RICHMOND, Va. — Virginians can carry firearms into churches and other places of worship, according to a legal opinion issued this spring, but some Baptist pastors in the state say they’re unsettled by the prospect of congregants with handguns. Virginia…
As presidential candidate, Gingrich woos skeptical evangelical voters
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As evangelicals and other social conservatives gather here June 3-4 to take the measure of a number of Republican presidential candidates, Newt Gingrich will be conspicuously absent. Gingrich’s campaign cited scheduling conflicts in not speaking to Ralph…
REVIEW: God at the root of Terrence Malick’s newest film, ‘Tree of Life’
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Terrence Malick’s new film, Tree of Life, is nearly indescribable. Not because its beauty or virtuosity are beyond words, although it has its moments. Tree of Life, which opened May 27, is iconoclastic, its plot nonlinear,…
After two centuries, a Virginia Baptist district association may disband
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A 220-year-old Baptist district association in Virginia, whose churches nurtured some of Baptists’ most revered early leaders, will disband this fall, if a proposal from its 12-member steering committee is adopted. At its May 15 annual spring…
Gingrich and evangelical voters
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As evangelicals and other social conservatives gather here June 3-4 to take the measure of a number of Republican presidential candidates, Newt Gingrich will be conspicuously absent. Gingrich’s campaign cited scheduling conflicts in not speaking to Ralph…
Grace or nature? A question at the heart of Malick’s new film
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Terrence Malick’s new film, Tree of Life, is nearly indescribable. Not because its beauty or virtuosity are beyond words, although it has its moments. Tree of Life, which opened May 27, is iconoclastic, its plot nonlinear,…
In November, Baptists in Virginia will be dancing in the streets — literally
RICHMOND, Va. – Forget everything you thought you knew about Baptists and dancing. This fall, Baptists in Virginia will be dancing in the streets – literally. Participants at the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, scheduled for…
LETTER: Scripture, Baptist history support church-state separation
As a Virginia Baptist for almost 40 years, I noted with interest the May 26 letter to the editor from Carl Douglas, in which he takes the Baptist joint Committee for Religious Liberty to task for stating that in the…
OPINION: Learning the language of the soul
I’ve never been great at languages. I wish I were. A natural linguistic facility would have made my years of learning biblical languages (or living in foreign countries, for that matter) slightly less trying. Language study, I understand, comes with…
Iconic Crystal Cathedral up for sale to pay debt, overcome bankruptcy
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (RNS) — The Crystal Cathedral has announced plans to sell its iconic glass-walled church in Southern California to pay back creditors and overcome bankruptcy. The glass-walled Crystal Cathedral is a landmark in Southern California. Senior Pastor Sheila…
Iconic Crystal Cathedral is put up for sale
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (RNS) — The Crystal Cathedral has announced plans to sell its iconic glass-walled church in Southern California to pay back creditors and overcome bankruptcy. The glass-walled Crystal Cathedral is a landmark in Southern California. Senior Pastor Sheila…
Second Catholic sworn in as chaplain of U.S. House of Representatives
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Patrick Conroy was sworn in May 25 as House chaplain, making him the first Jesuit – and only the second Catholic — to hold the position, and the first candidate forced to navigate around the Catholic Church’s…