Category: Faith

During its annual meeting Tuesday, the Tennessee Baptist Convention voted to turn away representatives from an East Tennessee Southern Baptist church that recently hired a female senior pastor, effectively ending its ties with the church. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the decision to not seat “messengers,” or voting representatives, according to the Baptist and Reflector news outlet. The convention is meeting through today in Hendersonville. Tuesday’s vote confirmed a finding last month by the credentials committee that a church with a woman senior pastor cannot be considered a “cooperating church” according to convention bylaws. Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 says that “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” Ellen Di Giosia has been in her position as senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Jefferson City since Aug. 1. She and six other representatives from the church attempted to register in person for the annual meeting. During a discussion before the vote, a few people spoke in support of Di Giosia and First Baptist. Tambi Swiney, a female associate pastor of Immanuel Baptist in Nashville who works under a male senior pastor, said the Jefferson City church “has a long legacy of…

An East Tennessee Southern Baptist church is likely to lose its standing with the Tennessee Baptist Convention over hiring a female senior pastor earlier this year. At their annual meeting in Hendersonville Sunday through Wednesday, Tennessee Baptists may vote on whether First Baptist Church in Jefferson City can seat “messengers,” or voting representatives, reports the Baptist and Reflector news publication. The convention’s credentials committee agreed last month that a church with a woman senior pastor cannot be considered a “cooperating church” according to convention bylaws. “If a church with a woman senior pastor tries to register messengers, the request will be denied, but the decision to seat messengers from the church ultimately will be decided by a vote by messengers,” the Baptist and Reflector reported. Ellen Di Giosia became the pastor of First Baptist Aug. 1. “It is regrettable when one of our churches makes a decision that results in a broken confessional relationship with our TBC network of churches,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. First Baptist issued a statement from Di Giosia and deacon chair John McGraw saying they were “saddened” by the position taken by the credentials committee. The statement said the convention “has…

LifeWay Christian Resources will open a new store in downtown Nashville next week at its new corporate headquarters in the North Gulch. A grand opening celebration will run Nov. 13-18 at the store, which will have books, Bibles, reference tools, Christian music and movies, children’s items, church supplies and more. There also will be free Wi-Fi, seating for Bible studies and other meetings, and a kids’ play area. Free garage parking will be available. The former downtown LifeWay store at 10th Avenue and Broadway, open since 1960, closed in January 2016 after LifeWay sold the property in anticipation of its move. “We are glad to once again serve the downtown Nashville area with a place where individuals, families and churches can find biblical solutions as they seek to know and serve God,” LifeWay President and CEO Thom S. Rainer said in a news release. The days-long grand opening will include special offers, giveaways, activities for families and refreshments. People who live or work downtown can receive a discount of 40 percent off one regularly priced item through Nov. 25. The 4,429-square-foot store is located at One LifeWay Plaza in the Capitol View development along 11th Avenue North. Hours are 9…

The “Cosmo Hurts Kids” campaign has left its mark on a Memphis billboard, which cautions that Cosmopolitan magazine features porn. The billboard is on Interstate 40 near Whitten Road, reports WREG News Channel 3. The movement is the work of Victoria Hearst, whose grandfather, publishing titan William Randolph Hearst, acquired the magazine in 1905. The publication was started in 1886. Victoria Hearst wants to make sure the magazine is kept out of reach of young people under 18. Her campaign “is not trying to censor the magazine or put it out of business,” she says on her website. “The goal is to have Cosmo labelled ‘Adult Material’ so that it cannot be sold to anyone under 18 years of age.” Cosmopolitan is not the same magazine it was when it was founded and when her grandfather owned it, she says. It used to be a wholesome publication with articles on fashion, home decor, cooking and raising children. Her grandfather hired writers such as O. Henry, Sinclair Lewis, George Bernard Shaw and Upton Sinclair to contribute stories and articles. The magazine floundered in the 1950s and 1960s because of competition from other media, including television. “In 1965, 14 years after my grandfather’s death, the…