Vermont judge grants child-custody rights to partner in same-sex civil union_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Vermont judge grants child-custody
rights to partner in same-sex civil union

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–A Vermont judge has ruled that gay couples united in civil unions should be treated no differently than heterosexual married couples who have had children by artificial insemination when it comes to custody disputes.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Cybercolumn by Brett Younger: ‘…born again in us’_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

CYBERCOLUMN:
‘… born again in us’

By Brett Younger

We have been through so many Christmas seasons that it’s become routine. We’re used to the sounds of the approaching Yuletide—jingle bells, silver bells, Salvation Army bells, Christmas cards from Southern belles and the one-tolling-for-thee-shopping-bell.

Santa is around more than some family members. “The Miracle on 34th Street” doesn’t seem particularly miraculous many more. We’re no longer inspired (if we ever were) by the television specials where sad, lonely busy people tempted to skip the whole business are suddenly inspired to decorate, bake and wrap. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire sound no better than microwave tater tots.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Cross-country church connections bringin revival_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

Cross-country church connections bringing revival

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Prayer is connecting Texas Baptists with Christians from New England to the Rocky Mountains, and it is bringing revival with it, firsthand observers report.

11/24/2004 - By John Rutledge

Kentucky Baptists divided over a vote on officers, a constitutional amendment and the BWA_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

Kentucky Baptists divided over a vote on
officers, a constitutional amendment and the BWA

By Trennis Henderson & David Winfrey

Kentucky Western Recorder

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP)—"Kentucky Baptists Connect," an ambitious five-year ministry emphasis, was intended to be the primary focus of the Kentucky Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Louisville.

11/24/2004 - By John Rutledge

Storylist for 11/22 issue_112204

Storylist for 11/22/04 issue GO TO SECTIONS: • Texas       • Baptists       • Faith       • Departments      • Opinion       • Bible Study      • Distance no barrier for churches…

11/24/2004 - By John Rutledge

Alabama Baptists vote against same-sex marriage, turn down funds for BWA_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

Alabama Baptists vote against same-sex
marriage, turn down funds for BWA

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP)—Alabama Baptists at their annual meeting passed resolutions against same-sex marriage and in favor of education and military chaplains. But they turned down an attempt to divert $30,000 from the Southern Baptist Convention to the Baptist World Alliance.

11/23/2004 - By John Rutledge

Baptist University of the Americas applies for BWA membership_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

Baptist University of the Americas applies for BWA membership

SAN ANTONIO—Baptist University of the Americas has applied for associate membership in the Baptist World Alliance.

At its July meeting in Seoul, South Korea, the Baptist World Alliance General Council amended the international organization’s constitution to allow associate membership.

The new membership category was created “to involve Baptist churches and organized Baptist groups in the global ministry of the Baptist World Alliance through prayer, the sharing of resources and participation in the meetings, congresses and conferences of the Baptist World Alliance,” the amendment stated. “The ministry of churches, organized Baptist groups and the Alliance are all strengthened through this intentional partnership.”

11/23/2004 - By John Rutledge

California Baptists pass bylaw changes_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

California Baptists pass bylaw changes

By Terry Barone

California Southern Baptist

HIGHLAND, Calif. (ABP)—Except for several bylaw changes concerning the relationship of the California Southern Baptist Convention to its agencies, messengers to the convention's annual meeting approved a number of routine items with little debate.

11/23/2004 - By John Rutledge

New Secretary of State probably won’t impact religious freedom policy_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

New Secretary of State probably
won't impact religious freedom policy

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)— President Bush's choice of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to replace Secretary of State Colin Powell may not mean much change in the United States' foreign policy regarding religious-freedom issues, experts on the subject maintained.

11/23/2004 - By John Rutledge

Stem cell research, gay marriage opposed by Louisiana Baptist messengers_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

Stem cell research, gay marriage
opposed by Louisiana Baptist messengers

ALEXANDRIA, La. (ABP)—Messengers to the Louisiana Baptist Convention approved eight resolutions without discussion—including statements against embryonic stem-cell research, gay marriage and homosexuality—during the closing session of their annual meeting, even though leaders acknowledged a quorum may not have been present.

Louisiana Baptists urged an end to all funding—public and private—for embryonic stem-cell research, diverting it instead to adult stem-cell research. The statement notes embryonic stem-cell research requires human embryos be destroyed, which it declares "morally equivalent to murder."

Messengers declared support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would define marriage as only between a man and a woman. The Federal Marriage Amendment, they said, is needed to offset the push to legalize same-sex marriages in the country.

11/23/2004 - By John Rutledge

New Orleans trustees take step toward ‘sole membership’ compliance_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

New Orleans trustees take step
toward 'sole membership' compliance

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary attorney Don Richard recently issued a letter to Southern Baptist Convention attorneys, providing documentation about sole membership language approved by seminary trustees during a closed executive session in mid-October.

Previously, the exact nature of the actions taken in the closed session was unclear, even though the trustees publicly released two motions they had approved.

The news is significant, observers noted, because it signals the seminary’s compliance with the request by SBC messengers at the 2004 annual meeting that the seminary adopt sole membership at its October board meeting by amending the seminary's charter.

11/23/2004 - By John Rutledge

New Senate leaders cut across political assumptions_112904

Posted: 11/24/04

New Senate leaders cut across political assumptions

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)—Senate Democrats, whose party officially supports abortion rights, have elected an abortion opponent as their leader. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans, whose party officially opposes abortion, appear ready to name a rare pro-choice senator as chair of one of the Senate's most powerful committees.

11/23/2004 - By John Rutledge