An international missions official for the American Baptist Churches USA has announced that a feared recall of missionaries will not happen in 2005. Last summer, American Baptist leaders said they needed to close a $1.5 million budget gap to prevent…
Faith-based groups got $2 billion in ’04, Bush says
President Bush told a group of religious leaders that his administration allocated $2 billion to faith-based organizations last year to assist in their work of showing compassion toward Americans in need. “No matter what your faith is, we're united in…
Baptist volunteers released from custody
Two Southern Baptist volunteers have been released from custody after being detained in the United Arab Emirates for distributing Christian materials. Vivian Gilmer of Myrtle Beach S.C., and Marie Bush of Waxahachie, Texas, were nearing the end of a four-week…
House approves discrimination bill
The House of Representatives has passed another bill giving religious charities the right to discriminate in hiring, even when they receive federal funds. On a largely party-line vote of 224 to 200, the chamber passed the Job Training Improvement Act…
Don’t export the conflict, European leader urges Baptists
A prominent European Baptist leader cautioned U.S. Baptists not to export their disputes or manipulate Baptists worldwide into their way of thinking. “We should be very careful how we are pulling the ropes in our mission work, in our evangelism…
Moderate Baptists looking for ‘something to get excited about’
By Greg Warner Southern Baptists account for roughly half of all U.S. Baptists-about 16 million people-and thus get most of the attention. The other half also represents a significant presence in America, but they lack a unifying identity, according to…
Uproar predicted if justices remove public Ten Commandments displays
If the U.S. Supreme Court prohibits public displays of the Ten Commandments nationwide, all heck may break loose. Religious conservatives predict the resulting furor would be greater than the reaction when a California court ruled “under God” did not belong…
Supreme Court hears Ten Commandments case
By Robert Marus The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court waded cautiously March 2 into one of the nation's most controversial issues: Whether, and how, governmental displays of the Ten Commandments can ever be constitutional. Hearing oral arguments in two…
Godcasting the gospel
When radio caught the attention of Americans in the 1920s, sermons were among the first things aired. Today, MP3 players-the latest in audio technology-are offering a more portable and flexible way to air the gospel. By Kathleen Murphy The radio…
Virginia Baptists’ response to tsunami relief
Contributions from Virginia Baptists for the Indian relief project through March 1 with the following designations: • Southern Baptist Convention (IMB): $57,972.82* • Baptist World Alliance (BWAid): $17,507.36 • Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: $53,742.42 • Virginia Baptist Mission Board: $102,610.45 (Children's…
Mission at home – CBF
This month churches across Virginia will focus on mission in North America, as they collect offerings for the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board and for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's MissionConnect emphasis. By Carla Wynn Through hanging sheetrock, installing…
BTSR sets record for enrollment
Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond has a record number of students enrolled this semester, according to Ellen Gwathmey, the school's registrar. “For the second semester of the 2004-05 school year, we have 325 students enrolled for classes,” she announced. This…