Baptist News Global

Obama’s anti-torture directives place activists in good news/bad news posture

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Religious opponents of torture expressed simultaneous approval and concern about a series of executive orders by President Obama upending his predecessor's policies on detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects. On his second full day in office, Obama…

Canadian courts to test the boundaries between polygamous & same-sex unions

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (RNS) — A landmark court case will test whether Canada's decision to legalize same-sex marriage also justifies the practice of polygamy. The defense lawyer for a British Columbia man who openly admits to having multiple wives will…

RIGHT or WRONG: Churches and marketing

Our church has gotten involved in strategy planning and marketing. Help me understand how this language and these endeavors are not just crass worldliness. Strategy planning and marketing are practices used by for-profit businesses and corporations, often to great effect….

Pick Pepsodent or Presbyterian?

PHOENIX (ABP) — Protestants in the United States are about as loyal to their brand of toothpaste as their denomination, according to one research firm. A new poll by Ellison Research asked churchgoers who attend worship services at least once…

Prayer mats and yarmulkes in workplace

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Com-plaints of religious discrimination in the workplace are on the rise, but civil rights advocates say that may not be such a bad thing. That's because a likely reason for a steady rise in reported incidents has…

FAITH DIGEST

Church closes for a month to save money. Many Americans are giving up something in this dire economy. But Sharon Dawson will go without something unusual: her church. To save money, First Unitarian Church in Portland, Ore., has decided to…

Obama rearranges faith-based office, vows to maintain church-state wall

WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama announced a revamped version of his predecessor's office on faith-based charities Feb. 5, restructuring it with a broad advisory council and vowing to pay close attention to church-state concerns. “The goal of this office will…

Senate rejects aid for religious buildings

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Senate defeated 54-43 an amendment to the economic stimulus bill Feb. 5 that would have allowed federal funding for renovations at college buildings that are used for religious activity. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., proposed the…

First regional New Baptist Covenant event focuses on reconciliation

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Former President Jimmy Carter went to a shrine of the Civil Rights Movement Jan. 31 to drive home a point about racial reconciliation among Baptists, stepping up into the pulpit of the Birmingham, Ala., church where…

Dispirited Christians must prepare to stand in the gap, historians urge

The country I know

New book brings Baptist heroes to life for children and youth

The bathroom battles come to the U.S. Capitol