2006 Archives
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Texas Baptist Forum
Posted: 3/17/06
Texas Baptist Forum
Right next door
Jump to online-only letters. Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum. 
“I'm looking forward to that big reunion up there. God bless you all.”Billy Graham
The final words of his 418th crusade—in New Orleans— “probably the last evangelistic sermon I’ll ever preach” (RNS)“Suggesting a married Jesus is one thing, but questioning the Resurrection undermines the very heart of Christian belief. … The Resurrection is perhaps the sole controversial Christian topic about which I would not desire to write.”
Dan Brown
Author of The Da Vinci Code, who is being sued for allegedly copying from Holy Blood, Holy Grail, which theorized that Christ did not die on the cross (The Washington Post / RNS)“If Christians are being persecuted in this country, in my opinion, it's because they've asked for it. We will experience much less persecution, if it exists, when we return to preaching the love of God—that is all that has ever won people to the love of Christ.”
David Currie
Executive director of Texas Baptists Committed (ABP)“Everybody seems to be imprisoned in their own sectarian or political affiliations. They don't seem to be able to rise above these things.”
Adnan Pachachi
Former Iraqi foreign minister and current Parliament member (New York Times)It’s difficult for one outside the situation to resolve the question whether Baylor should “begin a journey toward Rome” (Feb. 20). What I would offer, however, is a rich resource for the wider discussion of the relation of faith and learning that lies ready to hand, which also seems to be totally ignored in the conversation—namely, the numerous Baptist liberal arts universities where faith and learning are thriving and who do not seem to be in mortal danger of an inevitable secular drift unless we move toward Rome.
Such Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated schools are Dallas Baptist University, East Texas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, Houston Baptist University, Howard Payne University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Wayland Baptist University. They are not in danger of becoming, “without exception,” secular universities. Faith and learning in fact seem to be flourishing in these environments, which do not fit well either alternative model mentioned in the Baylor debate.
Certainly, a difference exists between these universities and Baylor. These are smaller liberal arts universities who focus on teaching as opposed to a much larger research institution. Perhaps it is a matter of scale, where the smaller can more easily accomplish the goal of relating faith and learning than the larger.
03/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
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TOGETHER: Pray for courageous servant leadership
Posted: 3/17/06
TOGETHER:
Pray for courageous servant leadershipLeadership is the crucial ingredient for success in any enterprise. Leadership is the difference between a “mob” and a life-giving movement.
Leadership is not about gathering all the power to the leader. It is not about manipulating the church or organization to give the pastor, or the CEO, or a committee, or the deacons, or a board power for which they are not accountable.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
Any church leader will find the Apostle Paul’s example remarkably helpful. As he was raising money to relieve the famine victims in Jerusalem, he was careful to give a report of the offering’s progress. He sent a respected leader to give an account of the use of the money they were gathering and distributing on behalf of the churches. “We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men” (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).
03/17/2006 - By John Rutledge
