DALLAS (ABP) — Mark Wingfield, managing editor of the Baptist Standard, is leaving denominational journalism after 21 years to join the staff at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. At a called church conference Nov. 19, the Dallas congregation overwhelmingly voted…
Republicans add DC voucher plan to unamendable appropriations bill
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Republican leaders in the House and Senate have quietly slipped a measure into a federal appropriations bill that would create the first federally sponsored school-voucher program. The proposal, which would create a publicly funded scholarship program for…
Massachusetts court legalizes gay marriage but stops short of issuing marriage licenses
[UPDATED] WASHINGTON (ABP) — The first shoe dropped in America's legal debate over gay-marriage when a closely divided Massachusetts court ruled Nov. 18 that a state agency could not deny same-sex couples the right to marry. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial…
Gay marriage won’t necessarily spread from Massachusetts, experts predict
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Will the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage cause the first collapse in a house of cards that will ultimately lead to gay marriage in all 50 states? Although many on both sides of…
Virginia Baptists withhold Averett money over gay dispute, elect pro-SBC president
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists have taken action that may end their 144-year-old tie to Averett University unless a conflict over homosexuality and biblical authority is resolved. Meeting Nov. 13-14 in Richmond, Va., messengers to the annual meeting of…
Louisiana Baptists elect officers unopposed, sell retirement home
LAFAYETTE, La. (ABP) — Louisiana Baptists, meeting Nov. 10-11 in Lafayette, approved the sale of the state's retirement center and elected, with no opposition, a slate of officers endorsed by conservatives during the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention….
Tampa-area pastor re-elected at peaceful Florida Baptist meeting
TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) — Florida Baptists experienced a harmonious meeting and re-elected Tampa-area pastor Tommy Green to an uncontested second term as president during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention meeting Nov. 10-11 at the Sun Dome in Tampa. The…
Tampa-area pastor re-elected at peaceful Florida Baptist meeting
TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) — Florida Baptists experienced a harmonious meeting and re-elected Tampa-area pastor Tommy Green to an uncontested second term as president during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention meeting Nov. 10-11 at the Sun Dome in Tampa. The…
S.C. Baptists hold line on budget, approve South Asia partnership
COLUMBIA, S.C. (ABP) — The 1,230 registered messengers attending the 183rd annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention adopted a $32.15 million budget for 2004, approved a three-year missions partnership with South Asia, and elected a Boiling Springs pastor…