Last week, a historic church in Alexandria, Virginia, was ousted from the Southern Baptist Convention because of its position that women can serve in any pastoral role. Members of the church are standing by its leadership.
During Sunday services at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Senior Pastor Robert Stephens addressed the congregation on the vote to remove the church from the Southern Baptist Convention. Much of what he imparted was from the church’s own long history.
“We have always been a church that did not need the approval of the masses, but one that was willing to always do what was right,” said Stephens. “Whether it was our first pastor, Jeremiah Moore, who was arrested for preaching without a denominational license … Or if that was our 12 messengers, who stood up proudly at the Southern Baptist Convention because they believe that both men and women were created in the image of God.”
Some parishioners that spoke WTOP after the service say they agree with the reverend’s remarks.
Nick Cirmo, who has attended services at First Baptist since 2001, called the vote booting the church out of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination “a complex issue.”
“I understand the Southern Baptists’ opinion,” said Cirmo. “And they believe that it may be a slippery slope to having, say, a woman as a senior pastor. But our church would never do that.”
Another parishioner, who goes by Miss Ramsey, says she’s been coming to services at First Baptist for 14 years and agreed with her church’s position.
“That’s the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Ramsey. “That we’re all equal. And we all have gifts. And if he gave the gifts of teaching to men, he gave it to women, he gave it to everybody else.”
The church plans to address the vote further at its quarterly business meeting on July 7.
WTOP’s Joshua Barlow contributed to this story.
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The Ward 7 council member had been working to improve his mobility for months, but a spokesperson called Gray’s most recent stroke “a setback in that regard.”
In this file photo, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray prepares to testify before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs at a hearing on statehood for D.C., on Capitol Hill Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that Gray would not face charges in connection to the probe of how his 2010 election campaign was funded. Seven others have pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from the four-year investigation.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
In this file photo, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray prepares to testify before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs at a hearing on statehood for D.C., on Capitol Hill Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that Gray would not face charges in connection to the probe of how his 2010 election campaign was funded. Seven others have pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from the four-year investigation.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
D.C. Council member and former Mayor Vincent Gray suffered another stroke in April and has been receiving physical therapy ever since.
In an emailed statement to WTOP, spokesperson Chuck Thies wrote Gray’s recovery from a “recent, minor stroke is proceeding.” The Ward 7 council member had been working to improve his mobility for months, but Thies called Gray’s most recent stroke “a setback in that regard.”
“What we know for certain is that the Councilmember’s cognitive abilities are unaffected by this stroke or the one he experienced in 2021,” Thies wrote.
Gray is undergoing daily physical therapy and plans to continue on council business while he recovers. In a separate statement, Thies confirmed that Gray still plans to attend George Washington University’s commencement on the National Mall on Sunday, where he is set to be awarded an honorary doctoral degree in public service.
The 81-year-old commented on his health Thursday after Chairman Phil Mendelson wished him a speedy recovery on X. In a social media post, Gray called the stroke “a health setback,” and added that he has had “no subsequent issues.”
It is Gray’s second stroke in three years. In 2021, he was hospitalized for bronchitis when he had a mild stroke. He still worked on other council business while in the hospital.
In December of 2023, Gray announced that he won’t be running for reelection in 2024, closing out a nearly two-decade-long career in public service. His term is set to end on January 2025.
Gray began his first term on the council in 2005 and served as D.C. mayor from 2011-2015.
A piece of D.C. baseball history is up for sale, and for sports memorabilia collectors, its rarity is bringing up…
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Rare jersey worn by Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson up for auction
A piece of D.C. baseball history is up for sale, and for sports memorabilia collectors, its rarity is bringing up its value.
A game-worn jersey that belonged to Washington Senators pitcher and Baseball Hall of Famer Walter Johnson is currently at auction. Heritage House, which is hosting the auction, says the unique uniform is over a century old and valued at $3 million.
Production Manager Mike Provenzale told WTOP in the 20 years he’s worked for Heritage House, Johnson’s jersey ranks at the top of all the items they’ve ever sold.
“It’s one of the most impressive items we’ve ever offered,” he said, calling the right-hander “one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.”
Using photo-matching, the auction house traced the jersey back to April 29, 1920, when the Washington Senators defeated the New York Yankees 2-1 at the Polo Grounds. It was the first time Johnson faced legendary hitter Babe Ruth. According to Provenzale, Johnson earned his 299th career win, while Ruth was only able to get a an RBI off a sacrifice fly.
“Through that photo-matching, you’re able to identify the exact moment he was wearing it, and when you can do that, and it’s an important game with a lot of significant notes like that, that just really piques the interest of high level collectors,” he said.
This jersey was gifted by Johnson to teammate Eric “Swat” Erickson as a retirement gift after the 1920 season. Provenzale said Erickson brought a ranch in New York and had a barn where he kept all his sports collectibles including Johnson’s jersey.
“Decades later, his granddaughter discovered it in the barn,” Provenzale said, adding that she was the one who initially sold it to a private seller.
A 1920 Washington Senators jersey worn by Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson is up for auction.
(Courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Courtesy Heritage Auctions
The jersey is valued at $3 million and considered to be a rare find for baseball fans.
(Courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Courtesy Heritage Auctions
The jersey is gray and pinstriped and features a small W logo stitched into each short sleeve.
(Courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Courtesy Heritage Auctions
Right-handed pitcher Walter Johnson’s name is stitched into the collar of the jersey in red cursive.
(Courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Courtesy Heritage Auctions
Johnson’s legacy added an additional element that makes the jersey extremely valuable.
Known as “The Big Train,” Johnson helped the Senators win its only World Series championship in 1924. He spent his entire 20-year playing career in Washington, earning a record of 417-279 with a 2.17 ERA. For more than 50 years, his 3,509 strikeouts were the most thrown by a pitcher in the majors. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936 prior to his death 10 years later.
“He was the most dominant pitcher. He holds numerous records. He has the most scoreless games, the most consecutive years leading the league in strikeouts,” Provenzale said. “Essentially, it’s him and Cy Young, who are considered … the greatest pitchers of all time.”
Unlike modern jerseys, which teams and players hold on to due to their value, at the time uniforms were not seen with much significance other than being work clothes. The fact that Johnson’s gift survived is “a miracle,” Provenzale said.
“Jerseys in that era were considered disposable,” he said. “They were worn and worn and repaired until they could no longer be repaired.”
There is only one other known jersey worn by Johnson that exists, and it is sitting in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Combined with the disposable nature of uniforms in the past, it is unlikely that another game-worn Johnson jersey will surface, Provenzale said.
“So if you’re interested,” he said. “This is the opportunity to get it,”
Instead of focusing on defending her goal net, the Spirit captain cracked some eggs and learned multiple receipts, including the bakery’s most popular item, dark chocolate orange scones.
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Washington Spirit’s Aubrey Kingsbury trades goalkeeping gloves for baking mitts
Aubrey Kingsbury has experience performing in high-pressure moments on a weekly basis. As the goalkeeper of the Washington Spirit, the 32-year-old has led its defense for more than seven seasons, winning two Goalkeeper of the Year awards and an NWSL Championship.
However, for three early mornings in January, Kingsbury traded in her goalkeeper gloves for a baking apron as part of an internship with Village Sweet Bakery in Arlington, Virginia. Instead of focusing on defending her own net, she cracked some eggs and learned multiple recipes, including the bakery’s most popular: dark chocolate orange scones.
“I’ll admit I was a little nervous,” Kingsbury told WTOP. “I didn’t want to mess anything up.”
Baking is a passion Kingsbury shares with her twin sister Amber and her mother Shar. For her wedding, the Cincinnati native made her own cake while her sister made desserts for guests. In recent years, Kingsbury has became the Spirit’s unofficial baker, bringing in cakes and cookies to celebrate her teammates’ birthdays.
“It’s just something I enjoy, and I see how it brings other people so much joy,” Kingsbury said. “Like, you can’t be sad when you’re eating a cookie, in my opinion.”
Kingsbury always had an interest in learning how a bakery is run.
She’s tried working at one before, dating back to when the Spirit played in the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland. She completed her Master of Business Administration in December, after three years at Shenandoah University, with the hopes of opening her own bakery one day.
Theresa McDonnell, Washington’s chief operating officer, approached Kingsbury about an apprenticeship with Village Sweet Bakery during the team’s offseason. She visited the establishment and met with owner and head baker Dawn Hart, who told WTOP she wanted to give Kingsbury “firsthand experience as best we could without her actually quitting her day job.”
“It was a great opportunity to show somebody what it’s really like,” Hart said. “It’s very different, owning a bakery and working in a bakery than it is looking in it.”
The Spirit captain came in at 3 a.m. for her shifts, starting to obverse Hart and the other bakers on staff before having to get her hands busy. She mixed ingredients, zested fruits into batter and scooped cookies to get them into the oven.
According to Hart, Kingsbury’s passion for baking made her internship easier.
She knew how to prepare recipes, assist with making scones and cookies while understanding the time management skills needed in the kitchen. Having Kingsbury in the kitchen during those early mornings brought joy to the bakery, Hart said, adding that she was a great person to talk to.
Village Sweet Bakery is a scratch bakery, meaning all the baked goods are made from start to finish with the raw ingredients.
(WTOP/José Umaña)
WTOP/José Umaña
Scones are the Arlington bakery’s most popular item.
(WTOP/José Umaña)
WTOP/José Umaña
Owner and head baker Dawn Hart mixes ingredients together to prepare a cake.
(WTOP/José Umaña)
WTOP/José Umaña
Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury spent three days in the offseason at Arlington-based Village Sweet Bakery as part of an internship.
(WTOP/José Umaña)
WTOP/José Umaña
Despite her successful run, there were struggles. Kingsbury admitted it was difficult waking up for those early morning shifts and said it caused her to add extra ingredients by accident during the mixing process.
“There were a couple times like I spaced out a little bit and accidentally grabbed, I think, a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon,” she said. “Everything was salvageable, and she (Hart) was there to help out and make sure I didn’t go rogue.”
On her last day, Kingsbury handled the register. The Spirit’s social media accounts called for fans to head to Arlington to watch their captain in action. Supporters came in and took photos with Kingsbury while getting their morning coffee.
This offseason, @aubs_kingsbury had the opportunity to pursue her passion off the pitch & learn about the business of baking at Village Sweet in Arlington.
She wraps up her apprenticeship on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 8:00 – 9:00 am – come say hi 👋
While it was only three days, Kingsbury said she gained a whole new appreciation for how big of an operation a small bakery can become. She better understood timing in a commercialized kitchen.
If granted the chance to open a bakery at the end of her career, she would want her family involved to help and be a part of the “team effort.”
“I think, should she decide to do that, she’s gonna kill it,” Hart said of Kingsbury having her own bakery. “She’s gonna be great.”
Kingsbury said if Hart ever needs a helping hand during the Spirit’s offseason, especially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, that she is available to provide support. The goalkeeper added she plans to bring her family to Arlington to meet Hart and take a tour of Village Sweet Bakery.
“Even if it’s just being a frequent customer, I will get everyone to go there,” Kingsbury said. “I will definitely have some relationship with Village Sweet in the future.”
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