Texas religious leaders unite to stand against legalized video slot machines_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Texas religious leaders unite to stand
against legalized video slot machines

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Leaders of the Texas religious community are standing together against a proposal that would link the funding of public education in the state to video slot machines.

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Iorg named Golden Gate Theological Seminary president_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Iorg named Golden Gate Theological Seminary president

MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)–Trustees of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary elected Jeff Iorg as the seminary's seventh president.

Iorg will assume his new position Aug. 1, succeeding Bill Crews, who retired after leading the seminary from 1986 until 2003.

Iorg has served as executive director-treasurer of the Northwest Baptist Convention since 1995. He was the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Ore., and also has served as a pastor in Missouri and Texas.

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Hispanic Preaching Conference_50304

Posted: 5/03/04 Hispanic Preaching Conference About 300 Hispanic Baptists gathered at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary for times of fellowship, instruction and inspiration at the recent Hispanic Preaching Conference. Seminar…

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texas hunger offering gifts rising; $750,000 goal set for 2005_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Texas hunger offering gifts
rising; $750,000 goal set for 2005

By John Hall & Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

MOUNT LEBANON–World hunger gifts by Texas Baptist churches have increased 24.7 percent so far this year, and the Baptist General Convention of Texas has set a $750,000 hunger offering budget for 2005.

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Nearly two-thirds of wired American adults surf Net for spiritual reasons_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Nearly two-thirds of wired American
adults surf Net for spiritual reasons

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Nearly two-thirds of American adults with Internet access have used it for spiritual or faith-related reasons, according to a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life project.

The 82 million Americans who use the Internet for religious activities represent 64 percent of all wired adults in the United States.

The study found one-third of U.S. Internet users have sent or received e-mail with religious content or spiritual greeting cards, or go online to read current religion news. Others look for information about religious services and holidays.

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texas Baptist Forum_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Ten Commandments

Phil Strickland asserts, “We undercut the profound truths … and the moral instruction of the Ten Commandments when we give responsibility of teaching to the government and don't embrace that responsibility in the churches” (April 19).

The Ten Commandments were given by God to a chosen Hebrew leader, Moses, to teach all people how to behave themselves. God wanted to establish a nation–not a church–and this is how he commanded people should conduct themselves and their affairs.

The Founding Fathers established a great nation–these United States–because they feared God. And the Ten Commandments were guiding principles in establishing the Constitution, a task made more difficult because now there were more “religions.”

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Annuity Board staff member joins BGCT as director of information technology office_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Annuity Board staff member joins
BGCT as director of information technology office

DALLAS–Dave Lyons has joined the Baptist General Convention of Texas staff as director of information technology.

Lyons will serve in a new position that is the direct result of a technology review pursued by the BGCT in 2002, said David Nabors, chief financial officer and treasurer of the convention.

Lyons comes to the BGCT from the Southern Baptist Annuity Board in Dallas, where he was a business systems development and support team leader. He had been with the Annuity Board since 1995.

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Growing churches have deep roots, clearly defined purpose_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Growing churches have deep roots, clearly defined purpose

By Kari Hawkins

Religion News Service

ATLANTA (RNS)–Why does one church grow and another just down the street fall stagnant?

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Christian leaders should maximize abilities, pastor suggests_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Christian leaders should maximize abilities, pastor suggests

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SALADO–Leadership is not telling people what to do, but working with and for others, a Rockwall pastor told the Baptist General Convention of Texas Ministers of Education Retreat.

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Missouri convention appeals suit dismissal_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Missouri convention appeals suit dismissal

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP)–Attorneys for the Missouri Baptist Convention have appealed the dismissal of a lawsuit against five breakaway institutions, and state convention messengers will be asked to authorize the use of Cooperative Program funds to pay for the ongoing lawsuit.

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

Multicultural retreat_50304

Posted: 5/03/04 Multicultural retreat Kate Leong of Southwest Chinese Baptist Church in Stafford and Delbert and Mary Lou Serratt of First Baptist Church in Amarillo enjoy a lighthearted moment while…

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge

New Orleans Seminary leaves sole member vote to SBC messengers_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

New Orleans Seminary leaves sole
member vote to SBC messengers

By Lacy Thompson & Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

NEW ORLEANS (ABP)–New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees will leave up to Southern Baptist Convention messengers a final decision on how best to tie the institution to the denominational body–but in the process may have only deepened their dispute with the SBC's Executive Committee.

04/30/2004 - By John Rutledge