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…
Chick-fil-A’s Cathy honors commitment to give
ATLANTA (BP)—When Truett Cathy, founder of the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain, was named the winner of the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership, it recognized not just a year of extraordinary charitable giving but a lifestyle devoted to giving. Cathy,…
Liberals, evangelicals call for common agenda on abortion, sexuality issue
WASHINGTON (ABP)—Progressive and evangelical leaders have joined together to propose shared policy solutions on issues that have long divided left and right in the so-called culture wars. Two years ago Third Way, a non-profit think tank that supports equality for…
Youth EnCounter expands to six events across Virginia
RICHMOND—“Youth EnCounter is expanding exponentially,” explained Ken Dibble, youth ministry strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. “To reach as many youth as possible with the gospel, we're bringing Youth EnCounter closer to local communities, at less cost, so that…
FAITH DIGEST
Judges uphold weddings by clergy ordained online. Pennsylvania county judges have ruled in three cases that marriages performed by ministers who do not have congregations and obtained ordination on the Internet are legal, rejecting a contrary 2007 ruling. All three…
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 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….
Obama inaugural events bracketed by prayers, controversy and ecumenism
WASHINGTON (ABP)—The official events connected to the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States started Jan. 18 with an invocation and ended Jan. 21 with a benediction. And the religious content of—and religious controversy over—the…
Doing well, doing good
A growing number of Christian businesspeople—who see entrepreneurial ventures as missional opportunities—believe doing good and doing well don't have to be mutually exclusive. These Christian social entrepreneurs are committed to using their business skills to organize, create, manage and monetize…
BTSR’s SCM offers classes
Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond's School of Christian Ministry has announced several online continuing education opportunities open to anyone regardless of educational background, beginning in March. Each course is $125, with scholarships available to cover 50 percent of the registration…
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…