BTSR reorganizes development office. Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond has reorganized its development office to include include fund development, congregational relations, communications and alumni relations, new president Ron Crawford announced July 3. In addition, new staff members have been named in the department of student services. Personnel include John Bryan, former associate dean for development at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, as vice president of seminary advancement; Woody Jenkins, most recently pastor of Southampton Baptist Church in Richmond, as director of congregational relationships; Lisa Myers McGehee, a communications and fundraising professional, as director of communications; Kim Siegenthaler, who has spent 25 years in higher education and program development, as minister to alumni and director of the School of Christian Ministry; and Dave McNeely, director of residence life and housing services at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., as director of Admissions. Earlier the school announced that Ida Mae Hays has become registrar and director of financial aid.
RASNET website up. The Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership has finalized a new web site, at www.rasnet.org, according to its director, John Chandler. The site offers leadership resources as well as updated news feeds. RASNET, which partners with Virginia Baptists, is designed to facilitate connections between individual leaders, networks, and congregations, enabling exchange of innovative ideas and best ministry practices.
Cowboy church opens in Blacksburg. A new branch of the Cowboy Church of Virginia held its first service in Blacksburg July 17, attended by about 30 people, according to the Roanoke Times. The congregation is one of many around the country that serve as havens for farmers, rodeo enthusiasts and other who closely identify with Western culture. Other branches of the Cowboy Church of Virginia are in Wytheville, Thaxton, Bland and Moneta. The Blacksburg branch is worshipping at the Music Barn, a venue for bluegrass and country music. Raymond Bell, senior pastor for the Cowboy Church of Virginia, said the new branch's proximity to Virginia Tech should benefit the congregation. “We anticipate that this will probably be one of the fastest growing, especially once students get back in session,” Bell told the Times. “The young people in our country right now, whether they're cowboys or cowgirls or anything, really, really are attracted and drawn to the Cowboy Church approach because it is very, very simplistic.”