Virginia Baptist scholarship applications available. Applications for Baptist General Association of Virginia Scholarships and ministerial educational funds for the 2010-2011 academic year are available online at www.vbmb.org/ scholarships and are due by April 1, 2010. Through Cooperative Missions dollars, the BGAV provides scholarships and ministerial educational funds for eligible Virginia Baptist students who need aid in financing their education. These funds are designed to help students earn an undergraduate degree or pursue graduate education in preparation for vocational ministry. Additional information about award criteria and the application process is available on the website or by calling Rita Smith at 1-800-255-2428, ext. 6225.
BTSR actors to perform Shadowlands. The Seminary Shoestring Players, a theater company comprised of faculty and students from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, will perform William Nicholson’s two act play, Shadowlands. The play follows the love story of C. S. Lewis, the brilliant Oxford don and author of The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity, and American poet Joy Davidman. Winner of the London Evening Standard Best New Play Award, the New York Post called it “engrossing, entertaining, literate and discretely brilliant” theatre. Part of Richmond’s 2010 Acts of Faith Festival, performances are scheduled for Jan. 28, 29 and 30 and Feb. 4, 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Virginia Hall on the BTSR campus, 3400 Brook Road, Richmond, VA 23227. Tickets are $10. For more information, call (804) 353-6815.
VBMB’s disaster relief coordinator resigns. Terry Raines, mobile mission and disaster relief coordinator for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, has resigned due to health reasons after being on medical leave for the past two months. “Terry has been an important part of our family as he has led in disaster relief and established the Ventures’ Program,” said VBMB executive director John Upton. “His contribution to all of Virginia Baptist work, including his work with campus ministry, is deeply appreciated.” VBMB staffers Dean Miller and Nicole Bulls will coordinate disaster relief activities during an interim period.
BTSR professor at World Parliament. Caleb Oladipo, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond’s Duke K. McCall Professor of Christian Mission and World Christianity, presented a paper at the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions, held Dec. 3-10 in Melbourne, Australia. Oladipo’s paper was titled “Tree as a Symbol of Life and Unity in Religious Traditions” and was part of a panel on Christians and indigenous peoples. First held in Chicago in 1893, the Parliament of the World’s Religions brings together the world’s religious and spiritual communities, their leaders and their followers to a gathering where peace, diversity and sustainability are discussed and explored in the context of interreligious understanding and cooperation. The 2009 Parliament ran for seven days with approximately 450 events including keynote addresses, seminars, conferences, debates, performances, concerts and exhibitions. This year's theme was “Make a World of Difference: Hearing each other, Healing each other.”