PHOENIX (ABP) — John McCain has a deep and personal Christian commitment despite his reluctance to speak publicly about it, according to the man the presumptive GOP presidential nominee claims as his pastor. Dan Yeary, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist…
‘Peace committee’ proposed for Missouri
REPUBLIC, Mo. (ABP) — As battles between conservatives continue to roil the Missouri Baptist Convention, one prominent layman in the state is proposing a miniature re-creation of the ill-fated Southern Baptist Convention “Peace Committee.” But the convention's president — cautioning…
Beliefs alone not to blame when faith turns violent, scholars say
ATLANTA (ABP) — Every faith group has its extremists, but not all extremists turn violent. What makes the difference? While most religious violence follows common patterns, faith seldom turns violent except in response to social oppression, say experts who study…
Will Baptists be counted in the ‘evangelical center’?
If an “evangelical center” emerges from the current shake-up in American politics, will moderate Baptists be part of it? It depends on how comfortable moderate Baptists are with being considered “evangelicals” in the first place. Moderate and progressive Baptists certainly…
NBC leaders plan repeat but no new structure
ATLANTA (ABP) — Organizers of the recent New Baptist Covenant celebration are recommending a repeat of the historic pan-Baptist event in 2011 but not a new denomination or other permanent organization. The event drew an estimated 15,000 Baptists from across…
Churches, with gas ‘buy-downs,’ ease neighbors’ pain at pumps
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — When it comes to ministry in Jesus' name, relieving “oppression” takes many forms — including the oppression of today's gasoline prices. As gas prices hit record levels across the country, a growing number of churches are…
Should Christians use violent video games to lure teens to church?
NEW YORK (ABP) — What do warthogs, pelicans, energy swords and Spartan lasers have in common? And how do they relate to John 1:17? They're all part of a video game called Halo 3, the top-selling video game of 2007…
Circumcision: Are parents cutting out the sign of the Covenant?
NEW YORK (ABP) — The foundational symbol of God's ancient covenant with his people is getting a lot less common in the United States, but medical and theological debates still rage about the propriety of circumcision. Recent legal battles over…
Grassley targets ministries’ alleged abuse of tax laws
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sen. Chuck Grass-ley insists that he's not trying to impose his Baptist theology on Pentecostal and Charismatic ministries; he simply wants them to obey the tax laws. The Iowa Republican has drawn fire for using his position…
Obama speech spurs IRS investigation
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A speech that Barack Obama made last year to his fellow Congregationalists has spurred an Internal Revenue Service investigation that threatens the tax-exempt status of an entire denomination. Leaders of the Illinois senator's United Church of Christ…
Abstinence pact means AIDS relief bill back on track
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A bill that would more than triple the amount of money the United States spends combating the AIDS pandemic got a boost Feb. 27 with a compromise over abstinence-focused prevention efforts and abortion. House leaders and White…
CBF council approves budget, reports shortfall
ATLANTA (ABP) — Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship approved a $16.5 million budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year and heard of budget shortfalls during the CBF Coordinating Council's Feb. 7-8 meeting in Decatur, Ga. The council's finance committee reported…