NEW YORK (ABP) — Many Christian conservatives have put her in the “anyone but” category — they'll vote for anyone but Hillary Clinton. However, progressive Christians, who some think should be the senator's natural allies, aren't jumping on her bandwagon…
FAITHSHAPERS: Introducing reinforcement
Parenting with a long-term focus rests on our ability to strategically increase desirable behaviors while reducing undesirable ones. Our next few articles will focus on how parents can take greater control of the learning process. The key is to remember…
Southern Baptist leaders retract blog endorsements
NEW YORK (ABP) — Several well-known Southern Baptist leaders have rescinded their previous endorsements of a controversial blog that provides news and opinion related to the Southern Baptist Convention. Jerry Rankin, David Dockery, Thom Rainer and Frank Page all initially…
Candidates’ religious commitment not a big voter draw, survey shows
WASHINGTON (ABP)—A new survey of voters' attitudes toward presidential candidates shows that being perceived as highly religious may not help the 2008 hopefuls much. The study, released by two bipartisan public-interest groups, also suggests many issues most important to conservative…
Pastors collaborate on new SBC blog
NEW YORK (ABP) — Four conservative pastors have joined the increasingly wild and wooly frontier of blogs discussing the state of the Southern Baptist Convention. Robin Foster, Wes Kenney, Tim Rogers, and Joe Stewart have announced the launch of a…
Federal court says Seattle-area high school can deny charter to Bible club
PORTLAND, Ore. (ABP)—A federal appeals court ruled a Washington state high school is not required to charter a Bible club, since the club allows only Christians to be full members. In Truth v. Kent Public School District, a unanimous three-judge…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for September 20, 2007
STAFF CHANGES • Stephen J. Crane, to Poplar Springs Church, Richmond, as senior pastor. • Michael Sampson, to Cowans Branch Church, Gate City, as pastor. He had been serving as interim pastor. • Mark Holland, to Bethlehem Church, Penick Road,…
Book reveals Mother Teresa’s prolonged ‘dark night of the soul’
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Ten years after her death, a new book of Mother Teresa's personal letters illustrates a profound and private spiritual struggle—much of it unknown to the world that would come to admire her for her work with the poor and…
Religious Right leader James Kennedy dead at 76
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (ABP)—Presbyterian minister James Kennedy died Sept. 5, little more than a week after he retired from the pulpit that helped him launch both evangelistic and political ministries. Kennedy, who was 76, had served nearly half a century…
Hearing the Call
Hearing God's call to vocational service may not be as easy in a Baptist church as it once was, but some congregations are determined to change that. Once upon a time, a public invitation at the close of the sermon…
FAITH DIGEST
Religious activists fast for debt relief. A group of religious activists began a 40-day fast Sept. 6 to advocate for legislation that would cancel the debts of the world's 67 poorest countries, according to the Jubilee USA Network, an alliance…
Ministers hear call through many voices
God uses a variety of voices in calling people to Christian service, veteran ministers agreed, pointing to their own experience. In Joel Thielepape's case, two voices figured prominently—a representative of the New York Yankees who delivered a discouraging word and…