Baptist News Global

Foundation names Hurst donor relations director

Former pastor Rick R. Hurst has been named director of donor relations of the Virginia Baptist Foundation Inc. Hurst was pastor of the former Weatherford Memorial Baptist Church in Richmond. Hurst has been pastor of churches in Georgia, Kentucky and…

Virginia Baptist disaster relief coordinator Terry Raines is working with other

Terry Raines, who heads disaster relief for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board left for Hungary and Pakistan on Oct. 16. After spending a couple of days in Budapest with Hungarian Baptists planning their work, Terry left for Pakistan. Following are…

Birth control, not liberalism, explains mainline decline, say researchers

The decline of mainline church membership over the last century had more to do with reproduction than theology, according to research by a trio of sociologists. The popular notion that conservative churches are growing because mainline churches are too liberal…

CBF Coordinating Council votes to add ‘Jesus’ to group’s constitution

National leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship voted Oct. 14 to restore explicit references to Jesus deleted from the group's constitution in July. A preamble to the constitution was approved by the CBF Coordinating Council with little discussion and no…

Shocking withdrawal of Miers raises stakes for Supreme Court replacement

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Conservatives breathed a sigh of relief Oct. 27 after the surprise announcement that White House Counsel Harriet Miers had withdrawn her nomination for an open seat on the Supreme Court. But her change of heart — in…

Methodist woman finds ministry home as associate pastor in Baptist church

RUTLEDGE, Tenn. (ABP) — Betty Shirley uses the word “ironic” to explain how she, a United Methodist, became associate pastor of a Baptist church in a small, conservative Tennessee town. Last spring, Shirley was expecting appointment to a congregation within…

Baylor may reduce board size; is it efficiency or more politics?

WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University regents are expected to consider a proposal at their Oct. 28 meeting that would reduce substantially the size of the school's governing board over the next several years — eventually cutting it to less…

Alterations to housing bill spark religious outcry

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A wide variety of religious and political leaders are expressing outrage over House leaders' last-minute alterations to an affordable-housing bill they say discriminate against religious groups. The House passed a bill late Oct. 26 that would exclude…

Alabama Baptist conservatives disband, citing success

MULGA, Ala. (ABP) — Alabama Baptist Conservatives, a network of pastors organized in 1997, officially disbanded Sept. 29, saying they accomplished their goal of steering the state's Baptist convention in “a conservative direction.” “The state convention has taken a stand…

Church & People News for October 27, 2005

Staff Changes R. Drexel Rayford, to Walnut Grove Church, Mechanicsville, as pastor. Thomas Spizzirri, to Hebron Church, Drewyville, as pastor. Greg Anderson, to Belmont Church, Charlottesville, as pastor. Charles Young, to Cut Bank Church, McKenney, as pastor. Pat Taylor, resigning…

The dry Mr. Claybrook

Heritage Column for October 27, 2005 By Fred Anderson Richard Claybrook liked a hot toddy in the evening. He enjoyed sipping on a julep in the morning. Twice a day Richard Claybrook imbibed. On the Sabbath Richard Claybrook preached from…

What to look for in a retirement community

Another View for October 27, 2005 By Franklin T. Fowler Many senior adults are looking for, thinking of or planing for a retirement community home in their future. Some may be ready to move now, others are thinking of it,…

What you’re not seeing: Tens of thousands of children separated from parents

The way we were

Talarico’s pastor pushes back on Daily Wire’s claims

Spiritual formation is how churches learn whom to hear