LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in response to the national economic downturn, has reduced its administrative staff by 35 positions: 20 full-time and 15 part-time, effective Jan. 30. Each person will receive a severance package, including placement assistance, according…
NAMB enacts spending slowdown
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—In remarks to some 250 staff members of the North American Mission Board on Jan. 8, President Geoff Hammond asked NAMB team leaders to operate at 90 percent of their approved budgets during 2009. However, Hammond said funds…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Can origins of Baptists be set?
I found it very interesting to read all the publicity about Baptist history in the Jan. 15 issue of the Religious Herald—do we date from early Christianity, or just 400 years or so ago, or somewhere in between? In the…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Plight of pastors’ wives
Now that Christmas has come and gone, I want to get down to writing this reply to your last letter from your Aunt Ida [“The wisdom of a contented pastor's wife,” Herald, Dec. 4]. This particular letter is about the…
New statute raises concerns
In addition to the fact that I find incorrect “facts” in Professor Stephen Strehle's article [“The need for a new religious freedom statute,” Herald, Dec. 18], I am very surprised that the Herald published it. The Baptist paper of Virginia,…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Print edition rises to challenge
I enjoyed the Religious Herald edition dated Jan. 15 immensely. It was informative. The information was brought together in a way that would be difficult to quickly access on the internet. The photographs served to illustrate the text well. All…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for January 29, 2009
MISSIONS MOMENTA mission team from Fairview Baptist Church in Fredericksburg participated in the Noah Project in New Orleans in late October. The team worked on several homes–painting, putting down flooring, restoring a bathroom, hanging doors, installing kitchen cabinets and other…
Happy Birthday, Baptists
Some Christians before 1609 held what many refer to as distinctively Baptist beliefs. Baptists in 1609 practiced believer's baptism, but they didn't immerse. Even so, most church historians agree Baptists emerged as a distinct movement 400 years ago. From their…
Baptist history a continuing search for the New Testament church
Some Baptists stress evangelism, and others emphasize the social gospel. Some believe Christ died for all people; others say Christ died only for the elect whom God predestined to salvation. Historically, some defended slavery; others championed civil rights. Even a…