BOSTON (RNS) — To millions of fans, he's “the Boss,” the blue-jeaned troubadour of the American heartland who finds nobility in the grind of daily life. Across 35 years in dozens of rock anthems, from Born to Run to Glory…
Celebrity Christians
RICHMOND — “Stay out of the limelight.” That's Amy Grant's advice to celebrities who don't want their personal failures aired in public. The successful Christian pop singer should know. After her very public divorce in 1999, details of her marital…
Oprah’s unorthodox spirituality touches audience, but is it ‘twitter & twaddle’?
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Oprah Winfrey has become a catalyst for a new journalistic project and increasing news coverage by conservative Christians questioning and criticizing her spiritual beliefs. Some evangelical Christians have voiced alarm Winfrey is introducing the 46 million viewers…
Fredericksburg’s ‘non-sectarian’ prayers upheld
FREDERICKSBURG (ABP) — Sandra Day O'Connor has had her say again on an important church-state decision, in this case saying a Virginia city council's practice of offering non-sectarian prayers does not violate the United States Constitution. The retired U.S. Supreme…
Sherman diagnosed with leukemia, wife dies at 90
RICHMOND (ABP) — Virginia Baptist pastor and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship pioneer Cecil Sherman has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Sherman, 80, sought treatment options at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston after receiving the diagnosis July 25 and exploring…
Saudi king’s conference rejects terrorism
(RNS) A global conference of about 300 interfaith leaders concluded July 18 in Spain with a declaration that rejects terrorism and calls for a special United Nations session on dialogue. Calling terrorism “one of the most serious obstacles confronting dialogue…
Pastors’ challenges differ by region, speakers say
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (ABP) — Global Baptist pastors' problems are as different as the countries and regions in which they minister, according to speakers at the July 21-24 Baptist World Alliance annual gathering in Prague. Over the past year, the…
BWA ushers in new structure, Muslim response
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (ABP) — About 400 delegates to the Baptist World Alliance's annual gathering in Prague, Czech Republic, ended their meeting July 25 with approval of a major re-structuring of the organization's governing structure. Baptists from more than 60…
Virginia Baptist Homes offers additional choices
RICHMOND — With the trend toward consumers wanting more choices and with the widespread availability of long-term care insurance, Virginia Baptist Homes has added a second pricing option, offering flexibility and choice. The fee-for-services option has recently become available at…