Messengers to the Baptist General Association of Virginia elected Mark Croston of Suffolk as the first African-American officer in the BGAV's 181-year history at the annual meeting in Roanoke. Croston, pastor of East End Baptist Church in Suffolk, was elected…
GUEST EDITORIAL: A heart full of hope
Guest Editorial for Nov. 18 By Don Davidson Don Davidson, who completed a term as president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, made these comments during his address to the BGAV annual meeting last week. In 1954 Billy Graham…
Virginia Baptists’ resolutions address a variety of issues
With little debate or opposition, messengers adopted six resolutions at last week's annual BGAV meeting. I. Resolution of Appreciation With praise and thanksgiving to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we have gathered, and to…
Molly Marshall elected president at Central Seminary, makes history
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (ABP) — Molly Marshall was elected president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary Nov. 12, becoming the fist female president of an accredited Baptist seminary. Marshall, 54, succeeds Thomas Clifton, who retired at the end of 2003 after…
North Carolina Baptists to keep plans that fund moderate causes — for now
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina voted Nov. 16 to keep the convention's four giving plans. But a move to eliminate the plan favored by moderates still looms as…
Despite objections, Illinois Baptists reduce board of directors by half
TINLEY PARK, Ill. (ABP) — Amid concerns that too much power is being concentrated in the hands of fewer leaders, messengers to the Illinois Baptist State Association's annual meeting approved a constitutional change to reduce its board of directors by…
Tennessee Baptists to investigate teaching at three colleges (updated)
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Tennessee Baptists turned back an attack on “anti-Christian” teaching in public schools but agreed to investigate the biblical views taught in their three affiliated Baptist colleges. Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention Nov. 9-10 in Sevierville…
Florida appeals court agrees vouchers unconstitutional
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (ABP) — A Florida state appeals court ruled Nov. 12 that the state's school-voucher program is unconstitutional because it provides funding to religious schools. The Florida First District Court of Appeals ruled 8-5 that the state's Opportunity Scholarship…
Governor calls amendment unnecessary, despite endorsement by Florida Baptists
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has called an attempt — recently endorsed by Florida Baptists — to amend that state's constitution to ban same-sex marriage “not necessary.” Bush, in Jacksonville for a speech Nov. 15, said he…