‘No justice without fair taxation,’ Alabama professor insists_30705

Posted: 3/4/05

'No justice without fair taxation,' Alabama professor insists

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

AUSTIN–Alabama has the “sorriest tax structure in the country,” but Texas is “close to being right in the mud with us,” a law professor told the Texas Baptist Christian Life Conference.

03/04/2005 - By John Rutledge

Tech gap emerging between large, small churches_30705

Posted: 3/4/05

Tech gap emerging between large, small churches

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A significant gap in the use of the Internet and computers is emerging between large and small congregations, a recent study found.

Ellison Research, a full-service marketing research firm in Phoenix that conducted the research for Facts & Trends magazine, reported nine of 10 Protestant ministers have access to the Internet either at home or at work, but only about half of all churches maintain a website.

"As the American public becomes more and more reliant on technology in everyday life, they will logically expect churches to have things such as websites, streaming audio or video on the site, or study materials on video or computer software," said Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research.

03/04/2005 - By John Rutledge

Texas Tidbits_30705

Posted: 3/4/05

Texas Tidbits

Baylor receives Templeton grant. Baylor University's Center for Religious Inquiry Across the Disciplines has received a $716,000 research grant from the John Templeton Foundation to conduct research on different aspects of religion's impact on society. The award from the John M. Templeton Foundation will make it possible for Baylor scholars to conduct a longitudinal survey of Americans' religious beliefs, practices and values. Baylor will partner with the Gallup Organization to conduct a comprehensive survey of religious beliefs that examines in much more detail than previous research how faith impacts such factors as civic engagement, volunteerism and consumption patterns.

Endowed scholarship established at DBU. An endowed scholarship fund at Dallas Baptist University, named in honor of Alva and Doris Parks of Montgomery, Ala., has been established to benefit qualifying students in the School of Leadership and Christian Education. Parks was executive vice president at DBU from 1990 to 1996.

Higher education conference set at Baylor. "The Future of Baptist Higher Education" is the theme of a national conference scheduled April 18-19 at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary. Seminars will explore questions such as to whom are Baptist colleges and universities accountable; who will be the students and faculty at Baptist schools in a post-denominational, multicultural and materialistic age; and how can Baptist higher education carry out its purpose in a context of conflict. Featured speakers include Kirby Godsey, president of Mercer University; William Hull, provost emeritus of Samford University; Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance; Martin Marty of the University of Chicago; and Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University of the Americas.

03/04/2005 - By John Rutledge

TOGETHER: Baptists remain free and cooperative_30705

Posted: 3/4/05

TOGETHER:
Baptists remain free and cooperative

What is it about Baptists that makes us so determined to exercise our faith freely and faithfully? Our history offers a clue. Baptists were born in a time when religious faith was controlled by either bishops or secular rulers, sometimes by both. When the Scriptures became available for all to read, our forebears discovered a new vision. It freed believers from the harsh power of those who would control the conscience.

Those early Baptists gladly submitted to God and the authority of the Scriptures, but they believed God wanted worship to be freely given and never required by law.

We were so independent of human authority in religion and so afraid of losing the autonomy of the local church that it took a long time for us to learn to cooperate. What taught us how to cooperate without losing our freedom? Well, the Scriptures helped. The Apostle Paul urged that unity in the church be protected.

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

03/04/2005 - By John Rutledge

Argyle children offer sweet relief_30705

Posted: 3/4/05

Argyle children offer sweet relief

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

ARGYLE–A little sugar and spice is helping improve the lives of young people in South Asia.

03/04/2005 - By John Rutledge

Website designer believes God had designs on his life_30705

Posted: 3/4/05

Aaron McClung has designed websites for various churches and ministries.

Website designer believes God had designs on his life

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

HURST–Aaron McClung always believed God had something ministry-related designed for him.

03/04/2005 - By John Rutledge

Award-winning shaggy dog story becomes family-friendly film_30705

Posted: 3/4/05

Award-winning shaggy dog story
becomes family-friendly film

By Ted Parks

Associated Baptist Press

LOS ANGELES (ABP)–It's a perennial question, like the chicken and the egg. Which was better, the book or the movie?

03/04/2005 - By John Rutledge

Storylist for 2/07/05 Issue_20705

Storylist for week of 2/07/05 GO TO SECTIONS: • Around Texas       • Baptists       • Faith In Action       • Departments      • Opinion       • Bible Study       Articles…

02/28/2005 - By John Rutledge

Cybercolumn by Brett Younger: Lent 101_30705

Posted: 2/28/05

CYBER COLUMN: Lent 101

02/28/2005 - By John Rutledge

Bill Brian to lead Baylor presidential search committee_30705

Posted: 2/24/05

Bill Brian to lead Baylor presidential search committee

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

Bill Brian, an attorney and layman at First Baptist Church in Amarillo, will chair an 11-member search committee charged with finding a successor to Baylor University President Robert Sloan.

02/24/2005 - By John Rutledge

Tapes show Bush reluctant to ‘kick gays’ in presidential run_30705

Posted: 2/24/05

Tapes show Bush reluctant to 'kick gays' in presidential run

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)—Prior to his 2000 election campaign, George W. Bush worried about both the need to appeal more to conservative evangelical Christians and the danger of appearing too close to them, private audiotapes reveal.

02/24/2005 - By John Rutledge

Committee recommends CBF funding cap_30705

Posted: 2/24/05

Committee recommends CBF funding cap

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

ATLANTA (ABP)—A study committee is recommending the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship set a cap on funding of its “partner” organizations and bring more structure to those relationships, including signed covenant agreements and public acknowledgements of those partnerships.

02/24/2005 - By John Rutledge