Posted: 9/03/04

BGCT president considers proposed
reorganization dramatic but overdue

By Marv Knox

Editor

Strategic proposals to reorganize the Baptist General Convention of Texas are overdue, dramatic and necessary, BGCT President Ken Hall believes.

Recommendations offered by the BGCT's strategic planning committee to re-state the convention's mission, vision, values and priorities–and to reorganize the convention to meet those objectives–are encouraging, Hall said.

“What the committee agreed to do was to go back and imagine: If the convention were being started in 2004 with its mission to help our churches, what would it look like?” he explained.

“I'm enthusiastic about the recommendations, particularly the priorities and core strategies,” he added. “They put the central focus of the BGCT on our churches and not on the denomination and its institutions and agencies.”

Hall leads one of those BGCT agencies. He is president of Buckner Baptist Benevolences, which operates ministries to children, families and the elderly across the state.

“The strategy committee's recommendations say, 'We exist to serve the churches.' They focus on how we can encourage, facilitate and connect churches to do their work,” he said. “I like that.”

A key outcome of the strategy committee's recommendations will be accountability, Hall predicted. As the convention follows the new church-focused strategy, every component of the convention structure–the Executive Board, agencies and institutions, affiliated organizations and all their employees–will be evaluated by how well they help the convention and the churches meet their priorities, he said.

“The convention is going to hold us accountable for how well we encourage, facilitate and connect churches to do their work,” he stressed. “That is the central difference in what the convention is and what it will be. It's not subtle; it's dramatic.”

Philosophically, the convention always has thought the churches should be paramount, Hall said. “But our structure, staffing, funding and political activism haven't always focused on strengthening, encouraging, facilitating and connecting churches,” he acknowledged.

“The new strategic plans should lead every institution and every department of the BGCT Executive Board to ask: 'What is my action, my strategy? What impact is it having on the churches?'” he said.

“If we are negatively impacting the churches, or if we are not helping them, then I question if our activity is what it should be.”

The need for a new BGCT structure reflects the changes that have impacted culture, Hall noted.

“Over the last generation or two, we have allowed our bureaucratic and organizational systems to not keep pace with the world we live in,” he claimed. “BGCT leadership and employees, as well as institutional and agency leadership and employees, are not that reflective of our culture. And that needs to change.

“We must reflect the cultural, ethnic, gender, geographic and demographic diversity of our state. You can't get there until you decide strategically to get there.”

The current need for dramatic change should not reflect negatively upon BGCT leadership during the past couple of generations, Hall insisted.

“We've had unbelievably godly leaders, or we would be in a lot worse shape. They have been committed to Christ and visionary,” he said.

“But we've come to the issue of cultural diversity late, and we've got to catch up.

“The opportunities that are before us–we've got to take on a new strategy. It's not just racial and ethnic. It's all kinds. We've got to reflect a broader perspective of life. Our tent has to be larger.”

Posted: 9/03/04

Churches front and center in proposed BGCT strategic plan

By Marv Knox

Editor

Local churches–not the Baptist General Convention of Texas–command the lion's share of attention in documents that could guide the state convention through the coming decades.

The BGCT's proposed mission, vision, values and priority statements mention churches at least 13 times but reference the name of the convention only once.

Texas Baptists got their first glimpse of the statements Aug. 25, when the BGCT strategic planning committee unveiled them to employees of the convention's Executive Board in Dallas.

That was the initial public step in a process that promises to alter both the focus and the structure of the BGCT.

The reorganization movement began last winter. Supported by convention officers, BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade named four revisioning teams–comprised of lay leaders, ministers and convention staff–to talk to their peers across the state, think together and articulate dreams for the convention.

This summer, the strategic planning committee has taken material gleaned by the revisioning teams and has shaped it into concrete recommendations.

The first recommendations involve the mission, vision, values and priority statements. The BGCT Administrative Committee considered these statements Sept. 2-3.

In addition, the Administrative Committee received proposals to overhaul the convention's governance process–including the size and assignment of the Executive Board, as well as the complex web of committees, commissions and coordinating boards.

Next, the Executive Board will consider all these proposals, plus core strategies for directing the convention's work, Sept. 28.

If the Executive Board approves, all the recommendations for change will be presented to focus groups statewide and then to messengers who attend the BGCT annual session in San Antonio Nov. 8-9.

Finally, if BGCT messengers approve, Wade will spend the next couple of years implementing the overall strategic plan. This will involve restructuring the convention's staff organization and budget.

And if the trajectory of that strategic plan follows the course set by the mission, vision, values and priority statements, the BGCT will hone in on helping churches as never before.

Mission

The proposed mission statement declares: “The Baptist General Convention of Texas encourages, facilitates and connects churches in their work to fulfill God's mission of reconciling the world to himself.”

“The mission statement explains why you exist,” said Sherrill Spies, an organizational consultant who has helped Wade guide the strategic planning process. “It tells the world what you do, who you do it for and why you do it.”

In an interview, Wade affirmed the BGCT's 4-year-old mission statement but said the time has come to redirect the convention's emphasis.

“I love our current mission statement. It commits our convention to assist churches in 'being the presence of Christ' in the world,” he said. “The last four years, we have focused on being. We have wanted to assist our churches to be Christlike.

“But a mission statement is about activity. This new mission statement will make it clearer what our work, what our function actually is.”

And that is building strong churches, he said.

The mission statement “means we recognize the churches are our primary focus,” he explained. “The convention cannot win Texas to Christ. The churches can win Texas to Christ. We're focusing on churches, the biblically mandated organisms that engage the culture and lead people to Jesus.”

Wade pointed specifically to the verbs in the mission statement. “'Encourage,' 'facilitate' and 'connect' describe what our churches have told us they want and need,” he said.

“The churches need encouragement–stimulation to know about possibilities. They need a partner to help them facilitate or bring about appropriate action. And they want to be connected. They know they can't win the world by themselves; they need fellowship, the blessing of fellow believers. We connect them to one another, and we connect them to opportunities for ministry.”

The mission statement affirms God's passion, “to bring people to himself,” he added. “That is why Jesus died, why he called out his church and why he sent his Spirit–that we might be a reconciling people, bringing people to Jesus.”

Vision

“A vision statement is about what you want to become,” Spies said. “It is goal-oriented.”

If approved by the convention, here is a vision of the BGCT of the future:

“We are a fellowship of transformational churches sacrificially giving ourselves to God's redemptive purpose. We join together to experience lives continually being transformed to be Christlike and to transform our communities and the world. We engage culture to reach the people where they are for an encounter with Jesus Christ.

“We are on mission with God to continue Jesus' ministry of teaching, sharing the good news and meeting human needs through our churches, institutions and organizations. Our ministries reflect the heart of Jesus Christ.

“We share a vision of the world's peoples coming to know Jesus Christ and to become transformed in his image. As a fellowship of diverse churches, we recognize that we belong to the larger body of Christ's church. Together, we advance the kingdom in ways that individual churches cannot do alone.

“Individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences. Languages, education, abilities and cultures who love Jesus Christ and his church carry out our work. Ordinary Christian disciples taking extraordinary steps of faith in obedience to God effect tremendous change–lives, families, communities, cities and nations are transformed.”

Wade noted the first sentence of the statement lays out what the BGCT wants to become.

“Technically, the convention only exists for two days each year,” he said. “But because the churches have authorized us to have an Executive Board and staff to help them, we are an ongoing fellowship of churches.”

The vision statement mentions “transformational” and “transformed” five times and also highlights change, Wade observed.

“This 'transformational' word comes out of Romans 12:2,” he said. The Apostle Paul urged, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

That's consistent with the message of Christ, he added, noting: “Jesus called us to follow him, and he will change us. It is not 'nice' people Jesus wants. He wants to make us 'new' people. …

“All the time, we talk about healthy, missional, evangelistic churches,” he said. “The word that brought it all together and challenged us was 'transformational.'

“We have been changed, and we want to see others changed,” he added. “When our people get hold of something and they see change happening, that's empowering.”

The vision statement not only calls for Christians and churches to be transformed, but it also calls on Texas Baptists to be change agents.

“We engage culture to reach people where they are for an encounter with Jesus Christ,” it says, also calling on Texas Baptists to “continue Jesus' ministry of teaching, sharing the good news and meeting human needs through our churches, institutions and organizations.”

The vision statement affirms the BGCT's diversity of “backgrounds, experiences, languages, education, abilities and cultures” and acknowledges, “We belong to the larger body of Christ's church.”

Values

The seven proposed BGCT values, like the other statements, emphasize the importance of the local church, as well as several other qualities.

“Values are more than attitudes,” Spies noted. “Values shape our behaviors, our interactions and our ways of working.”

The values are:

Transformational church. “We value transformational churches that help believers to become Christlike and prepare them to engage culture and advance the kingdom of God. We value being on mission with God in our communities and in reaching a lost world. The church is the body that God has called to carry out his purposes according to his will.”

Bible–God's written word. “We value the Bible as the divinely inspired record of God's revelation of himself to us. It serves as the authoritative guide for life and ministry.”

Spiritual formation–discipleship. “We value intimacy with God that forms the image of Christ in us. We submit our lives to be shaped by God through feeding on his word, praying continually and living in community with other believers.”

Servant leadership. “We value servant leadership that models the ministry of Jesus as he called people to become his disciples and to serve all the interests of his kingdom. We value the nurture and development of courageous servant leadership in our churches.”

Worth of all persons. “We value every person, for all are created in God's image. We embrace the mosaic of God's family and include all those redeemed by his grace and called to his service in the work of this convention.”

Baptist heritage. “We value those biblical distinctives that have shaped Baptist life and history, including the soul's competency before God, freedom in religion, the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church.”

Integrity. “We value integrity in our lives and in our churches, demonstrated by mutual trust, accountability, excellence in ministry and teamwork. We value Christlike attitudes and actions that are consistent in all aspects of our lives.”

“These values represent what is best about us,” Wade said. “They describe who we are and what we want to be. As they resonate in the hearts of our people, they will shape our behavior and witness in the world.”

But the values are not a comprehensive faith statement, Wade stressed.

“If someone is trying to figure out everything we believe by these short sentences, they will be disappointed,” he said. The 1963 Baptist Faith & Message is the statement that best characterizes doctrinal convictions of Texas Baptist churches, he said.

Priorities

The strategic planning committee also suggests five priorities for the state convention in the coming years.

“Priorities determine how we allocate our resources–our people, our time, our money, our energy,” Spies explained. “Priorities help us in decision-making–to choose the best from among the good.”

As with the other strategy documents, the local church is paramount among priorities. The recommended priorities are:

“Starting, developing and strengthening transformational churches.”

“Meeting human needs.”

“Identifying and developing transformational leadership for churches and institutions.”

“Providing a comprehensive strategy of 'giving and going' to enable churches and individuals to share Christ and be on mission in their communities and the world.”

“Providing research and development for cutting-edge ministries, methods and processes and for understanding multiple cultures.”

Describing the importance of priorities, Wade quoted a deacon who explained his involvement in a ministry: “Pastor, I do this because I have never seen lives changed like I see them change here.”

“I believe the possibility that we can make a difference for Christ in someone's life is the most powerful motivator in a Christian's life,” Wade stressed. “These priorities are about being present with people in our churches and in our daily lives so that they get a glimpse of what and who Jesus Christ cares about. When people get a sense of Jesus, they are drawn to him, they experience new birth and everything in their lives begins to change.”

The proposed priorities will guide the BGCT as it develops strategies for accomplishing its work, he predicted.

“Our staff will be organized and trained so they can be the best friend a church can have if it wants to be a transformational church–a church that has been changed by the Spirit of God and is actively, intentionally making a difference for Christ in their community, in this state and in the world.

“The question I am trying to address is this: When we stand before our Lord, will he be able to say the BGCT made a real and Christlike difference or that we simply took up space?”

Posted: 9/03/04

Baptist Briefs

ASCAP recognizes seminary professors. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professors Michael Cox and Mac Davis have been recognized by the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers for their contributions to the growth and development of music in America. Cox has been professor of music theory and composition in the seminary's School of Church Music since 1990. He is a member of the College Music Society and the American Choral Directors' Association Conductors Guild. This is the 11th time Cox has been selected for the ASCAP Award. Davis has been with Southwestern since 1979. Currently, he is professor of music theory and composition and chair of the School of Church Music's department of music and composition. This is his second ASCAP award. ASCAP awards are granted by an independent panel comprised of music critics, journalists, music professionals and educators. The awards are based upon the prestige value of each candidate's catalog of original compositions as well as recent performances.

Former IMB journalist joins N.C. staff. Mike Creswell, a 24-year veteran of the International Mission Board, will join the staff of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina to become senior consultant for Cooperative Program missions giving. He will promote the convention's four giving plans, which include the traditional Cooperative Program contributions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as options for supporting other Baptist entities and mission causes. The new position was approved two years ago, but Creswell is the first person hired to fill the position. He worked in the public relations department of the South Carolina Baptist Convention from 1974 to 1980, then joined the IMB as associate editor of The Commission magazine from 1980 to 1988. Since then, he has worked with the IMB as an overseas correspondent and communications consultant, reporting on mission work in Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Creswell and his wife, Christie, lived in Belgium 10 years, and have been in England the past five years. They have two grown daughters, Kelli and Tara.

Carson-Newman student killed. An international student at Carson-Newman College–a Baptist school in Jefferson City, Tenn.–died Aug. 23 from injuries she received in an attack on a street in Senegal. Ten days earlier, Du-Jae Lee was in Senegal helping a friend hail a cab on a nearly deserted street when a man grabbed her from the rear seat of a passing Mercedes sedan. She was dragged down the street until the attackers decided just to steal her purse. As she was pushed away from the vehicle, she hit her head on the pavement and suffered massive trauma. She underwent surgery Aug. 15 but later died from her injuries. Lee was born in Bonn, Germany, had South Korean citizenship, and considered Dakar, Senegal, where her parents are Presbyterian missionaries, as her home.

Cancer claims former Golden Gate professor. Craig Skinner, former professor of preaching at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, recently died at age 75 in Atlanta after an extended battle with cancer. He taught preaching at Golden Gate's northern California campus from 1982 to 1994. Prior to joining Golden Gate's faculty, he taught at Biola University in LaMirada, Calif.

Clinton criticizes SBC voter campaign. Former President Bill Clinton criticized the Southern Baptist iVoteValues.com voter-awareness initiative, saying the values debate should not be framed around the issues of abortion and same-sex marriage. Clinton told a crowd at Riverside Church in New York City: "Politics and political involvement dictated by faith is not the exclusive province of the right wing in America." Clinton's appearance helped promote the Mobilization 2004 interfaith coalition. The iVoteValues.com campaign is being promoted by the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

Posted: 9/03/04

Posted: 9/03/04

Anglos no longer majority in Texas;

BGCT responds to changing needs

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Anglos no longer make up a majority of the Texas population, and the Baptist General Convention of Texas is racing to meet the needs of a demographically changing state.

A recently released United States Census Bureau survey shows Texas was 49.5 percent white in 2003, down 1.5 percent.

Hispanics constitute 35.3 percent of the state, African-Americans account for 10.8 percent and Asians number about 3 percent.

BGCT leaders long have recognized an exploding Hispanic population within Texas coupled with a declining Anglo majority and have emphasized strengthening ministries among Hispanics and other cultures.

“We're trying to be ready,” said E.B. Brooks, coordinator of the BGCT church missions and evangelism section. “We have focused staff employment, church planting, enlistment of volunteers, community ministries and events on reaching out to non-Anglo populations.”

The convention has expanded ministry and conference options tailored for the needs of non-Anglo congregations. An increasing number of materials are available in a Spanish.

The Baptist University of the Americas has become more of an emphasized part of the BGCT's ministry. Convention officials and leaders commonly praise and promote the school's work. Albert Reyes, the school's president, serves as the convention's first vice president and will be nominated as the BGCT's president at its November annual meeting.

Much of the growth in the convention is due to non-Anglo churches. More than 70 percent of the churches that have become affiliated with the BGCT during 2000-2003 have been non-Anglo.

The BGCT Church Multiplication Center has stressed the need for more Hispanic congregations. Last year, nearly half the center's 160 church starts were Hispanic. The group's 1,000th new church since 2000 is Hispanic, an indication of the convention's future, leaders have said repeatedly.

In the past 10 years, the ratio of Anglo to non-Anglo BGCT-affiliated churches has changed as well. In 1994, Anglo congregations made up 75 percent of the convention. In 2003, that number was 63 percent. Hispanic congregations jumped from 14 to 20 percent during that span. African-American churches went from 7 to 12 percent of the convention's congregations.

Gus Reyes, consultant in the BGCT Center for Strategic Evangelism, said Texas Baptists can expand God's kingdom if they view the changing demographics as a chance to reach people for the Lord.

“We're ready if we see it as an opportunity,” Reyes said. “We're ready if we see (non-Anglos) as people who need Christ as their Savior regardless of their language capabilities.”

Clay Price, associate director of the convention's research information services, said the changing demographics in Texas localize the Great Commission for Texas Baptists. People from around the world are coming to the state.

“For Texas Baptists, taking the gospel 'unto the uttermost part of the earth' may begin with a short walk next door or across the street,” Price said. “As non-Anglo population increases in Texas, it will be more important than ever for the BGCT to enlist and train non-Anglo pastors and church leaders to reach new generations of Texans with the gospel message.”

Brooks sees an increasing number of Texas Baptist churches catching that vision.

“I think our churches are coming to the realization that we must welcome diversity, grow strong multicultural congregations and reach out to non-Anglos in the community,” he said.

But Reyes and Brooks each noted the convention has much more work ahead of it. Though progress has been made, ministry among non-Anglos becomes complicated quickly.

Different ethnic groups tend to congregate with others of their culture. Many congregations have difficulty ministering in other cultures.

A large number of non-Anglo, specifically Hispanic, churches are needed. There are not enough congregations to serve the exploding Hispanic population.

However, finding leaders for these congregations can be difficult as well. Texas Baptist seminaries are not graduating enough non-Anglo students to meet the needs of non-Anglo congregations.

More ethnic leaders are needed on the BGCT Executive Board staff, Brooks said. Strategies for non-Anglo congregations need to be strengthened, honed and developed.

How Texas Baptists respond to the opportunities and challenges of the changing demographics will determine their future, Brooks and Reyes said. Decreasing Anglo reproduction rates and an exploding Hispanic population indicate the Anglo percentage of the Texas population will continue to drop.

“It's a very special moment in the history of Texas Baptists,” Reyes said.

A United States Census Bureau survey shows Texas was 49.5 percent white in 2003, down 1.5 percent.

Hispanics constitute 35.3 percent of the state, African-Americans account for 10.8 percent and Asians number about 3 percent.

Posted: 9/03/04

BGCT-endorsed chaplains top 200;
most are first-time endorsements

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas has endorsed more than 200 chaplains, and most are first-time endorsements.

With the 17 chaplains endorsed in August, the BGCT has approved 210 chaplains in two years–109 first-time endorsements and 101 transfers. Most recent endorsements have been new chaplains.

These BGCT chaplains include 105 in healthcare, 31 Army, 21 restorative justice, 16 Air Force, 12 pastoral counseling, nine Navy and eight business and industry. BGCT chaplains serve in 20 states and five countries.

BGCT Chaplaincy Relations Director Bobby Smith tries to visit each endorsed chaplain at least once a year, meeting supervisors, taking each chaplain's family to dinner and looking for ways the convention can serve the chaplain.

Chaplaincy leaders also are looking for ways to offer training and fellowship opportunities. The annual October retreat is drawing interest from chaplains across endorsing lines, organizers note.

Gatherings help to support and encourage chaplains who often feel isolated because of the nature of their work, said Bill Ingram, a member of the BGCT Chaplaincy Endorsement Board.

“Being a chaplain is kind of a lonely thing,” he said. “It's not like they have a church around them all the time.”

These efforts–combined with the performance of BGCT chaplains–are drawing the attention of supervisors, Ingram reported.

“The exciting thing is sometimes we are getting people who are not endorsed by us who are leaders who are recommending us as endorsers,” he said.

The rapidly growing number of Texas Baptist chaplains reflects God working through this BGCT effort, Smith said. God has blessed this ministry greatly, calling the appropriate people to his service, he added.

“It has been a true blessing to observe how God has been moving in the hearts and minds of Baptists to extend a call and lead them beyond the walls of the local church to do pastoral ministry in specialized ministry settings,” Smith said.

“I appreciate the two years of devoted service by the BGCT Endorsement Board to the Baptist General Convention of Texas and its chaplains and pastoral counselors, which led to the creation and development of such a strong and wonderful program of ministry and relationship.”

Posted: 9/03/04

Chaplains offer tips for hospital visitation

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

BELTON–Keeping people's needs at the forefront of ministry can make hospital visits more comfortable for patients and ministers, two veteran Texas Baptist chaplains insist.

When people are in the hospital, the situation creates serious concern for patients and their families, said Bobby Smith, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas chaplaincy relations office. They usually are in quite a bit of pain and always facing uncertainty.

Knowing this, ministers should keep visits short, typically about 10 minutes, Smith said. Patients do not have the strength to talk for long periods and probably do not want to catch up on old times. They have more important events occurring.

“They just want to know that you care enough to come,” said Smith, a longtime hospital chaplain.

When visiting patients, it helps to treat the hospital room like their home, said Joe Perez, director of pastoral services for Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen.

Knock before entering and check to make sure the person is fully covered, he advised.

Ministers need to identify themselves and take a seat in a chair next to the bed as conversation begins, Smith said. The move helps people know who is visiting them and initiate a connection at eye level.

From there, the visit is in the hands of the patient, Smith continued.

Ministers are there to ask open questions and let patients take the conversation wherever they want, he observed.

Ministers need to resist the urge to preach, Perez said.

Words cannot correct physical issues. God can, but that is his choice, Perez said.

A minister never should promise that God will heal if the person has enough faith. That is a theological error, he insisted.

“The more it hurts, the fewer words we need to use,” added Perez, a member of the BGCT Chaplaincy Endorsement Board.

Church leaders are to embody Christ's love, Smith continued.

If ministers listen to each patient, they will know the needs of each person, he said. Allowing people to speak about their concerns can be therapeutic.

“I've always found that when I come in with an agenda, I always stifle what God has going on,” Smith said.

Perez described hospital visitation as a ministry of “presence.” The minister is there to “go where they go” along their spiritual journey.

At the end of the meeting, ministers should promise an ongoing ministry, Smith said. There, the relationship will continue to grow.

If a minister feels the need to know about a person's condition prior to entering the room, he or she has two options–the family and the nursing station. A pastor can glean information from a person's family about the situation. That process also can open other avenues of ministry.

It is important for the minister to build relationships with nurses, doctors and staff. This will facilitate a better ministry for patients and their families, as well as possible ministry to hospital personnel, Smith added.

Posted: 9/03/04

Wichita Falls church makes splash with water park baptism

By George Henson

Staff Writer

WICHITA FALLS–Colonial Baptist Church in Wichita Falls made a splash this summer with a baptismal service at the city's new water park.

Not only did the local newspaper feature the church's baptism of 63 people on its front page, but the NBC television affiliate also noted the event.

After the outdoor baptism was reported in those two venues, the church received media attention from across the country.

Pastor Tim Wheat knows at least two families who came to church as a result of seeing the church's media coverage, and he said that number might be higher because attendance has increased.

But publicity wasn't the intent behind holding the service at Castaway Cove water park, Wheat said.

“The past two years, the church has done a summer baptism event at a local swimming pool. But with the opening of the water park, we decided to go all out and give us a boost during the summer months,” he said.

Even more important was the opportunity to get the entire congregation together at the same time. About 1,100 people from the church attended the baptism, almost equaling the number of people who attend all of the four services each weekend at the church.

Colonial holds a Saturday evening service and three more services Sunday morning, with a combined attendance of about 1,200 people. The church's sanctuary capacity “maxes out at about 475,” Wheat said. “We might be able to squeeze in 500 using the balcony, but that's really too many.

“What I really tried to hold up as the value of this is that we were able to have a sense of community since our facility doesn't allow us to come together on a regular basis.”

Posted: 9/03/04

ANOTHER VIEW:
Church directories & U.S. politics

By Melissa Rogers

Little did we churchgoers know that high-powered political operatives would one day take a keen interest in those dog-eared church directories in our kitchen drawers.

As has been widely reported, the campaign to re-elect President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney has produced materials informing “coalition coordinators” that one of their “duties” is: “Send your Church Directory to your State Bush-Cheney 04 Headquarters or give to a BC04 Field Rep.”

The Associated Press recently reported that “the Republican National Committee confirmed it had asked Catholics who back Bush to give parish directories to the RNC as a way to identify and mobilize new voters.”

There are some legitimate ways for political campaigns to try to reach religious people. Soliciting directories isn't one of them.

Churches and other organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are prohibited from participating in any political campaign on behalf of–or in opposition to–any candidate for elective public office.

Among other things, this means a church cannot selectively provide its mailing list to a candidate or political party. To do so would jeopardize a church's tax-exempt status.

A Religion News Service article also noted that “Federal Election Commission guidelines forbid 'membership organizations' from donating anything 'of value' to a political campaign unless they register as a political action committee” and that a church mailing list “could certainly be considered something of value,” according to an FEC official.

Nonetheless, the Bush-Cheney campaign and the RNC have doggedly defended these tactics. They say they are not asking churches to turn their church directories over to the campaign–they are asking only individual church members to do so.

Even so, they are asking these individuals either to act unethically or to act in a way that could endanger their church's tax-exempt status.

As a purely ethical matter, organizational members step over a line when they use group lists for purposes other than the organizational purpose without the group's prior approval. This notion has special resonance in the case at hand.

When our brothers and sisters in Christ walked down the aisle, they joined a church, not a political party. As people of faith, we must respect and protect that sacred act.

If, however, a church member tries to avoid an ethical problem by seeking permission from fellow church members to turn the directory over to a particular campaign, it could involve the church itself in ratifying the submission, thus running afoul of the tax code.

RNC spokespersons also have tried to justify their tactics by saying that church directories are “public documents available to anyone, and making the request violates no law.” Campaigns and political parties themselves may not violate the law when they engage in these tactics, but they create a legal trap for churches.

The RNC is wrong: Church directories are not “public documents available to anyone.” They belong to the church and only the church.

For a campaign to tell people that it is their “duty” to turn over their church directory and then list that “duty” as one of so many bullet points accompanied by specific deadlines is an affront to religion. These tactics dictate to religion rather than create a dialogue with it. They use religion rather than respect it.

Although RNC spokespersons claim the information gleaned from these directories will be used for “nonpartisan voter-registration drives,” this strains credulity. It simply highlights the fact that these overtures are confusing and likely to prompt actions that will inadvertently jeopardize churches' tax-exempt status.

Of course, these days it is only the rare religious person who is surprised when political parties ask him or her to do things that are completely inappropriate and even harmful to a religious body.

What would be surprising and disappointing, however, is if church members were to follow these instructions rather than heeding ethical and religious teachings.

After all, the most important reason for refusing to give our church directories to political campaigns is found in the Bible.

Jesus said: “Render … unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”

The church is not a creature of the state or of any earthly power–it is a creature of God. Before and beyond November 2004, may people of faith reject every entreaty that asks us to give to Caesar that which belongs to God.

Melissa Rogers, former director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, is a visiting professor of religion and public policy at Wake Forest University Divinity School in Winston-Salem, N.C. This column originally appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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Posted: 9/03/04

DOWN HOME:
What big teeth you have, Satan

Have you ever been pursued by Satan?

It happened to me the other night. I now can attest that–at least sometimes–Beelzebub wears black fur and flashes a menacing grin.

My encounter with the devil occurred about sunset, during what I generously refer to as my “evening run.”

There I was, moving along College Parkway at what, for me at least, passes for a pretty decent gait. Traffic had slowed to a trickle, and I enjoyed the stillness, interrupted only by my breathing and footfall.

Out of my peripheral vision, immediately ahead and on the left, I notice an almost-imperceptible “shadow” moving rapidly toward the street, just behind a long, low hedge.

That “shadow” leapt into the street, about five feet ahead of me. Growling and baring its fangs, the black dog–80 pounds of teeth and muscle–squared away. His black eyes gleamed, and he barked as if to say, “Get off my street, you sweaty, middle-aged mop.”

About that time, a young woman scampered down the sidewalk, screaming (and I'm not making this up): “Lucifer! Lucifer, don't you chase him!”

Lucifer didn't seem to pay her any attention, but he growled at me again. He inched closer.

At that moment, I didn't consider the theological implications of the dog's name. I was too busy deciding if I'd try to drop-kick him or run when he lunged at me. (Later, I wished I'd had the presence of mind to “rebuke” Lucifer–standing my ground, wagging my finger in his muzzle and invoking a hellfire-preacher voice to bellow, “Get thee behind me!”)

Fortunately, the woman caught the canine by the collar. “Lucifer, leave him alone,” she cooed, soothing the savage beast.

By then, adrenaline coursed through my bloodstream, and I practically floated the rest of my evening trip.

As I jogged through the serene-again neighborhood, my thoughts turned to times when I actually have encountered evil face-to-face.

Occasionally, those confrontations have been as frightful as a mean dog in the street: Times when calamity or injustice threatened family and friends. Times when misrepresentation and mistrust tore at the fabric of friendship. Times when people invoked God's name for malevolent purposes.

But more often than not, my engagements with Satan have been much more low-key than my stare-down with Lucifer: Times when the devil whispered, “Nobody has to know.” Times when he tempted me to do less than my best for God. Times when he fed me lines of rationalization, teasing me to put my self-interest ahead of other's, much less ahead of God's will.

The good thing about a middle-of-the-street showdown with a dog like Lucifer is it clarifies the situation. We should pray for clarity any time Satan pursues us.

Posted: 9/03/04

EDITORIAL:
Demographic data point to needs

Texas' demographic trends have been both fascinating and disturbing lately.

Most fascinating: Our Lone Star State no longer claims a majority population. A U.S. Census Bureau survey revealed Anglos ceased being the majority ethnic group in Texas sometime last year–for the first time since at least 1845, when Texas became a state.

Texas is about 49.5 percent Anglo, 35.3 percent Hispanic, 10.8 percent African-American, 3 percent Asian-American and 1.4 percent others.

Two trendlines caused the Anglo population to slip below 50 percent of the total faster than predicted, state demographer Steve Murdoch explained to the Associated Press. Primarily, Hispanics are increasing much faster than the rest of the population, due to international immigration and the state's highest birth rates. Secondarily, Anglo growth has slowed, due to the slumping economy and a subsequent downturn of business-related migration to Texas.

Most disturbing: Texas leads the nation in the percentage of uninsured residents. Almost one in four Texans–24.6 percent of the population–does not have health insurance. That's more than 3 percent higher than the next-to-worst state, New Mexico. This represents a personal and family crisis for the state's uninsured. It also reflects a financial crisis for all of us, since we indirectly pick up the tab for indigent healthcare. But what did we expect in the wake of state cutbacks in the Children's Health Insurance Program and other safety nets for the most vulnerable people in our state?

Texas also lags behind the nation in median annual household income. The national figure was $43,381 last year; Texas' was $40,934. And we're one of the poorest states, with 15.8 percent of Texas residents living below the poverty line.

For generations, Texans have been justifiably proud of our state. The land and the people are vast, expansive, resourceful and productive. We're entrepreneurial and industrious and possess an often-imitated, seldom-duplicated can-do spirit. Unfortunately, we also possess a reputation as one of the meanest states. The indicators of heartlessness seem to grow, particularly with the passing of each legislative session, as we seek to balance our budget on the backs of people already on their knees at the bottom of the socio-economic pile.

These new demographic studies connect. The economic status of the growing Hispanic population contributes to the state's dismal showing in the national standard-of-living rankings. As Murdoch notes, multiple “historical and discriminatory factors” cause Texas Hispanics to make low wages. And because poor Hispanics comprise a bigger percentage of the population, the statewide statistics decline.

On one level, immigration makes this challenge seem almost intractable. Although immigrants' cheap labor benefits some sectors of the economy, the flood of undocumented and illegal immigrants raises poverty levels and strains schools, hospitals and service agencies.

On another level, that doesn't make a difference. Texans are who they are. God doesn't care where they were born and whether they are illegal aliens or fifth-generation landowners. Christian people should care for their needs, and Baptists should lead the way.

We already do much. Our Baptist General Convention of Texas childcare and healthcare agencies provide extensive help for “the least of these” across Texas. Numerous other endeavors, from the BGCT's River Ministry, to associational missions, to county and community benevolence ministries provide a safety net for at-risk families. Christian Women's Job Corps and English-as-a-Second-Language programs prepare unskilled and sometimes untrained people to enter the job market. Countless missional churches reach out to countless people in countless ways.

But the needs are great, and we need to do more. We must increase our churches' benevolence and ministry budgets, give more to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions and to local missions, and volunteer more time to hands-on ministries.

Jesus loves all Texans. He measures our love for him by how we show our love to others.

We must advocate in the public square. We must make sure every school system in Texas has the resources to provide a good education for every child. This investment will produce dividends–not only for the children, but for their families, communities and the state–for generations. We also must make sure each child in our state has access to decent healthcare.

Jesus doesn't care if they're “immigrant” or “native Texan.” And neither should we.
–Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

Posted: 9/03/04

EDITORIAL:
Will the 'crops' be watered?

During the bountiful years of my youth in Perryton, the “Wheatheart of the Nation,” harvest usually was about the best time of year. On those occasions when the rains arrived at just the right time and the hordes of bugs and pestilence of hail stayed away, we rejoiced at the abundance of grain God bestowed on all our farms. I remember one great year when the grain elevators filled up, and the farmers dumped the excess wheat down the middle of Amherst Street.

Of course, a successful harvest also represented months of hard work. Farmers tilled and planted and fertilized and weeded and irrigated and sometimes grazed cattle in their fields. Even when the ground was too wet to work, they repaired machinery, tended to their finances and prepared for the next day. Along the way, farmers and townsfolk alike prayed and prayed for heavenly harvests. Growing up in a small farming community is a spiritual experience; even the backsliders pray for good crops.

The Apostle Paul understood farm life. He used the plant … water … harvest cycle as a metaphor for ministry: Each Christian has a role to fill, and God gives the spiritual harvest. Paul's words, “Plant … Water … Harvest,” provide the theme for this year's Week of Prayer for Texas Missions, beginning next Sunday, and the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

We pray for God to provide a spiritual harvest in Texas: Where more than half the population has no affiliation with any church whatsoever. Where one-third of families have special needs. Where one-fourth of adults live in poverty, one-fourth of babies aren't immunized and one-fourth of adults can't read or write. Where 78 women are raped and 360 children are abused or neglected every hour. We pray God will bring a spiritual harvest, turning hearts and lives toward the purposes for which God created them.

But our job is to plant and water. A significant way we all can “water” is by contributing to the Mary Hill Davis Offering. You can't invest your money any more wisely. The goal this year is $5 million. Every penny is vital.

Among the allocations, Mary Hill Davis funds will help present the gospel to Hispanics along the Texas-Mexico border; provide training for rural churches, enabling them to serve poor people; support a statewide evangelistic outreach to teenagers; supply scholarships for Baptist University of the Americas students who are preparing to start churches; train African-American pastors to lead their congregations to be missional churches; recruit and train retired ministers who will help churches develop and equip members for ministry; produce spiritual materials for crime victims and their families, opening doors for sharing the gospel with them; and start churches statewide.

At least 70 ministries across Texas depend upon the Mary Hill Davis Offering. Many workers are in place, planting the gospel. We need to help water so God will provide the harvest.
–Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com