RICHMOND—By this fall, Virginia Baptists' Venturer program will have 14 Venturers serving around the world in response to requests from Virginia Baptist mission partners for assistance with a variety of ministry needs. Venturers are individuals and couples at least 18…
Another prominent SBC church beset by strife
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The integrity of another prominent Southern Baptist pastor has been called into question by members of his megachurch — this one in the shadow of the Southern Baptist Convention's headquarters. Local and national news agencies have…
VIRGINIA BRIEFS
Falwell's insurance erases LU debt. Thanks to a substantial life insurance policy on the late Jerry Falwell, the university he founded is now debt-free, according to university officials. Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty University's chancellor and son of its founder, announced…
Historic First Baptist of Dallas names Robert Jeffress as senior pastor
DALLAS (ABP) — First Baptist Church in Dallas has called one of its own products, Robert Jeffress, to become its new senior pastor. According to a statement on the church's website, more than 3,000 congregants affirmed the 51-year-old at an…
EDITORIAL: Love your enemies and pray for …
Wiley Drake, former second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and has requested prayer for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and particularly for two staff members. For those who may not be aware, Americans United…
Will Huckabee’s strong showing bring support to campaign?
WASHINGTON — Could a Baptist preacher become the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee — or more? Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's surprisingly strong showing in the Aug. 11 Iowa Straw Poll has significantly raised the profile of the pastor-turned-politician. But if…
SECOND OPINION: Responding to the immigration crisis
Without question immigration currently is a hot button issue for all Americans, all Christians and all Virginia Baptists. Daniel Carro, coordinator of the Latino Network of Virginia Baptists and professor of divinity at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies,…
Pentagon investigation faults generals for endorsing evangelical ministry
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of high-ranking Pentagon officials improperly endorsed and aided an evangelical Christian ministry, according to a Defense Department investigation recently made public. The Department of Defense inspector general's report was dated July 20 and released to…
Imagining the future
In the summer of 1877, “the June meeting” or annual meeting of the General Association was held in Danville. Jeremiah Bell Jeter, one of the grand old men of the Association, was present and actively engaged in the meeting. Jeter…
History conference draws diverse group of Baptists
CHARLESTON, S.C. (ABP)—Perhaps the most notable thing about the recent “Baptist History Celebration,” held in the mother church of Southern Baptists, is that it happened at all. But historians from an astonishing array of Baptist groups—liberal, conservative, fundamentalist, moderate, African-American,…
Baptist experience
At a time when many are trying to rewrite Baptist history and many are ashamed to put the name “Baptist” on their church sign, the publication by William E. Hull of his newest book, The Meaning of the Baptist Experience,…
Progressive Baptists protest hip-hop lyrics, global warming & Iraq war
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Delegates to the annual meeting of the Progressive National Baptist Convention have called for protests of music lyrics demeaning to women and minorities. “We are speaking out publicly against the denigration of women, minorities and the kind of self-hatred…