By Bob Allen Baptist leaders in New Jersey estimate between 20 percent and 30 percent of the state’s 280 American Baptist churches sustained damage from Hurricane Sandy. Lee Spitzer, regional pastor for the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, described…
Criswell College sues over health mandate
By Bob Allen Criswell College, a Southern Baptist Bible school with informal ties to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, sued the federal government Nov. 1, claiming the contraceptive mandate in President Obama’s Affordable Care Act violates the school’s opposition…
ANALYSIS: For the BGAV, anticipations of an unexpectedly animated annual meeting
Messengers attending this month’s Baptist General Association of Virginia annual meeting are likely to find what was expected to be a fairly routine agenda enlivened by several weeks of wide-ranging discussions on a proposed budget and on the parameters of…
Blacksburg, Va., pastor Tommy McDearis to be nominated for first vice president of BGAV
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Blacksburg, Va., pastor Tommy McDearis will be nominated for first vice president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia — the second announced candidate for a position whose incumbent for more than 10 years has been elected…
LETTER: Prison inmate appreciates chaplain’s ministry
With great personal interest, I read the Oct. 15 issue of the Religious Herald, particularly the “Tough calls” article. The Baptist General Association of Virginia budget committee has faced a tough task with optimistic realism and created a 2013 budget…
EDITORIAL: A process out of date
Since I spoke out in the Oct. 15 issue of the Religious Herald expressing my concerns with the proposed 2013 Baptist General Association of Virginia budget, it is only fitting that I express my appreciation for the budget committee’s willingness…
OPINION: The conflict pandemic
Whenever I address a group about the work our organization does, I mention that one of our frequent calls is to help a congregation, staff, judicatory or organization manage conflict. Our conflict intervention calls are on the upswing. My colleague,…
OPINION: Finding the ‘Jesus candidate’
I would love to begin this article by asking for all the faithful Christians to vote for the Jesus candidate come Nov. 6. Such rhetoric is certainly nothing new in our religiously-charged culture and I have heard many pastors, despite…
Richmond church strengthens multi-ethnic identity with new executive pastor position
RICHMOND — William H. “Bill” Whitaker II said he knew that God was preparing him for a change in ministry. Having served as executive business pastor at First Baptist Church of South Richmond for more than 12 years, Whitaker said…
LETTER: Politicians are asking the wrong question
“Are you better off?” is the wrong question. It appeals to our ego without the balancing biblical imagery of the Good Samaritan who sees a need, feels compassion, stops his journey, anoints with oil and wine, bandages wounds, transports a…
NAACP criticizes Franklin Graham
By Bob Allen A group of African-American leaders in North Carolina has called out evangelist Franklin Graham a second time for attempting to raise doubts about whether President Obama is a Christian. A seven-page, 2,500-word letter on the NAACP of…
States eye ballot questions
By Bob Allen With the eyes of the nation trained on a presidential race that pollsters say is too close to call, voters in 38 states will decide in ballot initiatives Nov. 6 on hot-button issues including marijuana, marriage and…