Baptist Briefs_22105

Posted: 2/18/05

Baptist Briefs

Baptists make Time's list. At least seven Baptists are among Time magazine's list of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. The magazine devoted the cover of a recent issue to the subject of evangelical Protestants in America and their influence over politics and culture. The list details evangelicals "whose influence is on the rise or who have carved out a singular role" in those arenas. Joining famed evangelist Billy Graham and his son, Franklin, on the list were Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Southern California and author of The Purpose-Driven Life; Tim LaHaye, co-author of the popular Left Behind series of apocalyptic novels and his wife, Beverly, founder of the conservative political-action group Concerned Women for America; reformed Watergate convict and Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson; and Hispanic Baptist community activist Luis Cortes.

Gregory named to college post. Joel Gregory, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, has been named a distinguished fellow at Georgetown College. In that part-time consulting role, Gregory will visit the campus several times a year and serve as an ambassador-at-large for the Kentucky Baptist-related school. Among his major responsibilities will be leading Proclaimers Place, a small-group preaching seminar; coordinating alumni and friends' travel such as a 10-day study tour on "Great Preachers of Great Britain"; and serving as a liaison to the African-American church community, including work with the school's Underground Railroad Research Institute. He will continue to live in Fort Worth and will continue his preaching and teaching ministry through Joel Gregory Ministries. A graduate of Baylor University in Waco and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Gregory also is a former pastor of Travis Avenue and Gambrell Street Baptist churches in Fort Worth, a former preaching professor at Southwestern and a two-term president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

GuideStone assets hit high. GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention reached an all-time high of $8.3 billion in assets at the close of 2004–12.05 percent increase over the 2003 closing numbers of $7.3 billion. In addition, the 13 AB Funds Trust mutual funds available to Southern Baptist participants turned in a positive performance for 2004 as well as continuing to post positive returns since their inception on Aug. 27, 2001, said officials with the agency, formerly known as the Southern Baptist Annuity Board.

LifeWay president announces retirement. Making good on a promise made a year ago, Jimmy Draper, president of LifeWay Christian Resources for 14 years, announced his retirement Feb. 7, to take effect next February. Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing house immediately named a search committee. Draper, 69, said he hopes the trustees elect his successor at their next meeting, Sept. 12-13. He plans to work with the president-elect until Feb. 1, 2006, when he will retire. Trustees named to the search committee are Rick Evans of Alabama (chair), Phil Neighbors of California, Ken Jones of Tennessee, Mark Anderson of Mississippi, Bill Henard of Kentucky, Melvin Pugh of Pennsylvania, Roger Willmore of Alabama and Tom Woodson of Oklahoma. Ex officio members are trustee Chair Wayne Hamrick, trustee Vice Chair Ed Ethridge and SBC President Bobby Welch.