SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention rejected scientific claims that humans are to blame for global warming and dismissed the governmental efforts to reverse it. Messengers to the annual SBC meeting also stood by their resolution committee's decision…
Heritage Center releases new worship study
RICHMOND — An analysis of worship styles in Virginia Baptist churches is the focus of a new resource available from the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. Each year the Center appoints several Virginia Baptist college students as Heritage Fellows…
Georgia church is largest yet to call woman as senior pastor
DECATUR, Ga. (ABP)—A female pastor who broke the “stained-glass ceiling” in Texas Baptist life is expected to move to a historic church near Atlanta, making it by far the largest Southern Baptist church led by a woman. A search committee…
VIRGINIA TIDBITS
Falwell's sons take up mantle Jonathan Falwell, son of the late Jerry Falwell, will become pastor of the 24,000-member church his dad founded in Lynchburg more than 50 years ago. Members of Thomas Road Baptist Church elected Jonathan Falwell, 40,…
Half of SBC pastors believe in ‘prayer languages,’ study reveals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)—Half of the senior pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention believe some people are granted a special, spiritual language for prayer, a recent survey has found. The findings, from LifeWay Christian Resources, come in the midst of continued…
EDITORIAL: Sounds like competition to me
In the current issue of SBC Life, former Southern Baptist Convention president Bobby Welch explained what he will be doing as the SBC's new “strategist for global evangelical relations.” According to Welch, his responsibilities will be “to establish enhanced international…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for June 14, 2007
STAFF CHANGES � Jim Hewitt, to Pocahontas Bassett Church, Bassett, as pastor, effective July 9. � Matthew W. Rondeau, to Mt. Tirzah Church, Charlotte Courthouse, as pastor. � Danny Blalock, to Moore's Swamp Church, Elberon, as full-time pastor. � Skip…
SECOND OPINION: Hold churches accountable for abuse
We need to take another step to stop clergy sexual abuse. Let's post a list of churches that we learn knowingly allow—or force—an abusing minister to move on without doing something to warn others. This sounds harsh. But it's nothing…
NEW: SBC messengers re-elect Page, hear motions on agency policies, clergy sex abuse
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Frank Page was re-elected without opposition to the traditional second one-year term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the first day of the denomination's annual meeting, which also featured efforts to curb clergy sexual…
Volunteer chaplains
I just wanted to thank you for the great work the Herald did on military chaplains [May 31]. I also wanted to tell you of another avenue that pastors have to help in the effort. Virginia has a little known…
NEW: Virginians named to SBC’s committee on nominations
RICHMOND — Two Virginians have been named to the Southern Baptist Convention's 2007-2008 committee on nominations, Baptist Press has reported. The powerful committee — which nominates people to serve on the convention's boards, commissions and committees — will present its…
First freedom and prime principles
Religious liberty is the first freedom for Americans. Thomas Jefferson authored the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which since 1786 has provided a benchmark for the western world. James Madison, influenced by Virginia Baptists, reasoned that religious liberty would become…