HEATHSVILLE, Va. — A rural congregation on Virginia’s Northern Neck may seem to be an unlikely location for an outreach and support program for the U. S. military, but through Partners in Care, a faith-based initiative which collaborates with the…
Richmond association narrowly votes to retain membership of church which ordained gay man
RICHMOND — By a close margin, the Richmond Baptist Association voted March 19 to retain the membership of a church which ordained a gay man to the ministry last fall. The 176-158 vote endorsed a committee’s recommendation that the association…
Former QB/preacher dies in plane crash
By Bob Allen A former star college football quarterback who talked about his Christian faith in large venues long before Tim Tebow was born died March 17 in a plane crash in Indiana. Former Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis, 60, and…
BTSR trustees OK relocation plan
By Robert Dilday Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will hold classes in a new, still-to-be-determined location this fall, following action by its trustees March 18 to authorize President Ron Crawford to sign a leasing agreement to house the 21-year-old seminary….
Pastor says let God judge accusers
By Bob Allen The pastor of a Texas Baptist megachurch, questioned about the handling of a staff member 24 years ago who was recently convicted of sex crimes in another state, noted in his Sunday sermon March 17 that Jesus…
BTSR trustees authorize president to sign leasing agreement to relocate seminary by this fall
RICHMOND —Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will hold classes in a new, still-to-be-determined location this fall, following action by its trustees March 18 to authorize President Ron Crawford to sign a leasing agreement to house the 21-year-old seminary. The trustee…
Suzii Paynter on life, Lent and CBF
By Jeff Brumley Since her nomination as executive coordinator in January, Suzii Paynter has been traveling at a breathless pace helping guide the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship into a new organizational and missional era. The pace only increased with her election…
La. faith leaders oppose tax plan
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter is among nearly 250 Louisiana clergy signing an open letter opposing Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plan to raise the state sales tax to 5.88 percent. Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church…
Upton to represent BWA at papal inauguration, as Italian Baptist leader urges prayer for new pope
RICHMOND — Baptist World Alliance president John Upton will represent the global organization and its 42 million Baptists at the March 19 inauguration of Pope Francis, the BWA has announced. “The BWA celebrates with the Catholic Church the announcement of…
Upton to represent BWA at papal inauguration, as Italian Baptist leader offers prayer for new pope
RICHMOND — Baptist World Alliance president John Upton will represent the global organization and its 42 million Baptists at the March 19 inauguration of Pope Francis, the BWA has announced. “The BWA celebrates with the Catholic Church the announcement of…
CBF of N.C. begins process to ‘discern’ future priorities, announces new annual mission offering
LUMBERTON, N.C. — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina began preparations March 15-16 to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2014, initiating a “discernment process” to set future priorities and announcing a new annual mission and ministry offering to be…
Church defends calling cops on member
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist megachurch claims it called police on a longtime church member not for questioning how church leaders handled a matter of sexual abuse two decades ago, but for posting threatening messages on Twitter. “When it…