Editor's note: When Thomas Jefferson penned the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, he recognized that future legislators would have the power to amend it. Toward that end, he added a warning: “If any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal…
BGAV REPORTS: VBMB Recommendations—Resolutions of Appreciation
Recommendation V Resolution of Appreciation for Rodney J. Hale Rodney J. Hale has announced his retirement from the staff of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board as Kingdom Advance Field Strategist and Site Specialist on June 30, 2008, after more than…
OUT LOUD
“Roger Williams was quite eccentric and a very annoying man who I would not want to hang out with for more than 10 hours or so, but he's kind of the hero of my book.” Sarah Vowell The author described…
BGAV REPORTS: Annual Meeting Program
Annual Meeting Theme: “Who's My Neighbor?” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27, NRSV)…
Unto the hills
Southwest Virginia is big and bold and bodacious. Until the taming influence of Interstate 81, that ribbon of asphalt which makes straight the rough passages, Southwest Virginia was protected from the outside world by its own rough terrain. Even so,…
BGAV REPORTS: 2009 Proposed Budget
Young evangelicals less enthusiastic than their parents about McCain
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Father may know best, but when it comes to this year's election, fewer young evangelical voters are taking Dad's advice into the voting booth, according to a new survey. While Sen. John McCain maintains a winning margin…
Which Scriptures?
As an ex-Baptist, contrarian and liberal heretic, I would like to share my reaction to the Second Opinion by David Gushee [Herald, Oct. 2]. For me the article, “Gender debate ultimately about Jesus,” misses the root of the problem, although…
FAITH DIGEST
Disputed dinner fails to deliver dialogue. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dined with 300 religious and political leaders in New York, but the controversial event offered far less dialogue than advertised. Ahmadinejad delivered a 45-minute address that cut short any possibility…
State Department blasts China for religious freedom violations
WASHINGTON (RNS) — In its annual report on international religious freedom, the U.S. State Department admonished several Asian nations, including China, for severely repressing religion. Listing “countries of particular concern” that engage in or tolerate “particularly severe violations of religious…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for October 16, 2008
STAFF CHANGES • Chris Poluikis, to Covington Church, Covington, as pastor. • David Benjamin, to Winfree Memorial Church, Midlothian, as pastor. • Frank Gribble, to Fieldale Church, Fieldale, as pastor. • Scott Welch, to North Fork Church, Virgilina, as pastor….
Faith leaders urge Red Cross access to detainees
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Top leaders from several faiths have asked Congress to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross access to all U.S.-held detainees, including those held at secret overseas prisons. A letter signed by 25 senior faith leaders…