“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…
Childs makes ‘tiny stitches’ in lives of children, youth in Croatia
ATLANTA (ABP) — Elaine Childs, one of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s field personnel in Cakovec, Croatia, likes to think of her work in Roma villages as analogous to lace making, a well-known Croatian trade since the 15th century. “Most of…
Church with woman pastor expects further rebuke from Georgia Baptists
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — A church denied voting rights in the Georgia Baptist Convention because it is led by a woman pastor could face further sanctions, Pastor Julie Pennington-Russell reports in the church newsletter. In a recent meeting with representatives…
Former youth minister pleads guilty to sending explicit emails to teen
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (ABP) — A former American Baptist youth minister has pleaded guilty to sending sexually explicit emails and photos to a 15-year-old girl he was counseling. At his arraignment Nov. 5, David Esarey, 30, denied sending photos to the…
Website seeks to rally support for women’s ordination
CONROE, Texas (ABP) — A former Baptist General Convention of Texas employee and her husband of 47 years have started a website urging Baptist women to speak up for their rights to be ordained as deacons and senior pastors. A…