WASHINGTON (ABP) — While moderate and progressive Baptists continue to grow in their theoretical support for women as pastors, their churches remain far behind in practice. That's one conclusion from the second annual “State of Women in Baptist Life” report,…
Author, at ‘post-partisan’ event, says churches must develop pluralism
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sharing, responsibility and teamwork figured prominently into Eboo Patel's speech June 27 at the New American Foundation. Patel, executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, wasn't teaching proper playground etiquette; he was discussing the importance of establishing…
Analysis: Courts only slightly less open to church-state suits after Hein case
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Church-state experts said the Supreme Court, in a June 25 decision that limited taxpayers' ability to sue the government over violations of religious freedom, didn't go as far as it could have. However, they agreed, the ruling…
Pulpit politics run risk for churches
DALLAS (ABP) — Churches engaged in partisan politics risk losing not only their tax-exempt status, but also their credibility, several experts in church-state relations agree. Churches and religious organizations—like other IRS 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations—are free to speak out on…
‘Red-letter Christians’ a growing political force
NEW YORK (ABP) — In what is shaping up to be a faith-filled race for the presidency, Republican and Democratic candidates have pulled out all the stops — hiring religion gurus, conscientiously attending church, discussing the intimate details of their…
Review: Killer of Sheep provides thoughtful contrast to summer blockbuster fare
(ABP) — With Spidey swinging across one screen and pirate Jack Sparrow swaggering across another, moviegoers searching for substance this summer have another option. Into the box-office bluster comes Killer of Sheep, a gentle — and thoughtfully moral — look…
Mercer, medical center establish 4-year med program in Savannah
SAVANNAH, Ga. (ABP) — A Baptist university in Georgia and a Savannah hospital plan to expand an existing joint clinical program into a four-year medical program. Mercer University, based in Macon, already operates Mercer School of Medicine and two teaching…
Correction
The third paragraph of the June 25 ABP story, “High court decision in 'bong hits' case concerns religious leaders,” should be changed to read: “But school officials' suppression of the banner's speech also concerned the American Civil Liberties Union, the…
Southern Baptists in California create competing state convention
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (ABP) — Southern Baptists in California have started a new alternative state convention that will compete with the 67-year-old California Southern Baptist Convention for denominational loyalty. California is the fourth state to witness such a move, joining…
Baptist newspapers, ABP creating new media venture
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Four Baptist communication organizations have agreed to form a new media venture that will collaborate on expansive websites, print publications and other media options for Baptists. The partnership, tentatively called NeoVox, currently includes Associated Baptist Press…
Scripture not easy recipe in politics, ethicists say
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Abortion is the most pressing moral issue of the day, said Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a Republican candidate for president, at a recent GOP debate. So much so, the Catholic senator continued, that he doesn't think…
Opinion: Licensing death on the road
Probably the most interesting moral issues are those raised by practices we take for granted. No one asks about the morality of playing baseball, wearing socks, or taking showers. Likewise, no one asks about the morality of driving cars. Well,…