America is obsessed with race. Slavery has been gone for 150 years. Segregation crumbled in the 1960s and ’70s. Relationships have improved between the races yet race remains a defining issue in so many phases of American life. Virginia Baptists…
OUT LOUD
“One culture still is dependent on church bulletins and announcements. The other culture is totally inundated with Facebook, Twitter and social media. One culture lifts James Cleveland. The other culture is going to see Jay-Z in a few moments. The…
Evangelicals urge caution with nuclear weapons, more disarmament
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The National Association of Evangelicals on Nov. 8 called for greater precautions with nuclear weapons and a renewed effort toward disarmament. “The rules have changed in the past 25 years,” NAE President Leith Anderson said. “Nuclear weapons…
Exploratory talks may lead to formal dialogue between Baptists, Orthodox
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Teams from the Baptist World Alliance and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople held exploratory talks Oct. 30-Nov. 2 that could lead to formal dialogue between Baptist and Orthodox Christians internationally. BWA General Secretary Neville Callam,…
The BGAV annual meeting in brief
No more election day conflicts. A motion was adopted by the BGAV messengers ensuring that future meetings of the state association not coincide with local, state or federal election days. This year’s meeting opened on Nov. 8, the same day…
Cooperation among Baptists developed slowly but took root deeply
Mention "cooperation" and many Baptists think of the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention's unified giving plan. But Baptists may have forgotten that instead of money, cooperation historically grew around accomplishing kingdom work together — primarily missions — when churches…
Crossing boundaries in ministry poses opportunities, challenges
"Are we missing the big picture?" That's the question some Christian leaders are asking as America's centuries-old denominational patterns unravel, while denominational distinctions seem as entrenched — and unbridgeable — as ever. In a post-denominational society, can churches retain theological…
Karel Harris shares the pains and joys of ministering to single mothers
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — If you ask Karel Harris to describe the ministry to single mothers she founded you will get a quick disclaimer. “I call myself a co-founder,” she says with humility. Harris is director of “Thrive!Moms,” a ministry…
TRENDING: Biological spirituality
You might have noticed a higher profile on “organic” food and diet in recent years. If not, go ahead and crawl out from under that Big Mac! Accompanying this trend is the application of nutritional thinking to spiritual life. It’s…