Baptist News Global

Iraq constitution survives vote but remains troubling to some

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The new Iraq Constitution, which apparently has gained approval, sets forth two competing visions of democracy and human rights, according to some religious-freedom experts. The current document “sets forth two competing and diametrically opposed visions of society…

Kansas Supreme Court overturns harsher sentence for gay teen

TOPEKA, Kan. (ABP) — In a reverberation from a landmark Supreme Court case on gay rights, Kansas' highest court has overturned a law that differentiated between homosexual and heterosexual statutory rape. The Kansas Supreme Court unanimously overturned a state law…

Americans idolize ‘traditional family’ even if theirs isn’t one, study shows

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new survey shows that, even as Americans have become more accepting of non-traditional family structures, their view of the ideal family has remained the same — a heterosexual couple, married for life, with children. The survey,…

Missouri Baptists will vote again on local-church loyalty to SBC

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (ABP) — No congregation could be a Missouri Baptist Convention church without cooperating with the Southern Baptist Convention, if a constitution amendment is passed next week. Requiring a church to cooperate with the national convention would be a…

Senate panel avoids cuts in food-stamp program

WASHINGTON (ABP) — After pleading from prominent Baptists and other religious leaders, a Senate panel has declined to recommend major cuts in a federal program that subsidizes grocery purchases for the needy. On an 11-9 vote Oct. 19, the Senate…

Support for Baylor’s interim president fuels speculation about permanent job

WACO, Texas — (ABP) Baylor University's interim president is impressing enough people that he still might emerge as a candidate for the permanent presidency — despite the fact he withdrew his name from consideration last month. Interim Bill Underwood, a…

Heritage Seekers releases new issue

William Carey, the first modern missionary, is featured in the new issue of Heritage Seekers, the magazine for children and families published by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. Emily Ray, a children's worker and writer in Richmond, is…

Children’s ministry certification drawing Virginia Baptists

Sixteen persons gathered Sept. 29 to begin the second in a five-course certification in children's ministry offered by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Of the 16 participants, eight were new to the certification process. Of the 10 persons who completed…

Wiccan leader loses appeal in Va. civic prayer case

The Supreme Court has turned away a Wiccan who sought to deliver prayers at Chesterfield County board meetings on an equal basis with Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders. Cynthia Simpson, a practitioner of the neo-pagan religion, had appealed a decision…

Correction

The nominee to represent the Central Virginia Baptist Association on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board was incorrectly printed last week. The correct name is Mike Critzer of Bybee's Road Baptist Church in Troy.

Disaster relief work in Pakistan signals expanded horizons for Virginia Baptists

In the wake of Virginia Baptists' wide-ranging disaster relief ministry to victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Virginia Baptists are poised to expand their disaster relief horizons through a wider partnership with Baptist World Aid, the relief arm of the…

American Baptists cut staff, but ‘not collapsing,’ says general secretary

The American Baptist Churches USA is shutting down its communications department-the latest step in budget cuts and restructuring brought on by declining funds and theological division in the denominational group. Although the ABC national office is experiencing funding losses due…

What you’re not seeing: Tens of thousands of children separated from parents

The way we were

Talarico’s pastor pushes back on Daily Wire’s claims

Spiritual formation is how churches learn whom to hear