NEW YORK (RNS) — A Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddhist and an atheist walk into a prayer meeting. Any number of punch lines could follow. But the members of Faith House Manhattan have serious business in mind. They…
FAITH DIGEST
White literalists less likely to vote for minority candidates. More than eight in 10 white American Protestants would vote for a racial minority candidate for president, but fewer whites who interpret the Bible literally or who worship in an all-white…
CBF Coordinating Council adopts new strategic priorities
ATLANTA — A year-long spiritual discernment process culminated Oct. 10 in the unanimous approval by its governing Coordinating Council of the re-prioritizing of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's work. In addition to the vote to adopt new strategic priorities and bless…
FCC bans some wireless microphones
WASHINGTON (BP) — After his church invested $250,000 in wireless technology, Chris Hinkle of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas is concerned by the federal government's Aug. 21 vote to ban wireless microphones in the 700 megahertz band. “There are 75…
GuideStone Services adds property & casualty insurance
DALLAS (BP) — This fall, many Southern Baptist churches and ministries will have access to property and casualty insurance and risk management services from GuideStone Agency Services. The GuideStone Property & Casualty (P&C) Program will gradually roll out regionally over…
Fighting in Congo creates humanitarian crisis
NEW YORK (ABP) — Escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is creating a “humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions,” the head of the United Nations said Oct. 29. U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon called attention to the flare-up, which…
Missionaries rejuvenate barn in Andean village
EDITOR'S NOTE: This year's Week of Prayer for International Missions, Nov. 30-Dec. 7, focuses on missionaries who serve in South America as well as churches partnering with them, exemplifying the global outreach supported by Southern Baptists' gifts to the Lottie…
Azerbaijan pastor tried on Oct. 31
WASHINGTON (BWA) — Hamid Shabanov, a Baptist pastor in Azerbaijan who was arrested on June 20, faced trial on Oct. 31. He is charged with the illegal possession of a weapon. Shabanov is the second Baptist pastor in the town…
SECOND OPINION: A new Virginia Statute?
Editor's note: When Thomas Jefferson penned the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, he recognized that future legislators would have the power to amend it. Toward that end, he added a warning: “If any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal…
BGAV REPORTS: Committee on Boards and Committees
The committee on boards and committees is assigned the mission of bringing to the association nominees for boards of partnering agencies, schools, institutions, and for the standing committees of the association. We are guided in this task by two concerns….
BGAV REPORTS: VBMB Recommendations — Special Observances & Emphases
Recommendation I Amendment to 2009 Special Observances and Emphases Items in bold are additions; items in italic are to be deleted Observances and Emphases January 4: Collegiate Ministries Emphasis Day January 18: Sanctity of Human Life Sunday February 7: Baptist…
BGAV REPORTS: VBMB Recommendation — Constitution & Bylaw Changes
Recommendation IV Constitution and Bylaw Changes Items in bold are additions; items in italic are to be deleted BGAV CONSTITUTION ARTICLE III: Meetings and Composition Section B: Composition The General Association shall be composed of the officers of the General…