DALLAS (ABP) – A Texas Baptist multi-service benevolence agency announced Oct. 12 it will close a 75-bed facility Dec, 1 that offers assisted living, Alzheimer’s and hospice care, citing regulatory requirements for campus improvements administrators say they cannot afford. After…
Central Virginia Baptist Association rejects proposal to disband
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Messengers attending the fall meeting of the Central Virginia Baptist Association rejected a recommendation from its steering committee that the association vote to disband. By a vote of 22 in favor of the proposal to dissolve to…
Advocate says Baptists ill-equipped to address sexual abuse by clergy
DENVER (ABP) – A victims’ advocate says autonomous Baptist churches are ill-equipped to deal with the problem of sexual abuse by clergy because they lack the objectivity to respond appropriately to allegations against a trusted minister. Christa Brown, who owns…
Report: Tithing hits record low and recession only partly to blame
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (RNS) — Tithing to mainline Protestant churches as a percentage of income is at its lowest level in at least 41 years, according to a new report, and churches are keeping a greater share of those donations for…
Under pressure, D.C. shelter ends church-service requirement
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Prompted by civil liberties groups, a taxpayer-supported homeless shelter in the nation’s capital will no longer require its clients to attend religious services. “We’re pleased that the D.C. government will no longer be supporting such religious coercion,”…
Fresh Expressions to be focus of 2011 Virginia Baptist Pastors Conference
RICHMOND, Va. — Innovative expressions of churches in changing cultures will be the focus of next month’s Virginia Baptist Pastors Conference, set for Nov. 7 in suburban Richmond, Va. The annual conference — held each year in conjunction with the…
BGAV to hear Alan Hirsch, adopt budget, consider new relationship
RICHMOND, Va. — As many as 1,000 people are expected to gather in Richmond, Va., Nov. 8-9 for the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, to be held in the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Alan Hirsch, a…
Missouri Baptists elect leader
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention's Executive Board has chosen John Yeats to assume the MBC's top post. Meeting in a special called session Oct. 13, board members elected Yeats, recording secretary for the Southern Baptist Convention and…
Group says IRS should investigate church for endorsing Rick Perry
WASHINGTON (ABP) – Americans United for Separation of Church and State asked the Internal Revenue Service Oct.11 to investigate whether a Southern Baptist pastor in the news for calling Mormonism a “cult” broke the law by posting on his church's…
Church cancels services, packs meals for hungry children
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — On an overcast Sunday morning in Richmond, Va., 500 volunteers gathered at Gayton Baptist Church to make a difference a half a world away by preparing healthy meals to feed 277 malnourished children a meal one…
OPINION: Jeffress flap illustrates wisdom of ‘no religious test’
One would think we Americans would have learned our lesson by now about supporting or opposing candidates for office on the basis of their religious beliefs. Robert Jeffress’ recent endorsement of Gov. Rick Perry and criticism of Gov. Mitt Romney…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Misguided notion
I enjoy the Herald and I usually agree with all that is in it, but I must respond to the opinion column of Sept. 26 written by Zachary Bailes [“Whom shall we kill?”]. It is “whining” at its best that…