Virginia Baptist leaders are acknowledging the 18 district associations affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia in which all churches completed the 2008 Annual Church Profile (ACP). Leaders also have praised the contact persons who collected the information. Each…
Virginia Baptists fall just shy of funding 2008 BGAV budget
RICHMOND—Virginia Baptists funded their 2008 budget at almost 98 percent—a noteworthy event in the midst of a severe economic crisis, said leaders of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Last year, BGAV churches contributed $14,092,291 toward the state association's Cooperative…
VBMB sets up fund to help struggling churches
RICHMOND—The Virginia Baptist Mission Board's executive committee voted Jan. 12 to establish a Helping Hands Fund to assist churches that are experiencing difficulty due to financial circumstances beyond their control. The fund has been established with an initial gift of…
VIRGINIA BRIEFS
Fannin New professor at BTSR. Coleman Fannin has joined the staff of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond as visiting professor in theology and ethics. He will hold the position during the sabbatical leave of Elizabeth Newman, professor of theology….
What does Obama’s inauguration mean for Christians and Americans in general?
Transformation: From exclusion to inclusion By Elwanda Cornelius More than ever the world has looked to our nation as it is being transformed from being exclusive to becoming inclusive. This dream is becoming more of a reality with the election…
Firm helps missionaries with documentaries, web sites
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) —A group of five former Auburn University students has started a nonprofit organization that helps mission groups by making documentaries, offering graphic design, producing Web sites and creating other media to highlight the work of missionaries. “For…
Graham grandson tapped as successor to D. James Kennedy
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (RNS)—A grandson of Billy Graham has been nominated to succeed the late D. James Kennedy as pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A pastoral search committee on Jan. 18 gave the congregation its…
Kentucky Baptist newspaper names South Carolinian editor
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP)—Kentucky Baptists have tapped veteran denominational journalist Todd Deaton to become the next editor of their historic newspaper, the Western Recorder. Deaton, 45, has been managing editor of the Baptist Courier, newspaper of the South Carolina Baptist Convention,…
Southern Seminary cuts 35 positions
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in response to the national economic downturn, has reduced its administrative staff by 35 positions: 20 full-time and 15 part-time, effective Jan. 30. Each person will receive a severance package, including placement assistance, according…
NAMB enacts spending slowdown
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—In remarks to some 250 staff members of the North American Mission Board on Jan. 8, President Geoff Hammond asked NAMB team leaders to operate at 90 percent of their approved budgets during 2009. However, Hammond said funds…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Can origins of Baptists be set?
I found it very interesting to read all the publicity about Baptist history in the Jan. 15 issue of the Religious Herald—do we date from early Christianity, or just 400 years or so ago, or somewhere in between? In the…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Plight of pastors’ wives
Now that Christmas has come and gone, I want to get down to writing this reply to your last letter from your Aunt Ida [“The wisdom of a contented pastor's wife,” Herald, Dec. 4]. This particular letter is about the…