TRENTON, N.J. (ABP) — On Dec. 14, New Jersey became the third state in the Union to offer gay residents legal protections similar to marriage. The New Jersey Assembly — the lower chamber of the state's legislature — passed a…
After nurses, clergy rank among nation’s most ethical
DALLAS (ABP) — Americans may trust their pastors almost as much as they trust their nurses. That's according to a Dec. 12 USA Today/Gallup Poll. For the sixth year in a row, nursing topped the list as the most ethical…
Group asks to widen Pentagon probe to see if evangelical group given aid
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — A watchdog group wants to know if high-ranking Pentagon officials not only allowed uniformed officers to appear in a video promoting an evangelical ministry, but also if they gave the ministry Pentagon office space or any…
BWA, ABC leaders participate in Baptist-Catholic dialogue
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — American Baptists and representatives of the Baptist World Alliance are participating in the latest installment of a Baptist-Catholic dialogue that began in 1990. The latest meeting began with a Dec. 11 convocation at Samford University in…
Hillary Clinton hires faith consultant for potential presidential campaign
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Following a trend of Democrats becoming more faith-friendly, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) has hired a Baptist “faith guru” for her expected 2008 presidential campaign. Burns Strider, who has been the head of religious outreach for the House…
Not just for Christmas anymore: Mary gaining evangelical fans
DALLAS (ABP) — Some might say Mary, the mother of Jesus, doesn't know her place. Instead of staying in her traditional Protestant role — quietly overlooking the manger in Christmastime crèches — Mary is emerging as an increasingly popular figure…
Survey: Faith doesn’t determine spending habits for Christmas
DALLAS (ABP) — Christians won't spend as much money this Christmas as their non-religious counterparts, but the Christian retail industry continues to expand exponentially, according to recent reports. Researchers who conducted a recent Gallup Poll said no relationship exists between…
No ‘Hog’ hereafter: Ga. church votes to purge piggy name
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (ABP) — A Baptist church in a rapidly growing part of Georgia is no longer sitting high on the hog, thanks to a recent name-changing vote. And some longtime members of the 152-year-old congregation as well as those…
Japanese university names former Southern Baptist missionary as president
FUKUOKA, Japan (ABP) — A Japanese university founded by Southern Baptist missionaries has named one as its new president. Trustees of Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka, Japan, have elected Gary Barkley as the school's ninth president. Barkley will be the…
BGCT gives authorities information about alleged misuse of funds
DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas has given authorities information about the alleged misuse of the convention's church-starting funds between 1999 and 2005. A convention representative gave officials at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District…
Watchdog group wants Pentagon inquiry in evangelical group’s video promo
ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — The influence of evangelical Christians in the military's highest ranks is again under question, after complaints about an evangelical group's promotional video that features several top-ranking Pentagon officers, some in uniform. The Pentagon inspector general's office…
Opinion: A glimmer of hope for Iraq
This recent report of the Iraq Study Group offers a welcome infusion of wisdom and bipartisanship in the tortured struggle over what to do about Iraq. The carefully written report offers the only glimmer of hope recently seen in this…