Why coercive religious politics undermine Christianity and democracy

In the story “CBF embraces Baptist World Alliance; Lotz urges Baptists to 'break down walls'” released 06/25/04 and in the story “CBF general assembly looks outward toward BWA, ecumenical alliance” released 06/28/04 the quote by Georgia pastor Bob Setzer should…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship turned its sights outward during its general assembly June 24-26, voting to join a new national ecumenical organization and embracing the embattled Baptist World Alliance — one week after the international Baptist…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Celebrating and supporting the “founding freedoms” guaranteed in the First Amendment is the emphasis of a new project launched by three Baptist organizations. The First Freedoms Project is an educational and fund-raising collaboration between Associated Baptist…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship commissioned two career missionary couples and seven other short-term missionaries during a celebration of missions at its general assembly June 25. Jade and Shelah Acker of Birmingham, Ala., will serve in West…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — In facing down Roy Moore and winning, Richard Cohen admitted, he and other supporters of church-state separation won a legal battle but may have lost the public-relations war. “The real battle here wasn't in the court…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Wisconsin group that opposes government endorsement of religion has launched the broadest legal attack to date on President Bush's plan to fund social services through religious charities. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation filed an eight-page…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — One week after Southern Baptist Convention messengers voted to cut ties to the Baptist World Alliance, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship participants welcomed BWA with open arms. During CBF's opening plenary session at its June 24-26 general assembly…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship voted to help start a national ecumenical organization, approved a $16 million budget, and elected new leaders June 25 during its annual general assembly in Birmingham, Ala. During the business portion of…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Members of both Jewish and Baptist communities joined together Friday at a luncheon during the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship general assembly to share stories and encourage an interfaith relationship. And the effort, according to Jewish and Baptist…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — “Fellowship” is a defining principle for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal declared at the organization's general assembly June 25. Although CBF participants are separated by geography and involved in autonomous churches, they're organized…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., (ABP) — “Is Christianity dying in the land of its birth?” This was the question posed by Jim Jennings at his seminar, “The Vanishing Church in the Middle East,” at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's annual meeting June 25….

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) named a replacement for deposed state Chief Justice Roy Moore June 22. Riley appointed his state finance director, Drayton Nabers, as the new head of the state's Supreme Court. In November,…