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…
Hammond elected president by NAMB’s trustees
In a unanimous vote March 21, trustees of the North American Mission Board elected Geoff Hammond as president of the Southern Baptist Convention's stateside mission body. Hammond, 49, will start full-time work for the entity May 22. Hammond is currently…
Celebrating 20 years
This combination of head, hands and heart has served Virginia Baptists well through the years. In addition to his responsibilities as associate editor which include the production of the paper, Dilday makes an essential contribution as a staff writer. His…
NAE board declines to chasten Cizik for campaign against global warming
MINNEAPOLIS (ABP) — Board members of the National Association of Evangelicals declined March 9 to chasten the group's public-policy officer for his public statements on global warming — but an intramural fight among evangelical elites on the issue may just…
Media bias? Not what some might think
WASHINGTON (ABP)—A new study by two Washington-based groups asserts that the mainstream media, derided by some as liberally biased, actually overemphasizes the importance of religious conservatives. Media Matters for America and Faith in Public Life released the report, titled “Left…
As justices again consider abortion attention turns to shifting court
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As the Supreme Court took up its first major abortion case in five years Nov. 30, attention focused on the body's shifting membership and what that might mean for abortion rights in the future. During oral arguments…
Fellowship adds associate for congregational life
ATLANTA (ABP) — Rick Bennett of Orangeburg, S.C., has been hired as associate coordinator for faith formation for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Bennett was most recently pastoral educator for First Baptist Church in Orangeburg, S.C., where he worked since 2001….