In my last column I raised four critical questions for Christian complementarians and suggested that these helped show the inadequacy of that approach to gender roles. In this column I want to turn my attention left instead of right. I…
Manager of Christian bookstore in Gaza found murdered
GAZA CITY, Palestine (ABP) — The Palestinian Baptist manager of a well-known Christian book store in the Gaza Strip has been murdered. Authorities reportedly found the body of Rami Ayyad on Oct. 7 in Gaza City. He died from a…
Whites participating quietly, fruitfully in African-American Baptist body
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Recently, white Texas Baptist pastor Larry Bethune became the president of a mainly African-American Baptist group — and it didn't make news, because it was nothing new. Perhaps what is news to many Baptists is that…
Sutton, prominent Baptist pastor, safe in Nashville pulpit for now
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — A former nominee for president of the Southern Baptist Convention will remain pastor of a prominent Southern Baptist church, the congregation decided Oct. 7. Jerry Sutton, who for more than two decades has served Two Rivers…
Lewis, Bloomer, Bloxom to be nominees for BGAV offices
RICHMOND — Joseph T. Lewis, current first vice president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, will be presented as a nominee for president when the BGAV meets Nov. 13-14 in Richmond. Lewis, one of three nominees voted at the…
BJC director joins Baptists, others in panel on faith
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, is joining other prominent religious leaders as a panelist for a Washington Post/Newsweek online forum on faith issues. Walker's thoughts will appear alongside those of…
EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida plants a seed
Dear Jimmy, Well, I don't have much to say, but since I hadn't bent your ear in a good long while, I decided to put off my laundry and write you a long letter. Your Uncle Orley and I just…
Dobson discourages support of Thompson
WASHINGTON (ABP) — One of the most powerful leaders in conservative evangelical Christianity has reportedly discouraged his colleagues from supporting Fred Thompson as a presidential candidate. James Dobson, according to a Sept. 19 Associated Press report, sent a private e-mail…
Victories in Victoria
The small Southside Virginia town of Victoria in Lunenburg County is “the place to be” on Sunday, Oct. 14, as the church celebrates its centennial. The events are the culmination of a year-long celebration. John V. Upton, executive director of…
Baptist society seeks papers on First Amendement issues
The Baptist History and Heritage Society invites submissions for papers for its 2008 annual meeting to be held May 22-24, 2008, on the Atlanta campus of Mercer University. The society is seeking innovative and engaging paper presentations on the theme,…
Keeping true to Scripture
My professional pilgrimage has been marked by a sometimes painful series of movements between Christian academic institutions falling on opposite sides of the gender issue, or what has come to be called the complementarian/egalitarian divide. This has given me opportunity…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for October 4, 2007
STAFF CHANGES • Charles Stewart, to Haymarket Church, Haymarket, as pastor. • T. Kevin Schrum, Buckroe Church, Hampton, as pastor. • Jon Reed, resigning as pastor of Blairs Church, Blairs, to accept a pastorate in Tennessee. • Rupert Rose Jr.,…