In the middle of everyday life, how do we experience the holy? This was a question I’ve been pondering since a recent road trip to the quaint little town of Lancaster, Pa. I set out to visit Lancaster with…
Call people to follow Jesus, don’t pander to lowest values, Texan urges
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Ministers contribute to the decline of churches when they appeal to people’s lowest values of selfish consumerism rather than challenging them to follow Jesus, Rick McClatchy told a regional New Baptist Covenant II assembly. “As churches, we…
Economy-driven worship?
By Bob Burroughs We are experiencing unprecedented times of financial strain. Everyone, every family, every business, every church is having difficulty meeting budget and/or making ends meet. People are being laid off by the thousands — with no end in…
British Baptist newspaper to cease publication after 156 years
DIDCOT, England (ABP) — The Baptist Times, an award-winning newspaper published weekly for British Baptists for 156 years, will cease both print and digital editions at the end of the year. Bill Johnston, chairman of the Baptist Times board of…
Crossing boundaries in ministry poses opportunities, challenges
"Are we missing the big picture?" That's the question some Christian leaders are asking as America's centuries-old denominational patterns unravel, while denominational distinctions seem as entrenched — and unbridgeable — as ever. In a post-denominational society, can churches retain theological…
Exploratory talks may lead to formal dialogue between Baptists, Orthodox
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Teams from the Baptist World Alliance and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople held exploratory talks Oct. 30-Nov. 2 that could lead to formal dialogue between Baptist and Orthodox Christians internationally. BWA General Secretary Neville Callam,…
Cooperation among Baptists developed slowly but took root deeply
Mention "cooperation" and many Baptists think of the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention's unified giving plan. But Baptists may have forgotten that instead of money, cooperation historically grew around accomplishing kingdom work together — primarily missions — when churches…
Baptist Peace Fellowship to re-issue sexuality resource for churches
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — The Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America has announced plans to publish an expanded and updated edition of Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth: A Resource for Congregations in Dialogue on Sexual Orientation, a 250-page study…
American Baptist named president-elect for National Council of Churches
CHICAGO (ABP) — Roy Medley, general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, was elected president-elect of the National Council of Churches Nov. 9 at a meeting of the NCC governing board in Chicago. Medley will lead the ecumenical group representing…