Moderate Baptist group granted membership

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil — A group representing moderate Southern Baptists who split from the conservative leadership of their denomination has been granted membership in the Baptist World Alliance.

The alliance — an association of Baptist faiths around the globe — voted at a July 11 meeting in Brazil to approve the application of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, based in Atlanta, Ga., over the objections of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Southern Baptist leaders had argued that the alliance’s bylaws require each member to be distinct and not part of another convention. The Southern Baptist Convention generally views the moderate U.S. Baptist group as dissidents within the denomination, the Baptist Press reported.

Presbyterian Church releases survey

Louisville, Ky. — A survey of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) found most of its members believe Jesus is “the only absolute truth,” but many also reject the idea that only followers of Christ will be saved.

The study also found that the denomination’s members are generally middle-aged and overwhelmingly white, while about half said they were Republican.

The findings are from a survey the Presbyterians’ research division conducted of about 3,500 lay people and clergy between October of last year and January.

About 70 percent of congregants and pastors surveyed said that Christ was “the only absolute truth,” while just above 40 percent believed that Jesus was the single path to salvation.

The study also found that the median age for members and elders is 55, and that more than 90 percent of respondents identified themselves as white. About 55 percent of members and elders said they were Republicans.

The study, released last month, also found that women comprise 61 percent of the 2.5 million-member denomination, while most of the clergy are men.

Park Service removes plaques with Bible verses

Flagstaff, Ariz. — Three plaques with Bible verses were removed from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon after federal parks officials decided the markers violated the separation of church and state.

Thirty years ago, the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Phoenix affixed the plaques to buildings at Hermits Rest, Lookout Studio and Desertview Tower — all popular viewing areas.

But the Arizona American Civil Liberties Union and others recently complained that displaying the verses — Psalms 68:4, 66:4 and 104:24 — was unconstitutional.