A Lutheran task force on Jan. 13 recommended no change to church rules that ban gay clergy and same-sex unions, saying a majority of the church does not support “wholesale change” to existing gay policy. But the 13-member panel of…
China moves against sex-selection abortion
The Chinese government has announced it will act to eliminate sex-selection abortion and end the imbalance between male and female babies. China Daily reported Jan. 7 the world's most populous country, which reached 1.3 billion in population the day before,…
Involving emerging leaders
Guest Editorial for Jan. 13, 2005 Jimmy Draper, president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, recently discussed with Facts & Trends magazine why he's concerned about the SBC's declining baptisms and interested in greater denominational involvement by…
Remembering and imagining
Andrew Broaddus, a Baptist statesman, delivered a farewell address in 1833 before a meeting of the Dover Baptist Association, which he repeatedly had served as moderator and for which he had preached the introductory sermon for some 46 years. At…
A harder look
Analysis for Jan. 13, 2005 By Jeff Robinson The so-called James Ossuary needs a careful, in-depth examination by a scientific team to determine, once and for all, whether it is an authentic relic in which the brother of Jesus was…
Letters for Jan. 13, 2005
Thanks to Virginia Baptists First, let me say thank you to Virginia Baptists for the Cooperative Program support in 2004 that exceeded 2003 by close to $500,000. We met the goal, balanced the budget and have begun 2005 with a…
Where do infants go when they die?
Another View for Jan. 13, 2005 By Albert Mohler One of the most troubling aspects of the disaster in South Asia is the death of infants and young children. Moving at the speed of a jetliner, the walls of water…
Church & People for Jan. 13, 2005
S T A F F • C H A N G E S Dennis Wingate, to Grace Church, Ridgeway, as pastor, effective Feb. 6. Mike Smith, to Mount Vernon Church, Axton, as pastor, effective Feb. 27. John Kuzins, to First…
Massive response
Virginia Baptists are responding with fervor to the tsunami disaster in South Asia, providing thousands of dollars in relief funds and looking toward cooperating on a short-term project with Baptists in several of India's southern states. Baptists around the nation-including…
A new year’s message
In January 1867, the editorial team of Jeter and Dickinson began their second full year of owning, editing and publishing the Religious Herald, which they had revived following “the War.” While they admitted that “our remuneration has been small,” all…
Letters for Jan. 6, 2005
SBC excluding itself I just read my Religious Herald and saw that the Southern Baptist Convention leadership has chosen not to connect with the ecumenical group Christian Churches Together. I am confused. It is so painful to see the convention…
Don’t look away
Another View for Jan. 6, 2005 By Erich Bridges For days, maybe even weeks, many Christians will focus on the staggering human suffering in southern Asia. You're probably one of them. You've been moved by the heartrending stories of death…