The first in a new series of Baptist-Catholic theological conversations was to be held at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 10-12. The Baptist team is being led by Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Denton Lotz and Paul Fiddes,…
Ellison won’t be first politician to forgo Bible in taking oath of office
When Keith Ellison, the Minnesota Democrat who last month was elected the first Muslim in Congress, announced he would take his oath of office on Islam's holy book, the Quran, he provoked sharp criticism. The ensuing discussion has revived the…
His ‘dream come true’ carries nativity to the big screen
Ironically, production of The Nativity Story took about as long as the period of time the movie portrays—from just before Christ's immaculate conception to just after his miraculous birth. That such a breakneck production schedule actually worked and the movie…
Theological opportunity?
Perhaps I'm an opportunist, but whenever things happen that are not likely to happen again, I try to take advantage. As, for example, in 1986 while spending a weekend with my family in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park when…
ANOTHER VIEW: Waiting with a purpose
When I was giving birth to our first child, one of the nurses asked my husband how he was doing, since he was just standing there, having nothing to do but watch me struggle through labor. My husband, who would…
Face toward Mount Gilead
On a recent Sunday morning, this columnist—like Jacob of old—arose, turned the ignition in his Pontiac van (well, that part was unlike Jacob) and set his face toward Mount Gilead. The Mount Gilead in this story is due west from…
News about Virginia Baptist and their Ministries for December 14, 2006
Christmas Music & Drama Abingdon Church, Abingdon; “A Great and Mighty Wonder,” Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. Bedford Church, Bedford; “Noel, Jesus Is Born,” Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. Berea Church, Rockville; “A World of Christmas,” Dec. 17 at 11…
Survey: Faith doesn’t determine spending habits for Christmas
DALLAS (ABP) — Christians won't spend as much money this Christmas as their non-religious counterparts, but the Christian retail industry continues to expand exponentially, according to recent reports. Researchers who conducted a recent Gallup Poll said no relationship exists between…
Small church, big impact
To borrow from Abe Lincoln, “God must have loved small churches because he made so many of them.” One of them is Chatham Baptist Church, set to celebrate its 150th anniversary this summer. Chatham Baptist is much like many other…
After nurses, clergy rank among nation’s most ethical
DALLAS (ABP) — Americans may trust their pastors almost as much as they trust their nurses. That's according to a Dec. 12 USA Today/Gallup Poll. For the sixth year in a row, nursing topped the list as the most ethical…
No ‘Hog’ hereafter: Ga. church votes to purge piggy name
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (ABP) — A Baptist church in a rapidly growing part of Georgia is no longer sitting high on the hog, thanks to a recent name-changing vote. And some longtime members of the 152-year-old congregation as well as those…
Japanese university names former Southern Baptist missionary as president
FUKUOKA, Japan (ABP) — A Japanese university founded by Southern Baptist missionaries has named one as its new president. Trustees of Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka, Japan, have elected Gary Barkley as the school's ninth president. Barkley will be the…