By Bob Allen A Baylor sociology professor says research linking parental divorce to rising numbers of young adults identified as “spiritual but not religious” or the “nones” may be overstated. Jeremy Uecker, an assistant professor of sociology at Baylor, and…
Hampton church calls Betty Mills as pastor, making it largest congregation in Va. led by woman
HAMPTON, Va. — Richmond pastor Betty Mills has been called as senior pastor of the 222-year-old Hampton (Va.) Baptist Church, making it likely the largest Baptist congregation in Virginia led by a woman pastor. Betty Mills For 23 years, Mills…
OPINION: How does that make you feel?
“How does that make you feel?” As a Clinical Pastoral Education graduate, I’ve been asked that question more than a few times. It never set well with me. You can only come out as a clear ENTJ on the Meyers…
OPINION: On faith and science
When reading the Religious Herald the other day, a headline caught my eye: “Study says faith, science not at odds.” Opening the page I was greeted with a review of a recently published study out of MIT declaring the divide…
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, American Baptist Churches explore closer ties
ATLANTA (ABP) — Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the American Baptist Churches USA met recently in Philadelphia and Atlanta to explore closer cooperation between the two groups, interim Coordinator Pat Anderson told the CBF Coordinating Council Feb. 22….
Rising stress boosts clergy depression
By Jeff Brumley Bryan Hatcher was a Baptist pastor once, so he gets it when ministers buckle under the strain of long work weeks, budget pressures and that feeling of constantly being in a fish bowl. And because he has…
Ethicist Glen Stassen wins BWA award
By Bob Allen Ethicist Glen Stassen has been named the 2013 recipient of the Baptist World Alliance Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award. The award, approved March 5 during a meeting of the BWA executive committee in Falls Church,…
ABC, CBF explore closer ties
By Bob Allen Leaders of American Baptist Churches USA and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship met recently in Philadelphia and Atlanta to explore closer cooperation between the two groups, interim Coordinator Pat Anderson told the CBF Coordinating Council Feb. 22. Anderson…
OPINION: A surveyor’s map
There is a bridge to nowhere where I love to go. The sculpture is a meandering walkway of wood and steel that rises into the trees with seemingly no real purpose whatsoever. As I approach the entrance I have two…
VITAL SIGNS: Resistant or resilient: A critical distinction
Two of the more important words for a congregation to ponder in the 21st century are resistant and resilient. Which of those two words better describe your congregation (and you) may well determine whether your congregation is viable in the…
Assn. may retain gay-friendly church
By Robert Dilday A Baptist association in Virginia will consider a recommendation March 19 to retain ties to one of its churches which ordained an openly gay man to the ministry last year. A Richmond Baptist Association study committee will…
Texas House honors Suzii Paytner
By Bob Allen The Texas legislature honored incoming Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leader Suzii Paynter Feb. 28 with a House resolution recognizing her advocacy work on numerous social issues during more than a decade of service with Texas Baptists. The resolution…