Why coercive religious politics undermine Christianity and democracy

DALLAS (ABP) — A five-month investigation uncovered evidence Baptist General Convention of Texas church-starting funds were misused between 1999 and 2005 in the Rio Grande Valley. At a called meeting of the BGCT Executive Board Oct. 31, investigators reported they…

DALLAS (ABP) — Otto Arango's lavish lifestyle — living in an expensive home in an exclusive neighborhood and driving luxury cars — raised questions among some pastors in the Rio Grande Valley about the sources of his income. Their suspicions…

CLOVIS, N.M. (ABP) — Perhaps more people attended the annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico this year than any year since it was founded 94 years ago. The 2006 convention was the first since New Mexico Baptists…

DALLAS (ABP) — An investigation that uncovered evidence of mismanagement and misuse of Texas Baptist church-starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley presents major challenges for the Baptist General Convention of Texas — and especially Executive Director Charles Wade, some…

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — Messengers to the 153rd annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention approved a ministry task force report that includes recommendations to regionalize Executive Board ministries, increase the percentage of Cooperative Program funds forwarded to…

JACKSON, Miss. (ABP) — Messengers from the Mississippi Baptist Convention's 2,114 churches approved without opposition a record Cooperative Program budget of more than $33 million during their annual meeting Oct. 31-Nov. 1. The $33,188,934-budget for 2007 represents an almost six-percent…

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — “The world is changing, and we need to catch up a little bit,” Robbi Francovich of Austin, Texas, told members of Global Women at an interactive missions conference Oct. 27-28. Francovich, who has spent 10 years…

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (ABP) — Leaders from a prominent American Muslim group have denounced reported comments by the Missouri Baptist Convention's executive director claiming that “Islam has a strategic plan” to take over the United States. Ibrahim Hooper, communications director…

UNEDITED NEWS RELEASE — BOILING SPRINGS, NC – “We need to intensify the University's efforts in development and, most important, secure the endowment and significant financial resources necessary to realize our vision of a great future for Gardner-Webb University.” In…

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ABP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Air Force that claimed the branch's top training academy violated the Constitution by promoting evangelical Christian beliefs among cadets. On Oct. 27, U.S. District Judge James Parker…