Evangelical chaplains spark controversy

Posted: 2/17/06

Evangelical chaplains spark controversy

By Deborah Potter

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly

WASHINGTON (RNS)—The U.S. Armed Forces always have had chaplains, but as the number of chaplains from evangelical groups with a strong commitment to bringing nonbelievers to their faith has grown, so has a controversy about how the chaplaincy should carry out its ministry.

Historically, chaplains have served side-by-side with the troops in both peace and war, offering public prayers and private counseling—to all comers, of all faiths, believers and nonbelievers alike.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

Bush challenges students to lives of service

Posted: 2/17/06

Bush challenges students to lives of service

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

BELTON—Former President George Bush stressed the importance of service, integrity and ties to family and friends during a lecture at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

“There is no definition of a successful life that doesn’t include service to others,” Bush told a capacity crowd at the university’s Mayborn Campus Center, Feb. 10.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

John Lilley seeks balance as he leads Baylor University

Posted: 2/17/06

John Lilley seeks balance as he leads Baylor University

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

WACO—Baylor University bills itself as “a Christian university in the historic Baptist tradition.” And when President John Lilley uses the phrase, he emphasizes every key word.

“It’s not in just any tradition and not even just any Baptist tradition. It’s the historic Baptist tradition,” he said, stressing the university’s leaders hold a distinctively Baptist understanding of religious liberty and noncreedal, biblical faith.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

Intelligent design discussion moves to university campuses

Posted: 2/17/06 Intelligent design discussion moves to university campuses By Sarah Price Brown Religion News Service SAN DIEGO, Calif. (RNS)—When Hannah Maxson started an intelligent design club at Cornell University…

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

Evangelicals sitting on sidelines in immigration debate

Posted: 2/17/06

Evangelicals sitting on sidelines in immigration debate

By G. Jeffrey MacDonald

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Advocates at World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, usually can expect a warm greeting from large evangelical groups wielding clout in the halls of Congress.

But this year, they’re getting a downright chilly reception to one of their priority agenda items—immigration reform.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

View of God often shaped by life experiences, pastor insists

Posted: 2/17/06

View of God often shaped by life experiences, pastor insists

By Ken Walker

Special to the Baptist Standard

TUCSON, Ariz.—Native Texan Roger Barrier started praying about ministry in an unchurched area after Roy Fish, his evangelism professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, told students, “You’d better be sure you’ve got a call from God to stay in Texas, because Texas doesn’t need any more preachers.”

For 30 years, Barrier has served Casas Church in suburban Tucson, a Baptist congregation that has grown from 70 to 4,500 members during his tenure.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

TOGETHER: An inspiring, courageous servant leader

Posted: 2/17/06

TOGETHER: An inspiring, courageous servant leader

Phil Strickland was one of the greatest leaders Texas Baptists have ever known. He could have been an incredibly successful attorney. He could have been a great Texas governor.

But he chose to be a good and great advocate for justice and righteousness in Texas.

He came to the task of director of the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas as a very young man. He was not a pastor/preacher, but he was a wonderful speaker of truth. He attended seminary after law school because he wanted to be sure that what he did in the field of law was informed as much as possible by his deep biblical faith.

What he learned as a boy growing up in First Baptist Church of Abilene kept growing in his heart and mind. He loved the gospel of Jesus Christ, which sets us free and keeps us free. He loved the Bible and treasured its truth and authority as he made decisions about life and ethics. He was grateful to God in all things and knew the power and blessing of prayer in the most intimate and spiritually meaningful way.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

TEXAS TIDBITS

Posted: 2/17/06 Texas Tidbits Baylor’s endowment ranks high. Baylor University, with a $750 million endowment, ranks 77th among U.S. colleges and universities with the largest endowments, according to a survey…

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

Texas Baptist Men move to Dixon building

Posted: 2/17/06

Texas Baptist Men move to Dixon building

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS—Texas Baptist Men has relocated most of its offices from the Baptist General Convention of Texas offices in Dallas to the Dixon Missions Equipping Center in east Dallas, where much of its disaster relief equipment is housed.

The Dixon building has the office space and infrastructure to host Texas Baptist Men, said Leo Smith, TBM executive director.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

Strickland provided voice for poor, powerless

Posted: 2/17/06

Strickland provided voice for poor, powerless

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

Phil Strickland believed his mission was to provide a voice for the powerless in the halls of government and speak prophetically to Texas Baptists on moral and ethical issues.

After a long battle with cancer, resultant pneumonia silenced that prophetic voice Feb. 11 at age 64.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

Proposal could allow casino-style slot machines

Posted: 2/17/06

Proposal could allow casino-style slot machines

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

AUSTIN—A proposal meant to give the Texas Lottery Commission more flexibility in developing new games and taking advantage of new technology could put casino-style slot machines across the state, said Suzii Paynter, director of citizenship and public policy for the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission.

The changes would allow the Lottery Commission to make some of their games electronic, enabling instantaneous financial gains and losses via a computer network.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

Segregated churches hinder evangelism

Posted: 2/17/06

Segregated churches hinder evangelism

By Marv Knox

Editor

WACO—Christians undermine their ability to reach society with the gospel because they segregate their churches by race, sociologist/author George Yancey told participants in a workshop aimed at racial reconciliation.

Yancey, assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Texas and author of several books, including Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility, presented two keynote speeches at “Becoming a Racially Reconciled Church & Community.” Mission Waco, an inner-city ministry in Waco, sponsored the event.

02/17/2006 - By John Rutledge