STAFF CHANGES • David B. Cromer, to Emmaus Church, Poquoson, as pastor. • David Simpson, to Fine Creek Church, Powhatan, as pastor. • Randy Allensworth, resigning as pastor of Salem Church, Fredericksburg, after 17 years of service. MISSION MOMENT: Fourteen…
Former Baptist camp director charged with abuse found dead
HERTFORD, N.C. (ABP) — A former director of a North Carolina Baptist camp awaiting trial on six child-sex charges was found dead of an apparent suicide May 24. Stephen Carter A newspaper in Hertford, N.C., quoted the sheriff of Perquimans…
Book draws on music of U2 to call for Christian unity
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — A new book written by a Baptist professor applies theological themes found in the music of the Irish rock band U2 to the quest for Christian unity. In Ecumenism Means You Too — pun intended —…
In new book, Baptist prof draws on U2’s music to call for Christian unity
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — A new book written by a Baptist professor applies theological themes found in the music of the Irish rock band U2 to the quest for Christian unity. Steven Harmon In Ecumenism Means You Too — pun…
Book draws on music of U2 to call for Christian unity
No caption submitted BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — A new book written by a Baptist professor applies theological themes found in the music of the Irish rock band U2 to the quest for Christian unity. In Ecumenism Means You Too —…
Texas board gives final approval to controversial textbook standards
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Despite vocal protests, the Texas State Board of Education voted May 21 to approve social-studies-curriculum standards that urge high-school students to examine church-state separation critically — a move that may affect textbooks nationwide. A motion to…
Former pastor, NAMB trustee, accused of fleecing flock
ST. LOUIS (ABP) — A former Southern Baptist pastor in Missouri has been indicted on charges of using his position to defraud church members into loaning him money that he did not repay. Danny O'Guin According to St. Louis media,…
Seminaries not preparing pastors to minister to disabled, some assert
WACO, Texas (ABP) — An expert in the field of disability ministry says theological seminaries are doing little to prepare ministers to deal with the estimated one-in-five Americans living with some kind of disability. “There is almost nothing in the…
Welcoming people with special needs can mean spiritual, numerical growth
Special-needs ministry is a two-way street for churches. NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (ABP) — Churches that do a good job of including members with special needs like autism often reap side benefits of a positive witness to their community and sometimes…
Opinion: Anybody can be a friend to the disabled
(ABP) — My 24-year-old son is a certified nursing assistant who provides care for three children — two with intellectual disabilities — four nights a week while their single mother is at work. One “benefit” of such a noble-sounding…
Barriers of attitude block people with disabilities from full inclusion in churches
WASHINGTON (ABP) — According to a longtime advocate for people with disabilities, the greatest barriers to including special-needs individuals in churches are not architectural or language, but rather barriers of attitude. “We have within us prejudices,” said Ginny Thornburgh, director…
Church should be place of acceptance for people with special needs
As of the 2000 census, 54 million Americans had a legally defined disability, about one in five. WASHINGTON (ABP) — People with disabilities don’t want churches that just “welcome” them, but rather congregations that value them and include them in…