Gay marriage OK in Oregon county_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

Gay marriage OK in Oregon county

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Oregon's most populous county began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples March 3, marking the latest incident of local officials following the lead of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in allowing the practice.

Two gay men and two lesbians wed each other at a hotel in downtown Portland.

A majority of Multnomah County commissioners reportedly decided to proceed after the county's attorney issued an opinion that such marriages would not violate state law.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Regional convocations for Hispanic laity seek to inspire, train and equip_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

Regional convocations for Hispanic
laity seek to inspire, train and equip

By Orville Scott

Texas Baptist Communications

TYLER–About 200 East Texas laymen and pastors were challenged at Hillcrest Hispanic Baptist Church recently to join hands and hearts with others in missions and ministries to reach an estimated 7 million Hispanics in Texas.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texas Baptist Forum_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Gratitude to Jews

I'm neither anti-Semitic, nor do I have animosity toward the Jewish people regarding Christ's death.

To lay blame on anyone is to say that his death was a mistake. Not only was it not a mistake, it was prophecy, and there was no way around it. Our sins, particularly those of Gentiles, could have never been pardoned in any other fashion. God allowed his chosen people to carry out a task for which they would forever be ostracized, persecuted and, in some cases, killed, for their role. That God trusted the Jews to carry out this task is a testament to his love for his original “chosen people.” Sometimes, you have to be the heavy to accomplish the tough tasks.

Still, I don't get the anti-Semitism aspect (of the accounts of Christ's passion). Christians owe the Jews an enormous debt of gratitude for bringing on God's kingdom, through Jesus Christ, and for playing a part in building the bridge that allows redemption for the “un-chosen people.”

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Oath trumps court order, Moore claims_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

Oath trumps court order, Moore claims

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP)–Attorneys for Alabama's former chief justice have asked for his reinstatement, claiming Roy Moore did not commit an ethical violation when he defied a federal court's order last year.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

On the Move_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

On the Move

Ronnie Aubrey to Trinity Church in Reno as pastor.

Jekabs Bikis to First Church in Richardson as pastoral intern.

Ken Cannon to First Church in Paris as associate pastor for pastoral ministries, outreach and singles. He had been church administrator there.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

‘Passion’ too intense for most young children, ministry leaders suggest_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

'Passion' too intense for most young
children, ministry leaders suggest

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Christians may want everyone to hear the gospel, but parents should be wary of letting their younger children view Mel Gibson's “The Passion of the Christ,” according to faith leaders.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Quilting bee-lievers at First Baptist Church in Plano_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

Quilting bee-lievers at First Baptist Church in Plano

By George Henson

Staff Writer

PLANO–Needle and thread can be prime tools for ministry, Margaret Shafer believes. And she is teaching women both inside and outside her church to use them.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Twister wrecks Seymour church gym_30804

Posted: 3/05/04 Twister wrecks Seymour church gym A tornado destroyed the gym at First Baptist Church in Seymour shortly after noon March 4. Marion Fonville, director of missions for Salt…

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Show Christ’s love by working to renew communities, student leaders told_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

Show Christ's love by working to renew
communities, student leaders told

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SHREVEPORT, La.–Christians can pull the United States out of societal decline by reaching out to their neighbors as Christ would, a community renewal activist told student leaders.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

TBM names Smith executive director, agrees to work with SBTC on disaster relief ministry_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

TBM names Smith executive director,
agrees to work with SBTC on disaster relief ministry

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

AQUILLA–Texas Baptist Men's board of directors named an executive director, signed an agreement to work with Southern Baptists of Texas Convention-affiliated disaster relief units and outlined the group's new meeting schedule.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texas Tidbits_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

Texas Tidbits

Dennehy case against Baylor dismissed. McLennan County's 19th Judicial District Court entered an order dismissing all claims against Baylor University by Patrick Dennehy Sr. individually and as a representative of the estate of his son, a former Baylor basketball player. Baylor University issued a public statement saying: "The court's ruling followed well-established law that a university has no legal duty to prevent one of its students from committing a criminal act while off the premises at an event not sponsored by the university. Baylor deeply regrets the tragic and untimely death of Patrick Dennehy Jr. but is gratified that the court has clearly ruled that neither Baylor nor its representatives were responsible for this unfortunate event."

Hardin-Simmons receives foundation grants. The Shelton Foundation of Abilene has awarded Hardin-Simmons University $900,000 for two projects. The university received a $450,000 grant to help establish and fund a Neighborhood Enhancement Center for four years. The center will be responsible for the oversight of programs aimed at improving the overall appearance and quality of life in the neighborhood near the campus. It will include Habitat for Humanity projects, a literacy program, a volunteer program for teenagers and establishment of a Friendship House aimed at community renewal. Another $450,000 grant will enable the school to build an effluent water pipeline and use the reclaimed water for irrigation on the campus.

ETBU names student life director. Tony Davis has been named director of student life at East Texas Baptist University. He succeeds David Brooks, who was promoted to vice president for student services. As director of student life, Davis will be responsible for supervising resident directors of student housing, enforcing university disciplinary policies and overseeing the school's computer identification access system. Davis served previously as manager of technical services with ETBU physical facilities.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Together: BGCT will honor churches’ decisions_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

TOGETHER:
BGCT will honor churches' decisions

Since New Testament times, churches have met human needs and responded to missions challenges through cooperation. This principle has been imbedded in the heart of churches since the Apostle Paul gathered offerings to help the Jerusalem church through days of persecution and hunger.

Baptist churches in America, however, were so committed to local-church autonomy that they were slow to see how they could combine resources to accomplish more for God than they could do alone. Slowly but surely, Baptists began to see how they could pool their mission offerings and do together something necessary and good for God's work.

The Cooperative Program came into existence as state conventions agreed to work with the Southern Baptist Convention in raising funds for missions, evangelism, Christian education and benevolence. Since 1925, the Baptist General Convention of Texas has been a generous contributor–often the most generous of any state convention–to Southern Baptist ministries across the nation and world.

03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge