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…
Churches try to meet need of developmentally challenged kids
DAMASCUS, Md. (RNS) — On Sunday mornings at Damascus Road Community Church, when most children are dismissed from the sanctuary for Sunday school, another set of children and adults head to “The Haven.” Up to four dozen people gather in…
Virginia Mission Board gets first look at reduced BGAV budget for 2009
LYNCHBURG — The Virginia Baptist Mission Board has gotten its first look at a proposed budget that will reduce funding for Virginia Baptist ministries by more than half a million dollars in 2009. Meeting at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center…
FAITH DIGEST
AFA says it's OK to order a Big Mac. The American Family Association has dropped its boycott of McDonald's after learning a representative of the restaurant chain no longer serves on the board of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber…
Francis Shaeffer’s son says his father wouldn’t recognize the movement he birthed
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As a Christian phil-osopher, author and political activist, Francis Schaeffer urged conservative Christians to battle abortion and engage the secular culture. But he would have recoiled from the “snide” comments and jeering at this summer's Republican National…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for October 30, 2008
STAFF CHANGES MISSIONS MOMENT An 8-member team from Walnut Hills Church, Williamsburg, traveled to Odessa, Ukraine, Sept. 23-Oct. 3 to meet with Pastor Igor Bandura and the congregation of Grace Baptist Church. The trip focused on ways the two churches…
Baptism still Baptists’ symbol but ‘problems’ must be answered
WACO, Texas (ABP) — After four centuries, believers baptism remains the symbol of Baptist identity, historian Bill Leonard stressed during a lecture series at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. But in the 21st century, Baptists must respond to…
BGAV REPORTS: Program Committee
The Program Committee is responsible for preparing the order of business for the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and assuring that worship is emphasized during the meeting. In response to the changing demographics of our communities,…
Connect:2008
Virginia Baptists will gather in Roanoke Nov. 11-12 for Connect:2008, the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Although preregistration has now closed, churches that have not preregistered all of their eligible messengers may register messengers on-site. On-site…
IMB encourages background checks for short-termers
RICHMOND (RNS) — The Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board has requested that participants in its short-term mission trips pass background checks before leaving for the field. The new child protection policy, which is not mandatory and would not apply…
ANALYSIS: ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness’ –unless it’s in a campaign ad
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Distortions, stretches, half-truths and omissions are familiar features of political campaigns. But independent fact-checkers and analysts say outright falsehoods in candidates' ads may be reaching a level not seen since TV commercials entered presidential politics more than…
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….