LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Terrence Malick’s new film, Tree of Life, is nearly indescribable. Not because its beauty or virtuosity are beyond words, although it has its moments. Tree of Life, which opened May 27, is iconoclastic, its plot nonlinear,…
After two centuries, a Virginia Baptist district association may disband
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A 220-year-old Baptist district association in Virginia, whose churches nurtured some of Baptists’ most revered early leaders, will disband this fall, if a proposal from its 12-member steering committee is adopted. At its May 15 annual spring…
As presidential candidate, Gingrich woos skeptical evangelical voters
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As evangelicals and other social conservatives gather here June 3-4 to take the measure of a number of Republican presidential candidates, Newt Gingrich will be conspicuously absent. Gingrich’s campaign cited scheduling conflicts in not speaking to Ralph…
In November, Baptists in Virginia will be dancing in the streets — literally
RICHMOND, Va. – Forget everything you thought you knew about Baptists and dancing. This fall, Baptists in Virginia will be dancing in the streets – literally. Participants at the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, scheduled for…
CBF, Mercer collaborate to offer conference on sexuality in 2012
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Mercer University are co-sponsors of a “[Baptist] Conference on Sexuality and Covenant” scheduled April 19-21, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga. Organized by CBF’s Missional Congregations Initiative and Mercer’s Center…
LETTER: Scripture, Baptist history support church-state separation
As a Virginia Baptist for almost 40 years, I noted with interest the May 26 letter to the editor from Carl Douglas, in which he takes the Baptist joint Committee for Religious Liberty to task for stating that in the…
OPINION: Learning the language of the soul
I’ve never been great at languages. I wish I were. A natural linguistic facility would have made my years of learning biblical languages (or living in foreign countries, for that matter) slightly less trying. Language study, I understand, comes with…
Joplin church digging out, while mourning three killed in tornado
JOPLIN, Mo. (ABP) — Thursday was something of a breakthrough day for the people of tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo. The sun came out around midday and travel restrictions within the area of massive destruction were all but dropped. Residents were given…
CBF Coordinating Council adopts budget to propose next month
ATLANTA (ABP) – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council voted by e-mail May 26 to recommend a 2011-2012 budget of $12.3 million at the group’s June 22-25 General Assembly in Tampa, Fla. The amount is $2.2 million less than this…
Iconic Crystal Cathedral up for sale to pay debt, overcome bankruptcy
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (RNS) — The Crystal Cathedral has announced plans to sell its iconic glass-walled church in Southern California to pay back creditors and overcome bankruptcy. The glass-walled Crystal Cathedral is a landmark in Southern California. Senior Pastor Sheila…
Southern Baptists to review assignments of mission boards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention is ready to consider revisions to working agreements that will allow the International Mission Board to work directly with internationals living in the United States. On the agenda…
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North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell makes a point during the May 11 trustees meeting. (BP photo by John Swain) Tom Elliff, in his first trustee meeting May 20 as president of the International Mission Board, said the IMB…