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  Truett conference speakers issue wake-up call to Christians_30804

  Posted: 3/05/04

  Truett conference speakers issue wake-up call to Christians

  By Marv Knox

  Editor

  WACO–Ministers can continue to serve God only because of the divine call upon their lives, David Garland told parti-cipants at the second annual pastors' and laymen's conference at George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

  03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

• Leaders say drastic shift in youth ministry needed for the 21st century needs_30804

  Posted: 3/05/04

  Leaders say drastic shift in youth
  ministry needed for the 21st century needs

  By Brent Thompson

  Southwestern Seminary

  FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–Concerned that the late-20th century model of youth ministry is flawed, a group of prominent youth leaders has issued a call for a new model that could lead to a “seismic shift” in church youth ministry philosophy, training and leadership.

  03/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  BGCT begins effort to craft vision for the future_22304

  Posted: 2/27/04

  BGCT begins effort to craft vision for the future

  By Ferrell Foster

  Texas Baptist Communications

  DALLAS—The Baptist General Convention of Texas has launched a process of “revisioning” that is expected to lead to reorganization of the convention’s work.

  03/01/2004 - By John Rutledge

• Texas Baptist leader Billy Ray Parmer dies in car crash_22304

  Posted: 3/01/04

  Texas Baptist leader dies in car crash

  By John Hall
  

  Texas Baptist Communications
  

  Billy Ray Parmer, president of Gloria al Padre and former two-time Baptist General Convention of Texas second vice president, died Feb. 28 in a car crash outside Abernathy.

  03/01/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Cybercolumn for 3/01 by Brett Younger: A day out in the snow_22304

  Posted: 3/01/04

  CYBERCOLUMN:
  A day out in the snow

  By Brett Younger
  

  On Saturday, Feb. 14, we had the best snow in Fort Worth in years, so our family decided to take a long walk. I assumed I would end up catching snowballs with my back and wore old clothes—a pair of jeans that Carol doesn’t allow me to wear in public because they’re holy in a bad way, tennis shoes, sweatshirt and an overcoat. The only thing I took with me was my keys, which I carefully put in my pocket.
  

  The snow was gorgeous. The kids on our block were making anorexic snowmen. Years of living in Fort Worth have kept them from any understanding of how to make a proper snowman. We had a street full of snow pillars that would embarrass Frosty.

  Brett Younger

  03/01/2004 - By John Rutledge

• Sloan criticizes Lariat editorial supporting gay marriage_22304

  Posted: 3/01/04

  Sloan criticizes Lariat editorial supporting gay marriage

  By Marv Knox
  

  Editor
  

  WACO-—A Baylor University student newspaper editorial supporting gay marriage deviates from “traditional Christian teachings” and “comes dangerously close to violating university policy,” Baylor President Robert Sloan said.

  03/01/2004 - By John Rutledge

• COMMENTARY: Keep the government’s nose out of our seminaries_22304

  Posted: 3/01/04

  COMMENTARY:
  Keep the government’s nose out of our seminaries

  By Brent Thompson
  

  Amid all the publicity from Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ,” few Christians will likely notice that the Supreme Court quietly published an opinion that may have just as much impact on the lives of churches and ministers as the movie. On Feb. 26 in the case of Locke vs. Davey, the Supreme Court decided 7-2 that the neither the establishment nor free exercise clauses of the First Amendment require states to fund religious instruction.
  

  High-profile advocates such as Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice and Solicitor General Theodore Olsen argued that states should be required to fund religious instruction if they also fund secular instruction. The state of Washington argued that the principle of separation of church and state prohibits funding of religious studies.

  If groups of churches or denominations want well-trained ministers, they should set up and fund their own seminaries, colleges and Bible schools –Brent Thompson

  03/01/2004 - By John Rutledge

• ‘Passion’ reviews take issue with violence, lack of context_22304

  Posted: 2/27/04

  ‘Passion’ reviews take issue with violence, lack of context

  By Robert Marus

  Associated Baptist Press

  WASHINGTON (ABP)—The reviews of “The Passion of the Christ” are in—and while both Christian and secular observers offered praise for it, many of the same reviewers also took significant issue with the movie.

  02/27/2004 - By John Rutledge

• Church connection key in marketing ‘Passion’_22304

  Posted: 2/27/04

  Church connection key in marketing ‘Passion’

  By Ted Parks

  Associated Baptist Press

  LOS ANGELES (ABP)—Once upon a time, pastors warned churchgoers against the evils of the silver screen. Now they are packing believers and unchurched guests alike into movie houses across the land.

  02/27/2004 - By John Rutledge

• Leaders warn ‘The Passion’ not for most children_22304

  Posted: 2/27/04

  Leaders warn ‘The Passion’ not for most children

  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.

  02/27/2004 - By John Rutledge

• Internet buzzing as non-Christians debate ‘Passion’_22304

  Posted: 2/27/04

  Internet buzzing as non-Christians debate 'Passion'

  By John Hall

  Texas Baptist Communications

  While many Christians have geared up for Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” to be the greatest evangelistic opportunity since Pentecost, non-Christian reaction to the film has been mixed.

  02/27/2004 - By John Rutledge

• CBF must avoid partisan politics, Vestal urges_22304

  Posted: 2/27/04

  CBF must avoid partisan politics, Vestal urges

  By John Pierce

  Baptists Today

  ATLANTA (ABP)—”We are not going to be involved in secular politics,” Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinator Daniel Vestal told the CBF Coordinating Council at its winter meeting in Atlanta.

  02/27/2004 - By John Rutledge