MINNEAPOLIS (ABP) — Delegates to the national assembly of America’s largest Lutheran denomination voted by a wide margin Aug. 21 to open the door to allowing clergy in committed same-sex relationships to serve openly. The vote came just two days…
John Piper says possible tornado a warning to Lutherans
John Piper MINNEAPOLIS (ABP) — A Baptist pastor and popular Calvinist author says it was no accident that tornado-force winds hit downtown Minneapolis the same week that the nation's largest Lutheran group was meeting there to debate liberalizing its policies…
Obama appeals to faith groups on reform; abortion questions remain
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama, in an unprecedented Aug. 19 Internet conference that organizers said drew 140,000 participants, appealed to faith leaders to boost his attempts to reform America’s health-care system. But some conservative religious leaders are fighting back against Obama’s plan,…
Professor chooses church over seminary job
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — A music professor has taken early retirement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary rather than resigning a part-time position and moving his membership from a church that the Southern Baptist Convention declared out of fellowship in…
NAMB trustees name acting interim president
Longtime NAMB staff member Richard Harris was named acting interim president Aug. 12. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — North American Mission Board trustees on Aug. 12 named Richard Harris, the organization's senior strategist for missions advancement, as acting interim president…
BWA presentation on church and gays reveals differing regional approaches
EDE, Netherlands (ABP) — A friendly debate about the Bible, human sexuality and the church’s response to the advance of gay rights during the Baptist World Alliance’s recent annual gathering revealed differences between some in the developing world and some…
Faith groups begin media blitz for health care reform
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama will participate in a national call-in and audio webcast on health reform with religious leaders Aug. 19. Faith leaders made the announcement Aug. 10 in a conference call with reporters. It is one of several…
NEW BAPTIST COVENANT: Carter planning return trip to Gaza
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — Former President Jimmy Carter said Aug. 7 he is planning a return trip to Gaza in an effort to focus international attention on what he describes as a humanitarian crisis. Carter, who sparked controversy in June…
NEW BAPTIST COVENANT: Oklahoma governor says faith sustained family
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — In rare public comments about religion, Oklahoma's Democratic governor told a Baptist gathering Aug. 7 that his Christian faith got him through personal loss two decades ago when an infant daughter died of a rare neuromuscular…