Trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary overwhelmingly adopted a policy Oct. 17 that puts the school on record opposing charismatic expressions of the Holy Spirit, including so-called “private prayer languages.” Trustees also heard news of one of the largest donations…
ANOTHER VIEW: Forgive or die
Few recent tragedies have affected me as deeply as the horrific murders at the Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pa. It seems that each day brings more mayhem in our blood-soaked country. But this one–this image of 10 little girls…
Muslim refugees say goodbye to Lebanese Baptist shelters
Hundreds of Lebanese Muslims who had taken refuge in Lebanese Baptist institutions said good-bye to their hosts Aug. 17. Meanwhile, Lebanese Christian leaders continued to care for refugees still in Beirut. As a cease-fire took hold in the month-long conflict…
Alliance of Baptists fined $34,000 for activities in Cuba
The government agency charged with enforcing the United States' ban on travel to Cuba has notified the Alliance of Baptists that it will be fined $34,000 for allegedly engaging in tourist activities while in Cuba for religious purposes — a…
ANALYSIS: Gore documentary film exposes diversity in evangelical opinion on environment
A recent movie by Al Gore has helped reveal a diversity of opinion among Christians when it comes to the environment. While in recent years some evangelical and conservative groups have begun to acknowledge the case for environmental concern, the…
U.S. Baptist volunteers safe, thanks to Lebanese leader
As fighting between Israeli forces and Islamic radicals continued to decimate Lebanon July 24, groups of Baptist volunteers from the United States who had been trapped in Beirut were reported safely evacuated. The American Baptist News Service reported that Jennifer…
Study counts 1,600 ordained Baptist women in U.S.
Roughly 1,600 Baptist women in the United States have been ordained to the ministry, according to a new report released June 21 by Baptist Women in Ministry. The study reported that 60 Baptist women became ordained ministers in 2005. According…
As U.S. missionaries are reported safe, Lebanese Baptists describe suffering
As United States Marines began evacuating Americans in earnest from a besieged Beirut July 19 and U.S. Baptist groups reported their missionaries in the region safe, a Lebanese Baptist leader said his people's suffering would seem “quite saddening and depressing”…
For Baptists, libation debate continues in pages of Dallas Morning News
Two prominent players in the Southern Baptist Convention's debate over alcohol consumption have taken it to a new forum — a major secular newspaper. On July 15, the Dallas Morning News ran an essay by Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern…
Baptist politics ‘wreaking havoc’ on universities, warns Godsey
Baptist higher education faces a monumental crisis, due in large part to abuses of control and financial dependence, longtime university president Kirby Godsey told participants at the Whitsitt Baptist Heritage Society's annual meeting June 22 in Atlanta. Godsey will retire…
ANALYSIS: Baptist history on alcohol not totally teetotaling
Question: Why do you always take two Baptists with you when you go fishing? Answer: Because if you only bring one, he'll drink all your beer. Most everybody who grew up in the South has a favorite Baptists-and-alcohol joke, usually…
ANALYSIS: SBC surprise not a coup, but maybe a course correction
With the election of an outsider president who had strong support from reform-minded pastors, the Southern Baptist Convention may be changing in tone. But substantive changes are still a ways off, say denominational observers. While there were surprises, messengers to…