RICHMOND — For nearly a decade the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s children’s ministry certification has impacting churches across Virginia. Begun in 2005, the certification courses are designed to help prepare those “interested in a lifetime commitment to ministering to children…
Committee appointed to select candidate for Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia executive
RICHMOND — An eight-member search committee has been named to find a new executive director/treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia. Pat Wright The committee, which held an organizational meeting in early August, was named by WMUV’s board of trustees,…
HeraldBeat: Tracking Baptists across the Mid-Atlantic
Accepted a new call? Been ordained? Church celebrating an anniversary? Mission trip or project that you would like highlighted on the HeraldBeat page? Send info to HeraldBeat editor Barbara Francis at [email protected]. Transitions ON THE MOVE Tito Madrazo, to Woodland…
Beyond the birds and the bees
Christian ethicist David Gushee understands why many church leaders shy away from open discussions about sexuality. Pastors fear offending members. Diversity of age, values and life experiences among members make consensus difficult. “I would fault churches for their silence on…
Baptist leaders urge caution as U.S. considers military strike in Syria crisis
(ABP) — Baptist leaders in Europe and the United States urged caution amid rising support for military intervention in Syria over what the U.S., France and Great Britain say is clear evidence that President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have used banned…
Christians in Middle East say U.S. attack on Syria would be detrimental
NEW YORK (RNS) — As the Obama administration considers a strike in response to recent chemical attacks, the head of a global evangelical group said Sept. 4 that Christians in the Middle East oppose military intervention in Syria. “There is…
Whether infants go to hell when they die prompts Baptist editor to weigh in on Calvinism
ATLANTA (ABP) — A Baptist state newspaper editor has questioned whether the report of a Calvinism study committee implies that some high-profile Southern Baptist leaders believe that infants who die before reaching the so-called “age of accountability” are destined for…
Values Voters place Emergent Church in same danger category as communism, Islam
(RNS) — Christian conservatives who think Satan is using communism and Islam to bring down America can add a new “adversary” to the list: the Emergent Church movement. A portion of the upcoming Values Voter Summit in Washington will stray…
Author advocates celebrating sexual freedom in marriage, urges churches to engage conversation
Shannon Ethridge thinks too many Christians believe: “Sex is the most scandalous, sinful, shameful thing in the world. So, be sure to save it for someone you love.” Many Christians develop that attitude toward sex due not only to what…
Churches’ silence on sexuality leaves vacuum inevitably filled by society, say pastors and ethicists
Christian ethicist David Gushee understands why many church leaders shy away from open discussions about sexuality. Pastors fear offending members. Diversity of age, values and life experiences among members make consensus difficult. “I would fault churches for their silence on…
EDITORIAL: When the offended become the offenders
Paula Deen just can’t seem to catch a break. Now, I’m not what you would call a big Paula Deen fan. I’ve never eaten at her restaurant. To my knowledge I’ve never even eaten a meal prepared from one of…
Southern Baptist chaplains won’t perform gay weddings, NAMB says
The SBC agency responsible for chaplain endorsement says it won't permit offiicating at gay weddings. ATLANTA (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board has released guidelines stating that chaplains endorsed by NAMB “will not conduct or attend…