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…
Herald welcomes columnist to community of writers
RICHMOND, Va.—The Religious Herald has added an eighth regular columnist to its group of opinion writers. Gary Long, pastor of First Baptist Church in Gaithersburg, Md., will offer perspective in the bi-weekly print edition, which also will be posted on…
HERITAGE: Looking to the future
Exactly a century ago Frederick W. Claybrook, a native of the Northern Neck of Virginia and for 40 years a prominent pastor and builder of churches, led in the constituting of a chapel in the farming and fishing community of…
Churches conflicted when it comes to social media
It's not about hunting. It's about farming. That's how bestselling author Ivan Misner, founder of one of the world's largest business networking organizations, describes social networks, which he says attempt to do one thing—cultivate relationships. For church leaders—keen to deepen…
Texting donors represent new category of giver
One in 10 Americans have made a charitable donation using the text messaging feature on their mobile phones, according to a newly-released study produced by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project and Harvard's Berkman Center for the…
Beyond Facebook: Scanning the social media landscape
Facebook has become the social network of choice for the vast majority of people—it's hard to argue with 850 million users around the globe—and it's not likely to disappear any time soon. But some specialists see a growing market for…
Vlog offers deeper connection between pastor, church
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…
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…