Busboys and Poets offers affordable gourmet meals and a performance venue to edgy artists, sells books on political topics and provides a chic meeting space for activist groups. WASHINGTON (ABP)—If ever there were an archetypal hangout for what author and…
The challenge of the new urbanism
Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond is an established church transitioning to meet the New Urban challenges of its very popular in-town neighborhood, the Fan. Lights are strung throughout the sanctuary during Ephiphany. Lights strung from a sanctuary’s ceiling at Epiphany….
Baptist pastor convicted in Azerbaijan
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Baptist pastor in the South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan has been found guilty of what supporters say are bogus weapons charges and given "a two-year corrective labor sentence," according to a worldwide Baptist group. The Virginia-based…
RIGHT or WRONG: Poverty
More and more people are talking about dealing with global poverty through “micro-enterprises.” Is there any merit to these ideas for alleviating poverty? Helping the poor is not an option for Christians. It is a biblical mandate. The Hebrew Scriptures…
CBF cuts spending by 20 percent
Moderator Jack Glasgow presides at Coordinating Council meeting. DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — Starting March 1, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will operate on a contingency spending plan that cuts staff salaries by 1 percent and reduces funding for theology schools and…
Lutheran task force proposes process to allow gay relationships for clergy
CHICAGO (ABP) — An ad hoc panel for one of the nation’s largest Protestant bodies is recommending a four-part process to begin allowing members of its clergy to live openly in committed same-sex relationships. But both supporters and opponents of…
Columbia Church challenges members to ‘Spend Yourself’
Jim Baucom Although many pastors would be content if their churches met in three different congregations with 14 separate services using seven different languages, Jim Baucom, pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, challenged the church leaders to “take…
FIRST PERSON: The price of coffee
Cindy Fisher FALLS CHURCH—“$2.19,” the cashier says after I place my order for a small iced coffee. I’m tempted to order an iced latte instead, but that would bump up the price by a dollar. I choose to stick with…
$10.1 million gift accelerates barracks building at FUMA
FORK UNION—Fork Union Military Academy has received a gift of $10.1 million, allowing the Virginia Baptist-affiliated school to begin construction on a new barracks facility—a project initiated three years ago. The donors are Jerry and Laura Jacobson of Sugarcreek, Ohio,…