Appeals court bans town's Christian prayers RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — A federal appeals court has banned a South Carolina town from offering Christian-only prayers at city council meetings. A three-judge panel of the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals…
Kerry, Bush campaigns focus on stem-cell research
WASHINGTON (ABP) — On the third anniversary of a controversial decision by President Bush limiting embryonic stem-cell research, both parties' presidential campaigns focused on the morally contentious topic. In Aug. 9 campaign appearances, Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards and…
Christian values gaining credibility in era of business reform, consultants say
CHASKA, Minn. (ABP) — As a parade of former Enron executives defend themselves before a federal grand jury during August, a new era is emerging in American business, according to business leaders and consultants. The Enron scandal represents a pendulum…
Baptist ends 28-year career training Army chaplains
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (ABF) — Chaplain Hal Roller recently retired as commandant of the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School after a 28-year career that included numerous military honors, such as the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. But teaching other…
San Antonio church collects, fills backpacks for 525 schoolchildren
PROGRESO, Texas (ABP) — Elementary school children in Progreso, Texas, are going back to school this year with a heavy burden, thanks to a church in San Antonio. In less than seven months, members of the Fellowship at Westcreek collected…
Democratic religious liaison resigns under fire from Catholic group
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Democratic Party's first-ever liaison to religious leaders has resigned only two weeks after she started, under fire from a conservative Catholic group for her opposition to the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Brenda…
BWA international leaders anticipate better days, ‘truer voice’ after SBC
SEOUL, Korea (ABP) — What does the future hold for Baptist World Alliance as it approaches its centennial celebration next year — minus its largest member body? According to several influential Baptist leaders around the world, the global organization's best…
Some Southern Baptist leaders remain involved in BWA
SEOUL, Korea (ABP) — While the Southern Baptist Convention has voted to cut ties to the Baptist World Alliance effective Oct. 1, many Baptist leaders in the United States have pledged to continue to support BWA. That fact was evident…
BWA pledges more active role in fight for religious freedoms
SEOUL, Korea (ABP) — Baptist World Alliance must continue in its role as defender of human rights, religious freedom and the separation of church and state around the world, according to BWA Executive Director Denton Lotz. “We must strengthen even…
Gambling industry suffers setbacks in Missouri, District of Columbia
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In the same week, voters in Missouri and an elections board in the District of Columbia dealt successive blows to the gambling industry. By a 56-to-44 percent margin Aug. 3, “Show-Me” state voters defeated a proposed amendment…
Researchers argue over whose numbers to believe about gambling’s impact
DALLAS (ABP) — A recently released study on the economic impact of casinos in Texas trumpets casinos' benefits without fully considering their cost to taxpayers, according to independent researchers. And they claim a companion study on the social impact of…
North Carolina Baptists help hurricane victims
HATTERAS, N.C. (ABP) — Once again Baptist volunteers are helping with clean-up efforts in the wake of a hurricane along the East Coast. Hurricane Alex hit North Carolina's Outer Banks on Aug. 3 bringing 100 mph winds, heavy rain and…