WASHINGTON (ABP) — Delivering his fifth State of the Union address Jan. 31, President Bush presented an agenda much less expansive and ambitious than in previous years — and one with scant mention of many of the issues important to…
Two federal appeals courts uphold challenges to ‘partial-birth’ ban
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Two more federal appeals courts have upheld challenges to a nationwide ban on a controversial abortion procedure, increasing the chance that the Supreme Court will end up hearing the case. On Jan. 31, both the New York-based…
“Dangerous and Un-baptistic”? A Response from Supporters of the “Baptist Manifesto”
As authors (Broadway, Freeman, Harvey, Newman, Thompson) and advocates (Harmon, Medley) of the 1997 statement “Re-envisioning Baptist Identity: A Manifesto for Baptist Communities in North America,” we are delighted to see the “Manifesto” re-enter the consciousness of the Baptist public…
Address for Baptist Summit
Jan. 20, 2006 I want to thank each of you for caring enough about Mercer to be here – for caring enough about Baptist life to be here – for caring enough about the principles upon which Mercer was founded…
Redemption and the Death Penalty
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger faced the ultimate responsibility of a governor recently. He had the power to stop the execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams, the former Crips gang leader and convicted murderer. Despite numerous pleas for mercy across the state,…
N.C. Baptist newspaper will pick some directors to ‘protect freedom’
CARY, N.C. (ABP) — The Biblical Recorder, newspaper of North Carolina Baptists, will choose some of its own directors in a move to preserve its journalistic freedom, say the newspapers leaders. Beginning this fall, the 172-year-old newspaper will nominate four…
‘Manifesto’ supporters say role of community misinterpreted
BUIES CREEK, N.C. (ABP) — The “Baptist Manifesto,” a theological statement that emphasizes the role of community to counterbalance individual freedom, has been misinterpreted by critics as opposing freedom of conscience, say seven Baptist theologians. “We believe with early Baptists…
Texas pastor’s open letter suggests all IMB trustees should be dismissed
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — As debate escalates over the Southern Baptist International Mission Board's effort to remove one of its trustees from office, a Texas Baptist pastor has warned that he might seek to have the entire board dismissed. Benjamin…
Senate vote on Alito reflects country’s division on issues
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new era began at the Supreme Court Jan. 31 when Samuel Alito took a crucial seat on the panel, little more than an hour after a close Senate confirmation vote — a vote that reflected the…
Coretta King mourned as ‘First Lady’ of America’s civil-rights movement
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptist leaders mourned the passing of a life — and an era — Jan. 31 in honoring the legacy of Coretta Scott King. Family members told media organizations Jan. 31 that King, the widow of slain civil-rights…
Conflict over speaking in tongues speeds departure of Criswell dean
DALLAS (ABP) — Doctrinal differences among Southern Baptist conservatives apparently have claimed another victim — Scott Camp, dean of students at Criswell College in Dallas. Camp's contract as dean, which ran through Jan. 31, was not renewed, in part because…
NAMB missionary found dead at home in Georgia mountains
HELEN, Ga. (ABP) — The death of a 32-year-old North American Mission Board missionary is under investigation by officials in the north Georgia county where he lived. The sheriff's office in White County, Ga., is investigating the Jan. 27 death…