OWENSBORO, Ky. (ABP) – A Baptist association in Kentucky voted 242-24 on Aug. 5 in favor of a recommendation from its credentials committee to remove a church that allows a gay-rights group to meet in its building. “Grace takes it…
Police ask judge to dismiss lawsuit over shooting of Georgia pastor
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (ABP) – Two north Georgia police officers have asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit against them for their use of deadly force in a 2009 shooting that claimed the life of a Baptist pastor. A Stephens…
Lottie Moon’s death story a myth, new book contends
"Lottie Moon: A Southern Baptist Missionary to China in History and Legend" is published by Louisiana State University Press. BATON ROUGE, La. (ABP) – A new book challenges the familiar story of Lottie Moon, a Southern Baptist missionary martyr who…
Missouri Baptist Foundation elects president
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Foundation has named Christopher "Chris" Calmer as its new president. With a unanimous vote on Aug. 12, the board of trustees approved the nomination of Calmer as president, effective immediately. Chris Calmer…
Progressive National Baptist Convention celebrates 50 years
This story was corrected after its original posting WASHINGTON (ABP) – The Progressive National Baptist Convention celebrated its 50th anniversary with a tribute to 93-year-old Gardner Taylor, widely regarded as one of the nation’s greatest preachers. On Thursday of the…
BTSR announces new staff members
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond named a new vice president of advancement and a director of community life in early August. Tim Heilman Timothy Heilman assumed the vice president’s position on Aug. 1, becoming the seminary…
ASK THE ARCHITECT: Miscellany
Let’s take a break from our soup to nuts journey that began two years ago. Rather than writing about another leg in that overall process of planning, funding, and building your church project, this month’s column will be devoted to…
OPINION: The BJC at 75
I am finishing up a student internship with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. This year the BJC celebrates its 75th anniversary as a religious organization devoted solely to the protection of our first freedom. With offices located across…
Baptist chaplain on USS Enterprise wants shipmates ‘to see God in me’
NORFOLK, Va. — Baptist chaplain Fred Holcombe Jr. pastors a flock numbering 3,500 to 5,800 people — the population of a small town. But this “town” is more than 18 stories high, 1,123 feet long and takes up 4 1/2…
5K run hosted by Palmyra, Va., church benefits medical missions in Liberia
PALMYRA, Va. — It started as a coincidence, two churches on opposite sides of the Atlantic sharing an unusual name: Effort Baptist Church. This seemingly random discovery was the beginning of a powerful partnership between a congregation in a central…
In Applachian county, Baptist teens improve lives through Impact Virginia
BLUEFIELD, Va. — Two hundred thirty youth from 13 Baptist churches across Virginia converged on the campus of Bluefield College July 24-30 to make a difference in the lives of families in southwest Virginia through a faith-based community service project…
Virginia’s Baptist collegiate ministry names new leadership at campuses
RICHMOND, Va. — Campuses across Virginia will start the school year with new Baptist campus ministers, following action taken by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s emerging leaders team last month. Carey and Gannon Sims • At the University of Mary…