‘He taught the Bible every Sunday from World War II to COVID’

Joshua Carter, grandson of President Jimmy Carter, was among the speakers at the state funeral for the former president held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9. Here is a verbatim transcript of his comments. My grandfather...

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Iraq interim constitution draft establishes Islam, Islamic laws

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Nearly a year after American forces liberated Iraq from the oppressive government of Saddam Hussein, some religious-liberty advocates are worried the country's new constitution won't protect religious minorities. Members of the Iraqi Governing Council reportedly reached agreement…

Texas Baptists ‘revisioning’ teams to seek ‘compelling vision’ for state convention

DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas has launched a process of “revisioning” that is expected to lead to reorganization of the convention's work. Charles Wade, executive director, announced formation of four “Revisioning Teams” of 10-13 people each…

Texas Baptist leader dies in car crash

LUBBOCK, Texas (ABP) — Billy Ray Parmer, former two-time Baptist General Convention of Texas second vice president, died Feb. 28 in a car crash outside Abernathy, Texas. Parmer, 78, pulled his sports utility vehicle around two stopped cars at an…

Moderate churches use ‘Passion’ to begin discussions about Jesus

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Moderate Baptists are known for being more sensitive about interfaith relations than some of their conservative brethren. But with a film controversial for its depiction of Jews becoming a cultural phenomenon, some moderate churches have decided to…

Legal analysts debate effects of latest church-state ruling

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Just like interpretation of the Bible, interpretation of Supreme Court decisions are often in the eye of the beholder. That observation was borne out Feb. 27 by a group of legal scholars interpreting the court's latest major…

House passes bill protecting ‘unborn victims’ of violence

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Feb. 26 to treat an attack on a pregnant woman as two separate crimes against her and the fetus she is carrying. Critics say the bill would undermine abortion rights by…

Catholic panel finds 10,000 abuse claims, blames bishops

WASHINGTON (ABP) — About 4 percent of the Catholic priests who served in the United States during the past half century were accused of sexual abuse, according to a first-ever report issued by a Catholic study commission Feb. 27. The…

Church connection key in marketing ‘Passion’

LOS ANGELES (ABP) — Once upon a time, pastors warned churchgoers against the evils of the silver screen. Now they are packing believers and unchurched guests alike into movie houses across the land. The difference is what's playing — “The…

‘Passion’ reviews take issue with violence, lack of context

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The reviews of the controversial film “The Passion of the Christ” are in — and while both Christian and secular observers offered praise for it, many of the same reviewers also took significant issue with the movie….