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…
Megachurches experience growth through multiple satellite locations
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Mega-churches known for big buildings, big schools and big crowds continue to grow. But a new study detects shifts in the way they are expanding. “The general growth pattern is that about 90 percent of mega-churches report…
SECOND OPINION: Gender debate ultimately about Jesus
On Sept. 15, I published an article in USA Today that has bounced around the blogosphere evoking intense reaction ever since. The argument of the article was that Sarah Palin's nomination for vice president, and the warm conservative evangelical response…
Director/writer recounts making of Fireproof
EDITOR'S NOTE: Stephen Kendrick, co-writer and co-director with his brother, Alex, of the new movie Fireproof recounts the making of the film, which opened Sept. 26. DECEMBER 2005. My brother, Alex, finished a brisk morning jog that planted his running…
INTERVIEW: Security is not the ‘highest good’ for Christians
In the final weeks of Campaign 2008, presidential candidates are lavishing promises to keep America safe from terrorist attacks and from economic meltdown. But some Christian thinkers are wondering aloud whether America might be truer to Christian ideals — and…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for October 2, 2008
STAFF CHANGES • Monty Raney, to Lawrenceville Church, Lawrenceville, as pastor. • Richard Martin,to Bethel Church, Chase City, as pastor. • Robert Johnson, concluding his ministry as pastor of Black Branch Church, Chase City. • Alan Miller, to Orange Church,…