STAFF CHANGES • Russell Fail, resigning as pastor of Pine Grove Church, Petersburg. • Shea Shrader, to Harman Memorial Church, Maxie, as interim pastor. RETIREMENT • Herman C. Absher has announced plans to retire as pastor of Mount Tabor Church,…
Mainstream honors two Virginia Baptists
Two Virginia Baptists were among six people inducted into the Mainstream Baptist Network Hall of Fame during its meeting Feb. 25-26 in Atlanta. The inclusion recognizes those who “championed and maintained Baptist heritage and principles in time of conflict.” The…
BWA president won’t criticize SBC, cites ‘struggling Baptists’ worldwide
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (ABP) — Korean pastor Billy Kim, president of the Baptist World Alliance, declined to criticize a Southern Baptist plan to bring “like-minded Baptists” together to form an alternative to BWA. Kim said there are enough human needs around…
Federal court rules in Bush’s favor in AmeriCorps faith-based program
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a program that is part of President Bush's plan to fund social services through religious charities. The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled March…
Church-politicking bill reintroduced, would allow candidate endorsements
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The church-politicking bill is back, and its supporters are as eager as ever to pass it. The measure died in the past two sessions of Congress. Nonetheless Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) again introduced a version of the…
Accreditor hands Wingate University probation for unauthorized program
WINGATE, N.C. (ABP) — The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has put Wingate University on probation for one year, which university officials say is a result of “a procedural misunderstanding.” Wingate has appealed the sanction. In the meantime, the…
Chicago scalpers asking $190 for tickets to hear TV preacher
CHICAGO (ABP) — Tickets to hear popular TV preacher Joel Osteen in a Chicago arena reportedly are commanding a scalper's markup that rivals rock superstars U2. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, $10 tickets to the Houston pastor's May 5-6 “Worship…
Baptists have ‘gift’ of opposing merger of church, state, Gardner Taylor says
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABP) — Baptists have a unique, historic calling to “speak truth to power” when society tries to merge the forces of church and state, legendary African-American minister Gardner Taylor said March 5. “This is the Baptists' gift from…
Are the Ten Commandments really integral to American legal history?
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court is considering the constitutionality of government displays of the Ten Commandments, and one local official thinks he knows why such displays are legal. “American law is all about God,” said Allan Watson, mayor of…