Center seeking applicants for Heritage Fellows. Virginia Baptist college students who will be in their sophomore or junior years in 2011-12 are invited to apply for positions as Heritage Fellows, a special recognition offered by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. Each year the Center appoints a few outstanding collegiates who receive instruction in Baptist history and heritage, introductions to the current scene in Virginia Baptist life and an opportunity to research and write on a specified topic. Heritage Fellows receive a stipend of $3,000.
The two Heritage Fellows serving for 2010-11 are Andrew Gardner of the College of William and Mary and Patrick Trail of Virginia Tech. They have been visiting selected churches which exemplify compassionate ministry and their papers on the churches will be published this spring.
Heritage Fellows must be members of a Baptist church and actively engaged in religious activities on campus or in their church. They must be enrolled in an educational institution within Virginia with a recognized Baptist collegiate ministry program affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Candidates must demonstrate potential leadership within a faith community, be recommended by their pastor or Baptist collegiate minister and maintain grades of B or 3.0 or above.
Applications can be downloaded from the Center’s website at www.baptistheritage.org. The deadline is March 15. Further information is posted on the website.
BGAV president makes committee appointments. Bob Bass, president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia has announced appointments to several BGAV committees, and to committees of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Bass, a retired construction executive and member of Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., also is chair of the Mission Board.
Chairs of BGAV standing committees include:
• Budget: Jim Slatton, retired pastor of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond.
• Boards and committees: Bill Nieporte, pastor of Patterson Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond.
• Program: Dale Tadlock, associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Va.
• Christian life: Wayne Jenkins, pastor of South Run Baptist Church in Springfield, Va.
• Memorial: Brian Kramer, pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Parksley, Va.
• Religious liberty: Rob James, retired professor of religion the University of Richmond and member of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond.
• Resolutions: John Snow, pastor of Zoar Baptist Church in Deltaville, Va.
• Credentials: Steve Smith, pastor of Colosse Baptist Church in West Point, Va.
Mission Board committee appointments include:
• Committee on orientation of new board members: Mike Hatfield, pastor of Chatham Heights Baptist Church in Martinsville, Va., chair; Debra Dajon, a consultant and member of Calvary Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Va.; and Heather Tiller, associate pastor at Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Richmond.
• Committee on salary study: Carl John, retired missions administrator and member of First Baptist Church in Richmond, chair; Stephen Emick, retired engineer and member of Melrose Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va.; Janice Mahone, financial secretary and member of First Baptist Church in Newport News, Va.; David Pierce, financial advisor and member of Fredericksburg (Va.) Baptist Church; and Ed Powell, a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Midlothian, Va..
• Committee administer the ministers’ unemployment fund: Jeff Bloomer, retired public school administrator and member of Culpeper (Va.) Baptist Church, chair; and Tommy Speight, pastor of Courtland (Va.) Baptist Church.
• Committee on scholarships and ministerial education funds: Jim Johnson, pastor of Williamsburg (Va.) Baptist Church, chair; Joan Bloomer, homemaker and member of Culpeper Baptist Church; Bill Bateman, retired public school administrator and member of Second Baptist Church in Richmond; Ted Fuson, retired pastor and member of Culpeper Baptist Church; Seth Horrell, associate pastor of Williamsburg Baptist Church; and John Huelskoetter, pastor of Yorktown (Va.) Baptist Church.
Essay contest focuses on compassionate ministries. The Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies has announced a contest encouraging youth in the 11th and 12th grades to write about their churches’ compassionate ministries. Winners of the Roots & Wings Young Scholars Essay Contest will receive cash awards and all entries will be considered for a publication to be released by the Center in the spring. The contest is open to students who attend a Baptist church in Virginia and is an opportunity for individuals or for all students within a church’s youth group. Contest information and requirements are posted on the Center’s website at www.baptistheritage.org. The deadline for submissions is April 15.