By Jim Pritchett Pastor of Swift Creek Community Church, Midlothian On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 6, a mother, a daughter, and a granddaughter were all baptized together in the same ceremony. That in itself is a remarkable event. More remarkable is…
Churches in a new world: An interview with Lyle Schaller
Lyle Schaller has been called the “dean of church consultants.” He is best known for his books and articles that appear in bookstores, journals and magazines everywhere. Although “retired,” he still speaks at conferences and to churches. John Chandler, team…
Who was there? A glance at messengers attending the BGAV meeting
Continuing the conversation: An interview with Fred Craddock
Fred Craddock is the Bandy Distinguished Professor of Preaching and New Testament Emeritus in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and one of the most widely-known preachers in America. He currently is a minister of Cherry Log Christian…
La. Baptists reject officers, motions offered by conservative faction
Messengers to the Louisiana Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov. 14-15 surprised some observers by rejecting candidates and causes endorsed by the state's conservative political group. Messengers voted to amend a budget-cutting proposal that would have had a disproportionate impact on…
Texas Baptists vote for diversity
Rallying under a banner of “One Family-One Mission,” messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting took decisive steps toward demonstrating the diversity of Texas Baptists. Messengers elected the convention's first African-American president, approved a governance plan that…
Conservatives win in North Carolina
Conservatives in the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina elected their candidate as president, toughened the convention's stance against gay-friendly churches, replaced the interim executive director and approved new institutional trustees without dissent. But they failed in another key objective-to…
Tennessee postpones action on Belmont
Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov.15-16 elected a convention president by a razor-thin margin and delayed action on altering the convention's relationship with Belmont University. Conservative Phil Jett, pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, won the…
Kentucky approves Georgetown College plan
Kentucky Baptist Convention messengers voted overwhelmingly to approve a new ministry partnership with Georgetown College. Meeting Nov. 15-16, they also elected conservative pastors to the KBC's top three posts, defeating three moderate pastors endorsed by Mainstream Baptists of Kentucky. The…