Guest Editorial for Dec. 16, 2004 By Erich Bridges Taunts and curses. Police and security guards struggling to control rowdy crowds. Hand-to-hand combat. I'm not talking about the violence at recent sporting events. I'm talking about Christmas shopping. If you…
A new beginning
Heritage column for Dec. 16, 2004 By Fred Anderson It happens at least a hundred times a year in Virginia and thousands of times across the country. A new pastor is called to serve a Baptist church, and each time,…
Letters for Dec. 16, 2004
Happy to be a liberal? I was truly disturbed by your publication of the guest editorial on Nov. 25. “Why I'm proud to be a liberal” seems an attempt to justify the support of liberal values for Christians. I cannot…
The hopeful season
Another View for Dec. 16, 2004 By Tom Ehrich Now comes the season of hope and disappointment. Stores and malls are heavy laden. For merchants, Christmas is an annual roll of the dice. Some will guess right, some wrong. Some…
Faculty vote at Baylor calls for president’s firing
A majority of Baylor University faculty who voted in a nonbinding referendum on the leadership of President Robert Sloan say he should be dismissed. Of the 490 votes cast, 85 percent were against retaining Sloan as president. Sloan has been…
Louisiana College put on probation
Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College has been placed on probation for a year by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for a year for violating the agency's standards. Probation from the SACS is a more serious sanction than a warning or…
Godsey to retire as president of Mercer
Kirby Godsey, Mercer University's longest-serving president, announced he will retire in 18 months, and trustees expect to start the search for his successor as early as spring. At a recent trustee meeting, Godsey, 68, revealed his plans to step down…
Canadian high court OKs gay marriage
Canada's Supreme Court paved the way Dec. 9 for the country to become the third country to allow nationwide recognition of gay marriages. The court ruled, in a clarification sought by Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal government, that the federal…
Third Catholic diocese files for bankruptcy
In an expected move, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Wash., filed for bankruptcy protection Dec. 6 to grapple with sexual abuse claims. Bishop William S. Skylstad announced in mid-November that the diocese planned to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy…