RICHMOND — A team of clergy and laity from Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia churches have returned from a 10-day mission immersion experience in Macau to explore ways congregations can build bridges to China, a strategic nation where, despite rapid…
Keen financial grasp, strong relational skills are critical for next BGAV treasurer, say two leaders
RICHMOND — The next treasurer of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board will combine broad experience in financial management with an ability to communicate Virginia Baptists’ mission to congregations, BGAV partners and other denominational…
Lutherans, Catholics bury the hatchet
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Lutherans and Catholics have pledged to celebrate together the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017, with both sides agreeing to set aside centuries of hostility and prejudice. The Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation…
OPINION: A puzzling decision with difficult implications
It has been about three weeks now since the national leaders of the Boy Scouts made the somewhat unexpected decision to reverse a longstanding policy and allow openly-gay scouts to participate in the organization. In the wake of the Southern…
Lutherans and Catholics bury the hatchet for Reformation’s 500th anniversary in 2017
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Lutherans and Catholics have pledged to celebrate together the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017, with both sides agreeing to set aside centuries of hostility and prejudice. The Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation…
REVIEW: Violence undercuts messianic overtones in “Man of Steel”
One of my greatest problems with the way that films are marketed is when a movie gets the “Christian” label. When a movie gets that tag attached, it just turns me off. My reason is simple: I think movies are…
John Leland Center graduates second largest class in its history
ARLINGTON, Va. — The John Leland Center for Theological Studies graduated the second largest class in its history during commencement exercises earlier this month. At the Church at Clarendon in Arlington, Va., in which Leland is located, nine students earned…
REFLECTIONS FROM NEW YORK: Christian partnership
Understanding the nature of relationships between Christian organizations and one another as well as with non-Christian organizations can often be a difficult task. This is particularly true within the Baptist context, in which each church can function independently from the…
SBC condemns Boy Scouts’ decision on gays but stops short of boycott
HOUSTON (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention stopped short of urging churches to sever ties with the Boy Scouts of America in a June 11 resolution condemning the organization’s recent decision to drop its ban on Scouts who are openly…