Exhibit sees echoes of ‘36 Olympics in Tibet fight

c. 2008 Religion News Service Southern Baptists report lowest baptism rate in a decade (RNS) The number of baptisms in Southern Baptist churches _ considered a key measure of vitality and evangelism _ dropped to its lowest level in a decade last year, the denomination announced. The nation’s largest Protestant denomination has highlighted its need […]

c. 2008 Religion News Service

Southern Baptists report lowest baptism rate in a decade

(RNS) The number of baptisms in Southern Baptist churches _ considered a key measure of vitality and evangelism _ dropped to its lowest level in a decade last year, the denomination announced.


The nation’s largest Protestant denomination has highlighted its need to increase baptisms in recent years, with special emphases at annual meetings and a nationwide tour by a past president. But data gathered by the convention’s LifeWay Christian Resources show that baptisms have declined for the third straight year.

In 2007, baptisms decreased by 5 percent to 345,941, compared to 364,826 in 2006.

“This report is truly disheartening,” said Thom S. Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, announcing the findings on Wednesday (April 23). “… We are a denomination that, for the most part, has lost its evangelistic passion.”

Southern Baptists also saw a drop of almost 40,000 in membership from 16,306,246 in 2006 to 16,266,920 in 2007.

Despite fewer members and baptisms, the denomination’s churches saw an increase in attendees, with worship attendance increasing slightly to 6.15 million. The number of churches also grew to 44,696 in 2007, an increase of 1 percent from 44,223 in 2006.

LifeWay produces its Annual Church Profile by compiling information from state conventions affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. It reported that 1,300 fewer churches submitted data for the 2007 profile than participated in 2006.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Casting Crowns reaps big rewards at Dove Awards

(RNS) Lead singer Mark Hall and his group Casting Crowns reaped a total of seven Dove Awards at the annual Gospel Music Association ceremony Wednesday (April 23).

Among his four individual awards, Hall was honored for co-writing the Song of the Year, “East to West.” Casting Crowns was honored three times, including as Group of the Year.

“I’m so thankful just to get to be part of the songs,” Hall, a youth pastor of an Atlanta-area church, told reporters after his wins.


TobyMac was named Artist of the Year, a title he claimed in 1996 as a member of dcTalk. His latest solo album, “Portable Sounds,” debuted at No. 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart. He was honored in two other categories for his work on that album.

“The parade of artists taking the Dove Awards’ stage this year as award recipients and performers once again displays the depth and breadth of Christian and gospel music,” said John W. Styll, president and CEO of the association and executive producer of the GMA Dove Awards. “It was a joy to see so many different artists recognized for their creative contributions.”

The Dove Awards in the overall categories were as follows:

_ Song of the Year: “East to West,” written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

_ Artist of the Year: TobyMac

_ New Artist of the Year: Brandon Heath

_ Female Vocalist of the Year: Natalie Grant

_ Male Vocalist of the Year: Chris Tomlin

_ Songwriter of the Year: Cindy Morgan

_ Producer of the Year: Ian Eskelin

_ Adelle M. Banks

Quote of the Day: Clergy abuse survivor Olan Horne

(RNS) “I like to say that I’m from Missouri and you are going to have to show me. Benedict showed me.”

_ Olan Horne, 48, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse in the archdiocese of Boston, about meeting with Pope Benedict XVI last week in Washington. He was quoted by the St. Louis Beacon, an online publication.

KRE/PH END RNS

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