Why nondenominational churches aren’t Baptist churches in disguise

WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush signed into law Nov. 5 the first federal restriction on abortion in 30 years, but barely an hour later a federal judge partially blocked its enforcement. Bush signed a bill banning a kind of abortion…

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (ABP) — In a harmonious Arkansas Baptist State Convention meeting Nov. 4-5 in Fayetteville, about 900 messengers approved a 2004 Cooperative Program budget of $19.5 million, heard a report on racial harmony and diversity, endorsed a resolution in…

ROSWELL, N.M. (ABP) — Signaling a theme that likely will surface in many of this fall's Baptist conventions, Baptists in New Mexico adopted resolutions Oct. 29 favoring government support of the traditional family, endorsing public affirmations of God, and denouncing…

ATLANTA (ABP) — A closely watched case regarding government funding for “faith-based” social-service organizations has ended in a settlement that critics of the practice are counting as a victory. The State of Georgia and the United Methodist Children's Home in…

ST. LOUIS (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention broke a 154-year tradition and voted Nov. 4 to stop funding William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., over issues of homosexuality and morality. Messengers at the annual meeting eliminated the Baptist school…

DALLAS (ABP) — Although the new B.H. Carroll Theological Institute is being founded by former administrators and faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, founders insist the new seminary is not formed in reaction to changing leadership at Southwestern and will…

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (ABP) — The International Mission Board should rid itself of “unbiblical” practices and alliances with Christian mission groups that do not enforce strict theological parameters, a Southern Baptist missions professor urges. Keith Eitel, professor of Christian missions…

RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists will be asked to withhold about $350,000 they planned to contribute to Averett University next year until a dispute over homosexuality and biblical interpretation can be resolved. The Baptist General Association of Virginia's budget…

FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Four prominent professors abruptly resigned from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in early November, only to be named faculty members of the new B.H. Carroll Theological Institute started by former Southwestern leaders. The faculty members who…

DURHAM, N.H. (ABP) — Shortly after an openly gay man was installed as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, his brethren in the Third World reacted with anger — some of them cutting off their relations with…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Some observers are worried that a new constitution for Afghanistan may do little more to protect religious freedom than did the oppressive Taliban government. After months of negotiations among members of a constitutional commission, a draft of…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — The Kentucky Baptist Convention plans to reorganize its staff, taking the first major step toward implementing a new mission plan. The proposed reorganization will eliminate two filled positions, reassign two employees and take advantage of five…