WASHINGTON (ABP) — Religious groups praised the June 28 U.S. Supreme Court rulings that foreign detainees and “enemy combatants” must be given a “meaningful opportunity” to defend themselves in American courts. Both the National Council of Churches and the Council…
Colorado Supreme Court strikes down voucher law
DENVER (ABP) — Colorado's highest court has ruled unconstitutional a state law that would have set up a school-voucher program, including religious and other private schools. On a 4-3 vote, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled June 28 that the state's…
CBF general assembly looks outward toward BWA, ecumenical alliance
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship turned its sights outward during its general assembly June 24-26, voting to join a new national ecumenical organization and embracing the embattled Baptist World Alliance — one week after the international Baptist…
New cooperative effort gives churches chance to celebrate, support First Amendment freedoms
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Celebrating and supporting the “founding freedoms” guaranteed in the First Amendment is the emphasis of a new project launched by three Baptist organizations. The First Freedoms Project is an educational and fund-raising collaboration between Associated Baptist…
11 new CBF missionaries sent out during service at general assembly
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship commissioned two career missionary couples and seven other short-term missionaries during a celebration of missions at its general assembly June 25. Jade and Shelah Acker of Birmingham, Ala., will serve in West…
Head of group that fought Roy Moore addresses BJC supporters at luncheon
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — In facing down Roy Moore and winning, Richard Cohen admitted, he and other supporters of church-state separation won a legal battle but may have lost the public-relations war. “The real battle here wasn't in the court…
Group sues White House, agency officials over Bush’s ‘faith-based initiative’ plan
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Wisconsin group that opposes government endorsement of religion has launched the broadest legal attack to date on President Bush's plan to fund social services through religious charities. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation filed an eight-page…
News briefs from Associated Baptist Press
Group sues Bush officials over 'faith-based' plan WASHINGTON — A Wisconsin group that opposes government endorsement of religion has launched the broadest legal attack to date on President Bush's plan to fund social services through religious charities. The Madison-based Freedom…
CBF general assembly attendees focus on ‘Being the Presence’
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Being near the right son, Virginia theologian John Kinney told participants of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's general assembly, can open doors for you. Speaking June 24 during the opening session of the moderate Baptist group's annual…
CBF Coordinating Council asked to support BWA, anti-poverty group
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Daniel Vestal, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, said the Baptist World Alliance “is going to find a new vision and new life” in the next few months and years, even though it recently lost its…
‘Free Baptists’ need to speak up, Joel Gregory tells ABP audience
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Baptists must exercise their precious freedom in order to accomplish God's work in the world, Joel Gregory insisted at the annual Associated Baptist Press banquet June 24. “When you walk the way I've walked over the…
Baptist Women in Ministry to continue as networking group for female clergy
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., (ABP) — Baptist Women in Ministry passed a motion affirming the continued need for its organization despite concerns brought up last year that the group is outdated. This year's theme, “Rooted in the Past, Grounded for the Future,”…