By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention possibly will decide if churches with women pastors can have messengers seated. The annual meeting will take place during Summit: The Annual Gathering of Tennessee Baptists scheduled for Nov. 12-16 at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville.
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector MORRISTOWN – A Tennessee Baptist church that announced in January that it would escrow Cooperative Program funds in response to a decision by two Southern Baptist Convention entities last year to sign an amicus brief in support of a New Jersey mosque has developed a plan to continue financially supporting worldwide missions. First Baptist Church, Morristown, held a called business meeting Sept. 17
By Tim Ellsworth Union University News Office JACKSON — President George W. Bush shared stories of his time in the White House, talked about his faith in Jesus Christ, and encouraged college students to be involved in public service at Union University’s 20th annual Scholarship Banquet Oct. 17. The event, held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, drew 1,500 people who heard the former president discuss a variety
By Bob Smietana LifeWay Research NASHVILLE, Tenn.—In the 1950s, Congress banned charitable nonprofits—including churches—from endorsing candidates or otherwise intervening in elections. Any nonprofit that violated the ban could run afoul of the IRS. Churches risked losing their tax-exempt status if the preacher endorsed a candidate in a sermon. It’s time for that to change, most Protestant pastors say in a new survey from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. More than 7 in
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector MONTREAL — Although the ground is hard and the labor is challenging, substantial progress is being made in the harvest fields in Montreal, Canada. The enormous city, with a population of almost six million in the metro area, is the most unchurched area in North America. But there is a gradual groundswell taking place, with a number of new churches gaining momentum across the
Baptist Press MADISON, Wisc. (BP) — For the second time, a federal judge has ruled the U.S. tax code’s ministerial housing allowance is unconstitutional. Mississippi College law professor Matt Steffey told Baptist Press the ruling, unlike U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb’s previous attempt to strike down the housing allowance, could be upheld on appeal to the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Mississippi College is affiliated with the
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — In light of the church shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch a few weeks ago, churches need to take a look at their security plan or, sadly in many cases, lack of plan. “Hope is not a strategy anymore,” says Ken Alexandrow, founder of Agape Tactical in Franklin, a business that focuses on helping churches and businesses avoid
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector JACKSON — Jordan Easley, the senior pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, has a simple philosophy when it comes to missions: Teamwork makes the dream work. Guided by that belief, Easley is leading his church into a new era in regard to its commitment to giving through the Cooperative Program. He plans to exponentially increase the church’s yearly Cooperative Program giving over the
By Chris Turner Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN –A small West Tennessee Baptist church felt the blow of Sunday night’s mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert when it learned one of the victims was a native son. Sonny Melton, 29, who grew up in Big Sandy and attended Ramble Creek Baptist Church (Western District Association), was killed when he was struck by gun fire while shielding his wife, Heather Melton.
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector JOHNSON CITY — Cole Rogers needed a job and a place to stay. Jonathan Chapman had an open position and an empty room. It was a perfect fit. Symmetrical and symbiotic. “I had been praying about it and praying for the right person to come along,” said Chapman, the BCM director at ETSU. “So, it was great when God really lined everything up for
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention possibly will decide if churches with
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector MORRISTOWN – A Tennessee Baptist church that announced in January that it would escrow Cooperative Program funds in
By Tim Ellsworth Union University News Office JACKSON — President George W. Bush shared stories of his time in the White House, talked about his
By Bob Smietana LifeWay Research NASHVILLE, Tenn.—In the 1950s, Congress banned charitable nonprofits—including churches—from endorsing candidates or otherwise intervening in elections. Any nonprofit that violated
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector MONTREAL — Although the ground is hard and the labor is challenging, substantial progress is being made in the
Baptist Press MADISON, Wisc. (BP) — For the second time, a federal judge has ruled the U.S. tax code’s ministerial housing allowance is unconstitutional. Mississippi
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — In light of the church shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch a few
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector JACKSON — Jordan Easley, the senior pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, has a simple philosophy when it
By Chris Turner Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN –A small West Tennessee Baptist church felt the blow of Sunday night’s mass shooting at a Las Vegas
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector JOHNSON CITY — Cole Rogers needed a job and a place to stay. Jonathan Chapman had an open position
