Baptist News Global

NEW: SBC messengers re-elect Page, hear motions on agency policies, clergy sex abuse

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Frank Page was re-elected without opposition to the traditional second one-year term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the first day of the denomination's annual meeting, which also featured efforts to curb clergy sexual…

NEW: Virginians named to SBC’s committee on nominations

RICHMOND — Two Virginians have been named to the Southern Baptist Convention's 2007-2008 committee on nominations, Baptist Press has reported. The powerful committee — which nominates people to serve on the convention's boards, commissions and committees — will present its…

NEW: SBC says doctrinal statement ‘sufficient,’ but impact on hiring remains unclear

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the Baptist Faith & Message June 12 as the “sufficient” doctrinal guide for its agencies and institutions. But SBC leaders immediately disagreed over whether the action will keep those agencies from…

NEW: SBC messengers re-elect Page,choose Richards over Rogers

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Although the Southern Baptist Convention re-elected as their president a pastor supported by denominational reformers, they defeated the reformers' candidate for first vice president. Messengers at the denomination's annual meeting re-elected South Carolina pastor Frank Page…

NEW: Bush greeted with standing ovation, thanks Southern Baptists at annual event

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Judging by his reception at the annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting, President Bush's popularity remains strong among Southern Baptists, whom he thanked for their support June 13. Bush was greeted with a standing ovation of sustained…

Ruth Bell Graham dies at 87

MONTREAT, N.C. (BP)–Ruth Bell Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, died at 5:05 EST June 14, surrounded by her husband and five children at her Montreat, N.C., home. She was 87. “Ruth was my life partner, and we were called…

NEW: Definition of Cooperative Program sparks SBC messenger debate

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — A proposal to define what constitutes Cooperative Program giving sparked lengthy debate during the opening session of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, including a charge that the measure “goes against historical Baptist polity.” The recommendation…

NEW: North Carolina pastor named president of Leland Center

ARLINGTON – North Carolina pastor Mark Olson has been named president of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, a Baptist-affiliated seminary in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Olson, who is pastor of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in…

Definition of Cooperative Program sparks SBC messenger debate

SBC appoints strategy coordinator for churches’ ‘ex-gay’ ministries

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention has commissioned a Texas pastor to become its “national strategist for gender issues” — a position designed to promote “ex-gay” ministries to SBC congregations. Bob Stith, who said God convicted him more…

SBC messengers pass motion, resolution on clergy sex-abuse

SAN ANTONIO — On June 1, the Baptist General Convention of Texas posted online the names of eight convicted sex offenders who worked as ministers in convention-affiliated churches. The list is the latest development in a heated discussion within Southern…

Radical Islam, radical atheism threaten America, Colson tells pastors

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The United States faces twin dangers of radical Islam and radical atheism, Chuck Colson, the former Watergate-conspirator who founded Prison Fellowship Ministries, told pastors at the Southern Baptist Convention. “No time in history have we looked…

Islamophobia is the next bogeyman

The Black Church cannot remain America’s emergency moral infrastructure

We are manna

Webinar explores religious context of America’s Founders