WASHINGTON — A two-year “season of Jubilee” will prepare the District of Columbia Baptist Convention for a possible strategic realignment of its ministries, delegates to the convention’s annual meeting agreed Dec. 4. “I’m excited and we’re looking toward transformation,” said…
Baptist World Alliance observes Human Rights Day Dec. 9
(ABP) — Timed nearest to the anniversary of the Dec. 10, 1948, adoption of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, Human Rights Day has been sponsored for more than 20 years by the Baptist World Alliance. This year the date…
Exhibit highlights Tiffany’s lasting impact on American church design
NEW YORK (RNS) — Louis C. Tiffany is perhaps best known for his intricate glass lamps, but a new exhibit at the Museum of Biblical Art reveals a spiritual side to the master designer and craftsman whose studio single-handedly shaped…
Herald trustees approve fundraising proposal, adopt budget for 2013, elect new board members
RICHMOND — The Religious Herald’s board of trustees adopted a comprehensive fundraising proposal Nov. 30, giving their approval to a plan developed over several months by a fundraising and management consultancy. During its fall meeting, the 24-member board also adopted…
OPINION: In search of empathy through country and rap
My first professional concert felt like a rite of passage. No longer was I to be contented by listening to the sweet tones emanating from my mom’s Maxima’s stereo. No, I was going to see it live and in person,…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Inspiring members to give
(ABP) — When I meet with church leaders, they often ask me to help them devise a strategy for increasing giving among their members. While there is no simple plan that works everywhere, there are several ways to cultivate positive…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Alternative gifts counter commercialism
(ABP) — When it began nearly a decade ago, the Alternative Christmas Gift Fair at Boulevard Baptist attracted barely 100 church members and generated a few thousand dollars for participating nonprofits and mission groups. But it has since generated $200,000…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Charitable giving up, but Sandy and tax changes expected to impact year-end gifts
(RNS) — The recession continued to affect how much Americans gave to charity last year, and the triple whammy of Superstorm Sandy, a national election and the looming fiscal cliff may cut how much we donate in the crucial final…
Some church leaders increasingly uneasy about ‘missional’ label
DENVER — The bio on the back of Kathy Escobar’s 2011 book describes her as a “nationally recognized voice in missional church development.” And by all accounts the Denver-based pastor and church-start consultant is certainly that. But Escobar insisted she…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Leadership’s dances: From the center, to the edges, across the gaps
An ancient wise man was approached by a despondent villager who asked for healing. The wise man asked three telling questions: When did you stop singing? When did you stop dancing? When did you stop telling stories? These questions echo…
Learning communities explore how to minister in new culture
FARMINGTON, Maine — Five years ago, five older women in Farmington, Maine, knew they faced a choice—watch their church die, or participate in a project that might help bring new life to their congregation. They were the only remaining members….
CBF leader issues ‘missional’ challenge
For former Cooperative Baptist Fel-lowship leader Daniel Vestal, understanding what it means to be “missional” begins with two phrases: “Christ is in me. Christ is in us.” “If you really believe that, that will change how you see the church,”…