BROOKLYN, N.Y. (ABP) — Blogs are a growing but still relatively underutilized influence on today's religious discourse, according to a study of the religious blogosphere by the Social Science Research Council. "Blogs have given occasion to a whole new set…
Baylor University slated to receive $200 million, the largest gift in its history
WACO, Texas — Baylor University has announced the largest gift in the school’s history — an estate provision estimated at $200 million from an anonymous donor. The announcement came less than three weeks after Baylor University regents selected Kenneth Starr…
Rankin welcomes ‘token commitment’ to increased IMB funding by task force
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) — The head of the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board welcomed a recent progress report by a Great Commission Task Force as a "token" step toward redistributing more resources to the denomination's primary task of reaching…
In Texas, Religious Right loses fight with national curriculum implications
DALLAS (ABP) — The Religious Right suffered a surprise setback in Texas when incumbent Don McLeroy — a creationist and critic of church-state separation — narrowly lost his re-election bid for the powerful State Board of Education to challenger Thomas…
African-American Baptist organizations pledge $50 million for Haiti relief
CHICAGO (ABP) — America's five largest historically African-American Baptist organizations are cooperating to raise $50 million to help rebuild Haiti and provide aid to victims of a Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated the area surrounding the capital of Port-au-Prince. Called…
Consider revitalizing models for declining churches
One sees them occasionally. Abandoned church buildings in rural areas stand in mute witness of changing times. In urban areas, big brick structures, once crowded with eager worshipers, now house restaurants, community centers or even nightclubs. Sometimes churches die. Like…
‘A time to be born, a time to die’ holds true for churches, some experts insist
Is a church’s death inevitable? Who can give congregations permission to die? Should church members feel guilty for closing their facility’s doors? Peter Bush, author of In Dying We are Born: The Challenge and the Hope for Congregations, believes every…
New churches: The key to continued evangelism and growth
According to Chris Backert, emerging church strategist with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, no greater need exists in the body of Christ today than effective church planting. “Over the last decade a wide variety of church commentators, Christian authors, and…
Life & Faith Tour plans to ‘give back’
In its debut year, the Life & Faith Tour, a Christian festival, will kick off in a big way in three cities this summer: Richmond (June 19), Rockingham, NC (July 10) and Atlanta (July 24). The diverse line-up for the…