• Southern Baptist Baptisms Drop for 2nd Straight Year

  The number of baptisms in Southern Baptist churches has fallen for the second consecutive year despite a push by top leaders to evangelize, according to the 2006 profile of the SBC.

• Texas Panel Rejects Required Bible Class

  The House Public Education Committee approved the modified bill Thursday, drawing praise from critics who feared mandatory Bible courses would be more religious than academic.

• Threatening Note Closes Texas University

  Authorities evacuated buildings Tuesday at St. Edward's University after a threatening note was found, a school official said.

• Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Pat Robertson's Diet Shake

  A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that claimed religious broadcaster Pat Robertson misused a Texas bodybuilder's image to promote the televangelist's protein diet shake.

• Minister Found Beaten to Death in Virginia Parsonage

  Nancy Copin, the minister of a tiny, rural congregation was found beaten to death in her parsonage home.