By Robert Dilday One day before the Supreme Court was to hear oral arguments in what may result in its most significant religious liberty ruling this term, the president of one of Baptists’ largest universities joined a noted Harvard law…
Mid-Atlantic CBF partners with Washington-area seminary
By Robert Dilday Launching a new partnership with a Washington-area seminary topped the agenda of the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Baptist Fellowship March 23 as it gathered for its annual meeting in suburban Maryland. The 50-church regional affiliate of the national CBF…
North American Baptists ask, what will we look like in 50 years?
By Robert Dilday The North American Baptist Fellowship marked its 50th anniversary March 6-7 with a nod to the past while focusing on what the group’s general secretary called one of its greatest challenges — finding a mission and vision…
Declining attendance prompts call to merge BWA’s congress, youth conference
By Robert Dilday Dwindling attendance at both the Baptist World Alliance’s world congress and youth conference has prompted a proposal to merge the two international meetings, held every five years though not simultaneously. BWA general secretary Neville Callam told the…
Moldovan who fights human trafficking to receive BWA human rights award
By Robert Dilday Ilie Coada, a Moldovan who has spent his career fighting human trafficking, is this year’s recipient of the Baptist World Alliance’s human rights award, the organization announced March 5. The Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award…
Festival to mark 300 years of Baptist witness in Virginia
By Robert Dilday Three centuries after an English “messenger” arrived in Virginia to organize the first Baptist church there, a celebration this spring will mark 300 years of Baptist witness in the state. The May 16-17 event will include both…
New church health consultancy ready to engage congregational landscape
By Robert Dilday Two months after launching an organization aimed at enhancing the spiritual and organizational health of congregations, director Bill Wilson says the Center for Healthy Churches is poised to shape and engage an emerging “healthy church movement.” The…
IMB’s President Tom Elliff to step down
By Robert Dilday Tom Elliff announced Feb. 26 he will step down as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board after a newly-appointed search committee finds his successor. Elliff, a former missionary who was elected president three years…
Religious leaders oppose Ga. gun law in full-page newspaper ad
By Robert Dilday Nearly 200 interfaith religious leaders — including at least a dozen Baptists — took out a full-page ad in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Feb. 26 to oppose a bill in the Georgia legislature which would lift restrictions on…
Baptists in D.C. restructure for more ‘nimble’ response to mission
By Robert Dilday Baptists in the nation’s capital adopted a major restructuring of their organization Feb. 24, aiming for a more “nimble and efficient” method for carrying out their mission. Delegates from 44 of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention’s…
Virginia pastor takes key role on Fresh Expressions staff
By Robert Dilday The pastor of a multi-campus church in metropolitan Richmond announced Feb. 9 he is resigning to join the staff of Fresh Expressions US, a movement which aims to help churches engage postmodern culture by establishing new creative…
Court hears challenge to Virginia’s gay marriage ban
By Robert Dilday A closely-watched hearing last Tuesday in a federal court in Norfolk, Va., could ultimately overturn Virginia’s constitutional ban on gay marriage — an outcome which would impact adjacent states and give same-sex marriage its first foothold in…