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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Divided Maryland court rules against gay marriage
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (ABP) — Maryland's highest court has delivered the latest blow to supporters of same-sex marriage rights, narrowly ruling that the Maryland Constitution does not confer upon gays the right to marry each other. A sharply divided Maryland Court…
BJC director joins Baptists, others in panel on faith
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, is joining other prominent religious leaders as a panelist for a Washington Post/Newsweek online forum on faith issues. Walker's thoughts will appear alongside those of…
Dobson discourages support of Thompson
WASHINGTON (ABP) — One of the most powerful leaders in conservative evangelical Christianity has reportedly discouraged his colleagues from supporting Fred Thompson as a presidential candidate. James Dobson, according to a Sept. 19 Associated Press report, sent a private e-mail…
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…