Cybercolumn By John Duncan: Parables

Posted: 6/26/06

CYBER COLUMN:
Parables

By John Duncan

I’m sitting here under the old oak tree, pondering the parables of Jesus. Jesus had a way of giving the good news in ways his hearers could understand.

Parables might be found in everyday life.

06/26/2006 - By John Rutledge

WMU emphasizes God’s call to missions

Posted: 6/23/06

WMU emphasizes God’s call to missions

By Charlie Warren, Bill Webb & David Sanders

Arkansas Baptist & Missouri Word & Way

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Christians need to hear, understand, embrace and live God’s call, program personalities reminded Baptist women during the 2006 Woman’s Missionary Union celebration.

“How can you hear God’s call when those around you want you to mimic the call of someone else?” asked Paige Chargois of Richmond, Va., who interpreted the missions celebration theme throughout the meeting, June 11-12 in Greensboro, N.C.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

Patterson, Mohler discuss Calvinism

Posted: 6/23/06

Patterson, Mohler discuss Calvinism

By Tony W. Cartledge

N.C. Biblical Recorder

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Baptist seminary presidents Paige Patterson and Albert Mohler may have philosophical differences on the subject of divine election as interpreted by Calvinism but little that has practical effect, an hour-long dialogue revealed.

Patterson and Mohler discussed “Reaching Today’s World Through Differing Views of Election” in two breakout sessions of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastor’s Conference June 11. Both sessions, in a cavernous space occupying three hotel ballrooms, drew standing-room-only crowds.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

CP standard, WMU ‘invitation’ nixed

Posted: 6/23/06

CP standard, WMU ‘invitation’ nixed

By Robert Marus & Steve DeVane

Associated Baptist Press & N.C. Biblical Recorder

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Southern Baptist Convention messengers turned back a grassroots attempt to strengthen language encouraging the convention to elect leaders from churches that give generously to the denomination’s budget, but they rebuffed an attempt by the convention’s leadership to rein in the SBC women’s auxiliary.

Mike Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Ga., attempted to amend a recommendation from the SBC Executive Committee regarding an ad hoc committee’s report on promotion of the Cooperative Program, the denomination’s unified giving plan.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

Page elected SBC president in upset of establishment

Posted: 6/23/06

Page elected SBC president
in upset of establishment

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

GREENSBORO, S.C. (ABP)—In a major populist upset, Frank Page of South Carolina was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention over two candidates closely tied to the SBC’s fundamentalist power structure.

Page, who described his election as a victory for grassroots Baptists, was elected with 50.48 percent of the vote on a first ballot over two high-profile leaders in the fundamentalist-dominated SBC.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

Rice urges SBC to support U.S. efforts to spread freedom

Posted: 6/23/06

Rice urges SBC to support
U.S. efforts to spread freedom

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP)—In an address received like a campaign stump speech, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, exhorting her listeners to support the United States in spreading freedom around the globe.

After a standing ovation upon being introduced—during which one man on the convention floor yelled, “You’ve got my vote!”—Rice touched briefly on her faith background as the daughter and granddaughter of Presbyterian ministers.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

SBC gives IMB first crack at solving its own problems

Posted: 6/23/06

SBC gives IMB first crack
at solving its own problems

By Marv Knox

Editor

GREENSBORO, N.C.—The Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board will get a chance to resolve its own trustee dispute, despite a plea for outside arbitration.

Trustee Wade Burleson asked SBC messengers to authorize the convention’s Executive Committee to create a special committee to study conflict at the mission board. The panel would have been charged with reporting its findings and proposing steps to “effect reconciliation” among IMB trustees.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

Multiple motions referred to SBC Executive Committee

Posted: 6/23/06

Multiple motions referred
to SBC Executive Committee

By Marv Knox

Editor

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Taking aim at issues ranging from convention executives’ perks, to Calvinism, to pandemics, to what homosexuals should be called, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting presented a flurry of motions.

In fact, 29 motions proposed during the June 13-14 meeting in Greensboro, N.C., constituted an SBC record, reported Allan Blume, chairman of the convention’s order-of-business committee.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

Baptists teetotally—but not unanimously—against alcohol

Posted: 6/23/06

Baptists teetotally—but not
unanimously—against alcohol

By Trennis Henderson

Western Recorder

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Southern Baptist Convention messengers declared “total opposition to the … consuming of alcoholic beverages,” in a strongly worded resolution on the issue at their annual meeting.

Messengers adopted 15 resolutions presented by the SBC Resolutions Committee on issues ranging from genocide in Darfur, Sudan, to “human species-altering technologies.” But the resolution on alcohol was the only one to spark extended debate.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

Election could prove troubling to Calvinists in SBC

Posted: 6/23/06

Election could prove troubling to Calvinists in SBC

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

When Southern Baptist Convention messengers elected dark-horse candidate Frank Page of South Carolina as president, they not only sent a populist message to the powerbrokers who backed other candidates, but also—at least in the eyes of some observers—may have dealt a blow to resurgent Calvinism in SBC ranks.

Page, pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., wrote a book published six years ago critiquing five-point Calvinism—belief in total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

Church’s sports camp scores with Corsicana children

Posted: 6/23/06

Church’s sports camp scores
with Corsicana children

By Laura Frase

Communications Intern

CORSICANA—Instead of becoming couch potatoes this summer, Northside Baptist Church youth are teaching children the Bible between hoops and high kicks.

Mega Sports Camp offers children from first to sixth grade the opportunity to play a variety of sports and to learn about God at the same time.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge

Laredo church offers water

Posted: 6/23/06

Laredo church offers water

By Elizabeth Staples

Texas Baptist Communications

LAREDO—Not even 110-degree summer heat can stop United Baptist Church in Laredo from reaching its community.

“We’re always looking for other ways to reach people,” said Pastor Mike Barrera.

06/23/2006 - By John Rutledge