“It is a nation with a lot of Christians in it. And I'm proud to be one of them. But it is not a Christian nation.” Bishop T. D. Jakes The author and pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas…
Southern Seminary cuts 35 positions
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in response to the national economic downturn, has reduced its administrative staff by 35 positions: 20 full-time and 15 part-time, effective Jan. 30. Each person will receive a severance package, including placement assistance, according…
HERITAGE: A man who cared
Bill Jenkins once was described as “firm, fair and faithful.” Roland Byrd, the long-time Baptist campus minister at Virginia Tech, who was describing his former boss and mentor in ministry, said, “Bill encouraged us and helped us to do what…
NAMB enacts spending slowdown
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—In remarks to some 250 staff members of the North American Mission Board on Jan. 8, President Geoff Hammond asked NAMB team leaders to operate at 90 percent of their approved budgets during 2009. However, Hammond said funds…
Anti-abortion forces seek government funding cuts for Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Undeterred by solid Democratic gains in November's national elections, religious conservatives who oppose abortion are going on the offensive with a new weapon—a sick economy. In its largest-ever state-based initiative, the Family Research Council is contacting every state lawmaker…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Can origins of Baptists be set?
I found it very interesting to read all the publicity about Baptist history in the Jan. 15 issue of the Religious Herald—do we date from early Christianity, or just 400 years or so ago, or somewhere in between? In the…
Rick Warren offers shelter for breakaway Anglicans
Evangelical pastor Rick Warren has offered to open the campus of his California megachurch to conservative Anglicans who have broken with the Episcopal Church. Warren, a best-selling author and prominent preacher, wrote to 30 Anglican leaders on Jan. 9, days…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Plight of pastors’ wives
Now that Christmas has come and gone, I want to get down to writing this reply to your last letter from your Aunt Ida [“The wisdom of a contented pastor's wife,” Herald, Dec. 4]. This particular letter is about the…
Baptists, Muslims say dialogue a big step in the right direction
NEWTON CENTER, Mass. (ABP)—Several dozen Baptists and Muslims gathered recently to repair a relationship better known for harsh anti-Islamic rhetoric by high-profile Baptist preachers than by dialogue or cooperation. Stan Hastey, a Baptist member of the task force that planned…
New statute raises concerns
In addition to the fact that I find incorrect “facts” in Professor Stephen Strehle's article [“The need for a new religious freedom statute,” Herald, Dec. 18], I am very surprised that the Herald published it. The Baptist paper of Virginia,…
Doing well, doing good
A growing number of Christian businesspeople—who see entrepreneurial ventures as missional opportunities—believe doing good and doing well don't have to be mutually exclusive. These Christian social entrepreneurs are committed to using their business skills to organize, create, manage and monetize…
FAITH DIGEST
Judges uphold weddings by clergy ordained online. Pennsylvania county judges have ruled in three cases that marriages performed by ministers who do not have congregations and obtained ordination on the Internet are legal, rejecting a contrary 2007 ruling. All three…