VIRGINIA BEACH (ABP) — The founder of the Christian Coalition has endorsed a Republican presidential candidate known for his support of abortion rights and gay rights. In a Nov. 7 press conference, television evangelist Pat Robertson announced he is supporting…
Evangelical scholars discuss justification by faith, may change doctrinal statement
SAN DIEGO (ABP) – As hundreds of scholars, pastors and theologians gathered Nov. 14 for the opening day of the 59th annual conference of the Evangelical Theological Society, a question loomed over their heads: How narrowly to define who qualifies…
The story behind 670
RICHMOND — During this week's annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, there will be an emphasis on reaching the estimated 4.5 million people in Virginia who may not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Borrowing the “H.O.W.”…
N.C. Baptists cut WMU funding, loosen ties with colleges, take stand on gays
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — Messengers changed the face of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, loosening ties to its five colleges and retirement home, cutting funding to its women's auxiliary, and expelling a church that accepts gays in leadership…
Associations work with VBMB to evangelize Central Virginia
BOWLING GREEN — The Hermon Baptist Association has partnered with the Dover and Fredericksburg Baptist association, the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and local churches to start a new congregation called Living Proof. The new church held its first service at…
Moderates, conservatives each get mixed bag during Tenn. convention
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (ABP) – Neither an organized conservative group nor a coalition of moderates and unaligned conservatives were the clear-cut winners during the Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting, held Nov. 13-14 in Kingsport, Tenn. Messengers elected presidential and vice presidential…
How’s it going in Blacksburg?
BLACKSBURG — In the months since April 16, we have heard the question many times, “How's it going in Blacksburg?” As we remember our friend Brian Bluhm and the others who lost their lives that day, the answer of how…
Richmond church sends team to assist in Peru
RICHMOND — “Everything began suddenly when a group of persons from Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond proposed a volunteer missions trip to Perú to help persons affected by the earthquake that hit the provinces of Pisco and Chincha, south…
Arkansas Baptists narrowly reject opening on communion, baptism
VAN BUREN, Ark. (ABP) — Arkansas Baptist State Convention leaders narrowly rejected an attempt Nov. 7 to remove a peculiar constitutional provision on communion and baptism that historians say is rooted in a 19th-century Baptist controversy. Messengers to the body's…
IMB trustees censure Burleson, bar him from board activities
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP) — In a rare move, trustees of a Southern Baptist Convention agency voted Nov. 6 to censure one of their own and effectively bar him from carrying out the duties of his office. However, reform-minded Oklahoma pastor…
IMB attorney says board has power to suspend trustee
RICHMOND (ABP) — Although the Southern Baptist Convention is the only group with power to unseat a trustee of one of its agencies, the International Mission Board's attorney said Nov. 8 the board has the legal power to effectively bar…
Encountering God at the river: Piankatank to expand vision
Imagine having your morning devotional in a comfortable room with a large window overlooking an exquisite coastal river vista complete with an island and miles of shimmering water. The Camp Piankatank Commission has been working for several years to make…