 7 in suburban Richmond, Va. The annual conference — held each year in conjunction with the…