Americans value freedom but there are differences on what it means

ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's new moderator has appointed a task force to explore ways the Fellowship can be a good partner to the Baptist World Alliance, which accepted the Fellowship into membership last year. Bob Setzer, pastor…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Americans' confidence in the First Amendment, which fell after the attacks of 9/11, is up again, according to a new survey. The First Amendment Center of Nashville, Tenn., has released its 2004 survey results on the…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A federal law attempting to make it harder for kids to access Internet pornography cannot be enforced because it likely violates the First Amendment, the U.S. Supreme Court said June 29. The justices ruled that a lower…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Religious groups praised the June 28 U.S. Supreme Court rulings that foreign detainees and “enemy combatants” must be given a “meaningful opportunity” to defend themselves in American courts. Both the National Council of Churches and the Council…

DENVER (ABP) — Colorado's highest court has ruled unconstitutional a state law that would have set up a school-voucher program, including religious and other private schools. On a 4-3 vote, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled June 28 that the state's…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — According to a survey done by a coalition of Muslim-American organizations, Muslims overwhelmingly favor Democratic challenger John Kerry over President Bush in the upcoming election. The Council on American-Islamic relations released the findings of the non-scientific survey…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Baptists fight because of centuries-old paradoxical tendencies in their nature, church historian Bill Leonard says. Competing characteristics — an inclination toward individualism and a craving for community — practically compel Baptists into conflict, noted Leonard, dean…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) –Although journalists often “miss the story” when religion and politics make the news, people of faith can respond to set the record straight, according to the editors of Associated Baptist Press. That challenge will be acute this…

HAMBURG, Germany (ABP) — Baptists leaders in Europe condemned a German television program for comparing Southern Baptist missionaries in Iraq to Islamic terrorists. The TV news magazine “Panorama” featured the subject in its June 24 broadcast. In it, the missionaries…

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…