Most Republicans doubt Darwin. Republicans are far more likely to doubt the theory of evolution than Democrats, a new Gallup Poll revealed. Sixty-eight percent of Republicans say they doubt humans evolved from lower life forms over millions of years; only…
BAPTIST BRIEFS
Three S.C. firemen had ties to SBC churches. At least three of the nine Charleston, S.C., firefighters killed June 18 in a furniture store blaze were connected with Southern Baptist churches in the area. Capt. William “Billy” Hutchinson, 48, was…
WMU focuses on missions, ministry
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Prayer took center stage as Woman's Missionary Union leaders, missionaries, and Southern Baptist agency leaders spoke at the union's annual meeting June 11, held prior to the Southern Baptist Convention gathering. In her address, union president…
Ruth Graham buried in private ceremony
MONTREAT, N.C. (BP) — Hundreds of friends and family members packed the Montreat Conference Center June 16 to remember Ruth Graham and hear all five of her children — as well as her husband in an unscheduled moment — recount…
News About Virginia Baptists and their ministries for June 28, 2007
STAFF CHANGES • Samuel Barnhart Sr., to Second Church, Falls Church, as senior pastor. • Jim Trautz, resigning as pastor of Lake Drummond Church, Chesapeake. • Archie Goldie, to Sterling Park Church, Sterling, as interim pastor. • Larry Biermann, to…
Pastors challenged to link faith, society in their sermons
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)—Prophecy is not about gazing into the future. It's about passion for a better world right now, speakers at a celebration of preaching stressed. While many think of the prophets of the Bible primarily as predictors of the…
USCIRF decries Pakistan’s abuse of blasphemy laws
WASHINGTON (BP)—Incessant persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan is generating increased concern from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. A recent news release from the USCIRF expressed outrage over the Islamic country's abuse of its blasphemy…
NEW: Definition of Cooperative Program sparks SBC messenger debate
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — A proposal to define what constitutes Cooperative Program giving sparked lengthy debate during the opening session of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, including a charge that the measure “goes against historical Baptist polity.” The recommendation…
NEW: North Carolina pastor named president of Leland Center
ARLINGTON – North Carolina pastor Mark Olson has been named president of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, a Baptist-affiliated seminary in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Olson, who is pastor of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in…
NEW: SBC messengers re-elect Page, hear motions on agency policies, clergy sex abuse
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Frank Page was re-elected without opposition to the traditional second one-year term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the first day of the denomination's annual meeting, which also featured efforts to curb clergy sexual…
NEW: SBC says doctrinal statement ‘sufficient,’ but impact on hiring remains unclear
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the Baptist Faith & Message June 12 as the “sufficient” doctrinal guide for its agencies and institutions. But SBC leaders immediately disagreed over whether the action will keep those agencies from…
NEW: Bush greeted with standing ovation, thanks Southern Baptists at annual event
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Judging by his reception at the annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting, President Bush's popularity remains strong among Southern Baptists, whom he thanked for their support June 13. Bush was greeted with a standing ovation of sustained…