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…
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…
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”…
CBF participants focus on future at 16th gathering
With a call to minister to “a world in need,” the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship began its 16th year by appointing 19 mission workers, welcoming a new missions coordinator, adopting a $17-million budget and contributing $32,801 to a special human rights…
Jesus’s ministry prompts focus on immigration, say Hispanics
The central question in the debate on immigration reform is not about economics or politics, Hispanic Baptist leaders said June 23. “The basic issue is whether Jesus still has a mission to the poor,” Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University…
‘Information integrity’ essential to world citizenship, Nash tells ABP audience
Rob Nash, one day after being elected global missions coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, urged about 300 Baptists at an Associated Baptist Press banquet to pursue “information integrity” on their way to becoming “citizens of the world.” In his…
Leave ‘Christendom’ thinking behind, says BWA’s Lotz
Western Baptists need to leave Christendom behind and become more like the early church, Denton Lotz told about 150 persons attending a Baptist World Alliance dinner June 23. Lotz, who is general secretary of the BWA, said many Westerners still…
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…