NEW YORK (ABP)—Most people think they can spot a sexual predator. He's the pale loner with greasy hair and quivering lips or the grinning lech who hugs too long and slowly rubs the backs of female co-workers—or church members. Could…
SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—Sex-abuse victims speak up to help others & find healing themselves
NEW YORK (ABP)—Debbie Vasquez was 14 when her pastor started touching her inappropriately. She was 15 when he raped her and 19 when she had his baby. Tina Boyd was molested at 11 and later raped by her church bus…
Study suggests Muslims in U.S. more mainstream than in Europe
WASHINGTON (ABP)—One of the most comprehensive studies of its kind suggests Muslims in the United States are far better assimilated into the nation's culture—and far less likely to espouse extremist beliefs—than their counterparts in Europe. However, the Pew Research Center…
Election of Romanian Baptist may signal unity
CLUJ, Romania (ABP)—In a move signaling a renewed interest in partnering with the European Baptist Federation, Romanian Baptists have elected Otniel Bunaciu as their president. The May 18 decision of the 34th congress of the Baptist Union of Romania was…
Georgia church is largest yet to call woman as senior pastor
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP)—A female pastor who broke the “stained-glass ceiling” in Texas Baptist life is expected to move to a historic church near Atlanta, making it by far the largest Southern Baptist church led by a woman. A search committee…
Half of SBC pastors believe in ‘prayer languages,’ study reveals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)—Half of the senior pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention believe some people are granted a special, spiritual language for prayer, a recent survey has found. The findings, from LifeWay Christian Resources, come in the midst of continued…
NEW: SBC messengers re-elect Page, hear motions on agency policies, clergy sex abuse
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Frank Page was re-elected without opposition to the traditional second one-year term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the first day of the denomination's annual meeting, which also featured efforts to curb clergy sexual…
NEW: SBC says doctrinal statement ‘sufficient,’ but impact on hiring remains unclear
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the Baptist Faith & Message June 12 as the “sufficient” doctrinal guide for its agencies and institutions. But SBC leaders immediately disagreed over whether the action will keep those agencies from…
NEW: SBC messengers re-elect Page,choose Richards over Rogers
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Although the Southern Baptist Convention re-elected as their president a pastor supported by denominational reformers, they defeated the reformers' candidate for first vice president. Messengers at the denomination's annual meeting re-elected South Carolina pastor Frank Page…