Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the largest Southern Baptist church in Arkansas, will be nominated as president of the Southern Baptist Convention next month. Georgia pastor Johnny Hunt, who until a week ago was the nominee favored by the SBC's conservative…
American Baptists still headed toward split over theology
(ABP) — After years of conflict centering mainly on the issue of homosexuality, a large regional body of the American Baptist Churches USA has voted to continue the process of separating itself from the denomination. In an April 29 meeting…
GuideStone cancels annual wellness walk
The Living@YourBest Wellness Walk/Run scheduled to be held during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Greensboro, N.C., has been canceled for this year, but will resume at the convention in 2007. “We are disappointed that we won't…
SECOND OPINION: Thoughts on Mother’s Day: My tribute
I have found over the years that there is a very fine line that separates joy and pain. I first discovered that line as a child, though as a child I did not understand the magnitude of the discovery. It…
More Americans reading Bible, says poll
(BP) — Forty-seven percent of American adults read the Bible during a typical week other than when they are at church, according to a study by The Barna Group released in April. Researchers found a significant increase in religious activity…
Ecumentical groups tentatively join evangelicals in day of prayer
(BP) — As President Bush spoke to an ecumenical group at the White House to mark the National Day of Prayer May 4, religious moderates and progressives gathered in locations around the country in an effort to broaden an event…
NAMB moving on after resignation, won’t disclose Reccord’s severance
(ABP) — Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board took the first steps down the road to recovery May 1-2, two weeks after their embattled president resigned under pressure. “We walked away with a great deal of…
Mass. court hears arguments in gay marriage case
(RNS) — Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court took up arguments on May 4 about whether to kill a proposed citizens' referendum to ban gay marriage. A lawyer for a gay rights organization told the state's highest court that…
SBC narrowness calls for repentance, reform, say disgruntled conservatives at meeting
About 30 Southern Baptist conservatives from diverse backgrounds are repenting of the triumphalism, arrogance and isolationism they say threatens the integrity of the 16 million-member denomination. Saying they represent “disparate constituencies” in the Southern Baptist Convention, the participants met behind…
Inconsistent actions
I read with interest two Baptist Press articles printed on the same page in the May 4 issue of the Herald. The first, headlined “ ‘Everyone Can' to be the focus of SBC meeting,” concerns the upcoming annual meeting of…
Broadman & Holman plans name change
Broadman & Holman Publishers, the trade publishing division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, announced April 27 plans to change its name to B&H Publishing Group, effective June 1. B&H Publishing Group will serve as an umbrella…
Mercer confirms Baptist identity
Following a formal separation initiated by the Georgia Baptist Convention last November and several pronouncements by university leaders calling for a clear Baptist identity, Mercer University trustees voted April 21 to amend the school's charter to state that “no less…