WASHINGTON (RNS) — A conservative Christian legal group has launched an initiative for pastors to challenge IRS rules that prevent them from discussing political candidates from the pulpit. The Alliance Defense Fund said May 9 that its “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,”…
EDITORIAL: The changing church
The body of Christ never ceases to amaze me. Not that I have seen that much of its total representation in either time or space. My perspective is rather limited, in fact. Still, what I have seen amazes me. The…
IMB leader resigns over policies
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — Rodney Hammer, the International Mission Board's regional leader for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for the past eight years, resigned effective May 5 after challenging policies of the board of trustees with which he is in…
Sharing memories
“It has been sooo long ago,” explained Martha Thomas by way of explanation, just in case her memories were not forthcoming. She need not have fretted. A month shy of her 100th birthday, Martha Thomas did not miss a beat…
SECOND OPINION: How are Christians accountable to each other?
One of the most vexing issues in Christian life is the question of accountability. At every level of Christian community, the question arises. We know that Christians are accountable to God for their lives and will one day actually give…
Anger at New Baptist Covenant
I didn't send this letter immediately because I wrote most of it in anger. I wasn't sure I would ever send it. Much of the time my anger is not exactly righteous anger. But now I believe is the time….
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for May 15, 2008
STAFF CHANGES • Eric Durden, to Fairmount Memorial Church, Richmond, as pastor. • G. C. Hughes has concluded his ministry as pastor of Blackstone Church, Blackstone. • Don Williams, resigning as pastor of Calvary Church, Lynchburg, effective the end of…
CBF to commission 18 missionaries under new online cohort process
ATLANTA (ABP) – An innovative missionary-training process has produced 18 new Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missions personnel, who will be commissioned June 18 during the group's General Assembly in Memphis, Tenn. The appointees are the first to apply through CBF's new…
Longtime Baptist musician, seminary professor dies
ORANGE PARK, Fla. (ABP) — Longtime Baptist hymn writer and music professor Hugh McElrath passed away May 8 at his winter home in Penney Farms, Fla. He also resided in Louisville, Ky. He was 86. McElrath was a professor of…
Blogging Baptists: Blogs only latest battleground for historical Baptist contention
WASHINGTON (ABP) — One classic joke about Baptists is that wherever two or three are gathered, there are four opinions among them. The same can probably be said of bloggers, and Baptists seem to have taken to the blog medium…
Blogging Baptists: As many motivations for blogging as there are bloggers
DALLAS (ABP) — For some people, blogs are like a family reunion where people barely know each other. There's a lot of talking going on, but there's little agreement on much of anything. But for many of the increasing number…
Blogging Baptists: Guidelines for ethical blogging? Start with the New Testament
(ABP) — The New Testament book of James compares the tongue to raging fire and a wild beast that cannot be tamed. And the author of that book never was “flamed” on a blog, in a chat room or on…