Three pastors and an attorney will be nominated for statewide offices at the Baptist General Association of Virginia annual meeting, Nov 9-10 in Virginia Beach. Virginia Baptists Committed has named a slate of candidates for all three offices. Boyce Brannock,…
Kingdom Advance 2.0
I sat in the modest home of an elder member of my church. There was a tear in his eye as he spoke. “Pastor, I don't want our church to die. Nobody in our congregation wants to see that church…
Aunt Ida and the church parsonage
Dear Jimmy, Well, since your Uncle Orley and the vet are out in the back pasture helpin' a contrary calf come into the world, and since my suggestions on the matter seem not to be highly prized, I thought I'd…
It’s always homecoming in Orange
Orange is one of the prettiest small towns in Central Virginia; and in the middle of its commercial district, there is a red-brick Gothic building which houses the Baptists. With its tower the Orange Baptist Church sits like a sentinel,…
Southwestern trustees adopt policy opposing ‘private prayer language’
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary overwhelmingly adopted a policy Oct. 17 that puts the school on record opposing charismatic expressions of the Holy Spirit, including so-called “private prayer languages.” Trustees also heard news of…
With ads, letter to Bush, evangelicals push for end to Darfur genocide
DALLAS (ABP) – Twenty-four evangelical leaders — both progressive and conservative — placed full-page ads in leading U.S. newspapers Oct. 18 calling for President Bush and the American public to stop genocide in Darfur. The leaders requested an immediate session…
OPINION: Forgive or Die
Few recent tragedies have affected me as deeply as the horrific murders at the Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pa., last week. It seems that each day brings more mayhem in our blood-soaked country. But this one — this image…
Churches — the ‘true first responders’ — share lessons learned from Katrina
BATON ROUGE, La. (ABP) — A lack of bureaucracy made churches “the true first responders” when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast last year, a new survey found, but a little more coordination could have made them even more effective….
Trustees delay SWBTS plan to move $90 million endowment in-house
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary delayed action on a recommendation to transfer $90 million in seminary endowment funds from the Baptist Foundation of Texas to Southwestern's in-house foundation. According to a trustee document provided…
CBF council picks four schools as identity partners, reports shortfall
ATLANTA (ABP) — The coordinating council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship approved four schools as identity partners Oct. 13 in the second day of its annual meeting, which focused on affirming partnerships with the organization. In a unanimous vote proceeded…
Prosperity gospel not all good, some Baptist leaders say
DALLAS (ABP) — A recent TIME magazine cover story asked: “Does God want you to be rich?” While the answer from many pulpits is a resounding yes, some Baptists have spoken against an increasingly popular health-and-wealth message. The prosperity gospel…
High court turns down case involving Scouting policy
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court declined Oct. 16 to hear an appeal of a California Supreme Court decision against a Scouting group denied free use of a Berkeley municipal facility because the Boy Scouts ban gays and atheists from…