Stories tagged with: tennessee

• Tennessee law would protect Christian adoption agencies

  by Lonnie Wilkey/Baptist and Reflector, posted Thursday, January 16, 2020 (4 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Tennessee state senators approved legislation Jan. 14 that would prohibit the state from forcing Christian or other faith-based adoption agencies to place children in homes that would "violate the agency's written religious or moral convictions or policies."

  Senate Bill 1304 passed the Senate by a margin of 20-6. Sen. Steve Dickerson of Nashville was the only Republican voting against the bill, joining the chamber's five Democrats, according to an article in The Tennessean. Read More

• Tennessee Baptists increase budget, CP allocation

  by Lonnie Wilkey is editor of the Baptist and Reflector., posted Monday, November 25, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Photo by James Wilson

  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Tennessee Baptist Convention messengers gathered at First Baptist Concord Nov. 17-20 for four days of inspirational worship, fellowship and to conduct business during the 145th annual meeting held during The Summit: A Gathering of Tennessee Baptists.

  The Summit drew 998 registered messengers from 444 churches and 117 registered guests, the highest attendance since 2016. Read More

• Bapt. leader urges TN legislators to stand for life

  by Lonnie Wilkey/Baptist and Reflector, posted Tuesday, August 13, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from TN General Assembly

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- When New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law one of the nation's most comprehensive abortion laws earlier this year, he "woke a sleeping giant," declared Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

  Davis was one of five pro-life proponents who appealed to a nine-member Tennessee Senate Judiciary Summer Study Committee Monday (Aug. 12) to join thousands of Tennessee Baptists and other evangelical Christians in standing for life in the Volunteer State. Longtime observers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention believe it may be the first time that a representative of the convention has addressed Tennessee senators on a major legislative issue. Read More

• Titans punter shares 'what makes me tick'

  by Bill Sorrell/Alabama Baptist, posted Wednesday, December 19, 2018 (5 years ago)

  

  Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Brett Kern may make a living playing football, but it was a game of softball that changed his life.

  During an intramural co-ed softball game at the University of Toledo he tagged a young woman sliding into home plate. Kern looked at his roommate and said, "I am going to marry that woman someday."

  He wasn't joking. Kern and his wife Tiffany celebrated their 10th anniversary this past summer, just one of the blessings God has bestowed on the Pro Bowl punter for the Tennessee Titans.

  "I am thankful to wake up every morning to my beautiful wife. We have three beautiful kids," Kern said. "That the Lord sent His Son to die on the cross for us so we can have eternal life with Him is [also] a beautiful thing. My goal is to share His light. I want people to see the Lord through what I do." Read More

• 'WinTN' messages undergird Tennessee annual meeting

  by Lonnie Wilkey, posted Friday, November 16, 2018 (5 years ago)

  

  Photo by James Wilson

  JACKSON, Tenn. (BP) -- Tennessee Baptists gathered at West Jackson Baptist Church for the annual Summit with a focus on winning their state for Jesus Christ.

  The meeting, held Nov. 11-14, drew 929 registered messengers from 409 churches, along with 160 guests. Among the business conducted, messengers elected a new set of officers by acclamation for the coming year.

  “We had a strong turnout,” said Randy C. Davis president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “But it wasn’t just the numbers. There was a strong sense of unity among the messengers. I believe Tennessee Baptists are recognizing that if we are to reach Tennessee for Christ we must do it together.” Read More

• High Court upholds Tenn. pro-life constitution change

  by Tom Strode, posted Tuesday, October 02, 2018 (5 years ago)

  

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Tennessee's Amendment 1 Monday (Oct. 1) by refusing to review a decision upholding the pro-life measure.

  On the first day of its new term, the high court announced it would not review a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that sided with the state in a lawsuit against the amendment, which removed a right to abortion and a requirement for abortion funding from the Tennessee constitution. Opponents challenged the 2014 initiative approved by Tennessee voters on the basis of the way election officials counted ballots, not on the basis of a right to abortion.

  Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore said the justices "made the right decision." Read More

• State papers 'have a future,' Tenn. editor says

  by David Roach, posted Friday, March 09, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Photo by David Roach

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- In an era of shrinking newspaper readership, Baptist state papers retain a viable path forward as "niche publications" with strong online and print presence, state paper editor Lonnie Wilkey told the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society (TBHS).

  "The newspaper industry is declining, but Baptist papers still have a future," said Wilkey, editor of Tennessee's Baptist and Reflector newsjournal. That's "mainly because we are niche publications ... If you want to read about Tennessee Baptists, the only source you really have is the Baptist and Reflector."

  Baptist papers in other states, he said, similarly serve as the main viable sources about Baptists there. Read More

• TN fires: Churches reflect on God's grace 1 year later

  by David Dawson/Baptist and Reflector, posted Tuesday, December 05, 2017 (6 years ago)

  

  Photo by Joe Sorah

  GATLINBURG, Tenn. (BP) -- For pastor Kim McCroskey and his congregation, the odyssey appears to be nearly over.

  After spending nearly exactly one year in temporary venues, the members of Roaring Fork Baptist Church in Gatlinburg will soon be returning to their original location.

  "The light at the end of the tunnel is really bright," McCroskey said. "We know we are about to come back home."

  Roaring Fork Baptist was destroyed last November -- losing its sanctuary and family life center -- in the Great Smoky Mountain wildfires that swept through the region. But after a long and steady recovery process, aided by Tennessee Baptist disaster relief teams and Builders for Christ, the church is scheduled to start hosting services on its campus again within the next few weeks. Read More

• Tenn. Baptists adopt resolution against racism

  by Lonnie Wilkey & David Dawson, posted Tuesday, November 21, 2017 (6 years ago)

  

  Baptist and Reflector photo

  HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention's annual meeting overwhelmingly spoke against racism during the Nov. 12-16 sessions of The Summit at First Baptist Church in Henderson.

  David Leavell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Millington in West Tennessee, was elected president during the meeting, which drew 993 messengers from 422 churches.

  The total did not include eight messengers from First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, as the convention voted overwhelmingly not to seat those from the church, which called a woman as senior pastor earlier this year. See Baptist Press story on Tuesday, Nov. 14 Read More

• Church with a woman pastor declined by Tenn. conv.

  by Lonnie Wilkey, posted Tuesday, November 14, 2017 (6 years ago)

  

  Photo by Lonnie Wilkey/B&R

  HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting voted overwhelmingly not to seat messengers from First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, which has a woman as pastor, during the TBC's opening session Nov. 14.

  First Baptist attempted to register seven messengers, including new pastor Ellen Di Giosia, who has been in the position since Aug. 1.

  In mid-October, the TBC's Committee on Credentials met and agreed that a church with a woman pastor does not fit the definition of a "cooperating church" as defined by convention bylaws. The committee based its decision on Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 declaring that "the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture." Read More