Baptist News Global

Episcopal churches in Virginia in court over property dispute

FAIRFAX — A two-week trial began Nov. 13 that will determine whether a state law from 1867 governs the property dispute between the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and 11 congregations that voted to leave the church. The congregations, among them…

Have we gone too far in the race for parenthood?

NEW YORK (ABP) — In Brazil, a 51-year-old woman gave birth to her own twin grandchildren. She used embryos from her 27-year-old daughter, who had tried for four years to conceive. In January, a Texas-based “human embryo bank” announced prospective…

Surrogacy: Ethicists in quandary when ‘Mommy’ becomes relative term

NEW YORK (ABP) — The Church of England recently issued a statement identifying organ donation — even by living donors — as a Christian duty motivated by compassion and a mandate to heal. But what about donating a womb for…

Neurotheology opens doors for scientific study of belief

NEW YORK (ABP) — Some scientists say neurotheology — an emerging discipline that addresses the correlation between neurological and spiritual activity — proves God created the brain. Others claim “the brain created the god.” At the root of the debate,…

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … a superhero in a burqa?

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Move over, Fantastic Four. There's a new team of superheroes in town. Meet Jabbar the Powerful, a Hulk-like strong man, and Noora the Light, who can create holograms. Darr the Afflicter wields powerful pain waves. One hero,…

New book probes poetry’s power to stir the soul

CHICAGO (RNS) — Poetry is that unusual combination of words with the power to move, delight, nurture and transport readers beyond the here-and-now. It also can nourish our souls, according to the authors of a new book celebrating how poetry…

First Church, Coeburn, opens Hope Center to meet needs

First Baptist Church in Coeburn held the grand opening for its Hope Center on Oct. 27. The Hope Center Ministry began as a vision one year ago with a desire to utilize a large empty space in the church that…

IMB trustees define contextualization

RICHMOND (BP) — Making the gospel more accessible to the world's 6,500 unreached people groups is the goal of new guidelines adopted by trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board Nov. 6-7. Trustees outlined five “principles of contextualization”…

Church building ministry at work in 45 countries

HAMPTON — Dois Rosser claims that his story is not a testimony of what one man can do for Christ. Rather, he says it is a testimony of what God can do with one man. Dois Rosser isn't a preacher….

European indigenous mission project expands to 24 countries

WASHINGTON (BWA) — The European Baptist Federation, with the generous help of mission partners, has developed a mission project to facilitate evangelism and the planting of new Baptist churches in Europe and the Middle East. The Indigenous Mission Project, one…

Who’s an evangelical? Question looms over annual meeting of scholars, theologians in ETS

SAN DIEGO (ABP) — As hundreds of scholars, pastors and theologians gathered Nov. 14 for the opening day of the 59th annual conference of the Evangelical Theological Society, a question loomed over their heads: How narrowly to define who qualifies…

Florida Baptists say alcohol disqualifies leaders from service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — Only teetotalers will be allowed to serve as trustees of the Florida Baptist Convention's agencies and boards, as a result of a vote at the convention's annual meeting. With no discussion and less than half…

Theologizing with Larkin Poe, 10 years after Reskinned

Ministry leader with tall tales wins GOP bid for Colorado governor

What Willy Rice once knew

What I learned July 5 at church