Historical drama Pressure clears the air on speaking truth to power

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (ABP) — Tennessee Baptist leaders Sept. 13 rejected a proposal from Belmont University to allow up to 40 percent of the Nashville school's trustees to be non-Baptists. Currently all trustees must be members of churches affiliated with the…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — In a surprise move while most of the political world's attention was focused elsewhere, the House of Representatives voted Sept. 14 to add sexual orientation to federal hate-crimes protections. On a 223-199 vote, the chamber added the…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group that encourages teaching the Bible as history and literature in the public schools has revised its curriculum, incorporating many of the changes recommended by an organization it characterized as “anti-religion extremists.” In late August, the…

DALLAS (ABP) — Murray Broden and Benny Hand are getting used to running out of time. The two men held out in their New Orleans homes as long as they could until the flood waters after Hurricane Katrina made the…

ALEXANDRIA, La. (ABP) — The scene is like a war room. Charts cover the walls. A frazzled worker holds a desk phone to one ear and a cell phone to the other. Individuals rush about distributing information and asking questions….

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Inspired by the Christian faith of those who cared for them, a couple who fled New Orleans got married Sept. 10 in the shelter that has become their home since Hurricane Katrina. Barry McBride and Samantha…

VENTURA, Calif. (ABP) — Although the church is frequently viewed as behind the times, a new study shows Protestant congregations are quickly embracing new technologies. The Barna Group survey shows that, since 2000, many congregations across regional, denominational and sociological…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Once again, a federal court in California has found the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional because the oath affirms that the United States is “under God.” U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton, ruling…

– Editor's note: This story updates one issued Sept. 13. WASHINGTON (ABP) — Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, in three long days of questioning before a Senate panel Sept. 13-15, danced delicately around some of the most controversial legal questions…

BOSTON (ABP) — The Massachusetts legislature has overwhelmingly rejected an effort to repeal legalized gay marriage in that state. The Sept. 14 move bucks a national trend against gay marriage and means same-sex couples may continue to marry in that…

ATLANTA (ABP) — As relief efforts continue in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is using a focused approach to link specific needs with churches that want to help. “We're deliberate in coming alongside other responders to…

NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — Seminaries all across the theological spectrum are offering help to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, which temporarily has moved operations from its flooded campus to a satellite site in Atlanta. Theological schools as diverse as ultraconservative…