RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists will be asked to withhold about $350,000 they planned to contribute to Averett University next year until a dispute over homosexuality and biblical interpretation can be resolved. The Baptist General Association of Virginia's budget…
Four professors leave Southwestern to start alternative Carroll Institute
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Four prominent professors abruptly resigned from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in early November, only to be named faculty members of the new B.H. Carroll Theological Institute started by former Southwestern leaders. The faculty members who…
Kerry appearances in churches prompt criticism from left, right
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's increasingly prominent habit of using politically sympathetic churches as a platform for campaign speeches is drawing criticism — though for differing reasons — from groups on both the ideological right and the…
Corrections:
In the ABP story “Truett Seminary prof dies after battle with cancer” released July 20, the date of Chip Conyer's death should read July 18 instead of July 20. Also in the ABP story “Watchdog group files complaint against Arkansas…
300 candles brightly shining
On July 27, 1707, representatives of five churches formed the Philadelphia Baptist Association. It was the first Baptist association in the United States. Earlier, there were “yearly meetings” and occasional gatherings among the scattered churches; but in 1707 the urge…
OUT LOUD
“I can’t think of a religious group he didn’t offend. He even did a cartoon that upset the Episcopalians, and you know how hard it is to upset Episcopalians. John Shelton Reed The longtime friend of Baptist cartoonist Doug Marlette,…
Pastors examine change in variety of settings
Three Virginia pastors from rural, small town and urban settings joined well-known pastor/speaker Leith Anderson to share experiences at the Virginia Baptist Pastors Conference last month. Anderson and the Virginia pastors discussed the dynamics of change in each of their…
Wayne Coley, longtime Virginia Baptist leader, dies following illness
RICHMOND—Wayne Coley, a longtime Virginia Baptist leader in children’s ministries, died Jan. 14 in Richmond following a long illness. He was 67. For a total of 23 years, Coley was on the staff of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, where…
Survey: People in house churches more satisfied than conventional counterparts
VENTURA, Calif. (ABP) — House churches — small groups of 20 or so that regularly meet together for worship in a non-conventional setting — are out-performing more traditional congregations when it comes to satisfying attendees, according to a new survey….
Bill Cumbie, BGAV leader, dies at 83
William J. “Bill” Cumbie, 83, a former president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia who as executive director of the Mount Vernon Baptist Association (now NorthStar) played a central role in the growth of its member congregations over 30…
BGAV, VBMB committee chairs named for 2009
Baptist General Association of Virginia president Jeff Bloomer, who also serves as chair of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, has appointed chairs for several committees for 2009. The commitees and their chairs are: • BGAV Budget Committee: Tom McCann, Richmond…
Global Christianity becoming both connected, fragmented, prof says
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — If Christians worldwide can network with each other, the global Christian church will be poised for effective ministry in the 21st century, according to Anna Robbins of the London School of Theology. That networked church is…