Mothers’ Day 2012 will dawn with more women than ever in Baptist pulpits. But even those who welcome the trend say the corresponding ascension of the minister mom is creating tensions, too, within families, and the hearts of female pastors….
Baptists split on NC gay marriage ban
RALEIGH, N.C.—Some religious leaders hailed North Carolina’s May 8 passage of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman as a win for family values, while others vowed to continue the fight for what they call…
Berryville, Va., church aims to put smile on faces
BERRYVILLE, Va.—“Free stuff makes everyone smile,” said Tim Walraven after attending Berryville (Va.) Baptist Church’s “Free for All” yard sale April 14. Linda Gum looks through the “Free for All” yard sale items. And that’s what the church was hoping…
Raceway becomes focus of ministry for weekend
HENRICO, Va.—Twice a year a 1,000-acre plot of land in Henrico County, Va., becomes the fifth largest city in Virginia as approximately 200,000 race fans descend on the Richmond International Raceway for three days of NASCAR racing. For the 12th…
Leaders judged only by Christ, says seminary president
LYNCHBURG, Va.—“Play to an audience of one,” a seminary president told a leadership conference May 4. Jeff Iorg, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in suburban San Francisco, was keynote speaker at the May 4-5 Leadership Gathering at Eagle…
Rooftop farm an urban oasis in New York City
It isn’t exactly “Green Acres,” but a rooftop farm at a New York City Baptist church is making the improbable a reality. March 31 kicked off the second planting season for a neighborhood garden consisting of 52 soil-filled kiddie pools…
Ethnic labels a hindrance to unity in Christ
Ethnic labels and segregation at the Lord’s Supper table thwart Christian unity, a Baptist international leader told participants at a Christian ethics lecture series in the United States. Neville Callam, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, delivered the 12th…
SBC leader issues apologies for comments
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)—After initially defending comments accusing black leaders of politicizing the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, the head of Southern Baptists’ Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission issued back-to-back apologies regarding statements he made on his radio program. Richard…
Veteran minister reflects on black church life
BELTON, Texas—After more than five decades of ministry, George Harrison understands what African-American Christians have gained and lost in the last half-century. Harrison, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church-NBC in Waco, Texas, and a veteran church musician, vividly remembers life…