By Bob Allen American Baptist leaders wrote President Obama Nov. 12, voicing human-rights concerns in advance of his scheduled Nov. 19 visit to Myanmar. The Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA voted Nov. 10 to authorize ABC/USA…
NJ churches damaged in storm
By Bob Allen Baptist leaders in New Jersey estimate between 20 percent and 30 percent of the state’s 280 American Baptist churches sustained damage from Hurricane Sandy. Lee Spitzer, regional pastor for the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, described…
Sandy delays Passport camp booking
By Bob Allen A youth ministry aligned with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has postponed the normal Nov. 1 registration for its popular Passport camps by one week in light of anticipated power outages in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast caused by…
Baptists embrace pet blessings
By Jeff Brumley Even at Broadway Baptist Church, where classical and contemplative worship are the norm, some folks were stunned a few years back when the pastor held an animal blessing ritual in the courtyard. Turns out they were in…
Groups support people with disabilities
By Bob Allen As values voters both left and right weigh in on special interests from immigration reform to same-sex marriage in an election season, a lesser-known religious coalition is speaking up for Americans with disabilities. The Interfaith Disability Advocacy…
MMBB head announces retirement
By Bob Allen Sumner Grant, executive director of The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board since 1998, has announced plans to retire after his successor is named. Grant first joined the staff of the MMBB, a nonprofit Christian organization that provides…
MMBB head announces retirement
By Bob Allen Sumner Grant, executive director of The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board since 1998, has announced plans to retire after his successor is named. Grant first joined the staff of the MMBB, a non-profit Christian organization that provides…
Church reverses policy on gays
By Bob Allen An American Baptist church in Evansville, Ind., drew local media attention with reports it has reversed its previous policy of acceptance and inclusion of members who are openly gay. NBC television affiliate WFIE reported Aug. 21 that…
Faith leaders oppose GOP tax plan
By Bob Allen More than 60 Christian leaders and theologians – including several Baptists – signed an open letter Aug. 1 criticizing a proposal backed by House Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans,…