Baptist Briefs

Posted: 8/04/06

Baptist Briefs

SBC president flip-flops on women in ministry. Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page has recanted as “radical” and “extreme” his early views advocating expanded roles for women in ministry. In his 1980 doctoral dissertation at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Page wrote: “There are solid biblical bases for a full recognition of the freedom and responsibility of women in ministry and the freedom of God’s Spirit to bestow the gifts for ministry upon men and women alike. The time has come to declare that since the public activity of a woman is in most areas no longer considered as a breach of the marriage vow and since the law of the land no longer denies to women the right to act independently in mixed gatherings, qualified women are eligible candidates for any office in the church.” But in a recent interview with the Florida Baptist Witness, he said, “I was trying very hard to conform biblical passages to some cultural preferences of the time.” Page insisted he became convinced “through personal study and prayer” that his dissertation was not exegetically sound and reflected the work of an “immature theologian.”

Leland Center president plans to step down. Randell Everett, pastor of First Baptist Church in Newport News, Va., will resign at the end of the year as president of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, where he has served the past nine years. The Leland Center offers diploma, master of divinity and master of theological studies classes to about 150 students a year. Formed in 1997, the center emphasizes diversity and a commitment to churches in and near Washington, D.C. The center recently received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools and soon will become a partner in the Washington Theological Consortium.

IMB trustees elect mobilization VP. Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board unanimously elected Ken Winter vice president for mobilization. Wendy Norvelle, mobilization’s associate vice president, served as interim vice president during the 18-month period since Larry Cox resigned in January 2005 to become director of WinShape International in Rome, Ga. Winter served as a chief financial and management officer before he became associate pastor of administration and later associate pastor for global missions at First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Fla. He joined the IMB staff in early 2004, and in November 2005, he was tapped to work with IMB President Jerry Rankin as his executive assistant.

National FAITH Summit set. A national FAITH Summit will be held Oct. 2-3 at First Baptist Church in Cullman, Ala. The event is geared toward pastors, ministers of education and congregational FAITH directors who have been conducting the Sunday school-based outreach ministry for at least three consecutive years. Dean Abernathy of LifeWay Christian Resources will lead four hours of training for experienced FAITH workers. Cost is $55 per participant, which includes one evening meal and summit materials. Reservations are required by Sept. 15. Contact Jim O’Dillon at First Baptist Church, 501 Second Avenue SW, Cullman, AL 35055-4108.

New Glorieta director named. LifeWay Christian Resources has named Hal Hill director of Glorieta Conference Center, near Santa Fe, N.M. Hill has been national camp manager for LifeWay since October 2004. Previously, he worked in LifeWay’s church recreation department and was director of a conference center near Seattle. He also worked for the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Brotherhood Commission and served on staff at three churches. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Hill succeeds Steve Grassfield, who served as general manager of Glorieta since January 2004.

Recipes from African-American churches wanted. Whirlpool’s African-American Network is sponsoring a “Spirit of Cooking” competition intended to find some of the nation’s best African-American church potluck dinner recipes. Gospel music star CeCe Winans and National Public Radio commentator Vertamae Grosvenor will serve as celebrity judges. Recipes can be submitted in one of four categories—“Jump-Up-and-Shout Main Dish,” “Too-Good-to-be-True Side Dish,” “Celestially Sweet Dessert” or “Bless Your Heart Health Conscious Alternative.” The deadline for entries is Sept. 25. Winners will be notified by Oct. 20. For more information or to submit a recipe, visit www.whirlpool.com/spirit.