Evangelical general apparently linked to Iraqi prison abuse_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Evangelical general apparently
linked to Iraqi prison abuse

By Deborah Caldwell

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–One of the major players in the Iraqi prison abuse scandal, it now appears, was the same general almost fired last year for describing the war on terror as a clash between Judeo-Christian values and Satan.

According to testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee and new reporting from the New Yorker's Seymour Hersh, the prison abuse scandal grew out of a decision to give greater influence to the defense intelligence unit, led by Stephen Cambone, the under secretary of defense for intelligence, and his deputy, Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin.

Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin speaks to a national FAITH Institute at Daytona Beach, Fla., in January 2002.

Boykin made headlines last fall when it was revealed he had made numerous statements suggesting America, as a Christian nation, is engaged in a battle against idolatrous Muslims.

Enemies like Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein “will only be defeated if we come against them in the name of Jesus,” Boykin said during an Oregon church gathering last year.

Appearing in uniform during a speech at the Oregon church, Boykin said: “Why do they (radical Muslims) hate us? Why do they hate us so much? Ladies and gentlemen, the answer to that is because we're a Christian nation.”

In 2002, at a church in Oklahoma, he showed slides he took in Somalia just after 18 Americans were killed in the “Black Hawk Down” debacle. Pointing to a dark shadow of Mogadishu's skyline, Boykin said it was “a demonic presence in that city that God revealed to me as the enemy.”

When word of Boykin's beliefs were made public last fall, some American Muslim groups, such as the Muslim Public Action Committee and the Council on American Islamic Relations, called on President Bush to fire Boykin, but Bush declined.

Even Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Boykin should resign temporarily while his actions were reviewed by the inspector general's office.

That investigation is expected to be completed in June.

There is still much to be learned about Boykin's role in the current scandal, including the pivotal question of whether his anti-Muslim views may have made him more prone to dehumanizing Muslim prisoners. What is already clear, however, is that Boykin's evangelical supporters now find themselves in an awkward position. They have supported Boykin steadfastly but are wary about defending prisoner torture.

Here is what is known so far about Boykin's role in the prison abuse scandal: He is a main strategist for Cambone, who oversees a secret program with the goal of capturing and interrogating terrorism targets. According to Hersh in the New Yorker, the unit brought “unconventional methods” to Abu Ghraib as a way of getting better information about Iraqi insurgents.

The program, according to Hersh's reporting, soon evolved from targeting not only Al Qaeda but also a wide range of Iraqi prisoners.

Hersh writes: By fall, according to the former intelligence official, the senior leadership of the CIA had had enough. “They said: 'No way. We signed up for the core program in Afghanistan –pre-approved operations against high-value terrorist targets–and now you want to use it for cab drivers, brothers-in-law and people pulled off the streets,' the sort of prisoners who populate the Iraqi jails.”

Cambone told a Congressional committee last week that neither he nor Boykin thought they were giving the go-ahead for military police to abuse prisoners. Boykin himself has not testified and declined to be interviewed .

In addition to adding another wrinkle to the diplomatic catastrophe of this scandal–many Muslims overseas already believe Americans are engaging in an anti-Islam crusade–it raises difficult political and moral questions for conservative Christians.

Last fall, they stoutly defended Boykin, and by extension President Bush, yet they also condemn abuse and torture.

So far, Religious Right leaders are standing by Boykin.

“A lot of our people are just so tired of hearing about that whole situation, especially now that we've seen” the beheading of Nicholas Berg, Christian Coalition Spokesperson Michele Ammons said. “I think it's time to get over it. And that's what I'm hearing.”

Ammons, who said evangelical leaders have been consumed primarily with the gay marriage debate, noted the Christian Coalition would keep an online petition in support of Boykin on its homepage.

Angell Watts, spokeswoman for Pat Robertson, said that although “the troops messed up big time,” the “liberal media” are overplaying it.

“I was more disgusted at the beheading of Nick Berg,” she said. “Look at what we're dealing with.”

As for Boykin? Watts said that if Boykin knew about the abuses, “he has to be held accountable. … Christians are held to a higher standard.”

Although Watts said she doesn't believe Rumsfeld or Boykin knew about the abuses, “if I'm wrong, I'll grieve over that.”

Conservative Christian leaders and commentators have contended since last fall that Boykin's comments were taken out of context, or he was being attacked because he is a Christian. His staunchest supporters included Focus on the Family's James Dobson, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, the Family Research Council, the Christian Coalition and Bobby Welch, who will be nominated as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

“Every conservative Christian would understand the language that Gen. Boykin used to describe what is known as spiritual warfare. His words were consistent with mainstream evangelical beliefs, and he had a right to express them,” Dobson said at the time.

The Christian Coalition started an online petition in support of Boykin–and posted it on its home page.

Pat Robertson's 700 Club even went so far as to ask Chuck Holton, a former Army Ranger who served under Boykin in Somalia, to attend a church service at which Boykin spoke, record his speech and then report on it for Christian Broadcasting Network.

Welch, in a column for Baptist Press, described Boykin's critics as “back-stabbers,” writing: “I despise the unthinkable and asinine fact that some take cheap backstabbing shots at a real God-fearing American hero who continually risks his life to protect all of us.”

Even if the evidence accumulates that Boykin was a key figure in the scandal, evangelicals may hold the line.

“They've invested so much in Boykin,” said John Green, an expert on the religious right and director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron.

People in the pews, however, may react differently.

“No doubt some of them will be appalled,” Green said. “And a denial reaction by their leaders might actually encourage an appalled reaction.”

The Christian leader in perhaps the trickiest position is Welch, whose new position as president of the Southern Baptist Convention will give him a much higher profile. A friend of Boykin's, Welch has defended Boykin and also collaborated with him on evangelism projects.

Reached at his home, Welch declined comment on Boykin's connection to the Iraqi prisoner scandal, explaining that he knows nothing about Boykin's involvement.

“I really don't want to comment on it because I don't have any idea what he does with those people. I don't have the foggiest idea. I've never inquired what he does. He is just an unbelievable patriot.”

Last year, in collaboration with Welch, Boykin planned to host a gathering of Southern Baptist pastors at Fort Bragg, where he was running the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

The gathering was connected to FAITH, the popular Sunday school evangelism strategy Welch helped create.

“You will go with General Boykin and Green Beret instructors to places where no civilians and few soldiers ever go,” Welch told pastors in a letter inviting them to attend the two-day Super FAITH Force Multiplier session.

“We must find a group of men who are warriors of FAITH, pastors who have the guts to lead this nation to Christ and revival!”

Welch said they would see Boykin's headquarters, a demonstration of “today's war-fighting weapons” and how “Special Forces attack the enemy inside buildings (live fire/real bullets)” as well as hear a speech and get “informal time” with Boykin.

After Americans United for Separation of Church and State heard about the planned gathering, they complained to the military, which scaled back the meeting.

In the interview, Welch said he was troubled by the Iraqi abuses and said he would be upset if Boykin is found to have approved or encouraged the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners.

“The only way a Christian would approach it–and I'm making no comment on Boykin–is that we have to abide by the law and there are definite laws about (prisoner abuse and torture) and those laws should be followed.

“The minute you begin to say Christians are outside the law, you have headed off into a place you cannot get back.”

Deborah Caldwell is a senior editor and national correspondent for Beliefnet.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




Baptist Briefs_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Baptist Briefs

Texans named to SBC committees. Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham named Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, to the SBC credentials committee and Clifton Cummings, pastor of First Baptist Church in Beaumont, to the convention's tellers committee. Cornerstone Baptist is uniquely aligned with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. First Baptist in Beaumont is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Endowment to help CBF missionary families. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship received a $100,000 gift from Ed and Laura Anne Vick of Raleigh, N.C., to begin an endowment to promote the spiritual, emotional and physical health of missionaries and their families through counseling, retreats and crisis assistance. The Vicks' goal is to grow the endowment fund through matching gifts to at least $1 million. Ed Vick, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., and his wife both have been active in missions work through the Fellowship and CBF of North Carolina. He is current chair of the CBF Foundation board of directors and a founding member of the CBF of North Carolina Endowment Management board of directors.

Kim calls for revival in England. The president of the Baptist World Alliance called on thousands of people assembled at the 2004 Baptist Assembly in Cardiff, Wales, to pray for revival as the 100th Baptist World Congress approaches in Birmingham in 2005. Billy Kim, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Suwon, Korea, urged British Baptists to pray for the kind of revival that happened in Wales in 1904, when more than 150,000 people came to faith in Jesus Christ in four months.

New York Baptist executive director to retire. J.B. Graham, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist Convention of New York since 1997, has announced plans to retire effective Nov. 5, following the annual state convention. Graham will retire after 50 years in the ministry, including more than 30 years with the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board.

SBC seminary presidents issue statement. On the same day Massachusetts began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, presidents of the six Southern Baptist seminaries issued a joint statement upholding marriage as "the permanent bond of a man and woman before God." More than 300 faculty members from the seminaries joined in signing the statement.

Seminary marks largest graduating class. Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta, graduated its largest class this spring, granting diplomas to 24 graduates from seven countries. Dan Yeary, senior pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix, brought the commencement address.

Regional CBF and American Baptist groups meet. Regional bodies of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the American Baptist Churches USA met in combined session in Manchester, N.H., representing the first-ever joint meeting of the Baptist bodies. The American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire and the CBF-affiliated Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast held a joint annual convention that drew about 400 Baptists from New York to Maine. The group collected more than $10,000 in an offering for the Baptist World Alliance.

Graham hospitalized after fall. Evangelist Billy Graham recently had surgery at Missions Hospitals in Asheville, N.C., to stabilize a fractured pelvis after he fell in his home. Graham had been recovering from partial hip replacement surgery in January that occurred after a fall in a hotel room. The 85-year-old evangelist's "Heart of America" crusade in Kansas City, Mo., has been rescheduled for Oct. 7-10, and the crusade at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., has been rescheduled for Nov. 18-21.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




Study shows North Carolina Baptists don’t like the SBC but continue financial support_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Study shows North Carolina Baptists don't
like the SBC but continue financial support

By Tony Cartledge & Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

BUIES CREEK, N.C. (ABP)–The Southern Baptist Convention and its fundamentalist statement of faith are not viewed favorably among rank-and-file Baptists in North Carolina, even though most Baptist churches in the state still support the SBC financially, a university survey reveals.

By a 10-to-1 margin, church members in the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina prefer the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message statement to the version that replaced it in 2000.

A majority of churches in the state convention still support the SBC financially. Nonetheless, according to the survey, a minority of those churches' members personally support the SBC.

The scientific survey, conducted by Baptist-affiliated Campbell University, showed 46.2 percent of North Carolina Baptists have a negative view of the Southern Baptist Convention. Meanwhile, 21.2 percent said they know about the SBC but don't support it financially, and 19.8 percent of individuals said they do give financial support.

While North Carolina is traditionally viewed as a moderate Baptist stronghold, conservative candidates have dominated statewide elections in recent years, leading moderates to fear they are losing influence. Some moderate Baptists have met to consider diverting contributions away from the state convention.

According to the survey, however, North Carolina Baptists have a much more positive view of their state convention–and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship–than of the SBC.

The survey showed 39.2 percent support the state convention financially, while 18 percent know about it but don't support it financially. And 27.2 percent view the North Carolina convention negatively.

About 20 percent of respondents were not aware of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, an Atlanta-based moderate alternative to the SBC, but only 10.2 percent view it negatively. Another 39.3 percent support CBF financially, and 18.1 percent know about it but don't send support.

On the issue of the Baptist Faith & Message, a majority of North Carolina Baptists–52.8 percent–are unaware of the statement and its contents. Those who are familiar with the faith statement overwhelmingly prefer the 1963 version (29.5 percent) to the 2000 version (3.1 percent). But 10.7 percent said they don't think Baptists should have such statements at all.

The 2000 statement, drafted by a committee of leading SBC conservatives, differs from the 1963 statement in that it does not recognize Jesus Christ as the criteria for interpreting Scripture, specifically disapproves of female pastors and calls for wives to submit to their husbands.

The study was based on surveys of 384 individuals from 31 randomly selected churches. About 60 percent of the respondents are more than 50 years of age, and most are active church members. The study was headed by Ed Johnson of Campbell University's mass communications department in collaboration with the state convention staff.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




cartoons_53104

Posted: 5/28/04
See second cartoon here.

Can't you just say I'm in the top half
of the class and let me in?

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




ANOTHER VIEW: Watch your step in political march_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

ANOTHER VIEW:
Watch your step in political march

By Michael Clingenpeel

There's a presidential election this November. Maybe you haven't noticed it yet, seeing as how you're probably in the midst of “Forty Days of Purpose” or Dr. Adkins, in which case your mind has been on God or food. But if you read the newspaper or watch the news, you may notice that the Republicans and Democrats have a little contest going.

Even if you haven't sniffed a whiff of the campaign, the Internal Revenue Service has. The IRS has issued an advisory to inform churches and clergy that they cannot engage in any partisan politics without jeopardizing the tax-exempt status of their church.

Michael Clingenpeel

Every four years, the routine advisory is issued. Every four years, some overzealous or uninformed minister or church violates the rule.

If you want to know the IRS guidelines, they are available in IRS Publication 1828, “Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations” (www.irs.gov).

Here's the operative paragraph:

“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise tax.”

The IRS guidelines are very specific. Pastors may endorse a candidate as long as they speak for themselves and make it clear that their views do not represent those of the church. They cannot make partisan political comments in official church publications or at official church functions.

Churches do not violate IRS guidelines when they distribute voters' guides, as long as the guides are designed to educate voters about candidates' stands on issues and are not for the purpose of favoring or opposing a specific candidate. Churches also are permitted to hold voter-registration or get-out-the-vote drives, as long as they are nonpartisan.

We misunder-stand the nature of the church and misuse the pastoral role when we make political affiliation a test of fellowship.

Your church also may invite a candidate to speak if you grant an equal opportunity for other candidates seeking the same office, if you communicate clearly that the candidate's appearance is not an endorsement and if no fund raising occurs.

Some Americans consider the IRS code, adopted originally in 1954, to be a violation of religious free exercise and free speech, two guarantees of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A North Carolina congressman, in fact, offered a legislative remedy to the IRS code called the Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act.

Wisely, in 2002, the House of Representatives defeated this ill-conceived bill 239-178. Two years before, the federal courts upheld the constitutionality of the prohibition of political campaign activity by tax-exempt organizations.

The IRS guidelines against partisan political activity by churches do not rob any individual or congregation of free speech or free exercise. They allow clergy to address moral and public issues from their pulpits and to participate in political campaigns as private citizens. They allow churches freedom to learn about public issues or, if they feel deeply enough about a specific candidate, to forgo their tax exemption in order to champion an individual candidate for public office.

Pastors and churches demonstrate the restraint of Esau when they barter their prophetic role for bumper stickers and campaign buttons. God is not the mascot of the Republicans or Democrats. Nor is God the campaign manager for George W. Bush or John Kerry. The United States is not the kingdom of God on Earth.

Read Luke's account of the early church in Acts for an example of apostles who understood that they did not follow Jesus in order to sign on as Pharisees, Sadducees, emperor-worshippers or empire-builders. Their allegiance was to a Lord before whom every knee eventually would bow. Their living was shaped by rules that defied the lifestyle of their contemporaries. Their community was as much eternal as temporal.

We misunderstand the nature of the church and misuse the pastoral role when we make political affiliation a test of fellowship.

Your vote is important. It is a precious responsibility for people fortunate enough to live in a healthy democracy. Issues of faith are involved in public debates on war, abortion, sexual orientation and behavior, the environment, gender, jobs, health care, taxes and corporate practices. Christians should be involved in the political process.

Be wise, however, in the way you march into the public square. Your efforts to claim the right to speak could cost you your voice.

Michael Clingenpeel is editor of the Religious Herald, newspaper of the Baptist General Association of Virginia

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




Bivocational pastor enjoys coaching Hispanic pastors as BGCT consultant_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Bivocational pastor enjoys coaching
Hispanic pastors as BGCT consultant

By George Henson

Staff Writer

SAN ANGELO–Robert Cuellar enjoys coaching almost as much as he enjoys his role as pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in San Angelo.

Cuellar isn't teaching Little Leaguers how to hit an inside pitch. He's coaching pastors, teaching them the inside scoop about resources available through the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Cuellar is a part-time consultant with the convention, working with more than 30 Hispanic congregations in Concho Valley, Brady, Coleman, Runnels, Brown, Comanche and San Saba associations.

For the last 10 years, he has been pastor of the San Angelo church where he grew up.

The BGCT has two other part-time consultants with regional responsibilities, as well as a full-time regional Hispanic consultant and a full-time Hispanic youth consultant with statewide responsibilities.

“Our concept is centered around the word 'paraclete,'” Cuellar explained. “It means 'to walk alongside.' That's what we do–walk alongside these pastors or church leaders in churches where there is no pastor.”

As a part of his efforts, he has preached funerals, counseled with pastors about their struggles and encouraged them to become more active in receiving associational and state-level training.

One of his primary duties has been helping churches secure computers to help them in ministry.

With a large church of his own to shepherd, Cuellar tends to this far-flung flock of pastors primarily on Fridays and Saturdays, when he and his wife make visits to check on them.

Cuellar also has organized Saturday lunches for training, fellowship and marriage enrichment events for the primarily bivocational pastors.

“We have this opportunity to bring the office out of the Baptist Building in Dallas and out into the field. I have really enjoyed building these relationships with the pastors and directors of missions,” he said.

He acknowledged that not every pastor felt included before his ministry began.

“The pastor who felt alone and abandoned–that's the one I really want to reach,” Cuellar said.

He said his relationship with the pastors has deepened over time.

“At first, it was: 'I need this. Can you get it for me?' Now, it's more, 'Let's pray about this,'” he said.

Cuellar recalled that the first pastor he called on didn't believe his church was large enough for the state convention to care about it. Cuellar convinced him to give him a chance. The pastor made a small request, Cuellar made it happen, “and I've had a friend ever since,” he said.

Since many of the pastors are bivocational and in widely scattered small communities, their ability to meet and discuss issues with other pastors is severely limited. Cuellar often is that listening ear they need.

“I give them not only camaraderie, but they also know that someone who doesn't have to be there is there for them. That is a very encouraging thing,” he said.

Cuellar not only makes the pastors aware of resources the BGCT has for them, he also keeps the convention office aware of what is happening in the churches.

“I've let them know about funerals and other things. Just the gesture of sending flowers is so encouraging to these pastors who often don't get a lot of encouragement,” he said.

“I am so glad to be a part of this ministry that I find to be so rich.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




DOWN HOME: Countdown clock ticks louder still_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

DOWN HOME:
Countdown clock ticks louder still

That persistent noise pulsing in the background is the clock ticking. For you, it may sound so faint you don't even notice. But it's excruciatingly loud at our house. And it's going to clang even louder.

This clock really started ticking 17 years, six months and 19 days ago. That's when our youngest daughter, Molly, entered this world.

But the 2003-04 school year ended last week, and somebody turned up the volume on the clock. Sometimes–like when I wake up in the middle of the night–it's all I can hear.

Yes, the clock is ticking, counting down the days MollyBird will eat and sleep and laugh and watch TV and study and tell stories and make her mama and me laugh under our roof.

She's officially a senior. She's part of the veteran group at Lewisville High School. Now we begin 15 months of doing things for the last time. She'll be taking her senior pictures soon. If we're blessed, the summer will pass rather quietly. But then, when school starts, we'll do all kinds of stuff–stuff we've been doing all the time for 15 years, since her sister, Lindsay, started kindergarten–for the last time.

MARV KNOX
Editor

If you've known me for at least three years, you know I didn't take this particularly well when Lindsay started doing all her Last Things at Home. She was our firstborn, going through her last year of high school and getting ready to go off to college. Some days, anticipating her departure, grief seemed to whop me up side of the head, stomp on my sternum and push walnuts in my throat.

Well, Lindsay went off to Hardin-Simmons University a couple of years ago and has had a grand time. Joanna and I have missed her like crazy. But we've reveled in her gladness and enjoyed her times back home.

So, I thought I'd be braver when the time came to face Molly's senior year. Problem is, we only have two kids.

If we had three, four or five, we could have had some in-between kids. (I know; all you parents of litters can tell me each one is hard to give up. But for the sake of argument, let's say their departures are at least different.) With just two daughters, we've gone from letting go of our firstborn to giving up our baby.

What were we thinking when we started having children almost 21 years ago? Did we have a clue how fast they'd grow up and become seniors in high school?

Of course not. We couldn't have imagined. But if we could, we would've done it anyway. No reservations, no hesitation, no regrets.

Because preparing for the two sets of Last Things at Home is the best and most lasting thing we've done or ever will do.

OK, I promise not to bore you by telling you about every last thing of Molly's senior year. But when you wake up in the middle of the night and think about how much you love your children, know you're not alone.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




EDITORIAL University should live up to its commitment to BGCT_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

EDITORIAL:
University should live up to its commitment to BGCT

Houston Baptist University should live up to its word to the Baptist General Convention of Texas and rescind its “fraternal relationship” with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

Historically, HBU has been affiliated with the BGCT, received substantial BGCT funding and allowed the BGCT to elect its trustees. In 2000, HBU trustees amended the university's charter, giving themselves authority to elect 75 percent of the trustees, with the BGCT electing only 25 percent. Their action violated the convention's constitution and created a relationship crisis. The crisis seemed to abate in 2001, when the university and convention affirmed a relationship agreement. In it, HBU pledged to “maintain a unique affiliation with the BGCT by not affiliating or establishing a formal relationship with other denominations, conventions or religious entities.” But last fall, HBU created a “fraternal relationship” with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, which was created to compete with the BGCT. Now, the BGCT Executive Board has affirmed a recommendation from a special study committee that asks the university to rescind its “fraternal relationship” with the SBTC.

Jesus didn't negotiate for peace with the money-changers in the Temple or the Pharisees who ran Jerusalem. That's because peace-at-any-cost is too costly.

The Executive Board's May 25 debate over the request to rescind was warm-hearted and cordial. And excruciating. Some members, including a couple of HBU alumni, expressed anguish over the friction between the school and the convention. Others, including one who helped negotiate the 2001 settlement between the convention and university, expressed dismay that HBU would renege on its expressed faithfulness to the BGCT. Still others plaintively pleaded for the convention to give in to the university in the interest of “peace.”

One of the most poignant and ironic speeches came from an HBU alumnus who said he fears the BGCT's request would “drive a wedge” between the convention and the university. Poignant, because anyone who loves an alma mater can feel his pain. Ironic, because he inadvertently acknowledged a danger of fundamentalism, the force that is working to pull HBU away from its longtime companion and benefactor, the BGCT.

Here's the irony: HBU trustees initiated the crisis in 2000 by breaking the BGCT constitution. The BGCT responded in good faith and worked hard to heal the broken relationship. Both parties freely signed off on the agreement that commits HBU to a “unique affiliation” with the BGCT. But the university's trustees succumbed to the seduction of the competing convention and created another relationship, again in violation of their agreement with the BGCT. And now a pastor who loves his school and his convention is left to worry that the convention–not the university–will be accused of “driving a wedge” between them.

Unfortunately, his worry points toward an insidious danger of fundamentalism, a rhetorical deceit that calls up down and black white. Texas Baptists who have observed a quarter-century of convention controversy aren't surprised by this. First, we saw it in lies told about professors and other God-fearing, Jesus-loving, Bible-believing Baptists. We heard the fundamentalists wanted “parity, not purity” in the SBC, then watched everyone who refused to toe the hard party line purged from the convention. More recently, we heard the BGCT was “pulling away” from the SBC, never mind that the BGCT is the one who has worked hard to preserve historic, traditional Baptist beliefs and practices.

Another sad and touching moment occurred when an Executive Board member, acknowledging she had not heard much about these larger Baptist issues in her church, appealed for the BGCT to give in to HBU for the sake of peace. This is a common and noble plea, usually made by people with little knowledge of church history, much less Baptist history. Like others who attempted to appease obsessive adversaries, the SBC seminary presidents and the so-called SBC Peace Committee made ill-fated concessions to fundamentalists, who used them as paving material as they steamrolled their way to domination of the national convention and banishment of all dissenters. So much for peace.

Peace is a worthy goal, and Jesus prayed that his followers would achieve unity. But Jesus didn't negotiate for peace with the money-changers in the Temple or the Pharisees who ran Jerusalem. That's because peace-at-any-cost is too costly.

Critics claim the BGCT is too combative, too ready to engage in conflict. To be sure, conflict for the sake of power and control is unworthy of any Christian. But resistance for the sake of principle, for the preservation of truth, is a sacred honor.

Unfortunately, adversaries–who would like to take over the BGCT and, failing that, BGCT institutions such as HBU–have rejected historic Baptist principles. Left up to them, concepts like soul competency, the priesthood of all believers, local-church autonomy and separation of church and state would cease to exist. So, the BGCT must persevere. That's why it must resist the temptation to give up on a fine school like HBU for the sake of faux peace.

And HBU should restore its promise.

–Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




Texan Engle’s spin on worship That’s why we’re all created_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Texan Engle's spin on worship:
That's why we're all created

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

GRAPEVINE–When recording artist Joel Engle isn't performing at various events around the country, he can be found at home in North Texas–leading worship at 121 Community Church, a Texas Baptist congregation in Grapevine.

Whatever the venue, Engle's passion is to communicate the gospel through music.

Joel Engle

“I really believe that music is a gift that the Lord has given me to be used as a songwriter, a singer and a leader,” he said.

“God has also given me a heart for his word, and a passion to communicate the truth is my calling. I have combined those two things in my music and my ministry. I have a deep, passionate message that goes beyond music.

“Music is one of many great vehicles to get that through.”

Engle has published more than 40 songs and worked with popular Christian recording artists such as Third Day, Mercy Me, Rebecca St. James, Salvador, Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, Jami Smith, Shane Barnard and Shane Everett.

Despite tragic circumstances from his childhood and youth, Engle has overcome his heart-wrenching past to become one of today's leading worship communicators.

Growing up, he endured more hardships and tragedies as a child than most people experience in a lifetime. His father walked out on his mother shortly after he was born, and when he was 11, his mother died of a stroke.

After his mother's death, Engle moved from California to live with his grandparents in Oklahoma. However, his grandparents were already in their late 70s.

At age 14, his grandfather died. Eight months later, realizing that his grandmother couldn't take care of him anymore, he placed himself in the Baptist Children's Home in Oklahoma City, where he lived for almost a year and a half before being adopted by the Engle family.

His life changed as he entered a Christian home that offered him the blessings of hope, redemption and love.

“This was really a very important place in my life,” he explained. “It was where I solidified my relationship with Christ and where I really found the love that I never really got as a kid. The Engles poured so much love into me, and they still do!”

Engle began putting his musical talent to work in high school, and that resulted in a music scholarship to Oklahoma Baptist University. While at OBU, Engle started traveling, singing at churches in the area.

“Things just started growing in that capacity during my college years, and that's really where the foundation of my ministry was really laid,” he recalled. “I wound up getting involved with Christian music as a songwriter, and I did a lot of background vocal sessions and all that, but I knew that my ministry wasn't in the studio as much as it was in the local church.”

As Engle's ministry started flourishing, he partnered with Dawson McAllister and Shepherd Ministries. During three years touring with Shepherd Ministries, Engle began receiving recognition nationally.

In 1997, Engle and with his wife, Valerie, developed the Student Praise Interactive Network, or SPIN.

Today, Spin360 is a quarterly modern worship resource that provides worship leaders with the latest modern worship songs along with lyric masters, chord charts, sheet music, multi-media lyric slides for PowerPoint and MediaShout, and a newsletter with articles, interviews and tips. Currently, more than 4,000 churches worldwide use Spin360.

In February 2003, the Engles were blessed by the birth of their first child, Elizabeth.

“Having the opportunity to be a dad is the most exciting thing to me,” he said. “I just love it!”

While balancing family life and a full-time ministry, Engle also has developed worship seminars, such as the Surrender Conference, which is a two-day event featuring high-impact teaching, music, video and breakout sessions centered around the glorification of Christ and worship as a lifestyle for youth and young adults.

In addition, he launched the Spin360 Conference, a yearly three-day conference for professional and lay worship leaders and bands. It features worship and breakout sessions on a variety of worship topics led by well-known speakers and recording artists.

Engle believes one of the most exciting things to experience in life is watching people respond to God in worship.

“When we truly worship God, the world sees that, and they see that they're missing something,” he said.

“The Bible says that we were all created to worship God, and we were created for God's glory. One of the neatest things that I've been able to see is people realizing they're sinners and they need Christ.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




ETBU choir bound for Russia_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

ETBU choir bound for Russia

The East Texas Baptist University Concert Choir, directed by James Moore, will perform next month with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in the Armory of the Kremlin and in several St. Petersburg palaces. The choir also will sing in Baptist churches in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Russia Ministry of Culture invited the ETBU choir two years ago to sing at the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg's founding, but the trip was postponed due to safety concerns.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




BGCT board asks Houston Baptist University to sever ties with SBTC_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, helped negotiate the original relationship agreement between HBU and the BGCT.

BGCT board asks Houston Baptist
University to sever ties with SBTC

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas wants Houston Baptist University to rescind its “fraternal relationship” with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. And the convention will escrow most funds budgeted for the university until the matter is settled.

With only about a dozen dissenting votes, the BGCT Executive Board voted May 25 to approve a recommendation from the BGCT Christian Education Coordinating Board asking HBU to cut ties with the competing state convention.

Fewer than 20 members of the 234-member board voted in favor of an amendment that would have softened the language of the motion.

The board also affirmed the coordinating board's decision to escrow funds budgeted for HBU, except for financial aid to ministerial students.

HBU President Doug Hodo declined to comment on the board's action.

With only about a dozen dissenting votes, the BGCT Executive Board voted to ask Houston Baptist University to cut ties with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

Last September, university trustees voted to establish a fraternal relationship with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, a group that broke away from the BGCT in 1998.

The university's governing body made that decision two years after signing an agreement to “maintain a unique affiliation with the BGCT by not affiliating or establishing a formal relationship with other denominations, conventions or religious entities.”

In response, messengers to the 2003 BGCT annual meeting approved a motion instructing the Christian Education Coordinating Board to “evaluate the implications” of the university's relationship with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and clarify its status with the BGCT.

The motion by Robert Creech of University Baptist Church in Houston instructed the coordinating board to report to the BGCT Executive Board at its May meeting.

A six-person review committee of the coordinating board concluded HBU's fraternal relationship with the SBTC “violates the spirit and intent” of the BGCT's agreement with the university.

“HBU has chosen to relate to a convention that has been publicly critical of the BGCT, that holds certain differing values and convictions from those expressed by the BGCT, and that has openly encouraged churches to divert Cooperative Program funds in ways that have negatively impacted all of the ministries of the BGCT, including the affiliated and related institutions,” the committee report stated.

“Failure on the part of the BGCT to address this violation of the relationship agreement … would set a precedent for our other educational and ministry institutions that would not be in the best interests of the BGCT and those institutions.”

The BGCT Executive Board voted to affirm the review committee's report, as submitted by the Christian Education Coordinating Board and to reaffirm the 2001 relationship agreement between HBU and the BGCT.

Based on what the committee termed the “clear language” of that agreement, the board asked HBU trustees to rescind the fraternal relationship between the university and the SBTC.

The board also affirmed the coordinating board's decision to escrow most budgeted funds for HBU–effective June 1–until the school's trustees “respond positively” to the board's request or until the coordinating board determines “appropriate levels of future spending” for the university.

Money earmarked as financial aid for ministerial students will not be affected by the escrow. The BGCT budgeted about $750,000 for HBU this year, including $169,000 for ministry students.

The Executive Board rejected an amendment by Ed Seay, pastor of First Baptist Church in Magnolia and an HBU trustee, that would have asked HBU's board to “redefine and defend” rather than “rescind” its relationship with the SBTC.

The Executive Board rejected an amendment by Ed Seay, pastor of First Baptist Church in Magnolia and an HBU trustee, that would have asked HBU's board to "redefine and defend" rather than "rescind" its relationship with the SBTC.

“The idea most of the trustees have concerning the fraternal relationship is not to step away from the BGCT but to reach out to the thousands of young people in churches whose pastors have led them away from the BGCT,” Seay said.

He appealed to the board “not to communicate something that can be interpreted as a veiled threat.”

But Craig Vire, pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church in Burleson and chairman of the coordinating board review committee, said the BGCT entered into a relationship agreement with HBU in good faith.

“The 'unique relationship' language of that agreement is clear and unambiguous in the opinion of the committee,” he said.

“The fraternal relationship violates the spirit and intent of the relationship agreement.”

Vire indicated that while the HBU trustees interpreted a “unique relationship” to mean “one of a kind,” the BGCT intended from the beginning that it mean “one and only.”

Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, helped negotiate the original relationship agreement between HBU and the BGCT.

He insisted the BGCT made substantial concessions to HBU in those negotiations, prompted by HBU's unilateral decision to change the way its trustees were elected and reduce BGCT representation on the board.

Both sides “left the table” clear about what the terms of the agreement meant, he said. “We have not been ogres. We negotiated in good faith … then went beyond the extra mile.”

Randall Scott, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Paris, agreed the BGCT had done everything possible to accommodate the HBU board.

The convention acted “in good faith” when it reached a relationship agreement with HBU in 2001, and then HBU trustees two years later changed their interpretation of it, he said.

“What does that say about their integrity? What message does that send to students?” he asked.

Larry Womack, an HBU alumnus and pastor of Copperfield Baptist Church in west Houston, urged the board to support the amendment, saying the review committee's language would “drive a wedge” between the university and the BGCT.

Womack called on the BGCT to “turn the other cheek” and “adjust the language so we don't alienate them.”

Roxi Vanstory from Oakwood Baptist Church in New Braunfels asked if any other BGCT entities had relationships with the SBTC.

Keith Bruce, coordinator of BGCT institutional ministries, replied HBU is the only BGCT-affiliated institution that relates to the SBTC.

Texas Baptist Men–a self-governing affiliate of the convention that receives BGCT budget funding–has a fraternal relationship with the break-away convention.

The Korean Baptist Fellowship of Texas also has a similar relationship but lost BGCT funding when it established formal ties to the SBTC.

BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade explained the BGCT “made an accommodation” for Texas Baptist Men because of the awkward situation some lay leaders of the group faced when their churches pulled away from the BGCT. “But our institutions are different,” he said.

Wade, Bruce and BGCT President Ken Hall all noted escrowing funds is a temporary measure, and the BGCT wants to continue its relationship with HBU.

“We intend to continue the dialogue,” Hall said, expressing his desire to “redeem the relationship” with HBU.

In other business, Wade and consultant Sherrill Spies presented a progress report on the revisioning and restructuring process in the BGCT.

A 17-member strategy committee will conduct listening sessions around the state this summer and survey as many Texas Baptists as possible.

Wade will work with the group to develop a report with specific recommendations for the BGCT Administrative Committee to consider Sept. 2-3 and for Executive Board action Sept. 28.

The BGCT Executive Board also:

bluebull Approved charter changes for East Texas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University and Howard Payne University. The technical changes concerned matters such as board sizes, eliminating archaic language and bringing charters into compliance with state and federal laws.

bluebull Affirmed an amended relationship agreement between the BGCT and Baptist Health Services, a foundation created from the proceeds of the sale of Baptist Health Systems in San Antonio.

The revised agreement extends the geographic scope of the new foundation to include not only Bexar County, but also all contiguous counties.

It also stipulates that the chief executive officer of the foundation be a Baptist, requires the foundation to use outside investment advisers, and clarifies issues regarding the board's structure and transition to a 16-member governing board with 12 elected by the BGCT and four elected by the board itself.

bluebull Approved the 2003 financial audit, provided by the Grant Thornton agency and reviewed by the audit committee. Auditors issued an unqualified or “clean” opinion.

The auditors found no material weaknesses or evidence of fraud. The only concern they cited was the need to fill the vacant controller/assistant treasurer position as soon as possible.

New board members elected

Baptist Foundation of Texas

bluebull Kim Askew, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas

Wayland Baptist University

bluebull Gene Meacham, First Baptist Church, Hale Center

Baptist Health System Foundation

bluebull Mary Brogan, Shearer Hills Baptist Church, San Antonio

bluebull Ray Dinstel, Crossroads Baptist Church, San Antonio

bluebull Alice Gong, First Chinese Baptist Church, San Antonio

bluebull Connie Jones, First Baptist Church, Boerne

bluebull Roland Lopez, Northwest Hispanic Church, San Antonio

bluebull Bill McCandless, Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio

bluebull Philip McCraw, Baptist Temple, San Antonio

bluebull Kim Moore, First Baptist Church, Boerne

bluebull Sam Pearis, First Baptist Church, Universal City

bluebull Dale Wood, Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio

BGCT Executive Board

bluebull Nestor Menjivar, Iglesia Bautista Principe de Paz, Austin

bluebull Glen Mitchell, Faith Baptist Church, Iowa Park

bluebull Joel Odom, Oak Hills Baptist Church, Floresville

bluebull Gene Shelburne, Crestview Baptist Church, Midland

Ferrell Foster of Texas Baptist Communications contributed to this report.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.




Southwestern uninvited to BGCT exhibit hall_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Southwestern uninvited to BGCT exhibit hall

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–At least one long-time exhibitor will not be in the exhibit hall at the November meeting of Baptist General Convention of Texas as the result of a committee-approved policy change.

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary received notice in a May 20 letter it would not be offered exhibit space this year in San Antonio. Seminary President Paige Patterson responded that he was “dumbfounded” by the decision.

Southwestern is one of six seminaries funded by the Southern Baptist Convention. The BGCT supports two other seminaries–Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary in Waco and Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology in Abilene.

The BGCT letter noted “disheartening changes” that have occurred in recent years and the “unsupportive direction of the Southern Baptist Convention toward the BGCT.”

The convention's Committee on Order of Business is responsible for decisions related to exhibits, workshops and the program of the annual meeting.

“We're trying to make this a positive convention,” said committee Chairman Felipe Garza, a member of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Farmers Branch. As a result, “we wanted to invite those entities that we feel are supportive of the BGCT” and that can provide needed resources to churches.

Convention President Ken Hall said, “We want to affirm the ministries of the BGCT through all of the meetings, exhibits and workshops at the convention by amplifying the wonderful things God is doing through the convention.”

Patterson said in a statement: “Due to the efforts we have made to achieve cordial relationships with the BGCT, we were dumbfounded by the revelation that we would not be allowed to display at the convention.

“This is a clear signal to Southern Baptists in BGCT churches that the present leadership of the BGCT fully intends to sever all relationships with the Southern Baptist Convention and its agencies. They apparently have decided to cut the dog's tail off one joint at a time.”

BGCT's Hall, in response, said: “The connection between the BGCT and the SBC is not based on convention space in an exhibit hall. The relationship is built on something much more important and deeper.”

Scott Collins, vice president for external affairs at Buckner Baptist Benevolences, noted the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention also has an “exclusionary policy.”

So does the SBC, which refused to allow Buckner to exhibit at the SBC's 1997 annual meeting in Dallas, Collins said. Buckner had exhibited at SBC events in Texas cities prior to that date, but in 1997, “I was told that we are not part of the Baptist family.”

John Petty, vice chairman of the Committee on Order of Business, said the SBC's theological statement, the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, is the primary reason behind the committee's decision to exclude Southwestern Seminary.

The BGCT has rejected that statement as creedal and leans upon the 1963 version as its accepted confession of faith.

The 2000 statement has become a “rallying point” for the SBC and has resulted in “so many professors” leaving Southwestern, Petty said.

In the last 25 years, the SBC has gone “places no Baptists have gone before,” he added.

Southwestern Seminary “has held an important place in both Southern Baptist and Texas Baptist history,” Petty said. “I spent three great years there studying under world-class professors who were committed to the authority of Scripture, the autonomy of the local church, the priesthood of all believers and the separation of church state. Regrettably, this is no longer the case.”

Hall said the letter was sent to Southwestern Seminary as a “Christian courtesy” because the school has been a long-time exhibitor.

“I wish Southwestern the very, very best and success in their new way of doing theological education,” Hall said. “We're just saying people should be helping us fulfill our mission if they are going to be part of the annual meeting.”

The BGCT is in the midst of developing a “very clear statement as to who we are as Texas Baptists and how we are going to help churches and our institutions,” Hall said. “We don't want to be defined by the controversy anymore.”

The letter sent to Greg Tomlin, director of public relations at Southwestern, said the Committee on Order of Business is “responding to the churches of the BGCT in order to make this meeting an encouraging resource for those churches committed to historic Baptist identity. Accordingly, we are making changes to accommodate exhibitors who consistently affirm their support of the BGCT, its mission and leadership.”

Exhibit space will be limited to “organizations and Baptists who are wholeheartedly supportive of the leadership and churches of the Baptist General Convention of Texas,” the letter said.

“The BGCT would like to move confidently and positively into a future committed to the needs and desires of our member churches. We thank you for your past participation. May God bless you as you endeavor to build the kingdom in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Ministries of the BGCT and groups directly relating to the convention will occupy most of the exhibit space at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.

After those ministries are taken care of, the BGCT's convention planning office and the Committee on Order of Business will consider additional requests for space.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.