William James Cumbie was a mover and shaker on the Virginia Baptist scene for nearly 60 years. He first appeared on the Virginia scene in 1948 when, at age 25, he was the energetic new pastor of the First Baptist…
Workshop to focus on ‘organic leaders’
Organic leadership in churches will be the focus of a series of workshops sponsored by the Southwest Virginia Christian Leadership Network. Bob Dale, most recently assistant executive director of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and founding director of the Ray…
ANOTHER VIEW: ‘Aunt Ida’ is very perceptive
The excellent editorial in the Jan. 24 issue of the Religious Herald, entitled “Aunt Ida preaches to preachers,” highlighted the profile of most forced terminations. The epidemic is much wider spread than most realize. And the effects are deeper and…
Supreme Court clears way for case over student’s anti-gay T-shirt
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In a procedural move, the Supreme Court cleared the way March 5 for a lawsuit over a California school district's suspension of a teenager who wore an anti-gay T-shirt to class. The decision means the court may…
Opinion: Retrieving a consistent pro-life ethic
Christians are so tangled up with politics these days that our political loyalties threaten to engulf our Christian commitments. We want the politicians to listen to us and the politicians want us to listen to them. It is nice to…
BWA committee nominates Jamaican as first non-white general secretary
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Neville Callam will make history for Baptists around the world if elected general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. If elected in July, the 55-year-old Jamaican pastor will be the first non-white chief executive of…
Correction
In the March 5 ABP story “Southwestern seeks McKissic's removal; trustee likens attempt to 'lynching,''” please make the following corrections: In the 9th paragraph, one reference to McClain should be McKissic. Also McKissic is misspelled in the second reference. Replace…
SBC’s Land criticizes Giuliani for ‘divorce on steroids’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention's top ethicist criticized one thrice-married GOP presidential candidate March 6 for what he called “divorce on steroids.” Richard Land, head of the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said evangelicals might accept…
Addition and corrections
Concerning the March 1 ABP story “Negrut, 'hero' to SBC conservatives, accused of plagiarism in Romania,” the following information became available after publication of the story. Editors may want to insert the following addition after the 14th paragraph: An American…
Dobson, others seek ouster of NAE officer for support of efforts to end global warming
More than two dozen evangelical leaders are seeking the ouster of Richard Cizik from the National Association of Evangelicals because of his “relentless campaign” against global warming. In a March 1 letter to L. Roy Taylor, chairman of the NAE…
John Baugh, Baptist philanthropist, critic of fundamentalism, dies
HOUSTON (ABP) — Philanthropist John Baugh of Houston, a major benefactor of moderate Baptist causes and institutions, died March 5 at the age of 91. He has been in declining health for several years. Baugh, a member of Tallowood Baptist…
NAE’s Anderson responds to pressure from conservatives on warming
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The leader of the National Association of Evangelicals is reportedly backing the group's governmental-affairs specialist after calls from some evangelicals that Richard Cizik stop his advocacy for global-warming issues. According to news reports from March 2 and…