By Jeff Brumley Something just clicked for Charity Roberson when she knew it was time for her to be baptized. Roberson, now the pastor at Sharon Baptist Church in Smithfield, N.C., was 9 at the time. Some of the memories…
CBF Missouri now CBF Heartland
By Jeff Brumley The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri is no more. Its coordinating council voted last fall to change the name to CBF Heartland, and the change was officially announced today on its web site and Facebook page. Leadership…
RG3 and dying churches
By Alan Rudnick The Washington Redskins had started a good fight against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night football. The Redskins came out strong and scored 14 points quickly. It was looking like they were a sure win to continue…
At what speed should congregations move?
As we enter 2013, at what speed is your congregation moving? I believe congregations should move at the speed of the leading edge 20 percent of the people in the congregation who are the proactive, positive, and passionate leaders; that…
Baptists open eyes to Epiphany
By Jeff Brumley For Christians who observed Epiphany on Sunday, Jan. 6, the holiday signified a formal end to the Christmas season and the world’s recognition of Jesus’ divinity. While it meant all of that to Baptist minister Don Flowers, for…
Casting visions from the pulpit
By Jeff Brumley Some pastors may look forward to — and even need — a post-holiday lull. But not Doug Dortch, the senior minister at Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. Instead, he’ll be busy those first few days…
Iowa Baptist church open to gay weddings
By Bob Allen An American Baptist church in Iowa City has announced it will perform same-sex weddings, presumably the state’s first Baptist congregation to do so since Iowa’s Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2009. The Des Moines Register reported…
Legacy
As the president of the United States enters into his second term, there is much discussion among the “talking heads” about legacy. What will President Obama seek to do that will assure that he is remembered in the years to…
Pastor takes leave of absence
By Bob Allen The pastor of a historic progressive Baptist church in North Carolina has taken a 30-day leave of absence for treatment of chronic depression and anxiety. Stephen Shoemaker, senior minister at Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C.,…