The decline of mainline church membership over the last century had more to do with reproduction than theology, according to research by a trio of sociologists. The popular notion that conservative churches are growing because mainline churches are too liberal…
CBF Coordinating Council votes to add ‘Jesus’ to group’s constitution
National leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship voted Oct. 14 to restore explicit references to Jesus deleted from the group's constitution in July. A preamble to the constitution was approved by the CBF Coordinating Council with little discussion and no…
Shocking withdrawal of Miers raises stakes for Supreme Court replacement
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Conservatives breathed a sigh of relief Oct. 27 after the surprise announcement that White House Counsel Harriet Miers had withdrawn her nomination for an open seat on the Supreme Court. But her change of heart — in…
Methodist woman finds ministry home as associate pastor in Baptist church
RUTLEDGE, Tenn. (ABP) — Betty Shirley uses the word “ironic” to explain how she, a United Methodist, became associate pastor of a Baptist church in a small, conservative Tennessee town. Last spring, Shirley was expecting appointment to a congregation within…
Baylor may reduce board size; is it efficiency or more politics?
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University regents are expected to consider a proposal at their Oct. 28 meeting that would reduce substantially the size of the school's governing board over the next several years — eventually cutting it to less…
Disaster relief update
The latest on Virginia Baptists' disaster relief ministries. • Hurricane Wilma: Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief teams are once more springing into action to assist victims of Hurricane Wilma in Florida. Our feeding unit that had been assigned to Slidell, La.,…
Empowered to serve
Cover story for October 27, 2005 For more than a month, Virginia Baptists have been among hundreds-maybe thousands-of volunteers from across the country who have made their way to the Gulf Coast to help victims of the two hurricanes that…
Church & People News for October 27, 2005
Staff Changes R. Drexel Rayford, to Walnut Grove Church, Mechanicsville, as pastor. Thomas Spizzirri, to Hebron Church, Drewyville, as pastor. Greg Anderson, to Belmont Church, Charlottesville, as pastor. Charles Young, to Cut Bank Church, McKenney, as pastor. Pat Taylor, resigning…
The dry Mr. Claybrook
Heritage Column for October 27, 2005 By Fred Anderson Richard Claybrook liked a hot toddy in the evening. He enjoyed sipping on a julep in the morning. Twice a day Richard Claybrook imbibed. On the Sabbath Richard Claybrook preached from…