PHILADELPHIA (ABP) – A federal appeals court ruled Aug. 5 that a Delaware school board’s practice of opening meetings with prayer is unconstitutional. Reversing a lower-court judgment, the United States 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Indian River School…
Video explores hidden tragedy behind Katrina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) – A new Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America documentary not only highlights unmet needs nearly six years after Hurricane Katrina, but also exposes social problems that existed before the storm that have hampered recovery efforts in…
Assn. ousts church with woman pastor
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (ABP) — Surry Baptist Association in North Carolina expelled Flat Rock Baptist Church in Mount Airy from membership July 26, two weeks after their new female pastor started at the church. The association of 65 churches…
Evangelicals counter ‘Circle of Protection’
WASHINGTON (ABP) – About 100 conservative Christians signed a letter sent to President Obama Aug. 3 contesting a coalition led by Jim Wallis of Sojourners urging government leaders not to balance the budget on the backs of the poor. Obama…
Churches, city preparing to make 10th anniversary of 9/11 a time of healing
NEW YORK (ABP) — As the calendar pages turn inexorably toward Sept. 11, New York City is preparing for a flood of solemn remembrances prompted by the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack that claimed 3,000 lives and launched a…
Church hosts alternative to Perry prayer rally
HOUSTON (ABP) — A Baptist church will serve as host site to an ecumenical event formed in response to “The Response”—the prayer rally Gov. Rick Perry initiated at Houston's Reliant Stadium. Americans United for Separation of Church & State and…
Colleges, universities, pledge to interfaith community service
WASHINGTON (ABP) – About 200 representatives from college, university and theology school campuses visited the White House Aug. 3 to kick off a year-long program of interfaith community service. Announced in March, the President’s Interfaith and Community Campus Challenge invited…
Gregory helps BWA promote better preaching
WACO, Texas (ABP) – Joel Gregory compares commenting on sermons to raising political questions at a holiday meal among extended family. Still, the professor of preaching at George W. Truett Theological Seminary shouldered the risky task of critiquing 24 sermons…
Appeals court rules against Forsyth County prayer policy
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) – A North Carolina county commission is expected to appeal a decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said its policy on opening meetings with prayer violates the Constitution. A three-judge panel voted 2-1…