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…
OPINION: A church of sinners or a church of saints
Have we as Virginia Baptists reverted to the early church schismatic movement of Donatism? Perhaps it is not surprising since early Anabaptists were accused of the very same. It was the Donatist schism that emerged in the early fourth century…
LETTER: We could not call ‘unclean’ what God had called ‘clean’
Thank you for your coverage of the Baptist General Association of Virginia executive committee action regarding Ginter Park Baptist Church. As the former pastor of that congregation, I was an early participant in the process of ordaining Scott McGuire to…
HeraldBeat: Tracking Baptists across the Mid-Atlantic
Accepted a new call? Been ordained? Church celebrating an anniversary? Mission trip or project that you would like highlighted on the HeraldBeat page? Send info to HeraldBeat editor Barbara Francis at [email protected]. Transitions ON THE MOVE Chris Mitchell, to Tabernacle…
Oak Grove marks 250th year, one of two oldest BGAV churches — and possibly the oldest
VIRGINIA BEACH — Oak Grove Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, which many maintain is the oldest existing church affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, celebrated its 250th anniversary Oct. 7. The congregation had prepared for months to ready…
LETTER: Proud of committee for asking church to withdraw
This is in response to the article in the Religious Herald on Oct. 15 entitled, “Richmond church asked to withdraw from BGAV.” I am extremely proud of the committee that asked this particular church to withdraw its membership. We live in…
Baptists in Mid-Atlantic prepare for ‘Frankenstorm’
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…
Baptists in Mid-Atlantic prepare for ‘Frankenstorm’
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…
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,…