Baptist Press Archive

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

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  • Faith, religious liberty among presidential forum topics
    by Sharayah Colter/Southern Baptist TEXAN, posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 (8 years ago)

    Photo courtesy of Prestonwood Baptist Church
    PLANO, Texas (BP) -- If most evangelical Christians are avoiding the polls and allowing leaders to be elected by non-believers, "is it any wonder we have a federal government that is assaulting life?" asked Sen. Ted Cruz during a presidential candidate forum at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.

    "There are 90 million evangelical Christians in America," Cruz said during the Oct. 18 event that drew about 6,000 people to hear ... Read More

  • Prayer, advocacy urged in response to State Dept. report
    by Tom Strode, posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 (8 years ago)

    "Pray for the religious minorities of one new country every week." -- Travis Wussow
    WASHINGTON (BP) -- Prayer and advocacy are appropriate Christian responses to the U.S. State Department's latest report on international religious liberty, says Southern Baptists' point man on global justice and freedom of faith.

    In its annual report, the State Department cited the upsurge in persecution of religious adherents by non-government groups as a major development in 2014. The International Religious ... Read More

  • Guidance offered for ministry in new marriage culture
    by Rebekah Wahlberg, posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 (8 years ago)

    MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP) -- How should the church respond to a gay couple requesting premarital counseling? What about when the new girl with the Awana ministry brings her two mothers to meet her teacher? Or when a church member who owns a business doesn't want to provide marriage benefits to same-sex couples? The new book "Ministry in the New Marriage Culture" focuses on helping churches and ministry leaders address these questions and more. Read More

  • TRUSTEES: NOBTS approves 5-year strategic plan
    by Gary D. Myers, posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 (8 years ago)

    NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees approved a five-year strategic plan for the seminary and voted to establish a new extension center in Columbus, Ga., during their fall meeting. Seminary President Chuck Kelley also shared news of the record enrollment of 3,952 students.

    In his report to trustees, Kelley recounted the ways in which God provided for the seminary following Hurricane Katrina. In the 10 years after the storm ... Read More

  • Tenn. assoc. disfellowships church with female pastor
    by David Roach, posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 (8 years ago)

    LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. (BP) -- A Middle Tennessee Baptist association has voted to withdraw fellowship from a congregation that called a woman as pastor. At issue: the association's requirement that cooperating churches adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message.

    The Lawrence County Association of Baptists, located some 85 miles southwest of Nashville, voted 73-4 during its annual meeting ... Read More

  • FIRST-PERSON: Call a missionary
    by Doug Munton, posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 (8 years ago)

    O'FALLON, Ill. (BP) -- Missionaries returning to the States "still want to serve the cause of Christ," pastor Doug Munton writes of the International Mission Board's downsizing. "Might Southern Baptist churches consider them when seeking a pastor and church staff member?" he asks. Read More