Posted: 1/23/04

Around the State

Gaye Christy has been hired as administrative assistant to President Bob Riley, and Joey Sutton is a new admissions counselor at East Texas Baptist University.

Karl Tingle, pastor of Casa View Church in Dallas, recently received the doctor of ministry degree from New Orleans Seminary, and Blake Shipp of Austin, pastor of New Henleyfield Church in Carriere, Miss., received the doctor of philosophy degree.

Primera Iglesia in Schertz recently celebrated the retirement of the bank loan on the land where its building soon will stand. Taking part in the ceremony were church trustees Albert Rios and Juan Rodriguez, Frank Urias and Pastor Gregorio Gomez.

Events

First Church in Colleyville provided Christmas presents and fed 250 families as a part Mission Colleyville, an outreach to the impoverished near the church. Frank Harber is pastor.

The women's ministry of Park Cities Church in Dallas is sponsoring a retreat Feb. 27-28 at the Crowne Plaza Suites. Janet Denison is the featured speaker for the “Comfort in the Cross” retreat. Ticket sales are underway and will continue through Feb. 15. Costs per person range from $85 to $150. A Friday- or Saturday-only ticket is $40. For more information and ticket sales, call (214) 860-1526.

A singles' retreat sponsored by San Jacinto Association will be held Feb. 27-28 at Lake Tomahawk Encampment, between Livingston and Woodville. Ron Hill will be the speaker. The cost will be $44, and check-in will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. To register or for more information, call (281) 422-3604.

Anniversaries

Odell Daughtry, fifth, as pastor of North Bay Church in Ingleside, Jan. 10.

Judson Church in Cayuga, 150th, Sept. 19. Former pastors and members are asked to send their address to maryfrank58-@tvec.net or mail it to the church at P.O. Box 308, Cuyuga 75832. William Snidow is pastor.

Pioneer Drive Church in Abilene, 50th, Sept. 26. Former staff and members are asked to send addresses to pdbc@-pdbc.org or call (325) 692-6776. Stan Allcorn is pastor.

Retiring

Tom Pesnall, as pastor of County Line Church in Bullard after 10 years. He served in the ministry more than 30 years.

Pollock Church in Pollack honored Brunette Duncan for 85 years of service to the church. Although now 92, she still rarely misses a service. Joe Carriere is pastor.

Deaths

Hazel Moseley, 96, Dec. 19 in Mineola. She was on the staff of First Church in Amarillo 40 years as youth director and later as minister to international students. She also served on the staffs of the First Baptist churches in Dallas and San Antonio. She also taught at Southwestern Seminary. She is survived by her sister, Charm Norris.

Mildred Swanner, 97, Jan. 6 in Amarillo. A 1927 graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, she taught school in Plainview, Kress and Lockney. She later taught at Hardin-Simmons University and chaired the science department. After retiring, she moved to Mc-Kinney, where she was active at the Heard Museum and First Church. She is survived by her daughters, Peggy Patterson, Rebekah Noel and Brenda Brown; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Wilton Davis, 74, Jan. 15 in Dallas. Davis was a standout football player at Hardin-Simmons University and prominent Baptist layman. A retired real estate investor and former Dallas bank president, he was a past member and past chairman of both the HSU board of trustees and its board of development. Both he and his wife, Eddye, were members of the HSU President's Club and were longtime supporters of the university. He was the recipient of an honorary doctor of humanities degree at HSU in 1999. He also was named a recipient in 1969 of the Keeter Service Award, the highest honor for alumni of HSU, and was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame. He was an active Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builder and was president of Texas Baptist Men from 1986 to 1989 and from 1992 to 1994. He took part in 147 building projects. He was president of the TBM Forever Foundation at the time of his death. He was an active member and deacon at First Church in Dallas 40 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years in 2003. He is survived by his daughters, Dana Smith, Deon Spearman and Darice Rutledge; sisters, Patsy Dillard and Barbara Miles; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Licensed

Paul Harris to the ministry at First Church in Carey.

Ordained

Brandon Webb to the ministry at Westbury Church in Houston.

Justin Lopez to the ministry at Alamo Heights Church in Port Lavaca.

Brent Neumann to the ministry at First Church in Denton.

Rodney Norville to the ministry at Lindale Church in Houston.

Archie Baker as a deacon at Midway Church in Dayton.

Thomas Burke as a deacon at Westbury Church in Houston.

Rob Banta, Pat Cullum, Jack Dodgen, Jeff Hampton, Gayle Lawson and Mellissa Moudy as deacons at Wilshire Church in Dallas.

Jody Cummings, Eddie Garner, Brad Moyer and Steve Sappington as deacons at First Church in Lampasas.

John Richey, Neal Edwards and Stan Smith as deacons at First Church in Breckenridge.

Dan Ball, Joseph Booker, Brad Christen, Alan Currie, John Davidson, Ray Ford, James Harkness, Randy Hazlewood, Greg Lowery, Shane Peck and Rick Pitman as deacons at First Church in Friendswood.

Crews McCulloch and Hans Kreupeling as deacons at First Church in Graham.

Alan Waggoner and Lawson Lemons as deacons at First Church in Crowell.

DeValse Cox and Lane Davis as deacons at First Church in Wichita Falls.

Bob Akers and James Brokenbeck as deacons at First Church in Richardson.

Revivals

River Bend Church, Amarillo; Jan. 25-28; evangelist, Bruce Edwards; pastor, Micah Meurer.

Belvue Church, Kermit; Jan. 25-28; evangelists, Bailey Stone and Dennis North; music, Joe McClary; pastor, Gene Cannon.

Posted: 1/23/04

BGCT leaders affirm reorganization

By Marv Knox

Editor

Baptist General Convention of Texas leaders have affirmed Executive Director Charles Wade's intention to bring the convention's structure and budget in line with its priorities.

They expect the process to produce the most comprehensive reorganization of the BGCT and its Executive Board in decades.

Five elected BGCT leaders lent their support to the plan during a Jan. 21 meeting in Dallas.

It calls for Wade and BGCT President Ken Hall to appoint three study committees–one comprised of laypeople with extensive expertise in business and organizational structure, another of leading pastors and the third of Executive Board staff. Each committee will have seven to nine members–“loyal and informed BGCT people.”

The committees will act separately, each considering what must be done to make the convention most effective.

Specifically, they will suggest ways to reorganize and streamline BGCT structure and functions so maximum resources can be channeled to meet spiritual and physical needs across the state.

Each committee will report to Wade, who will work with the officers to analyze the findings and draft a reorganization/implementation proposal.

That proposal is to be presented to the BGCT Administrative Committee April 29-30 and the Executive Board May 25. If approved by the Executive Board, it will go before messengers to the BGCT annual session Nov. 8-9.

Leaders who affirmed the process included BGCT President Hall, president of Buckner Baptist Benevolences in Dallas; First Vice President Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio; and Second Vice President Dennis Young, pastor of Missouri City Baptist Church in suburban Houston.

Also Bob Fowler, chairman of the Administrative Committee and a lay member of South Main Baptist Church in Houston, and Wesley Shotwell, vice chairman of the Executive Board and pastor of Ash Creek Baptist Church in Azle.

Wade was attending a funeral and could not participate in the leaders' meeting. Phil Strickland, director of the Texas Christian Life Commission, represented Wade from the Executive Board staff.

David Currie, executive director of Texas Baptists Committed, a political organization created more than a decade ago to protect the convention from fundamentalism, also attended.

The leaders called for reorganization that will strengthen BGCT endeavors, as well as make the convention's resources more accessible and useful to the churches.

“We're about ministry and missions. That's really who we are,” Hall said. “I want to get (the convention's structure) to the practical and not the ethereal. The practical question is: What are the simple handles where the churches can tie in to the BGCT.”

The leaders cited several items they hope will be priority concerns as the reorganization committees do their work:

Educate and support Hispanic Baptists in Texas.

Strengthen partnerships with Baptists in Mexico and South America.

Expand the BGCT's connection with and support for the Baptist World Alliance. Southern Baptist Convention leaders recently proposed eliminating the SBC's support for and participation with the BWA, which affiliates with 211 Baptist conventions around the globe.

Increase support for theological education, particularly at Baylor University's Truett Seminary, Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology and Baptist University of the Americas.

Broaden the convention's racial and ethnic diversity, so that the elected leadership and employed staff of the convention “look like who we are as Texas Baptists.”

Create a “new image” of Texas Baptists across the state that will benefit churches and the convention.

Boost the BGCT's “prophetic public policy presence.”

Strengthen the BGCT's institutions and challenge institutions that are affiliated with the BGCT but “not supportive” of the convention.

Quit processing financial contributions from churches to national conventions, such as the SBC and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Welcome pastors and churches from other states that wish to affiliate with the BGCT.

Reorganize the Executive Board staff structure to help accomplish the goals.

Although some of the leaders' priorities touch on relationships with the Southern Baptist Convention, proposed reorganization is not fueled by controversy between the conventions, they said.

“This is not about politics; this is about vision,” one said. “We're not going to be a part of this fight anymore. We've got to focus on being more effective in missions, human welfare, public policy, church starting and … all the other tasks we as Texas Baptists face.”

“This is not about the SBC. It's about the future of the BGCT,” Hall insisted.

The need for reorganization is not surprising, Wade said in an interview.

“When we reorganized three years ago, I told the staff, the Administrative Committee and the Executive Board that it wouldn't be the last time we looked at the issues of structure and organization,” he said.

“I have felt for some time we need to take another look at how we are organized as a staff to ensure we are structured in a way that provides for the best possible service to our churches and institutions as we work together to advance the cause of missions throughout our state and around the world.”

The reorganization committees' work will be deliberate and prompt, he predicted.

“I don't intend for this to be an extended or complicated process. I will be looking for their best wisdom and ideas, which I can use to help us be most effective.”

Wade applauded the convention officers' willingness to take on a reorganization process.

“You've always got to be looking for the best way” to do missions and ministry, he stressed. “All of us really do want to stretch the dollars as far as we can and accomplish as much as we can. …

“But the first point is to be as effective as we can be and help the churches–meeting the real needs they have, not just the needs we think they have.”

Posted: 1/23/04

BGCT must change to avoid continued decline, officers say

By Marv Knox

Editor

The Baptist General Convention of Texas must change or continue to decline, the convention's three top officers predicted.

President Ken Hall, First Vice President Albert Reyes and Second Vice President Dennis Young announced their support for BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade's intention to reorganize the convention this year.

As the officers see it, keeping pace with the mammoth changes transforming both Texas and the BGCT is absolutely necessary.

“The evidence reveals the BGCT is a convention of malaise,” Hall conceded. “We're in decline financially. Our people are divided in our churches. They express a lack of concern for the BGCT, which indicates the need for dramatic change.”

The BGCT has lost churches since 1998, when a rival fundamentalist convention formed in the state. In addition, the recent economic recession has meant declining revenues for several years.

Reyes cited those factors as evidence of decline. “Given the indicators we have–numbers of churches, cooperative giving–I would agree we're not in the place where we once were.”

Beyond that, thorough evaluation of the convention is vital, he added, noting, “We have a whole lot of indicators that are not in place.”

For example, the convention does not know how many trained church leaders it will need by 2010.

“We need more scorecards,” Young added.

That's important because the BGCT must understand its strengths and weaknesses, as well as needs of the state and Texas Baptist churches, he said, insisting the convention cannot afford to stand still in the face of swirling change.

“The status quo is dangerous,” Young said. “Whatever the organization, we should ask each day: Can this be done differently?

“Texas demographics are changing, and the status quo is dangerous. With the status quo, there's no vision. The status quo leads to plateauing, and the only place you go is down.”

The officers, who were elected to one-year terms last November, listed several goals for the year–goals that strengthen their resolve to shepherd the convention through change.

“We've inherited the faithfulness of every Baptist who preceded us,” Reyes said. “We have the responsibility of stewardship of that faithfulness.”

Recalling Jesus' parable of the master who entrusted his resources to three of his workers, Reyes called the BGCT a “five-talent organization,” stressing God will hold the convention accountable for how it uses what it has been given.

“We must assess our resources and needs with a blank slate. We may find we have the resources we need. We may have to develop new resources.”

“Or reallocate resources,” Hall added. “Effective institutions, companies and churches occasionally evaluate resources and determine if those resources are being allocated to meet their priorities.

“Much of the BGCT's structure is organized around a 1950s and '60s model for churches. That may be best, but we need to evaluate it in light of our priorities.”

Confronting change responsibly also is a matter of credibility, Reyes said. Texas Baptists entrust their tithes and offerings to their churches, and the churches entrust a portion of those funds to the convention.

“If we don't exercise wise stewardship, then our credibility is called into question,” he explained. “However, if we are responsible, if we are willing to deal with these issues in order to be responsible stewards, then we can generate more trust.”

Another way to confront Texas' demographic changes and build trust is to diversify the convention's leadership, Young stressed.

The current officers reflect some of that diversity. Hall is Anglo. Reyes is Hispanic. Young is African-American. However, that diversity doesn't permeate all spheres of the convention, he noted.

“One of the goals I see is that the convention become even more diversified,” he said.

“We've talked about it, but it hasn't happened. If we're going to reach Texas with the gospel, then our leaders need to be representative of the diversity of the state–Anglo and Hispanic and African-American and Asian-American and all the groups that make up Texas.”

Such diversity will “add value to the kingdom” of God as outsiders see the convention's inclusive, affirming nature, he predicted.

That points to a key priority for the convention–missions and ministry, Reyes suggested.

“I know that sounds simplistic, but it's basic, helping churches do what they say their mission is,” he said. “And each church's mission will be slightly different, according to its context and needs. We shouldn't presuppose we know what the churches need.”

Responding to churches' needs is critical, Hall concurred. “Missions and ministry is a domestic, local, state, national and worldwide issue. We must help churches and individuals fulfill the Great Commission. … And on the ministry side, I see the issues primarily in the areas of education and human justice. You can't do one without the other.”

In addition to confronting demographic and social change, the BGCT must respond to apathy toward the convention, particularly among laypeople and younger pastors, the officers agreed.

“If the BGCT went through an organizational paradigm shift–toward service, helping the churches be effective according to the missions they have set for themselves, if we went to apathetic pastors with offers to help, that would turn the focus of the convention on the churches,” Reyes predicted.

“If we were not projecting needs and solutions, but asking, 'What are your church's greatest needs, and how can we help you meet them?' then it would not be a hop, skip and a jump for the churches to support the BGCT.”

That's how WorldconneX, the BGCT's new missions movement, got started, Young said, noting, “We asked the churches how we could help them meet their needs.”

“Apathy with the BGCT is due to the status quo,” he said.

“If there were a change, if the convention were to help the churches according to their individualistic scenarios, you would see apathy derailed.”

Since two of the three officers are presidents of BGCT institutions, they acknowledged some Texas Baptists may question if they have conflicts of interest over convention reorganization. But they noted the convention also has come full circle back to historical precedent.

“It was pastors in the 1800s who created our oldest institutions,” Reyes said, pointing to a chronological progression.

“It was institutions that trained our pastors, who started churches, which organized associations and started the convention. … We're right in line with our heritage.

“And just because we're institutional leaders does not mean we're not loyal Texas Baptists who are concerned about winning our state to Christ.”

Hall attributed his election to his institutional position.

“Don't think the president was elected because of his extraordinary gifts, but because I'm president of Buckner,” he said.

“Our founder (R.C. Buckner) was there at the beginning of the convention, served as convention president for 19 years during some of its darkest days and presided with a rose in his hand, leading the convention to reconciliation.”

Citing the BGCT's 23 institutions by name, Hall said: “The BGCT only has a bright future when it rallies around its strengths and not its weaknesses. We are some of its strengths.”

The officers affirmed their role in the midst of changing circumstances.

“The people who asked us to run said, 'We need dramatic change,'” Hall reported as the other two nodded in agreement. “We've been perceived as change agents.”

“Everything about our society has gone through radical change, from technology to demographics,” Reyes said.

Organizations that refuse to change are doomed to failure, he added.

“We must ask two questions: What's our business? How's our business?” he added.

“We have the opportunity to lead, to say, 'This is how you stay effective in a post-modern, post-Christian … era.'”

Posted: 1/23/04

Baptist Briefs

BWA comes to Texas. Baptist World Alliance President Billy Kim and BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz will address a rally at Plano's First Baptist Church, 1300 E. 15th St., at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. The event also will feature performances by the 60-member children's choir from Central Baptist Church of Suwon, Korea. Earlier that day, the choir will present a chapel concert at Dallas Baptist University, and Kim will speak during a luncheon at the university.

FBC Dallas sets Lottie record. First Baptist Church of Dallas gave more than $1 million through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions in 2003, more than four times its gift the previous year. It was twice as large as the biggest sum ever sent through the Lottie Moon Offering to fund Southern Baptists' mission work beyond North America. As of Dec. 28, the church's offering stood at $1.16 million.

Patterson appoints first faculty. Steven Smith has joined the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary faculty as professor of preaching, and Octavio Esqueda has been named professor of Christian education and administration. They mark the first presidential faculty appointments by Paige Patterson at Southwestern. Smith, the son of evangelist Bailey Smith, has been pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., for eight years. He is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds a doctor's degree from Regent University. He has served on the Southern Baptist Convention's Committee on Committees and Committee on Resolutions, and he has been president of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia pastors' conference. Esqueda, a graduate of the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, received a master of arts in Christian education degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of North Texas.

New Orleans approves new housing. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees have approved a new suite-style apartment for single students. The complex will house 120 students and is expected to be open for occupancy in January 2005.

CBF sponsors retreat. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will sponsor its annual "current" retreat for young leaders Feb. 18-21 at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. Worship leaders include Wilshire Pastor George Mason, Diana Garland of Baylor University and David Burroughs of Passport. For more information about the retreat schedule and registration, see www.currentonline.org.

Endowed chair established. New Orleans Seminary received a gift from William and Carolyn Heard to establish the Greer-Heard Chair of Philosophy and Culture and to fund the Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum. The Heards endowed the chair to establish a permanent professorship in philosophy. The forum will be a lecture and dialogue series held annually on the New Orleans campus. Speakers will discuss critical issues in philosophy, science, religion and culture from evangelical and secular perspectives.

CBF receives $2 million gift. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has received a $2 million anonymous contribution from a member of First Baptist Church in Gainesville, Ga. The gift will be distributed among CBF Global Missions and CBF of Georgia in keeping with the donor's wishes.

Akin elected seminary president. Trustees of Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary unanimously elected Daniel Akin as the school's sixth president. Akin, who previously served at Southeastern as assistant professor of theology and dean of students from 1992 to 1996, was vice president for academic administration and dean of the school of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a graduate of Criswell College, Southwestern Seminary and the University of Texas at Arlington.

Posted: 1/23/04

SBC leaders' BWA proposal sparks
international response, no reversal

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

NASHVILLE (ABP)–Despite pleas from Baptists around the world, there appears little chance Southern Baptist leaders will reverse or delay their plan to withdraw the Southern Baptist Convention from the Baptist World Alliance, the 99-year-old international fellowship it helped create.

Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee and chair of the study committee that proposed the break, declined to predict if the nine-member committee would reconsider.

“I will raise the matter for discussion in a conference call with the committee within the next two weeks,” he told Associated Baptist Press in an e-mail interview Jan. 15. But, Chapman added, “the position we have taken makes it very difficult to consider delaying or withdrawing the proposal. ”

In several e-mails to overseas BWA leaders, Chapman reiterated the committee's intention to use the money the SBC sends to the BWA–until recently, $450,000–to form an SBC-led alternative organization that would be run by the Executive Committee.

Several other study committee members–including denominational executives Paige Patterson and Jimmy Draper–could not be reached for comment. The committee's proposal will be presented to the SBC Executive Committee in February and, if approved, to the Southern Baptist Convention in June.

International response

The study committee's mid-December proposal sparked immediate objections from Baptists on six continents, including leaders from Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Sri Lanka, Romania, Russia and Norway.

Chapman acknowledged the criticism, as well as some support, but said the committee will not respond hastily.

“I need to wait long enough to give opportunity for most of those who are inclined to write to do so, in order that any evaluation the committee may make will be based upon a good cross-section of responders,” he told ABP.

“I feel obligated to keep the whole matter as low-key as possible. This means I may have to live with the public criticisms of Southern Baptist leadership until we have something to say that is well thought out before release.”

World Baptist leaders are protesting both the SBC's planned pullout and the allegations of liberalism the SBC says justifies the move.

“We declare unacceptable the allegation of liberalism made by the committee,” said Latin American Baptist leaders in one of the strongest statements.

“We deplore the recommendation of this committee,” the statement continued, “and we urge strongly the Executive Committee and the assembly of the SBC to reject this recommendation outright, so that this great organization may remain as a member of the BWA and may continue supporting its funding.”

The official statement was signed by seven Latin American leaders from four countries, including Fausto Aguiar de Vasconcelos of Brazil, president of the Union of Baptists in Latin America, and two BWA vice presidents.

A similar statement was issued by another of the six regional BWA groups, the European Baptist Federation, which covers Europe and the Middle East. The EBF executive committee pleaded with Southern Baptists to maintain the unity of worldwide Baptists.

“Do we realize how much our witness to the world will be harmed when we try to explain that we are different groups of Baptists who cannot work together?” the European leaders asked. “One of the biggest tragedies of contemporary Christianity is division.”

Baptists in Italy said the worldwide Baptist fellowship had been wounded and “enfeebled” by the SBC action, which was “made on the basis of false motivations and pretexts.”

The union's executive committee blamed the action on “fundamentalism, with its tendency towards intolerance and sectarianism.” That tendency “is the antithesis of our own Baptist tradition,” which owes much to the influence of Southern Baptist missionaries, the Italians said.

In a separate letter to Chapman, Branko Lovrec, a BWA vice president from Europe and former president of the Baptist Union of Croatia, said: “We are trying to develop Christian relationship with the similar evangelical(s) and other Christians in the specific countries and worldwide, and all of a sudden such news has been like a bomb. … I will devote my time to prayer that God can intervene and settle the matter so that we may not be ashamed before the unbelieving world, who will only rejoice in our separation.”

SBC leadership responds

Chapman, in his response to Lovrec, said the intention of the SBC proposal is not to sever relationships with Baptists worldwide but to relate to them directly, not through the BWA.

“While Southern Baptists certainly believe one of our objectives should be to promote unity in the body, we also wish to concentrate upon other matters critical to the spiritual well-being of every nation in the world, including our own,” the SBC leader said.

Chapman said the need for worldwide evangelism is paramount.

“Our heart's desire is to allocate the funding that has been going to the BWA for the purpose of coordinating conferences in other countries, if and when the Lord should guide other Baptist leaders to invite us,” Chapman wrote.

“In our missions, publishing and seminary education organizations, we have a host of people who are trained to lead conferences on a variety of topics, including Bible study, evangelism, church growth, etc.”

In his interview with ABP, Chapman said “no contingency plans were discussed” when the committee adopted its proposal.

“The SBC/BWA Study Committee did not decide to recommend withdrawal from the BWA as a tactic to reach an unstated goal of pressing for change in the BWA,” he explained.

“The recommendation is an honest expression of the conclusions reached unanimously by the committee. The last thing we would want is to be perceived as having decided upon the recommendation as a means of generating discussion and concessions.

“The committee members made a decision based upon over five years of appealing in various ways to BWA staff to hear our concerns,” he continued. “They listened but did not hear. We felt we had no other alternative, lest we become a problem for the organization and its staff, which is something we did not want to happen. As a result, the position we have taken makes it very difficult to consider delaying or withdrawing the proposal.”

New network proposed

The proposal from the SBC study committee suggests creating a new worldwide network of “conservative evangelical Christians.”

Some of the more conservative Baptist bodies around the world already have expressed interest in the new SBC-led organization, the committee said, raising the possibility of two competing worldwide organizations of Baptists.

But Latin America Baptists, a traditionally conservative group that said they consider themselves the “younger brothers of the SBC” because of the evangelistic work of Southern Baptist missionaries, said they want nothing to do with the new organization.

“We take the liberty of pointing out to our older brothers that, not only are we unwilling–under any circumstances–to go along with their efforts to create a new, parallel organization to the BWA,” the leaders said. “But, furthermore, we categorically reject the possibility.”

The Latin leaders also denounced charges of liberalism against BWA, which they called “a Christ-centered and Bible-centered organization.”

Allegations refuted

The report from the SBC study committee, which was drafted by Paige Patterson, accused the Baptist World Alliance of “advocating aberrant and dangerous theologies”–specifically, questioning biblical inerrancy, promoting women as pastors, and downplaying the doctrine of salvation only through Jesus.

The report also accused an unnamed German theologian of denying the Great Commission, Jesus' command to make disciples of all people, during a 1997 BWA-related meeting.

Ian Chapman, chair of the BWA theological education work group that organized the meeting, said that accusation “is totally false.”

“I am also saddened by the untrue statements that the (study committee) has leveled against the BWA to justify the SBC leaving,” Ian Chapman said in a statement.

“Over the past 10 years, I have served as the chair of the theological education work group and the doctrine and interchurch cooperation commission. Not once during these years have I heard a central doctrine of the Christian faith challenged.

“Never have I heard anyone deny the deity of Christ, the authority and inspiration of Scripture, personal salvation through Christ or Christ's atoning work on the cross.

“The charge of 'liberalism' leveled against the BWA is totally without foundation.”

Denton Lotz, BWA general secretary, agreed the organization–which counts 43 million Baptists worldwide–is not liberal.

“Actually, scholars have shown just the opposite, that the BWA has been more evangelical than ever,” he said in an editorial on the BWA website.

Meanwhile, several BWA leaders–including president Billy Kim of South Korea–insist the SBC's planned pullout is in response not to the BWA's theological stance but its granting of membership to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

The CBF, which broke away from the SBC in 1991 after battling similar Southern Baptist charges of liberalism, was admitted to the BWA in 2003 after a three-year process and over the objections of Southern Baptist representatives.

“Yet the CBF is not mentioned in the SBC document outlining why they are proposing withdrawal,” added Lotz. “Suddenly many accusations are made but CBF is not mentioned. And yet in Rio, SBC leaders came to us and said, 'If they (CBF) are in, we're out!'”

Despite the resounding support from leaders worldwide, Lotz told ABP no official action or protest from the Virginia-based organization is likely before the SBC Executive Committee meets Feb. 16.

The BWA's executive committee isn't set to meet until March, he said, and a special meeting is out of the question.

Both Lotz and Kim will speak at a rally in support of the Baptist World Alliance Jan. 27 at First Baptist Church in Plano. Feb. 1 is Baptist World Alliance Day on the denominational calendar.

Baptist World Aid defended

Leaders of BWA also responded to the SBC committee's accusation that Baptist World Aid, its relief and development arm, funds “questionable enterprises.”

Robert Ricker, an American who has chaired the BWAid committee for five years, asked the SBC committee to explain the accusation.

“The projects are great needs, handled through Baptist churches, monitored for efficiency and effectiveness,” Ricker said in a news release.

“Funds are dispersed under careful guidelines with high standards of accountability and with extremely low overhead.

“That any of our Baptist fellowships have unhappiness with BWAid is news to us,” Ricker said, “and we are sorry we were not talked to about it, including by the many members of the SBC who have served over the years on our BWAid board and executive committee. Scripture asks us that we go direct, not through national and international mailings.”

WMU reaction

National Woman's Missionary Union came out in support of the Baptist World Alliance Jan. 12, breaking ranks with the Southern Baptist leaders who want to withdraw SBC membership and funding.

Echoing the sentiment of other international Baptist groups, the WMU executive board issued a call for unity among the world's Baptists.

The WMU board addressed some observers' fear that an SBC-BWA split will divide Baptists worldwide into two competing camps, since the SBC has announced plans to start an alternative organization.

“As members of the body of Christ, we need each other–to pray for one another, to encourage one another, to learn from one another, and to stand together in one accord as a strong and bold witness to a lost world,” said Wanda Lee, WMU executive director-treasurer, who also serves on the BWA executive committee.

During a retreat near WMU's Birmingham headquarters, the group's executive committee affirmed the 93-year relationship between WMU and the BWA's women's department, which WMU helped form in 1911. Many of the leaders told how relationships built through the Baptist World Alliance changed their lives, according to a WMU news release.

In addition to unity and reconciliation, the WMU leaders encouraged prayer for Baptists “to have a strong, bold and credible witness; for wisdom, discernment and courage to do God's will; for a spirit of humility; for compassion for all people; and for comfort and relief for those who are persecuted for voicing their convictions,” the release said.

“It is through fellowship with Christ and other Christians that we experience personal growth and develop a deeper understanding of the needs around the world,” added Lee. “In the context of our missions task, it is through this fellowship that we become more effective as we grow in our passion and a sense of urgency to be light in a dark world.”

With approximately 1 million members, Woman's Missionary Union is considered the world's largest Protestant women's mission organization.

The 116-year-old organization educates and involves women, men and children in Christian missions.

Although not under the control of the SBC, WMU raises much of the money Southern Baptists spend on missions. In 1993, WMU declined the SBC's request to surrender its auxiliary role and become an agency of the SBC.

In its statement of support for the Baptist World Alliance, WMU said it also will continue to promote and support the annual Baptist Women's World Day of Prayer offering, which provides the only funding for BWA's women's department.

Like WMU, approximately 40 Baptist unions worldwide have some form of women's organization that relates to BWA's women's department, which functions as an auxiliary to the BWA.

Posted: 1/23/04

Study shows charitable choice based on false assumptions

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–A new study suggests one of the main arguments for government funding of religious social-service providers might be based on false assumptions.

Researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis reported on a three-year study of the effectiveness of faith-based social-service pro-viders recently.

The project, by researchers from the university's Center for Urban Policy, is the most comprehensive study of the issue since 1996, when Congress enabled government funding of social services through churches and other religious organizations.

President Bush has attempted to further expand the number of government programs that can provide funding to religious charities.

Although advocates of the so-called “charitable-choice” programs often argue that religiously motivated charities are more effective at providing social services than their governmental or secular counterparts, the study's researchers concluded otherwise.

Among other results, the Charitable Choice Research Project found:

Religious organizations operating job-training programs placed 31 percent of their clients in full-time employment, while secular job-training organizations placed 53 percent of their clients.

Those placed in jobs from secular job-training programs were more likely to have health benefits and to work more hours than were graduates of religious programs.

“Relatively few” new religious groups in the states studied have begun accepting government money to perform social services.

Many opponents of charitable choice argue providing government grants to pervasively religious groups violates the Constitution's ban on government endorsement of religion.

Federal courts have made it clear that direct government funds cannot go to fund worship, devotional activity or other inherently religious acts.

However, the White House and other charitable-choice advocates have argued religious groups can use public funds for the secular aspects of their work while maintaining their religious character in other parts of their work.

The study's authors conclude that may be impossible to enforce.

“We found that states did not monitor constitutional violations and did little to educate (religious) contractors about constitutional compliance,” said Sheila Suess Kennedy, the project's lead researcher and a law professor at the university.

“We also found that congregational leaders had little familiarity with applicable constitutional constraints.”

In one part of the survey, 67 percent of congregational leaders who took what researchers described as “a simple questionnaire” on constitutional issues were unaware that government money cannot pay for devotional activities, such as prayer and Bible study.

The project studied religious and secular social-service providers in Indiana, Massachusetts and North Carolina.

Posted: 1/23/04

ANOTHER VIEW:
What are 'questionable enterprises'?

By Paul Montacute

It is now several weeks since leaders of Baptist World Aid asked the chair of the Southern Baptist Convention's committee on its relationship to the Baptist World Alliance to substantiate its accusation that the BWA has funded “questionable enterprises through Baptist World Aid.”

On Dec. 23, BWAid leaders wrote to Morris Chapman, asking for details of these “questionable enterprises.” Receiving no reply, a message was sent Jan. 5. Chapman replied: “There is no need to worry about an answer. Should the committee desire to expand on their original statement, I will send it to you.”

The BWAid leaders immediately replied they were “amazed that such a powerful committee of Southern Baptist leaders would make unsubstantiated accusations against a Christian ministry without the immediate ability to provide evidence of such 'questionable enterprises.'”

Pointing out that “time is of the essence here,” the BWAid leaders asked that “if you cannot immediately provide the evidence to back this allegation, please have the graciousness to retract it publicly right away, before any more harm is done to those involved in Christian ministry to 'the least of these' around the world, and the people they are assisting in his name.”

Chapman in his reply of Jan. 6 said: “I didn't say the statements were unsubstantiated. Had the committee planned to retract what we said, we would have had no reason to say it.”

This response left BWAid leaders wondering what these “questionable enterprises” are.

Looking back over 13 years of service with the BWA, I wonder, was it questionable to:

Feed and provide shelter 10 years ago for the hundreds of thousands of Rwandan refugees who fled genocide?

Provide pastors in Eastern Europe with Bibles, commentaries and other Christian literature?

Ship Bibles to Cuba?

Care for those who are HIV positive and AIDS-orphaned children?

Ship food to Moscow in the frozen winters?

Erect schools, clinics and other buildings for our Baptist conventions around the world?

Work with indigenous national leadership, empowering and enabling them in their humanitarian ministries?

Stand in the shoes of the most downtrodden at times of desperate need?

Encourage collaborative responses, such as in Baptist Relief Europe, so small and large groups of Baptists could be involved?

Care for those suffering from nearly a decade of war in the Balkans?

Support the Burmese refugees in the forest camps along the border with Thailand?

Pioneer agricultural projects so that villagers could learn to feed themselves?

Assist in rescuing and caring for those impacted by earthquakes and floods?

If these are questionable enterprises, then I am glad Baptist World Aid has been a part of them.

You can show your support for Baptist World Aid by sending donations to 405 North Washington Street, Falls Church, Va. 22045. Information on BWAid projects can be found at www.bwanet.org and BWAid@ Bwanet.org.

Paul Montacute is director of Baptist World Aid

Posted: 1/23/04

GUEST EDITORIAL:
Southern Baptists' rupture with BWA will wreck witness

By Jim Williams

A decision by the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee to recommend that the SBC withdraw complete funding support for the Baptist World Alliance will be tragic. Should that happen, my prayer is that messengers to the convention annual meeting next summer will vote it down and restore full support.

In a recent newsletter, BWA Executive Director Denton Lotz tells about a Baptist body in Northern India that had been “at war” for several years. Internal infighting was so intense that one person was actually murdered. Lotz and some of the BWA staff recently led that group in a reconciliation process, and it appears that unity has been restored to a once-divided Baptist convention.

How I long for such a spirit of reconciliation to take place in the Southern Baptist Convention. Though no one has been physically murdered, many godly men and women have been “slaughtered” on the altar of political control.

It's been said many times and in many ways, but let me say it again: The real issue here, as it has been since the beginning of the SBC controversy, is not theology (doctrine), but political control.

Before the so-called “controversy,” there were elements of liberalism in the SBC. But it was minimal, and we already had mechanisms in place that could have weeded out the isolated problems.

Most Southern Baptists, including those who have been excluded by current leadership, are very conservative, Bible-believing followers of Christ who long to see people everywhere come to know Jesus as personal Savior and to cooperate with each other in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Historically, we have placed high emphasis on the absolute authority of the Bible, evangelism/missions, local church autonomy, the priesthood of all believers, religious liberty, and the separation of church and state.

We have celebrated our “unity in diversity” and have respected differences of opinion on issues that were subject to interpretation. These are the same kind of Baptists who make up the member bodies of the Baptist World Alliance.

In my humble judgment, the Baptist World Alliance is a beautiful example of global Baptist witness and cooperation. It has never demonstrated a party spirit and has modeled servant leadership in its service to Baptist bodies now numbering above 200.

I have been personally involved in the BWA for many years, serving on the General Council and on commissions and committees. Never have I detected a party spirit, and charges that the BWA is influenced by liberalism are patently false. Baptists may disagree on certain issues like the ordination of women or on methodology. But we do not disagree on essential doctrines.

I am concerned that such a monumental decision will be decided by a dwindling number of messengers who attend the SBC annual meeting.

Let me encourage each messenger to prayerfully ask questions like: How will this decision impact global gospel witness? What difficulties will this create for missionaries who relate to national Baptist bodies–conventions? Do we realize how much of our witness to the world will be harmed because we cannot work together? What would Jesus think about this as a response to his prayer “that they may all be one … so that the world may believe” (John 17:21)?

Never in our history have Baptists been better blessed with financial resources. Never have Baptists had greater opportunity to join hands in fulfilling the Great Commission. Never have Baptists had more compelling reasons to model “agape” love to and in a world where nihilism, hatred and violence are rampant.

If this be true, then why should the global Baptist family be further fragmented? Why should we have to reinvent the wheel by establishing another global Baptist fellowship? Why can't we be big in spirit, in love, in forgiveness, in benevolence toward one another and in repentance ask God to bring renewal to the whole body just as he did with that Baptist convention in India.

I pray this will happen and plead with fellow Southern Baptists to keep our historic relationship with the Baptist World Alliance in place.

Jim Williams, executive director of the Baptist Medical-Dental Fellowship, is former executive director of the SBC Brotherhood Commission

Posted: 1/23/04

DBU launches Christian education
and leadership school, names dean

Dallas Baptist University has opened a School of Leadership and Christian Education that will offer master's degrees in Christian education and higher education.

The idea for the graduate-level Christian education program grew out of students' requests to learn more about serving in the ministry and equipping the laity, according to Bernie Spooner, newly appointed dean of the school.

“We found that many students and practitioners had most of the knowledge base to serve in a church, but they were uncertain how to implement this knowledge,” he explained.

DBU President Gary Cook asked Spooner in March 2003 if he would head the new program. Spooner worked in Baptist churches for 15 years and taught for two years at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary before going to the Baptist General Convention of Texas, where he served 22 years as director of the Sunday School/discipleship division. He is a graduate of Mississippi College, and he holds master's and doctoral degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Last June, DBU sent surveys to nearly 1,400 pastors, Christian educators and other ministers to discover perceived needs in training for ministry. The survey revealed a need for 27 competencies, and Spooner worked with a committee to develop the master of arts in Christian education degree plan.

“Once a student has completed 30 hours of core course work, plus 12 hours in a concentration, he or she will be prepared to serve as a minister of education, minister of adults, minister of youth, minister of childhood education, a college-campus minister, and in other Christian education roles,” he said.

The degree program includes field experience in a supervised ministry setting.

“We are learning that 'field-based ministry' provides incredible hands-on as well as service learning experiences to students,” said Judy Morris, director of the program. “Our goal at DBU is to assist students in taking the classroom knowledge and applying it in a field related to their desired ministry. This may involve doing field work at a hospital, a daycare, a church or even at a mission point.”

In addition to Spooner, DBU also has added one other dean, an associate dean and two new professors to its faculty.

Jeremy Dutschke has been appointed dean of the College of Adult Education. Robert Brooks has been selected associate dean for the College of Fine Arts, and he also will serve as the chair of the music department. Debbie Bigler has joined the DBU faculty as assistant professor of education and Nancy McLaughlin as assistant professor of education.

Posted: 1/23/04

DOWN HOME:
Tasty temptation to test Cowboys

Here we are, just a few days before the Super Bowl, and I'm already worried about next season.

Don't get me wrong. I'm shocked and amazed–and thrilled–with how Bill Parcells turned the Cowboys around this season. (Apologies to the Texans. In the far north Panhandle, I grew up closer to, oh, the moon than to Houston. So don't hold my lifelong love of the Cowboys against me. It's a quirk of geography. There; I said it. Don't we all feel better?)

Last summer, when Joanna and I took our Tennessee friends Brent and Jackie to the Cowboys' training camp, I never would have believed those guys could go 10-6 this year and make the playoffs. Terrific. One of the great turn-arounds in modern sports history.

But I'm holding out precious little hope for next year.

It's like this: Last week, the nation's fastest-growing donut franchise–I can't tell you its name, but it rhymes with “Misty Scheme”–opened a new store in Irving.

I'm not saying it's close to the Cowboys' headquarters at Valley Ranch, but Quincy Carter could throw a day-old donut from the parking lot into the south practice field.

That's too close. Those donuts are just too good.

Unfortunately, too many of those 'Boys are just too vulnerable. The tastebud is the Achilles' heel of the typical football offensive lineman. It's his weakest physical attribute. Flash a “Hot Now” donut sign in front of an offensive lineman one too many times, and you might as well tear up his contract and look for a good orthopedic surgeon. His knees and ankles are sure to go.

And although they don't look it, wide receivers and defensive backs are even more at-risk. They may not need a forklift to get out of bed in the morning, but they also can't beat anybody if they're carrying 15 extra pounds of donut lard in their spandex britches.

Of course, I wasn't privy to Coach Parcells' parting words to this year's team. Still, I guarantee he didn't tell them “Run Slower, Jump Lower” will be the slogan for the '04 campaign.

But before you Cowboys fans jump off Texas Stadium, consider this: I might be wrong. What do I know? Maybe next year's team will bulk up on “Bill's Donut Diet” and shove everybody else off the field. So, what do I know?

I know the Cowboys will have to be disciplined–donut shop or not–if they expect to improve next year. In the off-season, they'll need to watch what they eat and train hard. When the season starts, they must work diligently, focus and stay healthy.

And that's more or less like our spiritual lives. We must discipline ourselves through prayer, Bible study, worship and service.

The spiritual stakes make the Super Bowl look like tiddlywinks.

Posted: 1/23/04

Share Christ daily, evangelists urge

RICHARDSON—Every Christian is called to be a witness for Christ daily, but each must act with God's power to be effective, according to Texas Baptist vocational evangelists at the Texas Evangelism and Missions Conference.

Christians influence others every time they step out the door, said evangelist Paul Garcia of Plano. Believers can have a positive impact on others through small acts such as smiling, opening doors and speaking encouraging words.

“Not everyone is called to be a pastor, called to be an evangelist, but we are all called to share the gospel in our daily lives,” he preached.

Fortunately for Christians, God equips believers to share their faith through daily activities, Garcia said. The Bible guides believers through lifestyle choices and inspires Christians to model Jesus' love. God gives Christians power because he is with them.

Consistency between actions and beliefs provides a quiet but continuous testimony of the gospel, according to evangelist Leroy Hassler of Gladewater. Often Christians espouse their faith but do not back it up with their lifestyle, leaving non-believers to doubt the Christian message.

“We need to see more demonstrations of faith than preaching of the word,” Hassler said.

Christians also have an advantage because non-believers want the peace that faith brings to people, Garcia confirmed. They want the assurance the Lord provides.

If believers allow the Lord to work through them, he will lead them to non-Christians who are ready to hear the gospel, Hassler said. When the Holy Spirit moves, Christians cannot stop sharing about God's work.

“If the power of God is running through your life you will have trouble not talking about Him,” he said.

Posted: 1/23/04

Deacon says sharing faith, not running
the church, his most important responsibility

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

RICHARDSON — Deacons at First Baptist Church of Colleyville have taken their eyes off of “running the church” and have focused instead on sharing their faith and serving the church, said Ron Cogburn, deacon chairman.

Cogburn focused on the sharing part of that equation during a workshop on deacon evangelism ministry at the Texas Evangelism and Missions Conference.

Three years ago, Cogburn said, he had been a deacon for 15 years but never had led anyone to Christ. A man experienced in sharing his faith began to teach him. On their first time out visiting, they led three people to profess faith in Christ.

“I caught the passion,” Cogburn said. “I saw how powerful the gospel could be.”

He now seeks to share his faith with every person in whom he has a “meaningful contact.” He trusts the Holy Spirit to prompt him, and Cogburn always begins with a statement and a question that are printed on a small tract: “Jesus is coming! Are you ready?”

“Every deacon should be a soul winner,” Cogburn said.

He cited several things needed to develop an evangelistic deacon body:

Decide that soul winning is the most important thing deacons do.

Talk about soul winning, not running the church, in deacons' meeting.

Make meetings about Jesus rather than finances, the staff and other issues.

Follow the example of biblical deacons Stephen and Phillip, who were soul winners.

All difficulties in soul winning “stem from the heart,” Cogburn said.

When something really makes a difference in a person's life, he tells others about it, he said.

Cogburn listed three reasons people are not winning others to Christ.

First, Christians are “not going after lost souls,” he said. Believers should go where non-believers spend time. “We must seek them out.”

Second, Christians “often are not presenting Christ to the sinner,” Cogburn said. If people are to be saved, believers must talk to them about Jesus and about being saved.

Third, Christians who witness often are “not drawing the net,” he said. It's not enough to present Christ; the believer must invite the non-Christian to receive Christ.