(ABP) — Baptists long have been known as strong advocates of the priesthood of the believer — the idea that every individual can approach God and have a personal relationship with the Creator. Each person has the right to interpret…
Governing multi-site churches like franchising a business
(ABP) — As some congregations reach out to minister beyond their church campus, many have chosen to begin second or third or more sites under the church umbrella. Adding more sites usually means adjusting the congregation’s governing structure. Glenn Akins,…
Author finds faith and fanaticism in devotion to college football
AUBURN, Ala. (RNS) — Chad Gibbs has been on a pigskin pilgrimage throughout the South, searching for spiritual truth in Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, Gainesville and Fayetteville. He grew up a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide and switched allegiance to…
Who’s in charge? As churches grow, decision-making becomes complex
Baptist churches across the board agree — Jesus Christ is the head of the church. But when it comes to ways Christians discern Christ’s will for their particular congregation, handle its day-to-day administrative chores and make decisions about budget and…
Governing multi-site churches like franchising a business
As some congregations reach out to minister beyond their church campus, many have chosen to begin second or third or more sites under the church umbrella. Adding more sites usually means adjusting the congregation’s governing structure. Glenn Akins, assistant executive…
Can a church be congregational in polity and have elders?
Baptists long have been known as strong advocates of the priesthood of the believer — the idea that every individual can approach God and have a personal relationship with the Creator. Each person has the right to interpret Scripture for…
Pigskin pilgrimage
AUBURN, Ala. (RNS) — Chad Gibbs has been on a pigskin pilgrimage throughout the South, searching for spiritual truth in Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, Gainesville and Fayetteville. He grew up a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide and switched allegiance to…
Baptists helps Haitian amputee soccer team
Members of a Haitian amputee soccer team proudly display a shirt bearing both the Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief insignia and their team logo. TBM will train the team members in water purification techniques and basic disaster relief before they…
Sheriff’s office settles lawsuit with former church member outed for blog
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — The sheriff's office in Jacksonville, Fla., has agreed to study its conflict-of-interest code for detectives and develop a training program on First Amendment considerations as part of a settlement with an anonymous blogger who was unmasked…
Baptist leaders discuss reprise of New Baptist Covenant
ATLANTA (ABP) — A repeat of the 2008 Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta could be in the offing as early as next year, according participants in a recent meeting of North American Baptist leaders called together…
Texas Baptist columnists disagree about yoga
DALLAS (ABP) — Two Baptist panelists on a newspaper discussion blog had differing takes on recent comments by a Southern Baptist leader urging Christians to avoid yoga. Al Mohler Texas Faith, a regular feature of the Dallas Morning News website,…
Teacher follows God’s calling to 11 countries in 11 months
DENTON—Alecia Dockery from First Baptist Church in Denton is living out of a backpack and sharing God’s love in 11 nations over 11 months. Dockery, who left Texas in September, has spent her first month in the Philippines. While there,…