An odd word, Lent. Most European languages refer to the 40-day preparation period prior to Easter with some form of the words “forty” or “fast.” English-speakers, on the other hand, adapted a Teutonic or Anglo-Saxon (no one knows quite sure…
RIGHT OR WRONG? Is any career choice a calling?
{mosimage}I knew I wanted to become a lawyer in middle school and always felt it was a calling. That sense has not changed despite attempts to denigrate my profession. Who hasn’t heard the lawyer jokes like, “The reason sharks do…
Do religious people make easy targets for scams?
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Major frauds exposed by federal investigators in recent years have targeted Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists and other religious groups, from $190 million lost in a three-year scam promoted by a Christian radio host in Minnesota to an estimated $1.4…
FAITH DIGEST
No competition for donations. Houses of worship and other charities often aren’t in competition for dollars but instead tend to reap donations from similar donors, a new study shows. Slightly more than 50 percent of people who financially supported congregations…
No black and white answers to lack of diversity among atheists
DALLAS (RNS) — Alix Jules is an atheist, but for years he felt uncomfortable at gatherings of nonbelievers. The reason: He’s black. “I got really tired of going back and forth to free-thought events and being the only black person…
Most Americans support upcoming congressional probe of Muslims
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Americans haven’t heard much about congressional hearings on the radicalization of U.S. Muslims, but more than half think it’s a good idea, and nearly as many believe Muslims here haven’t done enough to fight extremists in their…
SBC’s Executive Committee inaugurates new president and CEO
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention gathered Feb. 21 to witness a new chapter in denominational life with the inauguration of Frank Page as president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. Page, a former pastor…
National debt a new hot issue for evangelicals
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Many economists warn the government’s huge national debt is a looming threat to long-term prosperity. And according to a growing number of conservative Christians, it also is immoral. As Washington debates President Obama’s proposed 2012 budget, the…
Tom Elliff, longtime pastor, nominated to be SBC mission board president
RICHMOND, Va. — Tom Elliff, a longtime Oklahoma pastor and former missionary, has been nominated to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. Elliff, 66, is the choice of a 15-member search committee to succeed Jerry Rankin,…
Memories, lessons recalled from historic bombed church
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) — Carolyn McKinstry pointed to a doorway in the balcony of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and memories started rushing back — good ones. “I used to run all over this place as a little kid,” she said….
Church membership trends unchanged
NEW YORK (ABP) — Pentecostals, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses gained ground, mainline churches continued to decline and growth in the largest two denominations — Roman Catholics and Southern Baptists — remained stagnant, according to new statistics compiled by the National…
VIRGINIA BRIEFS
Bluefield opened East River Hall in the fall of 2009. Bluefield College considering a fifth dormitory. With the number of students living on campus at an all-time high, Bluefield College is considering building a fifth residence hall — only a…