ARLINGTON (ABP) — A Virginia Baptist seminary and a historically African-American college in the state have reached a unique degree-granting agreement for undergraduate students. The John Leland Center for Theological Studies, based in Arlington, and Hampton University in Hampton reached…
Arkansas Baptists narrowly reject opening on communion, baptism
VAN BUREN, Ark. (ABP) — Arkansas Baptist State Convention leaders narrowly rejected an attempt Nov. 7 to remove a peculiar constitutional provision on communion and baptism that historians say is rooted in a 19th-century Baptist controversy. Messengers to the body's…
IMB trustees censure Burleson, bar him from board activities
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP) — In a rare move, trustees of a Southern Baptist Convention agency voted Nov. 6 to censure one of their own and effectively bar him from carrying out the duties of his office. However, reform-minded Oklahoma pastor…
IMB attorney says board has power to suspend trustee
RICHMOND (ABP) — Although the Southern Baptist Convention is the only group with power to unseat a trustee of one of its agencies, the International Mission Board's attorney said Nov. 8 the board has the legal power to effectively bar…
Tennessee Baptists gear up for struggle over trustees
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (ABP) — Tennessee Baptists are gearing up to fight a battle that most Southern Baptist state conventions finished a decade ago. Many of the state's moderates feel it is no longer worth fighting. Nonetheless, some conservatives and moderates…
Churches use podcasts as portable outreach tool
MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Little white headphones that began, about five years ago, revolutionizing the way Americans listen to music may also revolutionize the way they learn about God. Hundreds of churches and other Christian institutions are using podcasts or other easily downloadable…
Divided Maryland court rules against gay marriage
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (ABP) — Maryland's highest court has delivered the latest blow to supporters of same-sex marriage rights, narrowly ruling that the Maryland Constitution does not confer upon gays the right to marry each other. A sharply divided Maryland Court…
Dobson discourages support of Thompson
WASHINGTON (ABP) — One of the most powerful leaders in conservative evangelical Christianity has reportedly discouraged his colleagues from supporting Fred Thompson as a presidential candidate. James Dobson, according to a Sept. 19 Associated Press report, sent a private e-mail…
Thompson: Not regular churchgoer, won’t talk frequently about faith
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Although the newest GOP presidential candidate is gaining lots of positive attention from the leaders of the Religious Right, he is not involved in a local church and says he won't talk much about his faith on…
Candidates’ religious commitment not a big voter draw, survey shows
WASHINGTON (ABP)—A new survey of voters' attitudes toward presidential candidates shows that being perceived as highly religious may not help the 2008 hopefuls much. The study, released by two bipartisan public-interest groups, also suggests many issues most important to conservative…
Federal court says Seattle-area high school can deny charter to Bible club
PORTLAND, Ore. (ABP)—A federal appeals court ruled a Washington state high school is not required to charter a Bible club, since the club allows only Christians to be full members. In Truth v. Kent Public School District, a unanimous three-judge…
Religious Right leader James Kennedy dead at 76
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (ABP)—Presbyterian minister James Kennedy died Sept. 5, little more than a week after he retired from the pulpit that helped him launch both evangelistic and political ministries. Kennedy, who was 76, had served nearly half a century…