History meetings will focus on ‘peace-bearing.’ Peace-bearing is the theme of two events set for May 18 at Second Baptist Church in Richmond. At 7:30 p.m. the Virginia Baptist Historical Society will host its annual meeting with keynote speakers Karen Bullock, professor of Christian heritage at B.H. Carroll Theological Institute in Arlington, Texas, who will address peace-bearers in Baptist history, and Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics, who will address contemporary peace issues. Also at the annual meeting, James C. Massey, director of church-minister relations for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board from 1972-1988, will be recognized for his lifetime achievements. Massey counseled many churches in conflict and assisted many ministers with placement. The historical society meeting is free and open to the public.
Earlier on April 18, the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies will sponsor a convocation on peace-bearing. Key facilitator will be Isam E. Ballenger, professor emeritus at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Other presenters include Bullock and Parham, as well as Ken Kessler, team leader of the empowering leaders team of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board; LeDayne McLeese Polaski, program coordinator of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America; and David Brubaker, associate professor at the Center for Justice and Peacemaking at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va. The convocation is open to clergy and laity who reserve a place by May 4. Additional information is available from the Heritage Center at (804) 289-8434.
BTSR names D.Min. director. Tracy Hartman, associate professor of homiletics and practical theology at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, has been named director of the seminary’s doctor of ministry degree program. Hartman succeeds Daniel Bagby, who is retiring. Hartman currently directs the seminary’s supervised ministry program and will begin her new duties this fall.
Women ministers hold annual meeting. Virginia Baptist Women in Ministry will hold its second annual Festival of Word, Table and Image at Northminister Baptist Church in Richmond, April 16 from 3-8 p.m. The event will feature messages by Lynda Weaver-Williams, an instructor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University; Erin Spengeman, associate pastor of Westover Baptist Church in Richmond; and Denise Bennett, a professional storyteller. Also on the agenda are an elaborate meal and an art gallery displaying a variety of visual mediums. To register or for more information, go to www.baptistwomeninministry.org.