Some people regard the 16th-century Reformation as one of the great irruptions in history that had deleterious consequences for the visible unity of the church and wonder whether it should be celebrated. They argue that those who shared in the…
Book details rise of independent churches
DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) – About one in five Protestant churches in America is now independent of any denomination, and about one in five Protestants attends those independent churches, Duke sociologist Mark Chaves says in his new book American Religion: Contemporary…
Shorter University adds new faith statements
ROME, Ga. (ABP) – Shorter University has adopted a new faith statement that affirms biblical inerrancy and is requiring faculty and staff to sign a pledge rejecting homosexuality. A new mandatory “personal lifestyle statement” asks employees to agree to “be…
Recommendations to be considered at BGAV annual meeting are listed
Reports and recommendations to be considered at the Baptist General Association of Virginia's annual meeting, set for Nov. 8-9 in Richmond, Va., are listed here. Included are the 2012 proposed budget, a report of the Averett/BGAV reconciliation committee, constitutional and…
Former Norfolk, Va., pastor’s wife describes struggle with breast cancer
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — Paula Hemphill’s job was to look at cells through a microscope and help diagnose cancer. She never imagined she would one day be on the other side of the microscope as a patient. She and her…
Shorter University adds new faith statements
ROME, Ga. (ABP) — Shorter University has adopted a new faith statement that affirms biblical inerrancy and is requiring faculty and staff to sign a pledge rejecting homosexuality. A new mandatory “personal lifestyle statement” asks employees to agree to “be…
Zoar Baptist Church recovering from devastating tornado hit six months ago
DELTAVILLE, Va. — Six months ago yellow caution tape and small red signs reading “Condemned” and “Dangerous and unsafe” were affixed to the doors of Zoar Baptist Church in Deltaville, Va. A tornado that passed through the town on the…
TRENDING: Structured prayer
Baptists traditionally affirm the doctrine of the priesthood of every believer. Because we have access to God through Jesus Christ, our high priest, we don’t need any human intermediary between us and heaven. In practical terms, this theological conviction often…
Former students of Baptist school in Nigeria honor missionary Van Lear
RICHMOND, Va. — Twenty “old girls” got together Oct. 2 at Lakewood Manor, a Virginia Baptist retirement community, to honor a beloved teacher and principal, Marie “Polly” Van Lear, on her 87th birthday. “Old girls” is a term used by…
V3, a church multiplication movement, focuses on at Voice, Viral, Volume
RICHMOND, Va. — Over four years ago, with a vision for Kingdom expansion through church planting, a church planting think tank was initiated by John Upton, executive direcctor of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, and Stephen Welch, executive director of…
St. Paul’s reopens, protesters evicted
LONDON (RNS) — London’s historic St. Paul’s Cathedral reopened its doors to visitors Oct. 28 for the first time in a week, as authorities moved to evict hundreds of camped-out protesters. St. Paul's was closed for the first time since…
The District Church in Washington aims to reach Millennials in their context
WASHINGTON — On a recent Sunday afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit with Aaron Graham, lead pastor of The District Church in Washington, to catch up on the church since its launch in September 2010. Among its partners is…