RICHMOND — Twelve members of Broadus Memorial Baptist Church in Richmond served on the children’s ministry team from Virginia that traveled to Interlaken, Switzerland, July 4-9 for the annual summer assembly of the International Baptist Convention. The IBC is a…
OUT LOUD
“I have been defending religious freedom for 22 years and I’ve never had to defend somebody who has been charged criminally with praying.” MATTHEW STAVER The founder of Liberty Counsel was referring to his defense of a Florida public school…
Lutherans open door to gay clergy, agree to disagree on sexuality
MINNEAPOLIS (ABP) — Delegates to the national assembly of America’s largest Lutheran denomination voted by a wide margin Aug. 21 to open the door to allowing clergy in committed same-sex relationships to serve openly. The vote came just two days…
OPINION: The moral imperative of health-care reform
(ABP) — The national debate raging over health-care reform has become a maelstrom of competing claims and counterclaims. It has been deeply infected by political demagoguery and hysteria. The tenor of the debate raises the legitimate question as to whether…
Lakewood Manor focuses on ‘tough conversations’
RICHMOND — The National Caregiver’s Library and Lakewood Manor, a continuing care retirement community, have partnered to host Tough Conversations, a 4-part seminar designed for adults who would like to learn how to dialogue with a parent, loved one or…
Virginia jail agrees to stop censoring religious mail
STAFFORD — A Virginia jail will stop censoring religious mail after protests from civil rights organizations that clerks had turned Bible-quoting missives from an inmate’s mother into tattered strips of paper signed “Love, Mom.” Rappahannock Regional Jail authorities agreed to…
Church 2 Church Ministry: A covenant of partnership
SOUTH BOSTON — Ash Avenue Baptist Church in South Boston is not a mega-church. Worship attendance averages 140. John Eure has served as pastor for eight years and he is the church’s only full-time staff member. Ash Avenue is a…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Bryant Owens, to Clintwood Church, Clintwood, as pastor. • Charles R. Doyle, now serving as interim pastor of Rosalind Hills Church, Roanoke. CHURCH NEWS • Biltmore Church, Glen Allen, will host a Caregiver’s Support Group co-facilitated by…
SECOND OPINION: The SBC’s membership in 2050: A, B, C or none of above?
If you have been reading Baptist news the past few weeks, then you may know the answer to the following question, but just for fun, let’s make it multiple choice: In A.D. 2050, the membership of the Southern Baptist Convention…
FAITHSHAPERS: Making good choices
In my last article I gave some examples regarding efforts to teach positive behaviors to children. We can’t focus all of our energy on preventing “bad” behavior and forget to nurture the good. Have you thought about the things you…
SECOND OPINION: Churches can connect with schools
Whispers carry across the lawn. Dewy footprints record the tracks of a group of teenagers walking quickly across the freshly-mown grass. Guitars strapped across shoulders and song sheets in hands give evidence of praise to come. Teachers, administrators, coaches, lay…
Muslims press public schools on observing Islamic holidays
Calculus and chemistry are among the pressures awaiting Mesuka Akter, a senior this year at Long Island City High School in New York City. But unlike past school years, Akter, a Muslim, will not have to choose between missing school…