VIRGINIA BEACH Retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong has spent years getting over the prejudices he says his church upbringing instilled in him. In a telephone interview from his home in Morris Plains, N.J., Spong said he grew up with the beliefs that he should hate other religions, that women were inferior, and that gays and lesbians were sick or depraved.

By Cindy Butler Focke
Correspondent
LYNNHAVEN
During a recent Sunday church service, an ambulance pulled into Wave Church's parking lot. Chris Elliott said there was no emergency.

By Ben Smith The rise of a new conservative grass-roots fueled by a secular revulsion at government spending is stirring fears among leaders of the old conservative grass-roots, the evangelical Christian right.

RICHMOND A daily ritual at the General Assembly became an occasion for protest Thursday. The Senate and House of Delegates open each day's session with a prayer, usually given by a member of the clergy at a lawmaker's invitation. Thursday's prayer in the House was given by a Muslim cleric, Imam Johari

VIRGINIA BEACH Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, an author and lecturer, will speak at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20. Spong was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years, until his retirement in 2001. His books include “Rescuing the Bible From Fundamentalism.”

KEMPSVILLE It took a long time for Rain Pryor to come to terms with her half-Jewish, half-African American roots. But she acknowledges who she is and is proud to share her story through the award-winning solo show, "Fried Chicken and Latkes."

By Jaedda Armstrong VIRGINIA BEACH Sitting at a table in a small room, Mary Lou Andrews scribbled her thoughts into her spiritual journal. A mellow country song filled the air as she and five other women dove into the pages of their journals.

CHESAPEAKE "We couldn't be there when she died. But we can be there for her now." The priest's robes flutter in the frigid breeze as he moves quickly toward the Blessed Sacrament Chapel with the square-shaped urn. He holds the gold-colored box like a treasure he must protect, because for so long, no one did.

KITTY HAWK, N.C.  What began as an offer by Outer Banks artist Glenn Eure to create wood sculptures depicting the cruxification of Christ for his church turned out to be an emotionally wrenching marathon that tested his mettle and deepened his spirituality.

VIRGINIA BEACH Betsy Karotkin has lived a good part of her life here. So when her time comes, she'd like to be buried close to home and among her fellow Jews. Jews have traditionally liked to have their own burial areas, where the land is consecrated by Jewish prayer, said Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Congregation Beth Chaverim in Virginia Beach.