The Baptist movement began 400 years ago with the self-baptism of John Smyth, but the roots of immersion lie beyond that first gathered community whose mode was affusion, or pouring. Edward Barber was probably the first to embrace believer’s baptism…
ANALYSIS: Baptism — essential sacrament or symbolic ordinance?
One of the distinguishing marks of the people of God called Baptists, across our 400 years of witness, has been our strong affirmation of believer’s baptism, which is rooted in our high view of Christ’s authority in Scripture. When Jesus…
Let ’em ring: Federal court says church bells are legal religious expression
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A federal court on April 19 ruled an ordinance in Phoenix, Ariz., trying to limit the sound of church bells is an unconstitutional impingement on religious expression. In 2007, one day after Christ the King Cathedral moved…
Hundreds gather to remember Cecil Sherman
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Friends and family members of Cecil Sherman filled the spacious sanctuary of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond, Va., April 20 to celebrate his life in the first of two scheduled memorial services. “We seem to…
Soulforce Q visit to SBU described as ‘gentle,’ ‘spiritually violent’
BOLIVAR, Mo. (ABP) — Characterizations of the Soulforce Q Equality Ride stop at Southwest Baptist University April 14 ranged from “gentle” to “spiritually violent,” depending upon the person asked. Most years since 2006, Soulforce Q, the young adult division of Soulforce,…
Obama visit could interrupt traffic to Cecil Sherman’s funeral
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) – Persons traveling to attend Friday’s memorial service in Asheville, N.C., for former Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinator Cecil Sherman are advised to anticipate travel delays due to an unexpected visit to the city by President Obama. Guy…
Hundreds gather to remember Cecil Sherman in Richmond memorial service
RICHMOND, Va. — Friends and family members of Cecil Edwin Sherman filled the spacious sanctuary of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond, Va., April 20 to celebrate his life in the first of two scheduled memorial services. Michael Clingenpeel, pastor…
Memorial services for Cecil Sherman to be webcast
ATLANTA (ABP) – Two memorial services for Cecil Sherman, founding coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, who died April 17 after suffering a massive heart attack, will be webcast live this week. Services scheduled Tuesday, April 20, at River Road…
ABP gives Founders Award to Dan Hobbs
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) – Associated Baptist Press presented its Founders Award April 18 to Dan Hobbs, a longtime recording secretary of the ABP board of directors whoses minutes of meetings chronicle most of independent news agency’s first two decades of…
Dan Hobbs, longtime lay leader in Baptist life, receives ABP award
NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) – Associated Baptist Press presented its Founders Award April 18 to Dan Hobbs, a longtime recording secretary of the ABP board of directors whose minutes of meetings chronicle most of the independent news agency’s first two decades…
Texas Baptist choir tour among travel disrupted by Icelandic volcano’s ash
DALLAS (ABP) — A volcanic ash cloud that caused a $1 billion disruption to international airline travel has also forced a Texas Baptist choir to postpone by six months its concert tour in Ukraine. The North Central Texas chapter of…
Two memorial services for Cecil Sherman to be webcast live this week
ATLANTA (ABP) — Two memorial services for Cecil Sherman, founding coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, who died April 17 after suffering a massive heart attack, will be webcast live this week. Services scheduled Tuesday, April 20, at River Road…