Vandals burn Israeli flag at Baptist church. A Baptist church that since last summer had flown the Israeli flag to show support for Israel fell victim to criminal activity July 17 when the star in the center of the flag…
FAITHSHAPERS: Eyes on the prize
In Philippians 3:14, Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize ….” He is talking about his life as a Christian, but this passage came to mind as I thought about how to approach parenting from…
Baptists, other Christian leaders push for reform in farm bill
WASHINGTON (ABP)—Baptists and other Christian groups are asking Congress to seize an opportunity to reform the way the government relates to farmers — for the sake of the poor in the United States and around the globe, they say. A…
Women ministers’ progress: More theoretical than practical
WASHINGTON (ABP)—Moder-ate and progressive Baptists continue to grow in their theoretical support for women as pastors, but their churches remain far behind in practice. That's one conclusion from the second annual “State of Women in Baptist Life” report, released by…
Hate crimes bill delayed in Senate
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Senate stalemate over the Iraq war claimed another victim July 18: a hate-crimes statute that supporters had hoped to attach to a defense bill. But although the attempt to add gender, sexual orientation and disability to…
‘Let the little children come — to worship
An increasing number of churches offer separate worship services for children, but that may not be what is best for either the children or the church, many children's ministry professionals agree. The faith formation of children is greatly enhanced by…
Court affirms religious obligation in case pitting sacred vs. secular
AUSTIN, Texas (RNS)—The Texas Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a suit brought by a former member of a Fort Worth church who accused her pastor of violating her confidentiality. The case centered on questions of what roles civil courts should have…
Affluent pastors use wealth differently: some give back, others buy yachts
DALLAS (ABP) — There's a rare breed of creature often spotted in exotic locations leading a large pack. No, it's not a yellow-tailed wooly monkey. It's a wealthy pastor, and its very existence is controversial. Success in many professions is…
Effective children’s ministry more than numbers
An effective children's ministry is more than an appendage to a congregation's programming: It's an integral part of a church's mission and vision, children's ministry leaders say. Although it's tempting to evaluate the success of children's ministry only by the…