Expect to see change in United States immigration policy during this congressional session. Three types of legislation are being considered in Congress-an agriculture jobs bill, new guest-worker legislation and the Dream Act, which would help non-citizen students fund a college…
Pete Parks resigns to accept chaplaincy
Pete Parks, Virginia Baptists' campus-based minister for the Tidewater region, will resign July 31 to assume a chaplain residency position at Norfolk Sentara Hospital. He is endorsed as a chaplain by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Parks has held his position…
N.C. pastor resigns after conflict over national politics
By Tony Cartledge Embattled pastor Chan Chandler announced his resignation during a business meeting May 10, surprising both supporters and detractors at East Waynesville Baptist Church in Waynesville N.C. Chandler, 33, had been pastor of the church for two and…
Citizens can shape immigration policy, says Baptist activist
Carmelita Hernandez believes one person can make a difference, even when it comes to big issues like shaping United States immigration policy. And a new law proposed by the Bush administration may offer proof. Hernandez, a member of Iglesia Bautista…
Heritage Center releases publication on polity
Baptist polity is the subject of a new publication by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. Walking Together: The Struggle of Baptists with Polity in the 21st Century is an examination of how Baptists govern their churches and includes…
BTSR gets $2.4 million from Cochrane challenge
Mr. and Mrs. Harwood Cochrane made the challenge-and 772 individuals responded. The result was more than $2.4 million in gifts and pledges to Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Issued to energize BTSR supporters for the seminary's “Building Our Future ……
Welcoming the stranger: Pastor/lawyer helps immigrants with legal status
By Sarah Farris Before Alex Camacho felt God's call to ministry, he planned to become a lawyer. Now he combines his passion for God, law and the Hispanic community into his roles as director of Immigration Services-a nonprofit organization accredited…
Bluefield students lead music ministry in Europe
Bluefield College has sent 25 students to Europe this month for a music mission project with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Twenty-five BC students who are members of two music ensembles are traveling in Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic,…
Some megapulpits face transition, while others struggle
Analysis for May 26, 2005 By Greg Warner Two more Baptist megachurches are venturing into mostly uncharted waters-replacing legendary preachers-where success has proven rare. Jerry Vines announced May 1 he will retire next February as pastor of the 28,000-member First…
Is it really a Holy Bible for Christians?
Another View for May 26, 2005 By Dale Hanson Bourke The boys were about 10 years old as I recall, but youth was no excuse, according to my grandmother. During a skirmish after Sunday school, one boy hit the other…
Only the beginning
Guest Editorial for May 26, 2005 By David Gushee It seems the mixing of conservative politics and religion reached its breaking point in the person of 33-year-old Chan Chandler, the North Carolina Baptist pastor who resigned May 10 after apparently…
Coming back home
Heritage Column for May 19, 2005 By Fred Anderson Recently this columnist presented in the same weekend two portrayals of Elder John Leland, the noted 18th-century Virginia Baptist minister and spokesman for religious liberty. One was for the new First…