Americans value freedom but there are differences on what it means

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A council of regional and tribal leaders has given approval to a new Afghan constitution containing provisions that fail to protect religious freedom, say international human-rights activists. About 500 delegates to the loya jirga, or grand assembly,…

BOCHUM, Germany (ABP) — A German Baptist theologian, who was cited as an example of “aberrant and dangerous” theology within the Baptist World Alliance, says the Southern Baptist committee that leveled those charges is guilty of lying and should repent….

WASHINGTON (ABP) — New Jersey has become the second state to authorize human cloning for therapeutic purposes. New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey (D) signed a bill Jan. 4 authorizing what supporters call “somatic cell nuclear transplantation,” but banning cloning for…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A semi-independent audit of American Catholic dioceses released Jan. 6 said that diocesan officials are mostly complying with new anti-abuse rules. But abuse victims' groups are skeptical of the study. The study was conducted by the Boston-based…

(ABP) – The firing or resignation of 77 missionaries in a dispute over the Southern Baptist Convention's new doctrinal statement topped the news in the nation's second largest denomination in 2003. Editors of Baptist state newspapers chose the missionary terminations…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush is drawing fire from both the left and the right after he made comments in a television interview that appeared simultaneously to endorse a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and support states' rights to…

NASHVILLE (ABP) — A study committee is recommending that the Southern Baptist Convention withdraw its membership and funding from the Baptist World Alliance, the worldwide fellowship of 43 million Baptists, in order to create a more conservative international body. BWA…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Southern Baptist proposal to end a 99-year-relationship with the Baptist World Alliance is a “triumph of ideology over doctrine,” according to BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz. “SBC doctrine is a call to unity among its churches,”…

Please make the following correction in the 4th paragraph of the story “Stacy expected to leave Gardner-Webb divinity school for Jacksonville pulpit” in Dec. 18 ABP: Stacy is serving as interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C., not First…

COLUMBUS, Ga. (ABP) — William Neal, former editor of the Christian Index, said he was ousted from that position earlier this year because he would not carry out the agenda of fundamentalist leaders who had gained control of the Georgia…

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (ABP) — Thirteen Episcopal bishops opposed to the appointment of a gay bishop in New Hampshire are forming a rival network they hope will eventually win recognition as the authentic American branch of the worldwide Anglican church. The…

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Wayne Stacy, dean of the divinity school at Gardner-Webb University, is expected to leave to become pastor of a church in Florida. Stacy, 53, will be recommended Jan. 11 to lead Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville,…