WILMINGTON, N.C. (RNS) — A resolution to allow North Carolina to defy the Constitution and establish a state-sanctioned religion may be dead in the state capitol, but minority faiths say there’s more than enough reason to remain nervous. Some worry…
Resolution asserting North Carolina can establish official religion won’t be brought up for vote
RALEIGH — A resolution in the North Carolina House of Representative asserting the state isn’t prohibited from establishing an official religion was effectively killed April 4 when Speaker Thom Tillis said it would not come up for a vote. The…
Christian faith compels support for comprehensive immigration reform, say ministers at N.C. rally
WINSTON-SALEM — As Congress grapples to craft legislation that would overhaul the nation’s immigration laws, a group of Baptist ministers in North Carolina called on their state’s representatives April 2 to support “comprehensive, fair immigration reform” which “builds the common…
Shorthand written by religious liberty icon Roger Williams decoded after 300 years, revealing essay
DURHAM, N.C. — A team of scholars that helped translate an original theological essay written in shorthand by early American Baptist Roger Williams and interpret its significance presented its findings during a seminar at Duke Divinity School’s Baptist House of…
Mars Hill College spring breakers find plenty of post-quake work to do in Haiti
(ABP) — College student Shelby Johnson missed the March 3 announcement that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship was shifting its work in Haiti from disaster response to long-term projects, like community health and economic development. But the English and Spanish double…
CBF of N.C. begins process to ‘discern’ future priorities, announces new annual mission offering
LUMBERTON, N.C. — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina began preparations March 15-16 to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2014, initiating a “discernment process” to set future priorities and announcing a new annual mission and ministry offering to be…
Increasingly disturbed by effects of sex trafficking, two teens fight back — with purses
ROCKY MOUNT, Va. — Many women have an obsession with purses. They love to dress in style and complete their look with a fashionable handbag. Recently two teens in Rocky Mount, Va., carried women’s obsession with purses to a new…
Ridgecrest pulls the plug on what might have been one of N.C.’s largest solar energy projects
RIDGECREST, N.C. — Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center has withdrawn from a project that would have created one of North Carolina’s largest solar energy projects because of the amount of land required. Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center is about 20 miles east…
N.C.’s Rowan County latest in Mid-Atlantic to grapple with sectarian prayers at official meetings
SALISBURY, N.C. — North Carolina’s Rowan County is the latest jurisdiction in the Mid-Atlantic to grapple with the role of sectarian prayers at official government meetings. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina filed a lawsuit against Rowan’s board…