Thursday, November 13, 2014

• Housing allowance survives at appeals court

  by Tom Strode, posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 (9 years ago)

  "This is indeed good news for ministers." -- O.S. Hawkins

  CHICAGO (BP) -- A federal appeals court has overturned a decision striking down the 60-year-old ministerial housing allowance in an action cheered by Southern Baptist leaders.

  The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled today (Nov. 13) that an atheist organization lacked the legal right -- known as "standing" -- to challenge the portion of a 1954 law that permits clergy to exclude for federal income tax purposes a portion or all of their gross income as a housing allowance. Read More

• Ellis first black pres. of Tenn. convention

  by Lonnie Wilkey, posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 (9 years ago)

  

  BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) -- Tennessee Baptists have elected the first African American president in the convention's history – Memphis pastor Michael C. Ellis.

  Ellis, pastor of Impact Baptist Church, ran unopposed and was elected unanimously by the 958 registered messengers during the TBC annual meeting, Nov. 11-12 at Brentwood Baptist Church. Ellis served as vice president of the state convention in 2012. Read More

• Gay marriage, 'faith' spur judges to resign

  by David Roach, posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 (9 years ago)

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP) -- When Gayle Myrick received a memo from the North Carolina state government threatening criminal prosecution unless she performed gay wedding ceremonies, she knew she had to resign her job as a magistrate -- even though resignation left her unemployed and without retirement benefits at age 64. Read More

• Fla. & Cuban Baptists thank John Sullivan

  by Barbara Denman/Florida Baptist Convention, posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 (9 years ago)

  

  Photo by Ken Touchton/Florida Baptist Convention

  LAKELAND, Fla. (BP) -- Florida Baptists said farewell to John Sullivan, the ninth executive director–treasurer of the state convention for the past 26 years, during the 153rd annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention, Nov. 10-11 at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland.

  Sullivan, in his final sermon to the convention as the state exec, preached on "'An Attitude of Gratitude"' from Colossians 1:9-15. ... Read More

• Ky. Baptists urged to 'Tell Your Story'

  by Todd Deaton/Western Recorder, posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 (9 years ago)

  

  Photo by Robin Cornetet/KBC

  BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (BP) -- Sharing inspiring stories of their salvation in convention addresses and ministry reports, keynote speakers and ministry leaders encouraged their fellow Kentucky Baptists to "Tell Your Story." Read More

• Arkansas Baptists: 'Every One Matters'

  by Staff/Arkansas Baptist News, posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 (9 years ago)

  TEXARKANA, Ark. (BP) -- An estimated 1,000-plus Arkansas Baptist messengers and guests converged on Trinity Baptist Church in Texarkana Oct. 27-29 to conduct business, worship and hear inspiring sermons and entity reports during the 161st annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Pastors' Conference and related meetings. Read More

• WORLDVIEW: The rise & fall of walls

  by Erich Bridges, posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 (9 years ago)

  Despite the Berlin Wall and numerous other physical & spiritual walls throughout history, believers persist in faith because, as missions columnist Erich Bridges notes, "God will not leave Himself without a witness." Read More

• Bible Study: November 16, 2014

  by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources, posted Thursday, November 13, 2014 (9 years ago)

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. Read More