By Jeff Brumley For centuries, Baptist and other churches have sought encounters with the divine through music. The quest has led to everything from organs and hymns to guitars, drum sets and praise bands. Now there are those hoping the…
New CBF moderator takes up gavel, ‘grateful’ for group’s prayers
By Bob Allen The new moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship opened her first meeting as presiding officer of the CBF Governing Board with gratitude for prayers and support during a family medical emergency that forced her to miss this…
BGAV moves closer to far-reaching governance shift
By Robert Dilday A key committee has taken the Baptist General Association of Virginia a step closer to what will be the most significant change in the 1,400-church denomination’s governance in nearly 100 years. The executive committee of the Virginia…
Baptist film critics: Christian films and audiences must evolve
By Jeff Brumley Organizers hope a first-ever gathering of Hollywood and Christian leaders in Los Angeles tomorrow will spark ideas for movies and television shows that will positively influence society. But a Baptist pastor and film critic says there’s an…
Gushee urges CBF to reclaim lost ethical tradition
By Bob Allen One casualty of the Southern Baptist Convention conflict that led to formation of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in the early 1990s was a robust Baptist witness on issues of social justice, theologian David Gushee told CBF leaders…
SBC leader says Islam driving force behind ISIL
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Convention leader disputed President Obama’s assertion that the terrorist Islamic State is not “Islamic” as “unhelpful” and “fundamentally untruthful.” “We can certainly understand the president’s political predicament,” Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological…
For north Georgia church, a little soul but no blues
While the covered-dish supper has long been a staple of fellowship in Baptist churches, one congregation in Georgia is learning that in today’s economy food can also be a powerful tool for ministry. First Baptist Church in Dalton launched “Soul…
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Court hears challenge to clergy housing allowance
By Bob Allen The fate of a 60-year-old provision that allows churches to provide ministers with a tax-exempt “parsonage allowance” now lies in the hands of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Chicago-based appellate court heard oral arguments…
Illuminated Bible to be featured in BTSR exhibit
By Robert Dilday The first Bible to be written and illuminated entirely by hand since the invention of movable type more than 500 years ago will be on display next month at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond — the first…
Alumni association to submit settlement offer to Baylor University
By Ken Camp The Baylor Alumni Association will submit a final settlement offer to Baylor University in what a public statement from the organization characterized as “a last-ditch effort to avoid protracted litigation” between the group and the university. The…