DALLAS — A North Dallas church has changed its website to identify itself as inclusive of varied sexual orientations — a move that potentially could put the church at odds with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. A March 6…
New Baptist hymnal unveiled in Atlanta
ATLANTA (ABP) — A new hymnal for Baptist churches in the works for four years premiered in Atlanta March 7. Choirs from five churches gathered for a Sunday afternoon service unveiling the Celebrating Grace Hymnal, a joint initiative of Townsend-McAfee…
250 Baptist churches destroyed by Chile quake, says Baptist World Alliance
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — About 250 Baptist churches in Chile were destroyed in the powerful earthquake that shook the country Feb. 27, according to the Baptist World Alliance. The congregations are affiliated with the Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Chile,…
Baylor University slated to receive $200 million, the largest gift in its history
WACO, Texas — Baylor University has announced the largest gift in the school’s history — an estate provision estimated at $200 million from an anonymous donor. The announcement came less than three weeks after Baylor University regents selected Kenneth Starr…
Rankin welcomes ‘token commitment’ to increased IMB funding by task force
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) — The head of the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board welcomed a recent progress report by a Great Commission Task Force as a "token" step toward redistributing more resources to the denomination's primary task of reaching…
Study says blogs a growing but largely untapped influence on religion
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (ABP) — Blogs are a growing but still relatively underutilized influence on today's religious discourse, according to a study of the religious blogosphere by the Social Science Research Council. "Blogs have given occasion to a whole new set…
In Texas, Religious Right loses fight with national curriculum implications
DALLAS (ABP) — The Religious Right suffered a surprise setback in Texas when incumbent Don McLeroy — a creationist and critic of church-state separation — narrowly lost his re-election bid for the powerful State Board of Education to challenger Thomas…
African-American Baptist organizations pledge $50 million for Haiti relief
CHICAGO (ABP) — America's five largest historically African-American Baptist organizations are cooperating to raise $50 million to help rebuild Haiti and provide aid to victims of a Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated the area surrounding the capital of Port-au-Prince. Called…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Kevin Kelly, now serving as pastor of River Shore Church, Portsmouth. • Randal Walton, to Amherst Church, Amherst, as interim pastor. • Jimmie Miles, to Mount Vernon Church, Glen Allen, as consultant for discipleship and education. •…
Chowan University hosts ‘SeniorFest’; BGAV’s Upton is featured speaker
MURFREESBORO, N.C. — Chowan University will host its fourth annual SeniorFest March 25 with special guest speakers, live music, informative breakout sessions, a buffet lunch and door prizes. This year, the popular senior adult-oriented event hosted by the Baptist-affiliated school…
ASK THE ARCHITECT: Build now!
Oh my goodness! Nine months ago we covered this urgent topic when the Religious Herald published a feature story emphasizing the unprecedented reasons why a church should build now! Well, if we thought June 2009 was appropriate for such a…
At Carter’s church, former president’s Sunday school class still a draw
PLAINS, Ga. (RNS) — With its aging storefronts and small train depot, its graceful pecan trees and clipped fields of peanuts, cottons and hay, peace still seems possible in this tiny town. And nowhere is that peace protected more fiercely…