RICHMOND — Baptists in the Mid-Atlantic are preparing for the onslaught of “Frankenstorm,” as Hurricane Sandy barrels north from the Caribbean, a wintry storm moves in from the west and frigid air flows south from Canada — a dangerous hybrid…
EDITORIAL: It’s not just about autonomy
In recent days passions have been stirred. Ginter Park’s decision to ordain a gay man to the gospel ministry, along with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board executive committee action asking the church to voluntarily withdraw from the Baptist General Association…
Pastor has harsh words for gays
By Bob Allen A former leader in the Southern Baptist Convention weighed into debate over gay marriage in Maryland, saying people who do such things, or approve of them, are “worthy of death.” Robert Anderson, pastor of Colonial Baptist Church…
Former minister fights molestation charge
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist music minister is asking a Mississippi judge to dismiss an eight-count indictment charging him with sex crimes in the 1980s, claiming the allegations are too old to be prosecuted. Lawyers for John Langworthy,…
Radio host: evangelicals ignoring abuse
By Bob Allen A Christian radio host says it’s time for evangelical churches to wake up to an “epidemic” of sexual abuse of children going on in their midst. “I don’t know how long evangelicalism can ignore this problem,” host…
The unculted
By Bill Leonard In his 1856 autobiography, Methodist circuit rider Peter Cartwright warned of those Protestants whose “pretense of Divine inspiration” led them to predict a new millennium while playing on the “ignorance, superstition and credulity of the people.” Some,…
Baptist school a hope to young refugees
By Jeff Brumley Annette Ellard and Steve Clark — a husband-and-wife team commissioned by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in 2006 to work with refugees from Burma in Louisville, Ky. — expected that population would face daunting language, cultural, employment, housing, medical and…
LETTER: BGAV is not a hierarchical organization
The Baptist General Association of Virginia is an association, not a hierarchy. There is no subset or division within the BGAV entrusted with the responsibility to make sure all theological actions or expressions of congregations comprising the association correspond to…
LETTER: Ginter Park’s calling has not changed
Editor’s Note: The views below are those of two key leaders at Ginter Park Baptist Church in Richmond, who, in the absence of a pastor, have administrative and pastoral care responsibilities for the congregation. The two leaders have pointed out…
Searching for the real Martin Luther
DURHAM (RNS) — Protestants have traditionally celebrated Oct. 31 as the anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that divided Western Christendom and gave birth to such diverse religious groups as Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans, and Mennonites. On…
At 20, congregational health center said to have ‘young muscles’ ready to take on heavier loads
WINSTON-SALEM — After two decades, the Center for Congregational Health has the young muscles of a 20-year-old adolescent and is well-positioned to take up the heavier loads of mature responsibilities, a top official at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center…
Searching for the real Martin Luther
DURHAM (RNS) — Protestants have traditionally celebrated Oct. 31 as the anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that divided Western Christendom and gave birth to such diverse religious groups as Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans, and Mennonites. On…