Baptist News Global

Research and humor grow huge flock

By Chris Meehan Bill Hybels stepped onto the stage at Willow Creek Community Church to give a sermon on money management. But the senior pastor of this trend-setting, Chicago-area congregation was not offering a fund-raising message asking the faithful to…

California judge rules in favor of same-sex marriage

SAN FRANCISCO (ABP) — A California trial judge has said a state law banning same-sex marriage violates the California Constitution. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer ruled March 14 that a state law — first passed by California legislators…

Eminent Baptist theologian Stanley Grenz dead at 55

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (ABP) — One of the world's best-known Baptist theologians died suddenly and unexpectedly March 12. Stanley Grenz, a professor at the evangelical Carey Theological College in Vancouver, died shortly after experiencing a “massive brain hemorrhage,” according to…

Baptist Center for Ethics director Parham diagnosed with acute leukemia

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The head of a moderate Baptist ethics and educational agency has been diagnosed with acute leukemia. Robert Parham, founding executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics, has been diagnosed with acute leukemia, according to a…

Georgia church votes to affiliate with Virginia convention

ROME, Ga. (ABP) — A Georgia church has voted to leave its state convention and affiliate with another statewide body more in line with its theological stance — but headquartered nearly 600 miles away. On March 13, First Baptist Church…

Fuller still seeking reinstatement at Habitat; forms parallel organization

AMERICUS, Ga. (ABP) – The Jan. 31 decision by the executive committee of Habitat for Humanity International to dismiss founding president Millard Fuller was affirmed by the housing ministry's full board March 8. But Fuller and many longtime supporters are…

Southern dismisses 94 maintenance workers; hires outside company to manage facilities

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) – In order to put more resources into theological education, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has dismissed all of its maintenance workers and hired an international facilities-management company to take over their duties. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal,…

Gay pride week clouds ties between Va. Baptists, Averett University

RICHMOND, Va., (ABP) — Ties between the Baptist General Association of Virginia and Averett University, already strained from a dispute last year over homosexuality, suffered another setback when one of the school's student organizations hosted a gay pride week on…

Baptist World Alliance will vote to accept Virginia, Texas conventions

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — The Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Baptist General Convention of Texas will be recommended for full membership in the Baptist World Alliance, the group's membership committee reported March 9. British Baptist Alistair Brown,…

Biden commutations leave only 3 on federal Death Row

Understanding Christmas traditions is a matter of time

Sing a new song: Reflections on Band Aid at 40

3 killed as Methodist violence flares in Nigeria