NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — While staunch defenders of human rights and religious liberty for all, Southern Baptists rarely mentioned religious persecution in convention resolutions until the 1990s. That coincides with increased calls by social conservatives, including the newly conservative leadership…
Blessed are the Persecuted: Where persecution is real, it’s intense
WASHINGTON (ABP) — During the holiday season every year, America’s dutiful culture warriors spar over things like whether ecumenical holiday greetings are appropriate for retailers or Christian Nativity scenes should be displayed on courthouse lawns that Jews, Muslims and atheists…
Baptists worldwide take low-key approach to religious-liberty concerns
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Baptists generally prefer to handle violations of religious freedom through quiet diplomacy instead of media headlines denouncing “persecution” of Christians, said a freedom-and-justice specialist for the Baptist World Alliance. That approach contrasts with well-known organizations…
Missouri Baptists give board more authority in lawsuit
RAYTOWN, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention broadened authority of its Executive Board to resolve ongoing lawsuits against five formerly related entities at the convention's 175th annual meeting Oct. 27. Messengers at First Baptist Church in Raytown, Mo., voted…
Two CBF assemblies to celebrate 20 years of movement’
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will stress community at the organization’s 20th General Assembly June 24-25, 2010, in Charlotte, N.C. Daniel Vestal, executive coordinator of the Atlanta-based CBF, told members of the group’s national Coordinating Council Oct….
Seminary adopts statement asserting male headship
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has adopted a policy statement that declares men and women equal before God but created for specific roles of headship and submission in the church and home. Seminary trustees voted Oct….
Baylor pulls proposal to alumni association
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University has withdrawn its invitation to move its autonomous alumni association in-house, citing lack of a positive response to a request that the group give up its independent nonprofit status and come under the authority…
Russian Baptists to hold rally with Orthodox, Catholics
MOSCOW (ABP) — An Oct. 15 meeting between high-level representatives of Russia’s Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox communities resulted in the scheduling of a historic multi-confessional Christian rally for early next year, according to a Russian Baptist press release. The rally, scheduled…
Christians are as susceptible as anyone to Internet rumor-mongering. What does that say about us?
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Thanks to the Internet, some gullible American Christians can engage in one of their favorite hobbies — digging up the metaphorical corpse of Madalyn Murray O’Hair and rhetorically flogging it — more easily than ever before. Even…