Some worship songs endure for centuries, while others stir the souls of one generation and leave others cold. What enables some songs to span centuries, cross denominational lines and contribute to the worship of multiple generations in diverse settings? “Hymns…
Singing our faith: Worship songs reflect and shape theology
When congregations join their hearts and voices in song any given Sunday, the choice of worship songs both reflect and shape their theology, church musicians agree. “I believe the music of a congregation will — or should — always reflect…
EDITORIAL: Looking back on my time and ahead to a great new Herald
Serving as editor of the Religious Herald has been the greatest privilege and challenge of my life. To have served as successor in that position to some of the greats in Baptist life has been humbling, but, conversely, being associated…
HERITAGE: Perfect timing
Iris Ellen Wright Taylor of Waynesboro, Va., visited the Virginia Baptist Historical Society on a recent Wednesday. She came to present a second installment of papers and books related to her grandfather, James Henry Wright, who was a Baptist minister…
C.S. Lewis ‘claimed by everyone’
By Jeff Brumley C.S. Lewis did it during his lifetime and he’s continued to do it in the 50 years since his death on Nov. 22, 1963: inspire Christians from theologically diverse traditions through his theological and fictional work. Box…
New Baptist Covenant enters work phase
By Bob Allen A century and a half after the Civil War divided Baptists in America into separate congregations predominantly black and white, a diverse group of U.S. Baptists is exploring ways to cross boundaries of identity, doctrine and ethnicity…
Faith leaders protest race in sentencing
By Bob Allen Local and national Baptists are among 27 evangelical leaders signing a Nov. 21 letter on behalf of an African-American man condemned to death after his sentencing jury was told he was likely to be a future danger…
SBC leader: Women’s equality ‘false gospel’
By Bob Allen Egalitarian couples “preach a false gospel” by viewing men and women as equal partners in marriage, the Southern Baptist Convention’s top expert on family concerns says in an interview posted on his agency’s website. “God designed us…
Orphan study transforms implementers
By Jeff Brumley Journeys of Faith is an ongoing project designed to help members of Cooperative Baptist and other churches rethink their beliefs about orphan care, especially in far-flung lands where orphanages have been the go-to solution. Organizers say the…
CBF church gives building to SBC plant
By Bob Allen A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church in Baltimore has voted to disband and donate facilities valued at $2 million to a Southern Baptist church plant launched nearby five years ago. Patterson Park Baptist Church was constituted in 1913…
Faith leaders say it’s time to close Gitmo
By Bob Allen The head of American Baptist Churches USA joined other faith leaders in a Nov. 18 letter urging senators to support President Obama’s efforts to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. ABC/USA General Secretary Roy Medley…
Mahaney, Mohler share speaker platform
By Bob Allen An embattled preacher at the center of what has been called the biggest evangelical sexual-abuse scandal to date heaped praise on a Southern Baptist leader criticized for sticking by him at a weekend conference attended by both…