WASHINGTON — Could a Baptist preacher become the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee — or more? Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's surprisingly strong showing in the Aug. 11 Iowa Straw Poll has significantly raised the profile of the pastor-turned-politician. But if…
Pentagon investigation faults generals for endorsing evangelical ministry
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of high-ranking Pentagon officials improperly endorsed and aided an evangelical Christian ministry, according to a Defense Department investigation recently made public. The Department of Defense inspector general's report was dated July 20 and released to…
History conference draws diverse group of Baptists
CHARLESTON, S.C. (ABP)—Perhaps the most notable thing about the recent “Baptist History Celebration,” held in the mother church of Southern Baptists, is that it happened at all. But historians from an astonishing array of Baptist groups—liberal, conservative, fundamentalist, moderate, African-American,…
Waging peace
Beginning with the ancient Christians martyred by the Roman Empire and running through Thomas Becket and to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and beyond, church leaders often have spoken truth courageously to the secular powers-that-be — regardless of the consequences. But, in the…
Corruption, financial pitfalls continue to plague TV leaders
DALLAS (ABP)—For some, Tammy Faye Messner's death July 20 stirred fond memories of a joyful Christian TV personality, and for others, painful memories of the sex-and-money scandal that destroyed her former husband's popular Christian television network. Her death also reminds…
Breakaway agencies could amend charters, Mo. convention concedes
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention's Executive Board has abandoned its contention that trustees of five institutions acted illegally when they changed their charters to elect their own board members. Convention lawyers agreed at a July 18…
Women ministers’ progress: More theoretical than practical
WASHINGTON (ABP)—Moder-ate and progressive Baptists continue to grow in their theoretical support for women as pastors, but their churches remain far behind in practice. That's one conclusion from the second annual “State of Women in Baptist Life” report, released by…
California Baptists create competing state convention to support SBC
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (ABP)—Southern Baptists in California have started a new alternative state convention that will compete with the 67-year-old California Southern Baptist Convention for denominational loyalty. California is the fourth state to witness such a move, joining Texas, Missouri…
Baptists, other Christian leaders push for reform in farm bill
WASHINGTON (ABP)—Baptists and other Christian groups are asking Congress to seize an opportunity to reform the way the government relates to farmers — for the sake of the poor in the United States and around the globe, they say. A…