RICHMOND — Baptist leaders are warning that “unscrupulous individuals” are using the names of Baptist World Alliance officers — including president John Upton, who also is executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia — to obtain money illegally….
Immersed in Chinese city, CBFVA team explores ways to build bridges in strategic nation
RICHMOND — A team of clergy and laity from Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia churches have returned from a 10-day mission immersion experience in Macau to explore ways congregations can build bridges to China, a strategic nation where, despite rapid…
Keen financial grasp, strong relational skills are critical for next BGAV treasurer, say two leaders
RICHMOND — The next treasurer of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board will combine broad experience in financial management with an ability to communicate Virginia Baptists’ mission to congregations, BGAV partners and other denominational…
In West, helpers become the helped
By Jeff Brumley It’s hard being helped when you’re used to being the helper. Just ask the folks at First Baptist Church in West, Texas. Church member Presley Landrum, 16, said she and her youth group friends are accustomed to…
OPINION: A puzzling decision with difficult implications
It has been about three weeks now since the national leaders of the Boy Scouts made the somewhat unexpected decision to reverse a longstanding policy and allow openly-gay scouts to participate in the organization. In the wake of the Southern…
Lutherans and Catholics bury the hatchet for Reformation’s 500th anniversary in 2017
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Lutherans and Catholics have pledged to celebrate together the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017, with both sides agreeing to set aside centuries of hostility and prejudice. The Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation…
John Leland Center graduates second largest class in its history
ARLINGTON, Va. — The John Leland Center for Theological Studies graduated the second largest class in its history during commencement exercises earlier this month. At the Church at Clarendon in Arlington, Va., in which Leland is located, nine students earned…
Lutherans, Catholics bury the hatchet
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Lutherans and Catholics have pledged to celebrate together the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017, with both sides agreeing to set aside centuries of hostility and prejudice. The Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation…
REFLECTIONS FROM NEW YORK: Christian partnership
Understanding the nature of relationships between Christian organizations and one another as well as with non-Christian organizations can often be a difficult task. This is particularly true within the Baptist context, in which each church can function independently from the…
REVIEW: Violence undercuts messianic overtones in “Man of Steel”
One of my greatest problems with the way that films are marketed is when a movie gets the “Christian” label. When a movie gets that tag attached, it just turns me off. My reason is simple: I think movies are…
Texas mission worker dead at 32
By Ken Camp Seth Dorrell, 32-year-old director of Mission Waco’s global arm — Mission World — died of a heart attack June 16 while he was serving on a mission trip in Mexico with his family. Dorrell’s heart attack was…
Internet video scrubbing alleged
By Bob Allen A Christian blogger has reportedly filed an ethics complaint against a lawyer for claiming ownership of online video he says was obtained legally from the federal government. Jason Smathers, who began the Witnesses Unto Me blog in…