The John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington has received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools. ATS, the premier agency for seminary accreditation in North America, granted the accreditation at its June 14 board meeting. “Full accreditation…
Foundation issues $50,000 challenge to Oak Hill Academy
The board of trustees of the Virginia Baptist Foundation has approved up to a $50,000 in a matching scholarship endowment grant to Oak Hill Academy. These scholarship endowment funds will remain under the perpetual management care of the Foundation. Announcing…
Harton is interim dean at BTSR
R. Michael Harton became interim dean of the faculty at Baptist Theological Seminary Richmond on June 1. Harton will serve in the interim position for one year. He replaces Richard Vinson, who stepped down May 31. Vinson will continue in…
WMUV executive taking sabbatical
Earlene Jessee, executive director of Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, is taking a sabbatical to address medical issues, as well as focus on academic projects. Jessee said she expects to return to her position Sept. 1. In the meantime, day-to-day…
BWA delegation presses Vietnamese government on religious freedom
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Baptist World Alliance-led delegation recently returned from Vietnam, where they pressed government officials to ensure greater religious freedom in the rapidly Westernizing nation. Though conditions for religious groups — especially Protestant groups — have…
Former mission board worker fights for NAMB support for ailing wife
WACO, Texas (ABP) — In his day, Nathan Porter jokes, he was the sex symbol of the Southern Baptist Convention. These days, he said, he's the sex symbol of the AARP. No matter. The tall 73-year-old Brazilian with blueberry eyes…
CBF leaders elect Rob Nash to global missions post
ATLANTA (ABP) — With a standing ovation, leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship unanimously approved Rob Nash as the group's new global missions coordinator June 21. The CBF Coordinating Council approved Nash to head up the organization's missionary force in…
New SBC president upsets power brokers in razor-thin victory
In a major upset, outsider Frank Page of South Carolina was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention over two candidates closely tied to the SBC's conservative power structure. Page, who described his election as a victory for grassroots Baptists,…
Baptist history on alcohol: not totally teetotaling
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — Question: Why do you always take two Baptists with you when you go fishing? Answer: Because if you only bring one, he'll drink all your beer. Most everybody who grew up in the South has a…
Supreme Court agrees to expand scope of ‘partial-birth abortion’ case
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court said June 20 it will expand its review of a controversial federal abortion law. The justices agreed to hear a California case involving the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. They will consider, in…
SBC messengers strip much of anti-nepotism motion
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — After an appeal from an International Mission Board trustee June 14, Southern Baptist Convention messengers removed provisions of a recommendation designed to prevent nepotism and conflicts of interest among SBC agency trustees. The move dealt something…
ANOTHER VIEW: Mission givers break cultural mold
American evangelicals stand accused of being captives of culture—selfish, materialistic, unconcerned about the world. If we're honest, sometimes we have to plead guilty as charged. Christian pollster George Barna frequently supplies the evidence to convict us. His research measures the…