WASHINGTON (ABP) — Oregon's most populous county began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples March 3, marking the latest incident of local officials following the lead of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in allowing the practice. Two gay men and…
BWA denied exhibit space at SBC convention in June
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist Convention official has denied exhibition space to the Baptist World Alliance at this June's SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis — even though the convention has not yet approved a recommendation to separate…
Mainstream Baptist leader claims SBC leaders threaten world peace
NASHVILLE (ABP) — Southern Baptist Convention leaders are to blame for sparking “riots in countries around the world with finger-pointing pronouncements and inflammatory rhetoric about Islam and its founder,” said a moderate Baptist leader. Bruce Prescott, executive director of Mainstream…
Ousted Alabama justice argues for reinstatement
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — Attorneys for Alabama's former chief justice have asked for his reinstatement by claiming Roy Moore did not commit an ethical violation when he defied a federal court's order last year. Moore's attorneys said he was bound…
Regents’ study of Baylor controversy offers suggestions for healing rifts
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University's board of regents has urged President Robert Sloan to take aggressive steps to heal the fragmented academic community. They also have called for the sale of a controversial jet airplane and significant changes in…
Baylor punishes basketball program again after internal study finds more violations
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University assessed additional penalties on its men's basketball program Feb. 26, citing an internal review that uncovered widespread violations in recruiting, finances and drug testing. The Baylor basketball scandal broke last summer, after player Patrick…
California Supreme Court decision OKs regulation of Catholic group
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The California Supreme Court has ruled that a Catholic social-service agency must provide contraceptives as part of its prescription-drug benefit for employees — raising alarms among some religious-liberty watchers. By a 6-1 vote, the court ruled that…
Texas Baptist leader dies in car crash
LUBBOCK, Texas (ABP) — Billy Ray Parmer, former two-time Baptist General Convention of Texas second vice president, died Feb. 28 in a car crash outside Abernathy, Texas. Parmer, 78, pulled his sports utility vehicle around two stopped cars at an…
Mainstream speakers urge Baptists to regain religious-liberty commitment
NASHVILLE (ABP) — The strong commitment to religious liberty by the early Baptists who shaped American democracy is now at risk of disappearing, said several speakers during the third annual convocation of the Mainstream Baptist Network Feb. 27-28. Participants in…