KINGSPORT, Tenn. (ABP) — Tennessee Baptists are gearing up to fight a battle that most Southern Baptist state conventions finished a decade ago. Many of the state's moderates feel it is no longer worth fighting. Nonetheless, some conservatives and moderates…
Vestal: New collaboration shows reconstruction of Baptist family
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — The Baptist “family” is undergoing “something of a reconstruction” these days, according to Daniel Vestal, executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. After decades of infighting within and isolation between various Baptist denominations, an unprecedented opportunity…
Churches use podcasts as portable outreach tool
MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Little white headphones that began, about five years ago, revolutionizing the way Americans listen to music may also revolutionize the way they learn about God. Hundreds of churches and other Christian institutions are using podcasts or other easily downloadable…
Baptist World Alliance welcomes peace letter from Muslim scholars
MCLEAN (ABP) — A letter asking for peace between Muslims and Christians received a warm welcome from leaders of the Baptist World Alliance Oct. 17. Signed by more than 130 Muslim scholars, theologians and clerics, the 29-page tome asked for…
Theology keeps Mormons from entering Christian mainstream
WASHINGTON (ABP)—While a Mormon presidential candidate continues to occupy a prominent place in the race for the White House, a recent study has found most Americans say they know little about the practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of…
The Spirit in stone
A church building is “God's calling card,” telling the watching world what we believe, says one Christian architect. So what message are we sending? If your sanctuary could speak, what would it say? The truth is, it does speak—every day,…
Revival of the arts
FALLS CHURCH (ABP)—Architect Larry Cook believes “any building completely devoid of art is devoid of spirituality.” The Virginian is one of a growing number of architects who welcome the return of symbolism and spirituality to church buildings. After decades of…
It’s not easy being green
This isn't your mother's environmentalism. Footage of polar bears on shrinking glaciers and hummingbirds in sparse rainforests used to have a prominent place in films about the need to “go green.” But now some Christian environmentalists are engaging believers with…
It’s not easy being green
This isn't your mother's environmentalism. Footage of polar bears on shrinking glaciers and hummingbirds in sparse rainforests used to have a prominent place in films about the need to “go green.” But now some Christian environmentalists are engaging believers with…
10 steps to help save the world
NEW YORK (ABP)—With all the talk of global warming, environmental degradation and increase in pollution-caused disease, it's easy to get overwhelmed. But experts say changing just a few daily habits can help alleviate some of those problems. And if enough…
ABP fills two positions, affirms alliance with Herald and other Baptist papers
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — The Associated Baptist Press board of directors hired an interim development director and filled the position of news editor at their semi-annual meeting Sept. 16-18. Meeting in Richmond, directors of the independent news service based in…
Midwestern Seminary factions square off over president’s fate
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — Leaders of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary are reportedly squaring off in a struggle over the school's president, Phil Roberts. Roberts' stewardship of the Kansas City, Mo.-based institution is the subject of a tug-of-war between seminary…