Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511200082
SECTION: RELIGION PAGE: B-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A ground-breaking ceremony for the first building for Trinity Ecumenical Parish at Smith Mountain Lake will take place Sunday at 11:30 a.m. The church will be at Virginia 122 and Lakemount Drive just south of Hales Ford Bridge. The land was donated by Dr. Warren and Betty Moorman of Salem.
A united congregation of Episcopalians, Lutherans and Presbyterians make up the parish, which currently is served by a Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Gary Scheidt. Each denomination has contributed funds to the building project, expected to cost more than $1 million. The first phase of building will be a worship center seating 290 as well as a fellowship hall, kitchen, classrooms, nursery and office space. Hughes and Associates is the architectural firm and Lionberger Construction Co. the contractor.
Trinity Ecumenical Parish dates back almost a decade. For much of that time it has used Resurrection Catholic Church's building. Now both congregations are outgrowing the quarters.
Convention notes
Virginia's Southern Baptists held a quiet convention in Virginia Beach on Nov. 9-10, adopting a $15.4 million budget - up $400,000 from the current year and the first increase since 1992 - and electing Chesapeake pastor Clint Hopkins as its new president.
Messengers to the meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia adopted resolutions opposing tuition tax credits and a religious equality amendment to the U.S. Constitution. They declined to adopt a statement condemning partial-birth abortions, according to Associated Baptist Press.
Many representatives of conservative Southern Baptist congregations in the state apparently boycotted the associational convocation after attending a meeting of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia earlier in the week. At that meeting, conservatives decided not to try to affiliate separately with the national Southern Baptist Convention, though they will continue to study such a possibility.
Moderates control the Virginia Baptist association, while conservatives control national denominational offices. Conflicts between the two autonomous bodies have been simmering for more than a decade.
Support groups
The Crisis Pregnancy Center of Roanoke Valley is forming two on-going support groups - one on ``learning to cope with being a single parent'' and the other for ``parents as grandparents'' for those whose children unexpectedly become parents.
Each group will be offered four ``mini-series'' of free informational meetings, each lasting six weeks. The first series begins Nov. 30. All are held on Thursday evenings from 7:30 until 9 at the Crisis Pregnancy Center, 5034 Williamson Road N.W.
Topics for the first series of single parents' meetings are scheduled to include legal concerns, decision-making, communication, understanding children's behavior, discipline and establishing respect.
The grandparents' meetings will focus on legal and personal responsibilities, readjusting your dreams and plans, communication skills, setting boundaries with your child and grandchild, promoting responsibility and preparing for your child's independence.
Information and registration are available by calling the Crisis Pregnancy Center at 362-9492.
Gospel concert
For the second year, an interdenominational group of ministers of music and instrumentalists is sponsoring a concert of praise called ``Worthy of Worship'' at Oakland Baptist Church, 3623 Roundhill Ave. N.W.
The concert will be held Sunday at 7 p.m.
Performers will include Carl Bridgman and Ruth Williams of Oakland Baptist; Jan Moore of Green Ridge Baptist; Christ Moore of Vinton Baptist; Steve Fulton of Bethany Christian Church; Jeff Hummel of First Christian Church; Juanita O'Neill of Westhampton Christian; Victory men's chorus of Westhampton Christian; Debbie Williams of Crown Christian Assembly in Charlotte, N.C.; Robert Barnes, artist-in-residence at Heritage USA, Fort MIll, S.C.; and the Rev. Harry Y. Gamble reading Scripture.
A nursery will be provided. There is no admission charge, but an offering will be taken to benefit the International Rett Syndrome Association.
Dependent adult care
United Methodists throughout Virginia are expected to launch a plan soon to provide residential care for mentally retarded adults and others with conditions that make them dependent. Planning includes setting up a steering committee to draft recommendations to the 1996 Annual Conference. The action by the Virginia Conference Commission on Ministry to Persons with Handicapping Conditions earlier this month grew out of a series of hearings throughout the state. Those at the hearings reported an overwhelming need for care of their dependent adult children when parents can no longer do so.
by CNB