AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — If your sanctuary could speak, what would it say? The truth is, it does speak — every day. Whether a towering neo-Gothic steeple that knifes the suburban sky or a one-room clapboard chapel nestled in the…
Midwestern Seminary board meeting ends without action against Roberts
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — Despite a public conflict with the chairman of his trustees, the president of a Southern Baptist seminary managed to escape a board meeting Oct. 16. According to a press release from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary,…
Opinion: What divides us as important as what unites us
The recent media firestorm over Ann Coulter's comments on whether or not the Jewish people require “perfection” follows the predictable pattern. Like Captain Renault in the movie Casablanca, the hosts of various news programs professed themselves “shocked, shocked” to discover…
Evangelicals, liberals seek dialogue on ‘culture war’ issues
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A unique coalition of liberals and conservative evangelicals announced Oct. 10 that they are trying to bring about a cease-fire in the most contentious battles of the so-called “culture wars.” The question is, can they get both…
Gay-inclusive anti-discrimination bill on hold due to transgender provision
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A bill that would provide the first nationwide anti-discrimination protections for gay and lesbian people is on hold while members of Congress debate whether it should include protections for transgender persons as well. On Sept. 27, House…
Budget deficit leads NCC to cut 14 staff positions
NEW YORK (ABP) — Days before hiring a new general secretary, the National Council of Churches cut 14 staff positions due to a budget deficit. The Christian ecumenical group announced Oct. 3 the nomination of Michael Kinnamon, a professor, academic…
In single day, church plants 24,000 Purpose Driven books in S.C. prisons
COLUMBIA, S.C. (ABP) — Giving Rick Warren's best-selling The Purpose Driven Life to prisoners is nothing new for church volunteers. In fact, O.J. Simpson reportedly received a copy of the inspirational book from ministers at Clark County Detention Center in…
Missouri Baptist Convention may move headquarters to nearby town
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board will evaluate the sale of its downtown Jefferson City, Mo., headquarters and may accept a gift of property in a neighboring town. The board plans to consider the issue…
Expatriate Baptist minister nominated for position in Kenyan Parliament
DALLAS (ABP) — A Kenyan Baptist minister appears likely to be elected to parliament in his homeland. Solomon Kimuyu has been nominated by the Kenya African National Union to represent Machakos township, about 35 miles east of Nairobi, in Kenya's…
Baptist Joint Committee to begin looking for new property on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is one step closer to having its own “Center for Religious Liberty” on Capitol Hill. Directors of the organization voted Oct. 1 to engage the services of a real-estate agent…
Opinion: On the frontiers of gender and racial integration
In my last column I raised four critical questions for Christian complementarians and suggested that these helped show the inadequacy of that approach to gender roles. In this column I want to turn my attention left instead of right. I…
Manager of Christian bookstore in Gaza found murdered
GAZA CITY, Palestine (ABP) — The Palestinian Baptist manager of a well-known Christian book store in the Gaza Strip has been murdered. Authorities reportedly found the body of Rami Ayyad on Oct. 7 in Gaza City. He died from a…