Baptist News Global

Sherman diagnosed with leukemia, wife dies at 90

RICHMOND (ABP) — Virginia Baptist pastor and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship pioneer Cecil Sherman has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Sherman, 80, sought treatment options at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston after receiving the diagnosis July 25 and exploring…

BWA ushers in new structure, Muslim response

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (ABP) — About 400 delegates to the Baptist World Alliance's annual gathering in Prague, Czech Republic, ended their meeting July 25 with approval of a major re-structuring of the organization's governing structure. Baptists from more than 60…

Pastors’ challenges differ by region, speakers say

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (ABP) — Global Baptist pastors' problems are as different as the countries and regions in which they minister, according to speakers at the July 21-24 Baptist World Alliance annual gathering in Prague. Over the past year, the…

Saudi king’s conference rejects terrorism

(RNS) A global conference of about 300 interfaith leaders concluded July 18 in Spain with a declaration that rejects terrorism and calls for a special United Nations session on dialogue. Calling terrorism “one of the most serious obstacles confronting dialogue…

Obama, McCain’s first joint appearance set for Warren’s Saddleback Church

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Barack Obama and John McCain will make their first joint 2008 campaign appearance to an audience of Christian activists at a Southern Baptist church. The two have agreed to participate in a “compassion forum” at…

Baylor President John Lilley removed for failure to ‘unite Baylor family’

GRAPEVINE, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University President John Lilley has been fired for failing to “bring the Baylor family together,” reported Howard Batson, chairman of the university's board of regents. Regents voted to remove Lilley from office, effective immediately, during…

In runup to Olympics, China increases persecution

WASHINGTON (ABP) — While China appears to be making some religious-liberty concessions on the eve of the Olympics, critics in the United States say persecution of Christians in the country is on the rise. China is on the U.S. State…

Baptist help valuable but recovery slow for victims

FALLS CHURCH (ABP) — Two months after Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma and a month after a major earthquake shattered much of China's Sichuan province, Baptist-led recovery efforts continue — but conditions remain desperate in many places. The situation is particularly…

CBF, Global Women agree to three-year partnership

ATLANTA (ABP) — Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Global Women recently agreed to enter a three-year partnership to meet the needs of women around the world, CBF officials announced July 29. The partnership will start with two specific…

Anglican bishops say church ‘ridiculed’ as ‘the gay church’ because of actions

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) — Allowing same-sex blessings and an openly gay bishop in the U.S. have caused Anglicans to be “ridiculed” for belonging to “the gay church,” harmed interfaith relations and severely damaged the Anglican Communion, bishops at a once-a-decade…

Black bishops questions conservatives’ ties

CANTERBURY, England — For five years, conservative Episcopalians eager to escape their liberal American church have been building ties with African Anglicans half a world away. But they have few connections with black Americans in their own back yard, say…

Muslims copy megachurch multi-site models

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Mosques across the country are beginning to use a model similar to the one used by some suburban and downtown megachurches, operating multiple sites to serve a large and dispersed congregation. Many of these “mosque chains” brand…

Lindsey Graham spoke at Baptist church a week before his death

When leaders know better but choose a different path

On the death of Lindsey Graham

Farewell, Three Amigos