MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Following a formal separation initiated by the Georgia Baptist Convention last November and several pronouncements by university leaders calling for a clear Baptist identity, Mercer University trustees voted April 21 to amend the school's charter to…
BJC director: Americans believe lies about church-state separation
ABILENE, Texas (ABP) — Americans are besieged by lies about the relationship of church and state, Brent Walker insisted during the Maston Christian Ethics Lectures at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology, April 10-11. “The lies I want to talk…
Baptist dilemma is balancing freedom, structure says honoree Cecil Sherman
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Historically, Baptists are reluctant to organize beyond local congregations out of fear that such structures will impinge freedom, said longtime Baptist leader Cecil Sherman during an April 21 event honoring his service. “To get a job…
‘Jericho’ walks help church planters begin indigenous church planting
AMARILLO, Texas (ABP) — Neal Hughes feels certain about two things: Churches need to be started in multihousing environments, and doing so begins with prayer. Hughes, a missionary for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, should know. As pastor…
Maine high court upholds law barring religious vouchers
PORTLAND, Maine (ABP) — Maine's highest court has turned away an attempt to force a state voucher program to include religious schools. In a 6-1 ruling, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said April 26 a state law that bans a…
BGCT hires accountant to study church fund mismanagement
DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas has enlisted an independent accountant to investigate possible mishandling of church-starting funds in the lower Rio Grande Valley. “Allegations came to our attention, and we began an internal probe,” Charles Wade,…
Southside-YMCA partnership ‘win-win’ deal for both groups
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — The YMCA is moving back to its Christian roots with a pilot program they hope to replicate nationally, thanks to some creative thinking by church leaders at Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. After a chance…
A leadership experience
Eight members of the youth ministry team from Webber Memorial Baptist Church and I had the opportunity to participate in the most unique leadership training I have experienced in my 15+ years of ministry. The HALT (Horse Assisted Leadership Training)…
The Bootleg Stone
The grey headstone looks like many others in the cemetery surrounding the old sanctuary of Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Moseley, but a few taps on this grave marker quickly demonstrates that it is hollow and made of metal. The…
Venturers: Virginia Baptists introduce a new avenue for mission service around the world
Along with warmer weather, budding leaves and blooming flowers, the advent of April 2006 brought with it another form of growth — this one within Virginia Baptists' opportunities for mobilizing volunteers for mission service. On April 3, the Venturer Program,…
EDITORIAL: Glad to be a Virginia Baptist
You would think after 25 years in the pastorate, I would have learned not to call the office while I'm on vacation. I'm a slow learner. In fact, I may fit into the “old dogs” category at this stage of…
ANOTHER VIEW: Judas, Dan Brown and Jesus
I'm not sure if I've ever seen such an explosion of public interest in Jesus — from a variety of angles old and new (some would say odd). Whether this fascination simply means that Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code…