LYNCHBURG — The Virginia Baptist Mission Board has gotten its first look at a proposed budget that will reduce funding for Virginia Baptist ministries by more than half a million dollars in 2009. Meeting at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center…
BGAV REPORTS: Program Committee
The Program Committee is responsible for preparing the order of business for the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and assuring that worship is emphasized during the meeting. In response to the changing demographics of our communities,…
Continuing the dream
With appropriate academic fanfare, Ronald W. Crawford, 56, was inaugurated as president of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond on Oct. 22. A crowd of about 300, which included BTSR faculty, administrators, members of the board of trustees, guests and…
BGAV REPORTS: Committee on Boards and Committees
The committee on boards and committees is assigned the mission of bringing to the association nominees for boards of partnering agencies, schools, institutions, and for the standing committees of the association. We are guided in this task by two concerns….
Connect:2008
Virginia Baptists will gather in Roanoke Nov. 11-12 for Connect:2008, the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Although preregistration has now closed, churches that have not preregistered all of their eligible messengers may register messengers on-site. On-site…
BGAV REPORTS: VBMB Recommendations — Special Observances & Emphases
Recommendation I Amendment to 2009 Special Observances and Emphases Items in bold are additions; items in italic are to be deleted Observances and Emphases January 4: Collegiate Ministries Emphasis Day January 18: Sanctity of Human Life Sunday February 7: Baptist…
Being himself
When he retires in October, Larry Holland will have completed over 41 years as pastor of Franklin Heights Baptist Church in Rocky Mount. He could joke that it would be impossible to tell his age simply based upon his four…
Connecticut high court approves gay marriage
Connecticut became the third state to allow same-sex marriage after its Supreme Court ruled Oct. 10 that it is unconstitutional to deny the legal benefits of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. The 4-3 decision outraged conservative groups, who are…
SECOND OPINION: No-name Christians
Acts 11:19-26, the story of the church at Antioch, touches me at the deepest level. This passage teaches about nameless individuals who went to Antioch to share the story of Jesus. As a result of their work and that of…
Pittsburgh diocese votes to leave Episcopal Church
The Diocese of Pittsburgh voted Oct. 4 to split from the Episcopal Church, becoming the second diocese to leave the national church over differences on homosexuality and the Bible. A wide majority of clergy and lay people — 240 voted…
OUT LOUD
“We see it now in the collapse of the great banks: this money disappears, it is nothing. And so all these things, that seem the true reality to count on, are realities of secondary importance. He who builds his life…
For Italian Baptists, a struggle for liberty
Virginia Baptists have a long partnership with Italian Baptists, with whom they have much in common. This article by an Italian Baptist leader sheds light on his country's attitude toward religious liberty. The issue of religious freedom in Italy is…