SBC News

A Baptist college has joined the list of schools and universities suing the federal government in opposition to the Obama administration's contraceptive/abortion mandate, making it clear the issue is not simply a Catholic one. Louisiana College -- affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention -- filed suit Monday (Feb. 20) in federal court, saying the mandate violates the U.S. Constitution by, among other things, entangling the government in religious matters and forcing the college to violate its "sincerely held religious beliefs regarding abortion."

W. Thomas Hammond Jr. was approved as vice president for convention advancement during the Executive Committee's Feb. 20-21 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Hammond comes to the Executive Committee from the North American Mission Board, where he served most recently as team leader for "GPS: God's Plan for Sharing," a national evangelism initiative.

A request by the South Carolina Baptist Convention that Cooperative Program allocations to the six Southern Baptist seminaries be reduced to provide more funding for international missions was received and considered during the SBC Executive Committee's Feb. 20-21 meeting in Nashville, Tenn.

The Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee approved the "Great Commission Baptists" recommendation by the name change task force, and it did so with the vocal backing of a member who was a staunch opponent in September. The task force's recommendation passed the Executive Committee overwhelmingly Tuesday (Feb. 21), receiving only about six "no" votes out of about 80 members present.

Bypassing the Supreme Court for the moment, supporters of California Prop 8 are appealing a ruling that went against them to the full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The decision gives ProtectMarriage.com two opportunities, instead of one, to see the Feb. 7 decision reversed. In that ruling, a three-judge panel for the Ninth Circuit struck down Prop 8, although it said its ruling was "narrow" and applied only to California and not to other states. If the Supreme Court had refused to hear the case, it would have been the end of the legal road.

Seoul, South Korea, stands apart from other Asian megacities for the prominence of Christianity and its global influence on evangelical causes. Yet tensions between the traditional and modern are evident both within Seoul society and the church.

It's still early in the year and not too late to make a "New Year's" commitment to get rid of debt and save money, says columnist and financial expert Chuck Bentley.

The task force appointed to study a possible name change of the Southern Baptist Convention is recommending that the convention maintain its legal name but adopt an informal, non-legal name for those who want to use it: Great Commission Baptists.

Jimmy Draper, chairman of the task force that studied the question of changing the name of the Southern Baptist Convention, reports to the SBC Executive Committee during its Monday night (Feb. 20) meeting. The task force was named by SBC President Bryant Wright last September.

Maryland pastor Ken Fentress and seminary president Paige Patterson affirmed the Feb. 20 report to the SBC Executive Committee by a task force that studied the possibility of a name change of the Southern Baptist Convention and proposed the option of Southern Baptists also calling themselves "Great Commission Baptists." Following is the text of their remarks.

Drawing from the example of the older brother in Jesus' parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, Frank Page advised Southern Baptists to examine their motives as they consider altering the name by which they're known.

Iranian officials may have issued an order to execute a pastor at the center of a high-profile case that has drawn international attention, according to a legal group that has followed the case.

Florida Baptists' African American church planting leader moves beyond 1960s-era segregation and personal tragedy to experience blessings that "naturally came from God." For Maxie Miller Jr., "What I am came from God."

Social media can be a source of temptation that can help tear apart a marriage, but with personal boundaries can be used safely, says columnist and seminary dean Terri Stovall.

Jimmy Draper, chairman of the task force that studied the question of changing the name of the Southern Baptist Convention, reports to the SBC Executive Committee during its Monday night (Feb. 20) meeting. The task force was named by SBC President Bryant Wright last September.

The task force appointed to study a possible name change of the Southern Baptist Convention is recommending that the convention maintain its legal name but adopt an informal, non-legal name for those who want to use it: Great Commission Baptists.

Jeremy Lin, who has found sudden fame as a point guard with the NBA's New York Knicks, holds to a faith that calls him to be humble.

The New York City Department of Education won a last-minute appeal to keep churches from meeting for worship in public schools, revoking previously issued permits just hours before congregations were scheduled to gather.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says President Obama's environmental beliefs are "not a theology based on the Bible," a charge that the president's defenders say went too far.