WASHINGTON (ABP) — A church-state watchdog group says a faith-based prison being proposed in Oklahoma would likely be unconstitutional. Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Nov. 18 advising the state not to…
LifeWay’s ‘Bible Navigator X’ reaches out to video gamers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Attention video gamers: The Bible is coming to an Xbox near you. LifeWay Christian Resources recently announced plans to introduce an Xbox 360 application featuring the complete Holman Christian Standard Bible. Due out in December, "Bible…
ACLU sues Tenn. school district for repeatedly promoting religion
ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (ABP) — Tennessee's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Nov. 16 accusing the Cheatham County Board of Education of ignoring more than four decades of court decisions interpreting the separation of church and…
New domestic-poverty stats a wake-up call, Baptist ethicists say
WASHINGTON (ABP) — New government numbers revealing that, in 2008, nearly one in six Americans lived in households that struggled to afford food ought to be a wake-up call for Christians, according to two Baptist ethicists. An annual USDA report…
BGCT annual meeting draws few for business, many for evangelism
HOUSTON (ABP) — The Nov. 16-17 2009 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Houston attracted the fewest messengers in at least 60 years, but a series of evangelistic events prior to the meeting marked the greatest involvement and…
In Dallas, Justice Revival calls churches to unify and serve
Dallas pastors fill the stage, stating they are ready to see churches unify and work toward the Justice Revival goals of improving the education system in Dallas and end chronic homelessness in the community through partnerships, discipleship, advocacy and action….
Baptist church in El Salvador mourns members lost in flood
SAN VICENTE, El Salvador (ABP) — A Baptist church in El Salvador held memorial services Nov. 12 for seven children and two adults lost in flash floods spawned by Hurricane Ida Nov. 9. A woman (center) comforts an injured man…
Georgia Baptists cut ties with church led by woman pastor
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — The Georgia Baptist Convention has ended its 148-year-old relationship with First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga., over the congregation's 2007 vote to hire a woman as senior pastor. Julie Pennington-Russell has been pastor at First Baptist…
Broadway Baptist decides not to send messengers to BGCT meeting
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — A Texas Baptist church excluded from the Southern Baptist Convention in June over homosexuality has opted not to send messengers to this week's Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting. Facing the prospect of having…
Team from Dallas church ministers to incarcerated Middle Eastern girls
An exploratory team from Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas got close-up perspective on the lives of the girls living in a detention facility in a North African country during a recent scouting trip. DALLAS (ABP) — A team from Wilshire…
Christian, other faith leaders urge Congress to close Guantanamo
WASHINGTON (ABP) — More than 40 religious officials signed a letter Nov. 12 to congressional leaders — and copied to all members of Congress — urging immediate action to close the United States' military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Stassen…
Research group says nation watching this year’s Lottie Moon offering
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (ABP) — A Christian organization that tracks giving to religious groups says other denominations will be watching this year's Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, which funds overseas missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. "The State of Church Giving through…