Transformation: From exclusion to inclusion By Elwanda Cornelius More than ever the world has looked to our nation as it is being transformed from being exclusive to becoming inclusive. This dream is becoming more of a reality with the election…
Virginia Baptists fall just shy of funding 2008 BGAV budget
RICHMOND—Virginia Baptists funded their 2008 budget at almost 98 percent—a noteworthy event in the midst of a severe economic crisis, said leaders of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Last year, BGAV churches contributed $14,092,291 toward the state association's Cooperative…
BTSR’s SCM offers classes
Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond's School of Christian Ministry has announced several online continuing education opportunities open to anyone regardless of educational background, beginning in March. Each course is $125, with scholarships available to cover 50 percent of the registration…
VBMB sets up fund to help struggling churches
RICHMOND—The Virginia Baptist Mission Board's executive committee voted Jan. 12 to establish a Helping Hands Fund to assist churches that are experiencing difficulty due to financial circumstances beyond their control. The fund has been established with an initial gift of…
Liberals, evangelicals call for common agenda on abortion, sexuality issue
WASHINGTON (ABP)—Progressive and evangelical leaders have joined together to propose shared policy solutions on issues that have long divided left and right in the so-called culture wars. Two years ago Third Way, a non-profit think tank that supports equality for…
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…
Baptist foundation loses money in Madoff scandal
OKLAHOMA CITY (ABP) — At least one Baptist group lost money as part of Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme. The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma said it lost $1.4 million, less than 1 percent of its assets, when third-party…
Prominent Dallas pastor accepts BGCT post
DALLAS (ABP) — Jim Denison has resigned as senior teaching pastor at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas to become founding president of the Center for Informed Faith and theologian-in-residence with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The new Center…
Birmingham site of first of four regional New Baptist Covenant meetings
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Planners of a Jan. 31 gathering of diverse Baptist groups hope a national mood set by the election of America's first African-American president will spill over into renewed relationships between black and white Baptists. "We are…