One of the most vexing issues in Christian life is the question of accountability. At every level of Christian community, the question arises. We know that Christians are accountable to God for their lives and will one day actually give…
FAITHSHAPERS: Teaching tricky topics — The Trinity
Most people who teach students of any age can relate to that moment when they get stumped by an unexpected question. This seems to happen more often with children because they think so differently compared to adults. It is okay…
Anger at New Baptist Covenant
I didn't send this letter immediately because I wrote most of it in anger. I wasn't sure I would ever send it. Much of the time my anger is not exactly righteous anger. But now I believe is the time….
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for May 15, 2008
STAFF CHANGES • Eric Durden, to Fairmount Memorial Church, Richmond, as pastor. • G. C. Hughes has concluded his ministry as pastor of Blackstone Church, Blackstone. • Don Williams, resigning as pastor of Calvary Church, Lynchburg, effective the end of…
Legal expert suggests how to manage mix of religion, politics
ABILENE, Texas — Religion and politics inevitably will mix — especially in the U.S. presidential campaign — but that does not mean Americans should sanction a free-for-all, church-state expert Melissa Rogers insisted. Rogers, director of the Center for Religion &…
6-day creation
Until last year, I would have agreed with Loren and Deborah Haarsma that “evolution is God's program for creating life” (“Couple urges truce in war between faith and science,” Herald, March 20). Then I learned about difficulties with evolutionary theory…
Ground-rules recommended for dealing with religion in schools
ABILENE, Texas — Whatever the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately decides, communities should strive to have better conversations about the role of religion in public schools, Melissa Rogers told participants at the T.B. Maston Christian Ethics Lectures at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon…
On prayer
When my wife and I visited the Middle East several years ago, we entered several mosques. In each we had to remove our shoes. I found that I could pray there, just the same as in my church. Both had…
Methodists vote to retain policies on homosexuality
FORT WORTH, Texas (RNS) — The United Methodist Church at its General Conference in Fort Worth held to its traditional rules on homosexuality, refusing to support or celebrate same-sex unions and maintaining language that calls homosexual activity “incompatible with Christian…