LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Baptist General Association of Virginia will consider in November a slightly reduced overall budget for 2013 which significantly decreases allocations for most of its partner agencies while increasing by about 6.5 percent funding for ministries of its…
African-American Baptists followed divergent paths toward goal of racial uplift
BELTON—The story of Black Baptists in the 20th century reflects the larger story of African-Americans’ quest for equality, historian Adam Bond said. African-American Baptists shared a common goal of “racial uplift,” but their approaches varied from social-gospel reform to a…
NEW: BGAV budget proposal would reduce allocations in 2013
LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Baptist General Association of Virginia will consider in November a slightly reduced overall budget for 2013 which significantly decreases allocations for most of its partner agencies while increasing by about 6.5 percent funding for ministries of its…
God and Caesar: What does it mean to be a faithful citizen?
Since the earliest days of Christianity, followers of Jesus have wrestled with the demands of dual citizenship — as citizens of God’s kingdom and of the nations of this world. Jesus established the principle: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…
Online community seen as mission field
(ABP) — Jim Somerville pastors a Baptist congregation in Virginia that, thanks to the Internet, includes people living in Austria, India and Slovakia. And now, he learned recently, some guy in Iowa. “He said ‘I tune in online and consider…
Faith of presidential candidates raises questions for Christians
President Barack Obama holds positions on hot-button social issues that put him at odds with many evangelical Christians. His challenger, Mitt Romney, served as a bishop of a church that many evangelicals consider a cult. Add to the mix persistent…
Most pastors disapprove of pulpit endorsements
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nearly 90 percent of pastors believe they should not endorse candidates for public office from the pulpit, according to a recent survey by LifeWay Research. However, the survey also revealed 44 percent of pastors personally endorsed candidates…
Resource offers guide to churches engaging the political process
WINSTON-SALEM — Just weeks before voters head to the polls in the closely fought presidential election, a resource developed by faith groups and civil liberties leaders offers guidelines to churches hoping to influence the political process without violating legal restrictions….
Pastors challenge IRS over political endorsements, and they’re likely to get away with it
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — On Oct. 7, some 1,400 American pastors planned to break the law. And they’re likely to get away with it. As part of “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” religious leaders across the country endorsed political candidates — an…
EDITORIAL: Proposals and partners
In a departure from the collegial spirit of years past when, “We’re all in this together” was the prevailing attitude during this current economic hard times, Virginia Baptist Mission Board leaders have decided they can no longer live with the…
OUT LOUD
“A lot of the younger people are very spotty in their attendance at worship, but if we have a mission project, they’re here.” Eileen Lindner The former editor of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, on a new study…
HERITAGE: Troubles and triumphs
“I resigned my pastorate yesterday. There is a little ring of influential men in the church here who insist on living lives of sin, and because I opposed the things they were doing, they set to work to block my…