The RCA adopted a resolution expressing “concern” over the Evangelical Lutheran Church’s controversial action to allow partnered homosexuals to be on the clergy roster. The resolution was approved during the RCA’s 204th General Synod, which concluded Tuesday. It comes nearly a year after the ELCA’s highest legislative body voted to permit persons who are in... Continue Reading

Bryant Wright, pastor of the Atlanta-area Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, defeated Florida pastor Ted Traylor in a runoff for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention. With 7,667 messengers voting, Wright received 4,225 votes, or 55.11 percent. Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., received 3,371 votes, for 43.9 percent. Nearly 11,000 messengers... Continue Reading

By an estimated 3-to-1 margin, the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report was adopted June 15 by messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, made the motion at last year’s Convention that brought about the Task Force report that many predict... Continue Reading

“…the concept of evangelism (domestic) vs. missions (international) is outdated in a world of immigration, refugees, and diasporas.” For 164 years, the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention has focused on taking the gospel overseas. But in May, the 16 million-member denomination’s Great Commission Resurgence Task Force recommended removing restrictions on the... Continue Reading

“Statistics have become so dire in terms of membership and baptisms…that they’re really having to revisit who they are and what they’re going to be and do,” As members of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination ready for their annual meeting next week in Orlando, Fla., statistics loom large in their plans to chart a new... Continue Reading

Jesus turns out not to be favorably disposed toward those who are favorably disposed to Him,” he said. “Being favorably disposed to Jesus is simply not enough.” No matter how orthodox one’s theology or how favorable his opinion of Jesus, unless one is converted from a self-centered life of sin to repentance and faith in... Continue Reading

Challenges include: “more allegiance to causes outside the church than to what we do together as a denomination” The Christian Reformed Church has much to be joyful about, CRC Executive Director Rev. Jerry Dykstra said in an address to Synod 2010 on Monday night. But it also faces some serious challenges. Alive, vibrant and well,... Continue Reading

Synod 2010 began its work on Monday morning with a worship service asking the Holy Spirit to be with delegates and others as they undertake their deliberations. Delegates met in their committees throughout the afternoon. “We are ready for the work of synod,” said Rev. Aldon Kuiper, president of Synod 2010, at the start of... Continue Reading

The potential legitimization of homosexuality in the military may be the most serious moral issue in America since Roe V. Wade in 1973 Three member denominations of the Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel (PRJC) have overtured their respective General Assemblies or Synod on the possible repeal of the military’s “Don’t... Continue Reading

The session I serve on is concerned about lots of “churchy” things like church discipline, proper doctrine and worship in the church, and growth (of all types) in our local body. That’s our strategy. When the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America convenes at the end of this month in Nashville a Strategic... Continue Reading