MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Can Baptists build and sustain a national Baptist university? It hasn't been done yet, said top leaders at Mercer University, but Mercer has as good a chance as anyone. “Mercer may be the best hope for…
Mercer leaders want more ‘Baptistness,’ despite loss of convention affiliation
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — In the first major event since the Georgia Baptist Convention unilaterally voted to break a 173-year-old relationship with its flagship university, Mercer University officials welcomed more than 150 church leaders to the campus Jan. 19-20 to…
ABP hires former intern to fill news editor role from Texas
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — In hiring a former Associated Baptist Press intern, the news service's leaders say they have accomplished two long-anticipated goals: re-staffing an important editorial position and opening a full-time Dallas bureau. Executive Editor Greg Warner announced to…
N.C. Retirement Homes trustees vote to leave convention control
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — The Baptist Retirement Homes of North Carolina has adopted bylaw amendments that allow the corporation's trustees to elect their own successors. Previously the bylaws called for trustees to be elected by the Baptist State Convention of…
Virginia donors challenge seminary with unprecedented $3 million gift
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Two Virginia Baptist benefactors have offered a large matching-gift challenge to Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Seminary officials announced Jan. 19 that Louise and Harwood Cochrane had issued a $3 million challenge to their fellow BTSR…
Giving not showing fatigue that some analysts feared
(ABP) — News reports and televised images of suffering by South Asia tsunami victims or hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast residents prompted Americans to reach deep into their pocketbooks to give last year. Americans gave more than $2.7 billion to aid Gulf…
Churches that fail to manage risks fail in stewardship, says consultant
SAN ANGELO, Texas (ABP) — When church leaders fail to identify and manage risks in areas such as legal liability, health and safety standards, and compliance with civil-rights laws, they neglect an important aspect of biblical stewardship, risk-management consultant Dick…
Draper, retiring LifeWay president, honored for 15 years of ministry
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Affirming his commitment, compassion and vision, friends and colleagues gathered Jan. 13 to honor James T. Draper Jr., who will retire Feb. 1 as president of LifeWay Christian Resources. Draper, elected president of the former Baptist…
Unanimous Supreme Court dodges broad questions in abortion ruling
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A unanimous Supreme Court managed Jan. 18 to uphold a New Hampshire law requiring parental notification for minors seeking abortions without breaking new ground on abortion rights — though many had hoped or feared they would. In…
Giving to Protestant churches drops to 2.6% of income, study finds
(ABP) — If American Christians tithed, churches could gain $156 billion a year, a recent study found. And if denominations allocated a greater percentage of their receipts to international human needs, they could make strides in eliminating poverty-related child deaths,…
Supreme Court says federal drug laws can’t be used to stop assisted suicide
WASHINGTON (ABP) — By a 6-3 majority Jan. 17, the Supreme Court rebuffed the Bush administration's efforts to punish doctors who participate in physician-assisted suicides under an Oregon law. The ruling does not establish a constitutional “right to die.” But…
California school district agrees to settle intelligent-design suit
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Just days after they were sued over it, a California school district has agreed to stop teaching a course critics said promoted creationism and intelligent design. Americans United for Separation of Church and State announced Jan. 17…