Baptist News Global

D.C. set to become 6th jurisdiction in U.S. with legal same-sex marriage

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The District of Columbia Council voted overwhelmingly — and despite vocal protests from a coalition of conservative evangelicals and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington — to legalize same-sex marriage in the nation’s capital Dec. 15. Anthony…

National race track chaplaincy group to relocate to Kentucky

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABP) — A national chaplaincy group that ministers to the horse-racing community is moving from California to Kentucky at the beginning of 2010. Race Track Chaplaincy of America Executive Director Enrique Torres (center right) shakes hands with Georgetown…

CBF leader says ministry-exellence training can boost clergy’s image

ATLANTA (ABP) — A moderate Baptist leader says a recent poll showing public confidence in clergy at a three-decade low should be a wakeup call for the importance of maintaining excellence in ministry. "In a culture that qualifies success as…

The advent of Christmas craziness

By J. Brent Walker The United States’ habit of Christmas craziness began, just like reminders of the holiday season itself, early this year. You know what I mean — the perennial cry that someone or some group (usually one’s ideological…

Constitutionality of Christian prison planned in Oklahoma disputed

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A church-state watchdog group maintains a Christian prison proposed in Oklahoma probably would be unconstitutional. But the Baptist minister who hopes to open the nation’s first faith-based prison says he is confident it will pass constitutional muster….

Strengthened family ties break cycle of criminal behavior

Ministry to inmates’ children and spouses can help keep families together through incarceration and after release. Generally, offenders are placed in prisons away from home — often across the state or even in another state. Reed Hanna of St. Louis…

Relationships, reconnection foster restoration of offenders

Relationship is at the heart of the restorative justice philosophy — restoring an offender’s relationship with self, family and community. The reconnection {mosimage}Then individuals need assistance to reinforce new behaviors and to return to their communities as productive citizens worthy…

Restorative justice aims to heal relationships, repair harm

The woman sobbed quietly into her hands for a few minutes. Composing herself as best she could, she looked into the eyes of the 18-year-old. “I forgive you,” she declared. “But you are going to have to prove to me…

Bluefield College celebrates annual Baptist Heritage Day

BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College celebrated its history with an annual Baptist Heritage Day ceremony on campus in October, featuring a keynote address from an authority on Baptist life — James M. Dunn, former executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee…

Coming in January: Ask the Architect

Beginning with our first issue in January, Richmond architect Jim DePasquale, AIA, will write a column called “Ask the Architect.” Jim DePasquale Virginia Baptist churches vary in many details of their styles and practices, but they almost universally have buildings….

‘Pedal!’ New VBMB chair urges Virginia Baptists to move forward

Tim Madison, who was elected president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia last month, was elected chair of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board Dec. 1. This is his address to the board that day. The familiar words we have…

For some, creches are big business

ARLINGTON, Va. (RNS) — For James Govan, Christmas starts before Thanksgiving and doesn’t end until early in February as he displays some of his 500 nativity scenes around his home in Arlington, Va. “I keep telling people it’s a disease…

Republicans push through more unregulated funding for ICE and CBP

Trump admin defying court order on immigration access

What was there left to argue?

Beauty, ashes and the Southern Baptist Convention