By Bob Allen The driver of an SUV that crashed into a church van killing two people in east Tennessee Sept. 16 has been indicted on 36 counts including vehicular homicide and drug possession. Police believe Tyler Schaeffer, 21, of…
Voters reject ‘no-aid’ repeal
By Bob Allen Florida voters rejected a measure to repeal the state’s ban on public funding for religious organizations, 55 percent to 45 percent, Nov. 6. Amendment 8 would have removed language from Florida’s constitution prohibiting state funds from being…
Va., N.C. relief teams suspend operations as nor’easter brings new misery to New Jersey, New York
A nor’easter whipping up the East Coast brought wind, rain and snow to New Jersey and New York yesterday, forcing Baptist disaster response units from Virginia and North Carolina to suspend feeding and recovery operations for at least a day….
Va., N.C. relief teams suspend operations as nor’easter brings new misery to New Jersey, New York
A nor’easter whipping up the East Coast brought wind, rain and snow to New Jersey and New York yesterday, forcing Baptist disaster response units from Virginia and North Carolina to suspend feeding and recovery operations for at least a day….
Nigerian Baptists respond to floods
By Bob Allen The Baptist World Alliance has dispatched $10,000 for flood relief in Nigeria, where heavy rains have killed 363 people since July. More than two million Nigerians have been forced from their homes by this year’s floods, the…
Faithful seek truce in culture war
By Jeff Brumley If Facebook is any measure, Americans are emerging from the 2012 election season convinced the nation’s political and religious divisions are wider and more hostile than ever – and getting worse. But not Duke McCall, 98, the…
Maryland voters narrowly approve gay marriage, casino expansion, support for undocumented immigrants
By narrow margins, Maryland voters yesterday legalized same-sex marriage and an expansion of casino gambling in their state and, by larger numbers, made it possible for some undocumented immigrants to attend college at in-state tuition rates. Gay marriage was approved…
CORRECTION: Impact of BGAV amendment was misstated
The impact of a proposed constitutional amendment to be considered at the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s annual meeting next week was misstated in an analysis piece we developed and distributed Nov. 2. At present, a contribution of at least $500,…
Pastor in North Carolina’s foothills breaks rural ministry stereotypes
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — If you met 29-year-old Mark Reece, you’d be struck by his good looks, stylish clothes and urbane, educated manner. If you learned that he’s a Baptist minister, you’d assume he’s an up-and-coming member of the staff…
OPINION: Vote today — November 7
It has been a long election cycle. I can hardly remember a time when political ads did not take up the majority of a commercial break. The votes have been cast. Late last night the election was decided in favor…
HERITAGE: Arms reaching around the world
Virginia Baptists have been passionate about missions ever since they received visits in the early 1800s from Luther Rice, the pioneer missionary. Staying in homes and speaking in churches, Rice planted a missionary seed and watched it take flower. He…
Evangelicals and abortion: chicken or egg?
News analysis by Bob Allen Heading into a presidential race in which taxpayer funding of abortion tops the Family Research Council’s “values voter” guide, author Jonathan Dudley suggested in a recent CNN religion blog that as late as the 1960s…