A federal judge has temporarily halted a sex-education program in a suburban Washington, D.C, school district, saying it violates the First Amendment's free-speech and religion clauses by promoting only one view of homosexuality. On May 5, United States District Judge…
Congress likely to address immigration system
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,…