PHOENIX (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the reality of a literal hell June 15 in a resolution responding to Rob Bell’s Love Wins book that challenges traditional thinking about eternal damnation. Citing Bell’s book, the SBC resolution affirmed…
Southern Baptists re-elect president
PHOENIX (ABP) — Atlanta-area pastor Bryant Wright was re-elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 14. Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., received 95 percent of ballots cast. Wiley Drake, a former convention vice president,…
Southern Baptists issued ‘1 percent challenge’ for Cooperative Program
PHOENIX (ABP) — A Southern Baptist leader urged pastors June 14 to lead their congregations to increase the percentages of their budgets for the denomination by a percent. Frank Page, president of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention,…
SBC reports statistical decline
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention reported declines last year in several categories traditionally used as markers of denominational vitality, according to annual statistics released June 9 by LifeWay Christian Resources. The 2010 Annual Church Profile showed dips…
2010 Lottie Moon Offering falls short
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Southern Baptists gave $145.6 million to international missions through the 2010 Lottie Moon Offering, $3 million less than the previous year and $8.3 million less than the International Mission Board needs to meet its 2011 operating…
Professor says Southern Baptists should elect black president
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A seminary professor says the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention should be an African-American. Russell Moore, dean of the school of theology and senior vice president for academic administration at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,…
Former NAMB head praying for Obama’s defeat
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A former Southern Baptist Convention official told social conservatives at a weekend rally in Washington he is praying that President Obama is not elected to a second term. “I pray that a trumpet will announce the moving…
Southern Baptist Convention leader criticizes Obama on Israel
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention’s top public policy official called Barack Obama “the worst president of the United States that Israel has ever had” at a rally for social conservatives held June 3-4 in Washington. “The reason I…
CBF Coordinating Council adopts budget to propose next month
ATLANTA (ABP) – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council voted by e-mail May 26 to recommend a 2011-2012 budget of $12.3 million at the group’s June 22-25 General Assembly in Tampa, Fla. The amount is $2.2 million less than this…
Southern Baptists to review assignments of mission boards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention is ready to consider revisions to working agreements that will allow the International Mission Board to work directly with internationals living in the United States. On the agenda…
Baptists help Myanmar quake victims after learning of collapsed church
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Several Baptist groups are pooling resources for aid after receiving news that a Baptist church in Myanmar collapsed during a March earthquake, killing 24 and injuring 57. According to the Myanmar Times, about 200 people…
Self-care important for clergy but often neglected
SAN FRANCISCO (ABP) — “You cannot go to church,” Christian philosopher Elton Trueblood once said. “You are the church wherever you go.” That is especially true if you are the pastor. While many people with high-demand occupations view Sunday worship…