TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (ABP) — A Florida state appeals court ruled Nov. 12 that the state's school-voucher program is unconstitutional because it provides funding to religious schools. The Florida First District Court of Appeals ruled 8-5 that the state's Opportunity Scholarship…
Governor calls amendment unnecessary, despite endorsement by Florida Baptists
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has called an attempt — recently endorsed by Florida Baptists — to amend that state's constitution to ban same-sex marriage “not necessary.” Bush, in Jacksonville for a speech Nov. 15, said he…
Italian Baptists ask American brethren to help bring an end to Iraq war
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptists in Italy — a nation President Bush counts as an ally in the Iraq war — are asking their American counterparts to help bring an end to that conflict. In a letter sent Nov. 12, the…
Tennessee Baptists to investigate teaching at three colleges
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Tennessee Baptists turned back an attack on “anti-Christian” teaching in public schools but agreed to investigate the biblical views taught in their three affiliated Baptist colleges. Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention Nov. 9-10 in Sevierville…
Arkansas Baptists endorse ban on gay marriage for state, nation
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (ABP) — Messengers to the 151st annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Nov. 9-10 endorsed the Federal Marriage Amendment, approved a $19.7 million budget and re-elected a slate of officers. The marriage resolution expressed gratitude…
Mississippi Baptists elect first Hispanic, endorse gay-union ban
JACKSON, Miss. (ABP) — For the first time in its 169-year history, the Mississippi Baptist Convention elected an Hispanic as an officer. Messengers also threw their support behind state and national bans on gay marriage. Joel Medina, bivocational pastor of…
Missouri Baptists set stage to exclude churches that fund moderate causes
RAYTOWN, Mo. (ABP) — The conservative-oriented Missouri Baptist Convention took the first step toward limiting membership to “Southern Baptist” churches and excluding churches that support moderate organizations, including the state and national Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist General Convention…
Langford joins CBF of Missouri as associate coordinator
LIBERTY, Mo. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri has named Jeff Langford as its new associate coordinator. Langford, 35, previously was general manager of the International Publishing Management Association in Liberty. He received a bachelor of arts degree…
Hispanic attorney general draws praise from conservative groups
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Socially conservative groups have expressed support — and civil-liberties groups have expressed concern — over President Bush's selection of Alberto Gonzales to replace John Ashcroft as attorney general. Bush nominated Gonzales, who serves as the White House's…