2006 Archives
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Around the State
Posted: 11/17/06
Around the State
• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus newpaper, The Bells, won first place overall in its division and five other awards at the Baptist Press Excellence in Journalism competition in Nashville, Tenn. The UMHB yearbook, The Bluebonnet, placed second overall.
• Mark Yates has been named Baptist Student Minis-tries director at East Texas Baptist University. Yates had been named interim director in August. He has been at ETBU 10 years, working as an admissions counselor as well as assistant director of international education.
Adamsville Church in Adamsville recently held a celebration to kick off the re-organization of its Women on Mission program. Clowns Sugarfoot and Sugarpie greeted the women, including Director Wenona Conley, who celebrated her 83rd birthday at the event. The use of clowns indicates the women plan to be fresh and fun in their ideas for ministry, leaders say. • Pamela Bryant, associate professor of chemistry and chair of Howard Payne University’s department of physical sciences, is one of 150 higher education professionals featured in College Faith 3. Bryant’s testimony in the book details the financial challenges she faced as a sophomore at Augusta College in Georgia when all the money she earned during the summer was stolen from her purse—at church. Her parents could not afford to pay the tuition she had saved for, but “God’s love, poured out to me through the gifts of his people,” allowed her to receive the funds needed, she said.
• Clairene and Fred Herold have pledged a $100,000 gift for the campus building fund of Dallas Baptist University.
Anniversaries
11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Book Reviews
Posted: 11/17/06
Book Reviews
Whose Bible is it? by Jaroslav Pelikan (Penguin)
In the recent century, we saw two World Wars but also a crest in exploration of the Bible. Jaroslav Pelikan, professor emeritus of history at Yale University, published this “short history of the Scriptures” last year. It is a reverent and incisive interpretation. Unfortunately, he died May 13 at 82.
Preachers and Sunday school teachers like to get background information for their presentations, and this would be an excellent source. For example, do we let the whole message of the Christian faith rise and fall on the doctrine of inerrancy? And where does the Koran fall into the procession of sacred Middle Eastern documents?
What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com. There is a whole seminar in less than 300 pages in Pelikan’s sweep through origins and relationships in the word of God.
11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Baptist Briefs
Posted: 11/17/06
Baptist Briefs
CBF names disaster-response coordinator. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship named Charles Ray, a long-time Little Rock, Ark., resident, the first coordinator for the Fellowship’s U.S.-based disaster-response team. He’ll begin his new position Jan. 1. The two-year position was created through a partnership between national CBF and CBF of Arkansas, who are jointly funding the position. Other state and regional CBF organizations are funding operational expenses for the position. Based on the disaster-response assets and capabilities of CBF state and regional organizations, Ray will develop a national disaster-response plan for the Fellowship. He also will work with governmental and non-profit agencies to respond quickly to disasters, especially in the formation and dispatch of an initial response team.
N.C. Baptists reject bylaw changes. Messengers to the annual North Carolina Baptist state convention meeting struck down proposed bylaw changes that would have given convention-related institutions more influence over the appointment of trustees and directors. The proposed amendments, more than a year in the making and supported by convention officials, received just 38 percent of the 2,198 ballots cast in the Nov. 14 meeting. Some observers say the move could trigger an exodus of N.C. Baptist colleges and other convention-related entities, which have sought more control over selection of trustees. Even before the convention, one institution signaled it will exercise more autonomy over trustee elections. Wingate University in Wingate, N.C., announced a plan to use an option in convention and university bylaws that allows it to appoint up to 50 percent of its trustees.
11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Pastors face stresses, challenges of corporate CEO’s
Posted: 11/17/06
Pastors face stresses,
challenges of corporate CEO’sBy Greg Garrison
Religion News Service
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) —New Hope Baptist Church Pastor Gregory Clarke sometimes feels like the CEO of a major corporation—or more than one.
“I’m president of three corporations, superintendent of the school and pastor of the church,” Clarke said. Make that two campuses, with a combined membership of 3,000 people.
The business side of religion:
• Pastors face stresses, challenges of corporate CEOs
• Congregations embrace the business side of religion
• Endowments provide churches a financial safety net
Gregory Clarke is pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., and has many of the same duties as a CEO. (RNS photo by Steve Barnette/The Birmingham News) 11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Congregations embrace the business side of religion
Posted: 11/17/06
Congregations embrace
the business side of religionBy Greg Garrison
Religion News Service
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS)—Generating as much as $25 million a year through 105 ministries, Briarwood Presbyterian Church touches the world like a multinational corporation.
“Fifty cents of every dollar goes outside the church—whether it’s Campus Outreach or Bangladesh,” said Bruce Stallings, Briarwood’s executive pastor. “We are able to support missions all around the world.”
The business side of religion:
• Pastors face stresses, challenges of corporate CEOs
• Congregations embrace the business side of religion
• Endowments provide churches a financial safety net
Bryan Gunn, minister of administration at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., is a former accountant. He said, “There’s a need to step up to a higher level of professionalism and accountability within churches.” (RNS photo by Mark Almond/The Birmingham News) 11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
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African-American rally focuses on worship & thanksgiving
Posted: 11/17/06
A choir sings during the worship service at a BGCT-sponsored rally for African-American Baptists. (Photo by Jenny Pope) African-American rally focuses
on worship & thanksgivingBy Jenny Pope
Buckner International
LEWISVILLE—Hundreds of African-American Texas Baptists gathered at Westside Baptist Church to worship God and give thanks for the growth of African-American churches in the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
“We haven’t gotten to where we want to be, but we’re further than we used to be,” said Oscar Epps, founding pastor of Community Baptist Church in DeSoto.
• See complete list of convention articles11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Battle of the Bands winner
Posted: 11/17/06
Battle of the Bands winner
The Jonathan Stege Band won the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ first Battle of the Bands competition, held in conjunction with the BGCT annual meeting.
The band, which leads worship for the college group at First Baptist Church in Lubbock, beat out 11 other competitors.
• See complete list of convention articlesTrae Castles Band won second place. Iconoclast won third. The Jonathan Stege Band will receive studio recording time and a spot on the BGCT Youth Evangelism Conference fx band lineup in July. Trae Castles Band and Iconoclast both won Guitar Center gift certificates.
11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
Trust in God in turbulent times, president tells BGCT
Posted: 11/17/06
Trust in God in turbulent
times, president tells BGCTBy Sara Hawkins
Houston Baptist University
DALLAS—In turbulent times, Texas Baptists can rest in the promise: “God will take care of you,” Michael Bell of Fort Worth told the Baptist General Convention of Texas in his president’s address.
“As I prepare to exit stage left, I am compelled to call your attention to the importance of your participation and your increased involvement in the life of our convention,” Bell said.
Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, delivers the president’s message to the Baptist General Convention of Texas. (Photo by Robin Kenagy) 11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
Texas Baptists challenged to ‘share the light’
Posted: 11/17/06
Texas Baptists challenged to ‘share the light’
By Craig Bird
Baptist Child & Family Services
DALLAS—The question for Texas Baptists is “how do we do more together this century to tell the world about Jesus Christ,” Duane Brooks, pastor of Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, told the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting.
“God is calling us, not to perpetuate the past, but to be a light to all the people of the earth,” Brooks said during the annual meeting sermon. “If we have more memories of a glorious past than dreams of the future, we are dying.”
Duane Brooks 11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
Church starting policies designed to ensure accountability
Posted: 11/17/06
Executive Board staff members Tim Randolph and Ron Gunter explain proposed church starting policies. Church starting policies
designed to ensure accountabilityBy Barbara Bedrick
Texas Baptist Communications
DALLAS—A workshop during the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting provided a peek into new, strengthened church starting guidelines that include more accountability and frequent assessment meetings.
• See complete list of convention articlesThe session—originally billed as a discussion of the BGCT Valley investigation but changed when the Executive Board called a special meeting at the same time—provided pastors and associational directors details of the strategic church starting guidelines, which will roll out officially next February as proposed policy.
Jimmie Auten, director of missions for Greater Forthood Baptist Association, looks at proposed BGCT church starting policies. 11/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
