WACO, Texas (ABP) — Students who serve in nontraditional ministry settings — whether a postmodern congregation, a cowboy church or something in-between — benefit from the foundation provided in a traditional seminary curriculum, some educators and ministry practitioners insist. Baylor…
Seminaries adapt to changing religious landscape
Changes in America's religious landscape have had enormous impact on seminaries. Mainline schools that once mainly trained ministers for their own denominations now welcome students of all denominational backgrounds. MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (ABP) —Six years after starting as a pilot project,…
Pastor renews call for database of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse
ENID, Okla. (ABP) – An Oklahoma pastor says the Southern Baptist Convention should reconsider a database to help safeguard churches from clergy who are sexual predators. Wade Burleson Wade Burleson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, Okla., made a…
Texas Baptists send $25,000 for East Africa famine relief
DALLAS (ABP) –Texas Baptists are giving $25,000 through a group of churches to help victims of the East Africa famine. The convention is giving $20,000 from its disaster relief funds and $5,000 from the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger…
Mark Hatfield remembered as champion for religious liberty
WASHINGTON (ABP) – Former Sen. Mark Hatfield -– an Oregon Republican whose Baptist faith helped shape his political views during nearly half a century in public office -– died Aug. 7 after several years of declining health. Mark Hatfield A…
New president believes in strong role for women’s college
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) — Two weeks after Jo Allen took office as the eighth president of Meredith College, the shrinking pool of women’s colleges blew drier as Peace College across town decided to admit males to stem its enrollment drop….
Abuse confession raises questions of cover-up by Baptist mega-church
PLANO, Texas (ABP) – A Southern Baptist mega-church held up as an example for taking a hard line three years ago against a staff member arrested for soliciting sex from a police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl now stands…
‘Send Me, O Lord, Send Me’ author Ross Coggins dies
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (ABP) – Ross Coggins, a missionary and denominational worker before switching careers to U.S. foreign aid, died Aug. 1 at his home in Annapolis, Md., after an illness. Ross Coggins Coggins, 83, was a graduate of Baylor University…
Pastor doesn’t want to perform weddings until all can wed
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) – A lesbian Baptist pastor told her congregation July 24 that she doesn’t want to perform any more weddings until her state legalizes gay marriage. Nancy Petty Nancy Petty, pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh,…