ATLANTA — Cecil Sherman, longtime moderate Baptist leader and a key figure in the development of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, died from complications of a heart attack April 17 in Richmond, Va. Sherman, the first coordinator of the CBF, suffered…
Survey finds Africa is most religious part of world
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Researchers say they’ve found the most religious place on Earth — between the southern border of the Sahara Desert and the tip of South Africa. Religion is “very important” to more than three-quarters of the population in…
National Day of Prayer unconstitutional, judge rules
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A federal district judge in Wisconsin has ruled that the 1988 law creating the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. “It goes beyond mere ‘acknowledgement’ of religion because its sole purpose is to…
Survey: Africa is most religious part of world
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Researchers say they’ve found the most religious place on Earth — between the southern border of the Sahara Desert and the tip of South Africa. Religion is “very important” to more than three-quarters of the population in…
Petersburg congregation closes, gives buildings to African-American church
PETERSBURG, Va. — In 1957, 30 years after its founding, Elm Street Baptist Church in Petersburg expressed its confidence in the future by building a new 400-seat sanctuary. The following year, as if to justify the church’s attitude, Petersburg was…
OPINION: Closing a congregation: How does it happen?
From personal experience, I can tell you that closing a congregation doesn’t happen without much spiritual and emotional suffering. The ending of a congregation is a death experience both for the remnant of members and for remaining ministerial staff. They…
EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida discovers her voice
Dear Jimmy, I know you will find this almost as hard to believe as your Uncle Orley, but I am speechless. He says that despite his prayers he is confident that it is only a temporary affliction and that I…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Samuel Feemster, to Mount Vernon Church, Arlington, as pastor. • Rodney A. Bracey, to Shalom Fellowship Church, Richmond, as senior pastor. • Samuel Feemster, to Mount Vernon Church, Arlington, as pastor. • Joao da Rocha, to Second…
Gospel is both local and viral, say contributors to newly-released book
RICHMOND, Va. — The gospel is universal but it takes new shapes in new settings — and spreads in ways that can only be called “viral.” That’s the assessment of a just-released book featuring the insights of 50 youngish leaders…
VITAL SIGNS: What do you lie to yourself about?
My seminary-student son recently told me about a website called soulpancake.com. Specifically, he mentioned a thread of responses to the question “What do you lie to yourself about?” When I went to the site and began to read the anonymous…
OUT LOUD
“The hierarchy, not the faith, is in jeopardy. The pope need not resign. He must do something far more difficult: convert.” Timothy Shriver The chair of the Special Olympics was writing in the Washington Post on the Catholic Church’s sexual…
HERITAGE: Black and white in Buckingham
This columnist was the anniversary speaker for Sharon Baptist Church in Buckingham County for its 150th and again on Palm Sunday, March 28, for its 175th. I think it would be wise for the anniversary planning committee to begin lining…