KIEV, Ukraine (ABP) — Baptist leaders from Russia and Georgia met Oct. 30 in Kiev to pursue improved relations between Baptists in the two countries, marred by war earlier this year. Representatives of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia and…
Azerbaijani pastor’s trial delayed, attorney cries foul
The long-awaited trial of an Azerbaijani Baptist pastor arrested in June has had another delay. Hamid Shabanov, 52, was supposed to stand trial Oct. 31 on what supporters say are bogus weapons charges. But his family and lawyer told the…
Baptist World Aid seeks funds for Congo
FALLS CHURCH (ABP) — The head of an international Baptist relief agency has sent out an urgent fundraising appeal to ease the suffering of victims of civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just back from a conference in…
RESPONSE: Women and the pastorate
I wish to comment on the 2nd Opinion by David Gushee [“Gender debate ultimately about Jesus”] published in the Religious Herald on Oct 2. Since I am a storyteller, I would like to refer to a favorite tale by Hans…
Gay marriage dealt setback in California
WASHINGTON (RNS) — In a razor-thin outcome, California voters overturned same-sex marriage rights in the nation's most populous state, as similar bans on gay marriage were approved in Arizona and Florida. The verdicts by voters in three large and growing…
Three evolution critics appointed to Texas curriculum-review panel
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Three of six members of a panel appointed to review proposed curriculum standards for Texas public-school science classes have criticized evolution. Because Texas is one of the largest markets for textbook sales in the United States,…
Charismatic Southern Baptist churches see themselves as open to spiritual gifts
HIXSON, Tenn. (ABP) — Suffering from burnout after a decade as pastor of Central Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in suburban Chattanooga, Tenn., Ron Phillips wrote his resignation letter on a portable computer on the way to a meeting…
Pastor creates interfaith church where Christians are not in charge
NEW YORK (RNS) — A Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddhist and an atheist walk into a prayer meeting. Any number of punch lines could follow. But the members of Faith House Manhattan have serious business in mind. They…
Trinity debate trickles down to gender roles
DEERFIELD, Ill. (ABP) — There's a tempest brewing among evangelical theologians about the triune nature of God, with potential to spill beyond academic halls into relationships between males and females in the church and home. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School sponsored…