“One of the big points of dialogue is ‘how will the mitre fit over my dreadlocks?’” Justin Duckworth The recently-appointed and unconventional Anglican bishop of Wellington, New Zealand, has dreadlocks and is usually seen around town in shorts and bare…
VITAL SIGNS: The staffing dilemma
There is a revolution taking place in the way traditional congregations hire, manage and compensate their staff. Some of it is healthy and overdue, some of it is painful and short-sighted. Bill Wilson As traditional congregations entered the 21st century,…
WINN RECOMMENDS
Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis, Lauren Winner (HarperOne) I once heard someone say, “It’s unfortunate that Lauren Winner can never seem to find something uninteresting to say.” That just about sums it up. Winner, author of Girl Meets God…
HERITAGE: Who influenced you?
Baptist identity is the subject of the annual meeting of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society set for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, at Second Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. Craig Sherouse, pastor of the host church, will share what…
Gardner-Webb students leap headlong into local foods movement in surrounding community
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University students have lately grown increasingly interested in the local foods movement. So this spring, Stephanie Richey, GWU’s community engagement coordinator and local foods aficionado, decided to capitalize. “Gardner-Webb’s office of Christian life and service always plans…
CBF explores new ways to do church
By Jeff Brumley A period of guided spiritual direction is often recommended for Christians struggling with their enthusiasm for discipleship. The same principle holds for congregations, Davis said, and is the approach she will employ as a speaker at “Impacting…
ABP honors veteran Baptist journalist
By Bob Allen Associated Baptist Press will honor veteran Baptist journalist Toby Druin with a lifetime achievement award at a banquet June 21 in conjunction with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly June 20-23 in Fort Worth, Texas. Druin, 77,…
Urban churches embrace their in-town context
Eighty percent of success is showing up, Woody Allen once famously said. Paraphrasing the film director’s wit, increasing numbers of downtown churches have discovered that a high percentage of successful ministry is staying put. Committed to “blooming where they’re planted,”…
OPINION: What’s going on?
For the last five years I’ve been immersed in thoughts about the prophetic role of the Church in our world. Part of this fascination is due to the belief that the work of artists inherently holds the opportunity to be…
EDITORIAL: Forward to the past?
In a couple of different settings recently I have heard expressed sentiments that run something like the following: “Why shouldn’t we expect institutions and agencies of Baptist state fellowships, conventions or general associations to be self-supporting? Why should we continue…
OPINION: The power of story-filled conversation
I have received many emails recently from pastors and lay leaders asking the how to move forward in implementing the “ancient-future” type of 21st century Baptist identity I have presented in this column. While the idea of finding our future…
OPINION: Pentecostal power
In the church I grew up in, we used to sing with great fervor: Lord send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power! I never was quite sure what that song was about. I suspect it had more to do with…