LIBERTY, Mo.—When a church consultant recommended to Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo., that its senior minister needed an additional venue—other than the pulpit—to connect to its members, the church's media minister pushed Pastor Jason Edwards to consider a video…
EDITORIAL: Rogue soldiers
As if tensions in Afghanistan were not high enough over the burning of Korans, a soldier left his base and went on a murderous rampage in a village killing 16, mostly women and children. Afghanis are shocked and furious, and…
TRENDING: Heterogeneity and frequency
Recently, the Rainer Research Group released a futurist study on what they believe to be 10 unexpected trends in church-life by the year 2020 (www.churchexecutive.com). In coming issues, I want to explore a few of those trends. John Chandler Heterogeneity…
VITAL SIGNS: New clergy deserve a chance
A recent column on the surge of churches calling pastors in their fifth decade evoked a wide range of responses. Many came from mid-career clergy who offered a hearty “Amen” and were grateful for the news that their sense of…
OPINION: Imagining a statue of forgiveness
A few weeks ago my family toured the battlefield of Gettysburg National Military Park. About a month beforehand, my 14-year-old son read Killer Angels, a classic novel of the Civil War and he surprised all of us, including our licensed…
OPINION: As Baptists, it’s time we had the talk
As Baptists, the time has come for us to have the talk. The talk. The talk about which everyone has an opinion, but no one seems to have the courage to address. Yes, that’s the talk I’m referring to. The…
OPINION: Where your metric is, there your value will be also
In my experience the world of the arts and the world of the Church are not dissimilar. There are many instances in which the Church and artists have found themselves on opposite sides of the fence. But, I wonder if…
HeraldBeat
Transitions ON THE MOVE Harold Lewis and Bob Auxier, serving as co-pastors of Walnut Grove Baptist Church, Montvale, Va. Marc Brooks, to Gethsemane Baptist Church, Richlands, Va., as pastor. Jay Butcher, resigning as pastor of Millfield (Va.) Baptist Church….
So your church is on Facebook. What now?
While about half of Protestant churches have Facebook pages, many essentially use it as a bulletin board, missing out on the potential to nurture relationships with congregants and its community. "It's OK for a church to use Facebook like a…
Former ‘Seeds’ publisher, Carter Center staffer joins Baptist hospital
By Bob Allen Former Carter Center adviser and one-time magazine publisher Gary Gunderson has been named vice president for faith and health ministries at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Gary Gunderson Gunderson comes from a similar post at Methodist LeBonheur…
Baptists protest violence in Syria
By Bob Allen Leaders of three British religious bodies issued a joint statement March 15 calling on the United Nations Security Council to condemn Syria’s violent suppression of a year-long uprising that has left more than 8,000 dead. Jonathan Edwards…
Mississippi Baptists back abortion limits
By Bob Allen After endorsing a failed “personhood” amendment to the state constitution last fall, Mississippi Baptist leaders are now backing legislation that observers say could shut down the state’s only abortion clinic. Passed by Mississippi’s House of Representatives March…