PALESTINE, Texas (ABP) — For the members of First Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas, sharing names with a Middle Eastern territory has led to a connection with Christians on the West Bank. It began a few years ago. Pastor Jay…
Laura McDaniel nominated executive of Virginia WMU
RICHMOND — Laura S. McDaniel has been recommended to become executive director/treasurer of Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia. McDaniel, who has been WMUV's interim executive director/treasurer since February 2007, was selected by the organization's board of trustees on June 13….
Former ambassador says U.S. lacks political will to tackle food crisis
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As world leaders continue wrestling over what to do about the spiraling global food crisis, the former U.S. ambassador for humanitarian issues says he worries that Americans “have not yet developed the political and spiritual will” to…
EDITORIAL: How generous should orthodoxy be?
It was Brian McLaren who made popular with his book title the phrase “a generous orthodoxy.” In my mind, I have interpreted that to mean roughly the equivalent of Augustine's “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.”…
Sex & Sects: Why does sex play such a large role within fringe religions?
WASHINGTON (RNS) — What is it with sects and sex? The recent probe into alleged child abuse at a polygamous compound in West Texas started with an anonymous phone call about underage girls having sex with adult men. The imprisoned…
SECOND OPINION: Thankful on the Fourth
The Fourth of July! This unique, and perhaps most popular, American holiday conjurers up visions of fireworks, political speeches, baseball games and backyard barbeques. This holiday provides an opportunity for Americans to express our patriotism, celebrate what is good about…
FAITH DIGEST
Muslims affirm Saudi king's interfaith effort. Hundreds of Muslim leaders worldwide have endorsed Saudi King Abdullah's recent call for intensified interfaith dialogue in order to dampen global conflict and demonstrate Islam's commitment to solving world problems. The declaration came at…
Our Miss Alma
Alma Hunt had a healthy appetite. Among her thousands of stories which she delighted in retelling on herself, there was the story of the man who observed the petite Miss Hunt eating and exclaimed, “You have an amazing appetite!” And…
OUT LOUD
“The church is not reducible to the flaws and the futilities and the fragilities of one's human capacity. We're all human and fragile.” Michael Eric Dyson The Georgetown University professor was speaking at a church about why black members don't…
RIGHT OR WRONG?
My widowed mother is retired and survives on Social Security. After many years of living alone, she met a wonderful man she loves dearly. They want to marry, but because of potential loss of Social Security income, they are thinking…
Foundation celebrates scholarship awards
RICHMOND — The Virginia Baptist Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $70,625 to 41 recipients for 2008-2009 at its Scholarship Recipient's Reception June 8 at the Virginia Baptist Resource Center. The scholarship reception was a first-time event for the Foundation, drawing a…
Galindo named dean at BTSR
RICHMOND — Israel Galindo was elected dean at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond June 17 by seminary trustees. He replaces Mike Harton, who has served as interim dean for the past two years. Galindo Galindo serves the 17-year old seminary…