Jim Massey personifies peace-bearing. In his quiet, calm, soothing manner, he has given peace the first hearing in every situation. He tackled thorny issues while helping many a church find peace in its congregational life and in its relations with…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Woody Jenkins, to Elk Creek Church, Mineral, as pastor. • David C. Cromer, to Corrottoman Church, Lancaster, as pastor. • John Mann, to Concord Church, Chase City, as pastor. • Carey Snellings, to Hunting Creek Church, Big…
Researchers probe whether, why, free will exists
ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS) — Are people really responsible for all the things they do? Do they have what theologians call God-given “free will” to choose between right and wrong? Those questions are at the heart of a four-year research project…
VIRGINIA BRIEFS
Historical Society releases booklet. Peace-bearers: Church, Community & Beyond is a new booklet published by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies to be released at the annual meeting of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May…
Virginia’s first Mission Madness brings teens to Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. — Weekend events typically draw large crowds. A marathon, craft show, concerts and baseball games attracted the attention of many in Richmond on the weekend of April 10. But a crowd of over 325 people, most of them…
Conservative evangelicals call for immigration reform
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of conservative evangelicals is endorsing immigration reform that secures America's borders and provides a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 12 million people living in the United States illegally. Religious leaders including Samuel Rodriguez of…
Liberty to investigate alleged untruths by seminary president
LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) — Liberty University will investigate reports that its seminary president has misled the public in his testimony about converting from militant Islam to Christianity, officials of the school in Lynchburg, Va., announced May 10. Liberty University Provost…
Website launched to link ‘missional’ Baptist churches, strategists
OKLAHOMA CITY (ABP) — A website launched May 10 aims to become an online platform for churches, mission organizations, strategists and international partners to collaborate to share the gospel in the 21st century. "This was born out of a desire…
Obama, Graham meet at evangelist’s home
MONTREAT, N.C. (RNS) — President Obama and ailing evangelist Billy Graham exchanged prayers during their first meeting recently at Graham’s home in western North Carolina. President Obama meets with evangelist Billy Graham at his house in Montreat, N.C. (RNS/Pete Souza/The…
RIGHT or WRONG? Prayer for small decisions
All my life, I’ve heard about the importance of praying when we must make a major decision. But what about small decisions? Just how should we pray and recognize God’s responses to our decisions? A family member or friend goes…
Biomedical ethics in a brave, new world
POSSUM KINGDOM, Texas — When Dennis Trammell exhausted treatments available in the United States for his multiple sclerosis and began looking at other options, he excluded from consideration any possible regimens involving embryonic stem cells. “I didn’t even explore that,”…
Catholic scholar among experts named to White House bioethics panel
WASHINGTON (RNS) — President Obama has named 10 medical and legal experts — including a Franciscan friar — to a commission that will advise the White House on bioethical issues. Daniel P. Sulmasy The appointees include Daniel Sulmasy, a friar…