Why coercive religious politics undermine Christianity and democracy

WACO, Texas (ABP) — For the second time in a year, the Faculty Senate of Baylor University has voted “no confidence” in President Robert Sloan. The 28-5 vote, taken in a closed-door session May 4, was similar to the group's…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Incidents of anti-Muslim bias in 2003 jumped 70 percent over the previous year, a study by an Islamic civil-rights group says. The Council on American-Islamic Relations released its ninth annual civil-rights report May 3. CAIR, which calls…

(ABP) — Starting a ministry to special-needs individuals is as simple as a smile, handshake or hug, according to many who lead such efforts in their churches. Parents of a disabled child often feel awkward in a church setting because…

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — Though often started with the best of intentions, special-needs ministries don't always live up to their mission, says one father of a developmentally disabled child. Charlie Warren, editor of the Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine in Little…

NASHVILLE (ABP) — Teenage Christians are as likely to steal songs electronically as other music fans, according to a new poll. In an online survey of about 1,500 teens, commissioned by the Gospel Music Association, 77 percent of born-again Christian…

NASHVILLE (ABP) — The cable TV industry, which didn't warm to the idea of a gospel music network a decade ago, will be asked to welcome two such channels this fall. The Gospel Music Channel plans to offer music videos,…

There is an error in the May 4, 2004, ABP story, titled, “Haynes: 'World's greatest experiment' in religious freedom must be preserved.” In the 12th paragraph, the author refers to keynote speaker John Seigenthaler as a founder of the Freedom…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — At their semi-annual meeting April 29-May 1, directors of Associated Baptist Press agreed to enter into a new educational and fund-raising partnership with two sister Baptist organizations. The board also voted to suspend publication of FaithWorks,…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Charles Haynes didn't know he would be receiving a painting of colonial Providence, R.I., and its historic First Baptist Church in America when he praised the founder of both that city and congregation. The First Amendment…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — Alabama's controversial “Ten Commandments Judge” lost his final chance to keep his job April 30. In a unanimous opinion, a specially appointed temporary Alabama Supreme Court upheld a November decision by the state's Court of the…

COLUMBIA, Mo. (ABP) — A two-year-old alternative Baptist state convention in Missouri has named a former executive director of the rival Missouri Baptist Convention as its interim executive director. Jim Hill, who resigned as the old Missouri convention's executive director…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — As the battle over same-sex marriage and other gay-rights issues rages across the country, both supporters and opponents of gay rights have logged several important victories in recent weeks. Since late April, gays and their allies have…