Posted: 11/21/07

Virginia Baptists change
budget for educational entities

By Robert Dilday

Virginia Religious Herald

RICHMOND, Va. (ABP)—Virginia Baptists increased their support for a variety of state, national and international ministries—and for the second year in a row persuaded their budget committee to modify its proposal because of concerns about funding for educational institutions.

The $14.36 million 2008 budget is $160,000 more than this year’s. A new feature includes a reduction in direct allocations to affiliated academies and colleges but also new allocations to each of the institutions offering scholarships to students. In addition, a newly created student- and ministry-formation scholarship fund will assist students at any college or seminary.

The change was initiated by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s emerging leaders subcommittee and was developed in conversations among key leaders of the state association's Mission Board and budget committee.

But messengers balked at the reductions for the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, a seminary near Washington, D.C., whose allocation would have been reduced from $165,000 to $100,000.

After hearing concerns raised in a budget breakout session the day before the budget vote, the budget committee altered its proposal, giving both Leland and Bluefield College, another affiliated school which was slated for reductions, direct allocations of $140,000 each, with the planned reduction phased in over the next few years.

Messengers to the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia also elected a slate of officers who ran unopposed—the 11th straight year that candidates endorsed by the advocacy group Virginia Baptists Committed have won the state association’s top offices.

Joe Lewis, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Petersburg, was elected president in one of several brief—and discussion-free—business sessions, which included the approval of a $14 million budget for 2008 and adoption of a resolution on the New Baptist Covenant.

The resolution encouraged Virginia Baptist leaders to continue participation in the national meeting of Baptists in Atlanta, Jan 31-Feb. 1, while urging participants to “honor its promise and pledge for a nonpartisan gathering.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 11/19/07

Child dies following accident
involving TBM volunteers in Mexico

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS—A Texas Baptist Men team on its way to feed victims of flooding in Southern Mexico was involved in a traffic accident Nov. 15 that resulted in a child’s death.

A group of children surrounded a van carrying the TBM team while it travelled through a small village in Mexico. The children were darting around the slow-moving vehicle, attempting to sell items when one of them misjudged the van’s speed and ran into the side of it.

A TBM volunteer trained in emergency medical procedures examined the child and noticed a significant gash in the boy’s head, but the child had strong vital signs. An ambulance took the child to a nearby hospital for treatment. He later was transferred to another hospital where he died Nov. 17.

Local authorities detained the van driver, but he was soon released and cleared of all charges.

Insurance covered the expenses of medical care for the boy, and TBM is attempting to contact and minister to the boy’s family.

“This is a tragic situation,” said Leo Smith, TBM executive director. “Our hearts and prayer go out to the family of this young man. We are looking to do all we can for his family.”

The team is now serving victims of widespread flooding in the state of Tabasco. It prepared more than 5,100 meals Nov. 18 and will continue to work through Thanksgiving.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 11/20/07

Baptists offer relief to
Bangladesh after killer cyclone hits

Baptists joined an international relief effort in Bangladesh after a Nov. 15 cyclone killed more than 3,400 people in the Ganges River delta along the Bay of Bengal.

Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, is working in partnership with the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha and the Bangladesh Baptist Church Fellowship.

Both conventions are providing food to storm survivors. The relief department for the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha also has made a commitment to help 150 families rebuild their homes.

“Once again, the poorest of the poor have been hit worst and need our full support,” said BWAid Director Paul Montacute. “We will be working with Baptists in Bangladesh, the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation and other Baptist groups in providing help and assistance.”

Southern Baptists are working with Bangladesh Baptist leaders to identify areas of greatest need, according to a report from the Baptist Global Response international development and relief organization.

The Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board released $50,000 in relief funds. Requests for additional funds are expected because relief will be needed in multiple areas.

The Bangladeshi government did a good job of getting relief supplies in place before the storm hit, said Jim Brown, U.S. director for Baptist Global Response. Tents, rice and water are making their way into the region and military helicopters are dropping emergency rations into areas not yet accessible by road, according to news reports.

“The government, military and major relief organizations are all doing a good job providing initial relief materials to the affected area,” Brown said. “But there are always gaps in relief efforts. Our strategy is to work with the Bangladesh Baptist Convention to identify areas that are not being adequately helped and focus our efforts there.”

Because relief efforts will be undertaken in multiple areas, requests for additional funds are expected, Brown added.

Most people obeyed government evacuation orders, but many tried to ride out the storm as Cyclone Sidr’s 155-mph winds lashed houses made of bamboo.

The toll could reach 10,000 once rescuers reach outlying islands, according to assessments compiled by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

Compiled from reports by the Baptist World Alliance and Baptist Global Response.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 11/16/07

RIGHT or WRONG?
Stuffing the temple

Reading what the Apostle Paul said about our bodies being “the temple of God,” I became convicted about what I allow my children to eat—too many sweets, etc. But my husband resists my words of caution and models an unhealthy diet to the children. What can I do?

I applaud you for recognizing the importance of providing a healthy diet for your children, and I encourage you not to give up.

You already have faced obstacles to your desire to change your family’s eating habits, and you will encounter others along the way. Some of your children’s schoolteachers and even members your church family will provide your children with candy, cupcakes and cookies on every imaginable holiday, and your children’s friends may serve as poor role models when it comes to healthy eating. Sticking to a healthy diet in today’s world is surely a battle.

Your primary obstacle right now, however, is your husband, which makes your situation a more delicate one.

Because you do not want your children to be disrespectful toward their father, you do not want to criticize your husband or belittle his eating habits in front of them. But most likely your children will ask pointed questions about why Dad can eat cake and candy and they cannot. Answering these questions truthfully yet tactfully requires more wisdom than possessed by even the wisest of career diplomats.

My suggestion would be for you to explain to your children that their bodies are growing every day and in order for them to run fast and have strong muscles, they need to eat lots of good foods like fruits and vegetables. I would not address their father’s food choices but rather address their own food choices and let them know you want them to be healthy.

The other approach you may take in reshaping your children’s attitudes toward food is to limit the sweets and unhealthy snacks in your house. Stop buying cookies and candy, and start buying fruits, vegetables and other healthy snacks, and offer those to your children in place of sweets.

Most likely, your children have said they do not like eating vegetables, and they have refused to eat most fruits. But there are ways around their prejudices against healthy foods. Numerous books and Internet sites now provide tips on how to make appealing and fun snacks using fruits and vegetables. Check books out of the library or surf the web, and you will discover that healthy does not have be boring or tasteless.

When you first implement these new healthy snacks, count on encountering complaints and maybe even some anger or tears, but stay strong. Your children, and maybe even your husband, will find that a healthy way of eating can be not only good for their bodies but also taste good.

Pamela R. Durso, associate executive director

Baptist History and Heritage Society

Atlanta, Ga.

Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to btillman@hsutx.edu.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Storylist for week of 10/29/07

TAKE ME TO: Top Story |  Texas |  Opinion |  Baptists |  Faith & Culture |  Book Reviews |  Classifieds  |  Departments  |  Bible Study





• Where your treasure is…


• Buckner's Lufkin program celebrates 10 years of ministry to single parents

• Buckner opens Child Development Center in Romania

• Howard Payne students join Cancer Walk-a-thon

• Seven young Baylor alumni to be honored at homecoming

• Baylor alumni overwhelmingly proud of alma mater, survey says

• ETBU senior enjoys roaring-good life as mascot, student-athlete

• TV news story helps make a family complete

• For Southeast Texas foster couple, 14 makes a family

• ‘I love to see people come together to worship'

• God-sized vision drives Corpus Christi church to plant churches

• Bexar County youthful offenders find a second chance with KAPS

• Students explore world of opportunities during Mary Hardin-Baylor missions week

• One blogging minister nominates another for first VP

• Texas Baptists launch young leaders network

• All-State Choir & Band trip to Germany still on

• BGCT launches distinctive online missions connector

• On the Move

• Around the State

• Texas Tidbits


• CBF council affirms UN anti-poverty goals

• New collaboration shows ‘reconstruction' of Baptist family, CBF leader maintains

• Baptist Briefs


• Conservative ‘values voters' insist on anti-abortion candidate

• Yale panelists ask: ‘Is there a theological foundation for political engagement?'

• Separation of church and state great but misunderstood by many, panelists insist

• Senator backs off on funding earmarked for religious group

• Communities feel the squeeze of accelerated church growth

• Campaign for debt relief brings unlikely allies together

• Evangelicals look overseas to global concerns

• Evangelicals debate how faith influences politics

• Evangelicals are moving into power, but ends can be unclear, author says

• Faith Digest


• BOOKS: Faith in the Halls of Power


• Classified Ads

• Cartoon

• Texas Baptist Forum


• EDITORIAL: Good words for BGCT: ‘Oh, behave'

• DOWN HOME: Abundant blessings in a chicken joint

• 2nd Opinion: A lifelong friend & the Messiah

• TOGETHER: Details about the '08 budget process

• RIGHT or WRONG? Need for forgiveness

• Texas Baptist Forum

• Cybercolumn by Berry D. Simpson: All my strength



• BaptistWay Bible Series for October 28: It's a victorious life

• Bible Studies for Life Series for October 28: RESPECT–Find out what it means

• Explore the Bible Series for October 28: Centered on Christ

• BaptistWay Bible Series for November 4: Christ's love extends to all

• Bible Studies for Life Series for November 4: Seeking your Father's approval

• Explore the Bible Series for November 4: A caring community

Previously Posted:
• BGCT presidential nominees discuss challenges, relationships

• CBF council OKs UN anti-poverty goals, hears of year-end budget shortfall

• Midwestern Seminary board meeting ends without action against Roberts


• See articles from the previous 10/22/07 issue here.

Storylist for week of 11/05/07

TAKE ME TO: Top Story |  Texas |  Opinion |  Baptists |  Faith & Culture |  Book Reviews |  Classifieds  |  Departments  |  Bible Study





• First woman BGCT president elected, budget approved


Coverage of the BGCT Annual Meeting in Amarillo
• First woman BGCT president elected, budget approved

• African-American Texas Baptists gather for worship, praise

• Texas Baptists have worldwide influence through BWA, Coffey says

• Hispanic leaders take on local and international projects

• Foundation honors three


• See a photo slideshow from the BGCT annual meeting here.

• Howard Payne honors alumni and supporters

• On the Move

• Around the State

• Texas Tidbits


• Women challenged to ‘live the joy of missions'

• Tennessee Baptists gear up for struggle over trustees

• Memphis church gives new meaning to ‘I Surrender All'

• Baptist Briefs


• Israel claims artifacts found date to first Jewish temple

• Kinder, gentler Moses pictured in new Ten Commandments movie

• The Ten Commandments –1956 vs. 2007

• Falwell's church continues fast-paced growth

• Christian human rights lawyer reports persecution in China

• Americans don't want religious pitches from presidential candidates, poll says

• Court rules for teacher in private/public school dispute

• Church welcomes the ‘Scum of the Earth'

• Faith Digest


• Book Reviews


• Classified Ads

• Cartoon

• Texas Baptist Forum

• On the Move

• Around the State


• DOWN HOME: To logo, or not to logo

• EDITORIAL: Look past gender toward priorities

• TOGETHER: God answered prayers in Amarillo

• RIGHT or WRONG? Counseling liabilities

• 2nd Opinion: Knowing how the story ends

• Texas Baptist Forum

• Cybercolumn by Brett Younger: Jesus' church



• BaptistWay Bible Series for November 4: Christ's love extends to all

• Bible Studies for Life Series for November 4: Seeking your Father's approval

• Explore the Bible Series for November 4: A caring community

• BaptistWay Bible Series for November 11: Live in response to God's mercy

• Bible Studies for Life Series for November 11: The cure for anxious care

• Explore the Bible Series for November11: The call to be Jesus

Previously Posted:
• Convention Wrapup: First woman BGCT president elected, budget approved

• ‘See yourselves as children of God,' Amarillo pastor tells Texas Baptists

• BGCT president urges Texas Baptists to feed the flocks

• Wade recounts regrets, strides as BGCT executive director

• Warren challenges BGCT to promote PEACE globally

• Currie: If Texas Baptists ‘build it, they will come'

• Future of Texas Baptist missions lies in collaborations, communication

• WMU annual meeting features theme of “shaping” for God's purpose

• Tyler pastor elected first vice president

• First woman BGCT president elected

• ‘No confidence' in Executive Board motion introduced

• Missions take forefront among ministry awards recipients

• WMU board discusses transition, plans to select interim leader

• Early messenger count tops 1,500 in Amarillo

• More than 100 profess faith in Christ during CityReach

• BGCT presidential nominees discuss challenges, relationships


• See articles from the previous 10/29/07 issue here.

Posted: 11/16/07

Around the State

• N.T. Wright, the bishop of Durham Cathedral in the Church of England and a leading New Testament scholar, will be the featured speaker at a pastors and church leaders retreat at the Laity Lodge Retreat Center Nov. 25-27. Wright is the first speaker in a series made possible by a $500,000 grant from the M.D. Mathews Foundation of Houston. For more information, call (830) 792-1210.

• East Texas Baptist University will hold a “Shadow Day” for high school seniors and college transfer students Nov. 29-30. Visiting students will have the opportunity to spend the night in the dorm, socialize with current students, visit with professors and attend classes. There also will be an activity on Thursday evening. Pre-registration is required, and a $15 nonrefundable fee must be paid. For more information, call (800) 804-3828.

First Church in Sanger held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its family life center. The 21,000-square-foot facility also will be used for education space as well as the headquarters of a sports ministry. A full-service kitchen also is one of the building’s components, and it was used to feed 500 people at the building’s dedication banquet. The church recently called Jeff Dooley as minister of education and activities to maximize the building’s ministry capabilities. The facility cost $1.7 million. E.L. McNeal is pastor.

• Howard Payne University will hold a “Southern Gospel Christmas” concert Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Featured guests will be the Melody Boys Quartet from Little Rock, Ark. Tickets are $10 per person. Seating is limited, so advance tickets are strongly encouraged. For more information, call (325) 649-8006.

• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor recognized several people during homecoming activities. Kay Anderson, who taught at the university 30 years and continues to volunteer as the museum curator, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Siblings Rick, George, Cecilia and Lynda Solis received the Parker Award, given to a multimember alumni family.

• Laura Bush, wife of President George Bush, spoke at Dallas Baptist University Nov. 6 as part of a Helping America’s Youth conference.

• Trustees of Wayland Baptist University have elected officers for the year. Edgar Murphy was selected chairman; Don Jackson, vice chair; George Meriwether, secretary; and Gene Meacham as assistant secretary.

• Hunter Dunfield, a senior at San Marcos Baptist Academy, was one of 400 high school students from across the country selected to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C.

Anniversaries

• Abilene Baptist Association, 50th, Oct. 15. Truman Turk is director of missions.

• Curtis Brewer, 25th, as choir/orchestra director at First Church in Odessa, Oct. 28.

• Mike Sellers, fifth, as pastor of administration at Tabernacle Church in Ennis, Nov. 1.

• Rafael Flores, fifth, as pastor of Iglesia Hispana Restauracion y Vida in Waxahachie, Nov. 2.

• First Church in Somerset, 150th, Nov. 4. Sedric Wesson is pastor.

• Alamo City Christian Fellowship, 20th, Nov. 4. David Walker, the church’s pastor, started the church, so it also was his 20th anniversary.

• Donnie Page, fifth, as minister of music at Hillcrest Church in Cedar Hill, Nov. 5.

Deaths

• June Marie White, 77, Sept. 26 in Austin. She served in ministry with her husband 44 years as he was pastor in Snyder, Coahoma, Phillips, Big Spring, El Paso and, at the time of her death, Quail Valley Church in San Angelo. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Guy; sons, Guy Jr. and Danny Earl; brother, George Dugosh; sister, Sandra Grona; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

• Bouahom Keomoung-Khoune, 54, Nov. 1 in Dallas. He was pastor of the First Church Laotian Mission in Amarillo since 1983. He died while awaiting a liver transplant. He came to the United States in 1976 and moved to Amarillo in 1977. He was a member of the Lao Southern Baptists of Texas and served as president from 2003 to 2005. He also was a member of the Lao Southern Baptist Fellowship and was vice president from 1998 until 2004. He is survived by his wife, Sing; daughters, Bonnie Keomoung-Khoune and Nickie Daraphone; son, Felix; sister, Chantom Sananikone; brothers, Praseuth, Bounkeuth and Khampouth; and two grandchildren.

• Mike Graham, 60, Nov. 4 in College Station. Graham formerly was Baptist Student Ministries director at Texas A&M University and Tarleton State University. He served the College Station students 16 years. He was killed in an automobile accident. He is survived by his wife, Diane; sons, Matt and Grant; mother, Olive; and brother, Pat.

• Jeroline Baker, 75, Nov. 5 in Frankfort, Ky. She was a professor of childhood education at Southwestern Seminary 27 years. She made a lasting contribution to children’s ministry through teaching, writing and leading conferences across the country.

• Jarrell McCracken, 79, Nov. 7 in Waco. McCracken was the founder of Word, Inc., one of the world’s largest Christian entertainment companies. A one-time radio play-by-play radio announcer for Baylor Bear sports, he retained a lifelong interest in Baylor sports and was president of the Baylor University Stadium Corporation in 1972 and directed what is now the Baylor Alumni Association. He also was founder of Bentwood Farms, which managed some of the most valuable Arabian horses in the world. He was a member of Seventh and James Church in Waco throughout his life. He is survived by his wife, Judy; and children, Lisa and Tim.

Ordained

• Zack Williamson and Doug Davis as deacons at Amelia Church in Beaumont.

• Jim Conner, Steven Cooke, Glen Goodwin, George Harrell, Jeff Waits, Christopher Scott, Karl Shank, Ricky Thigpen and Mark Waters as deacons at Central Church in Livingston.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 11/16/07

Book Reviews

A Dream That Came to Life: The History of the Laity Lodge Retreat Center by Howard Hovde (Smyth & Helwys)

Laity Lodge Director Emeritus Howard Hovde paints a wonderful picture of a place described as “like going to heaven without having to pass through the Pearly Gates.” Hovde shares background stories of the Holdsworth and Butt families that united through the marriage of Mary Holdsworth to Howard E. Butt Sr., founder of the HEB grocery company. Together, they created a nonprofit foundation to “help meet needs of families, children and the community.” The foundation eventually purchased a 1,900-acre ranch near Leakey for children to enjoy. Their oldest son, Howard Jr., expanded the dream to include a retreat center where lay people could learn about “integrating faith and love into everyday living.”

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

Hovde intersperses philosophy, organization and history with interesting stories of people who influenced the direction of Laity Lodge. For good measure, he adds heart stories of those influenced by the center, including author Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time) and The Message translator Eugene Peterson, who wrote while staying at Laity Lodge. A valuable appendix, including leadership tips, poems and a list of significant books, completes the work.

Inspiring stories turn what could be a dry history into a quick read.

Kathy Robinson Hillman, former president

Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas, Waco

Fusion! Gospel: The Gospel of Jesus Christ by Allan Tracy (XLibris)

Allan Tracy presents a “seamless and chronological gospel presentation.” Attempts at harmonizing the Gospels commonly produce parallel-column harmonies or prose renderings. Tracy, however, weaves Gospel texts “into a single telling of events,” generally following the accepted chronology of Jesus.

Reading Jesus’ full story has undeniable value, the greatest of which is to generate further study. Without verse markings or a reference grid, finding the underlying passages for this work is a chore.

Caution rules regarding Tracy’s “merging of details,” which often requires merging verses. Blending Matthew 5:3 with Luke 6:20 yields “Happy, in spirit, are the poor” replacing spiritual poverty with worldly poverty. Luke’s “Blessed are you who hunger now” plus Matthew’s “those who mourn” becomes “Happy are those who mourn for now.”

Locating landmark passages is difficult. John’s prologue appears between John the Baptist’s ministry and Jesus’ baptism. Thus the gospel’s grand overture is neutralized and John 1:14, “The word became flesh” is omitted! One wonders what else has been excluded.

No explanations for translation or harmonization are provided, and the work begs for independent study helps. The book will be best used with informed guidance.

Mark Dunn, pastor

Rosemont Baptist Church, Montrose, Colo.

Being Christian in an Almost Chosen Nation: Thinking About Faith And Politics by H. Stephen Shoemaker (Abingdon)

The presidential election already is in full swing.

This book expresses the author’s hope that America, a superpower with strong ideals in its history, will with humility seek to become the country it ought to be.

The book’s title is derived from President Lincoln’s hope, on the verge of the Civil War in 1861, that the crisis would be used as “an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty and of this his almost chosen people.” That combines idealism with realism.

The second half of Stephen Shoemaker’s book has notes from nine sermons he preached between 2002 and 2005. Their treatment of faith and politics stimulates the reader who needs thoughts about what our nation must be.

Bob Beck, intentional interim pastor

Fort Worth

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 11/16/07

Baptist Briefs

IMB stats show growth. The International Mission Board’s annual statistical report covering calendar year 2006 includes a summary of church-growth indicators reported by Southern Baptist missionaries and their overseas Baptist partners. The report noted 25,497 new churches, 12,856 new outreach groups, 609,968 baptisms, about 9.86 million church membership, 4.6 million in Bible study, 567,413 new Christians in discipleship training and more than 1.26 million total church members in discipleship training. The statistics were released during the International Mission Board trustees’ recent meeting in Springfield, Ill.

Virginia schools reach agreement. The John Leland Center for Theological Studies, a moderate Baptist seminary in Arlington, Va., and Hampton University, an African-American college in Hampton, Va., have reached a degree-granting agreement for undergraduate students. The agreement allows Leland students who have completed the seminary’s diploma in theology program to count all of their 48 hours of credit toward a bachelor’s degree in religion from Hampton.

N.M. Baptists approve record budget. Baptists in New Mexico approved the largest budget in their convention’s history at the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s 96th annual meeting, held this year in Albuquerque, N.M. More than 350 messengers from 124 churches attended the convention at Sandia Baptist Church. Messengers approved the convention budget for 2008, which requires $4,391,157 in Cooperative Program receipts from state churches—a 6.67 percent increase over the 2007 budget. After applying an exception of $32,673 for exempt obligations, 30.5 percent of the Cooperative Program receipts—about $1.3 million—will be forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention for national and international missions. No increase in the percentage was proposed for next year. Messengers also re-elected the entire slate of officers for a second one-year term.

Religious liberty agency sponsors essay contest. The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty has launched a religious liberty essay contest. Open to Baptist high school students in the classes of 2008 and 2009, the contest offers a grand prize of $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Second prize is $500, and third prize is $100. Winners will be announced next summer. Entrants are asked to write a 700- to 1,000-word essay discussing the relevance of religious faith to politics, including whether and to what extent faith should be an election issue in 2008. Entries must be postmarked by March 3, 2008. Each student must have a submission coordinator from his or her home church review the essay before submitting it to ensure that it meets all the necessary requirements, is free of typographical and grammatical errors and appropriately addresses the topic. Essays will be judged on the depth of their content and the skill with which they are written. Students should demonstrate a sound knowledge of the subject matter, support their assertions and provide bibliographical references. Essays that do not meet the minimum qualifications will not be judged. Judges reserve the right to present no awards or to reduce the number of awards if an insufficient number of deserving entries are received. Visit www.BJConline.org/contest to download registration materials and a promotional flier. For more information, contact Phallan Davis at (202) 544-4226 or e-mail pdavis@BJConline.org.

 

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 11/16/07

N.C. Baptists expel
gay-affirming Charlotte church

By Norman Jameson

N.C. Biblical Recorder

GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP)—North Carolina Baptists expelled Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte from their statewide group because the church accepts gay members into leadership.

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Executive Committee ruled Nov. 12 that the church was not in compliance with membership articles. While convention messengers voted overwhelmingly to hear an appeal by Myers Park the next day, they voted similarly to reject it.

By Myers Park’s own admission, its acceptance of homosexuals into positions of church leadership places the congregation in opposition to the state convention’s constitution, which says any church that affirms or blesses homosexual behavior is “not in friendly cooperation” with the convention.

A similar bylaw at the Southern Baptist Convention already has excluded several North Carolina churches from that national group, which—like the North Carolina body—is dominated by conservatives.

Myers Park deacon Nancy Walker, who spoke against the ruling, expressed appreciation that her church elected her as a deacon “without regard to my sexual orientation.” She related the loneliness and pain of homosexual friends who have been rejected by church and family.

“Open your hearts to all who seek to worship God,” Walker asked messengers, gathered in Greensboro for their annual meeting. “Reach out to people who have experienced pain and spiritual isolation.”

“No matter your vote today, I will be a witness in the world for love, compassion and reconciliation,” Walker said.

Myers Park Pastor Steve Shoemaker also addressed the messengers, saying, “I appeal to you by the mercies of God to refrain from removing churches like ours from fellowship.”

He called on North Carolina Baptists to follow the example of Jesus.

“Jesus welcomed those considered outcasts, as sinners by those religious, into the kingdom of God drawing near,” said Shoemaker. Myers Park slowly overcame its original resistance to inclusion of gay and lesbian people “as Peter overcame his resistance to including Gentiles in the kingdom of God,” he explained.

Allan Blume, president of the convention’s board of directors, emphasized that no church has been “turned in” for investigation under the new constitutional provision targeting gay-friendly churches, which was adopted last year. Myers Park had self-identified its opposition to the standard.

“They are asking to make an exception,” Blume said. “The church today has by its own admission been in violation.”

Blume told messengers Myers Park had sent no messengers to the convention for at least eight years, contributed “extremely little” financially and is aligned with several organizations that affirm or bless homosexual behavior.

During discussion, messenger Jim Burch said social scientists peg 2.5 percent of the population as living a gay or lesbian lifestyle. Applied statistically to churches, Burch said, that would mean “a great deal” of the state convention’s membership is disqualified from participation.

“We have the opportunity to use a bylaw—ill-timed and ill-passed—to club a church or to extend to them the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and say, ‘As you claim Christ as Savior and we claim Christ as Savior, then we are brothers and sisters in Christ.’”

Other discussion emphasized speakers’ views on homosexuality as sin.

“The Executive Committee is simply following governing documents of this convention, and we encourage the convention to stand with us on this decision,” Blume said. He then moved that “Myers Park no longer be considered a church in friendly cooperation, at the word of their own admission.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 11/16/07

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 11/16/07

2nd Opinion:
A young Baptist’s reason to remain

Five years ago, while studying at Texas A&M University, I took a job as the youth minister of a small Baptist church in the Conroe area north of Houston. Having been born and raised in a large Bible church, I entered the Baptist world relatively oblivious to the situation I was getting myself into. Needless to say, it was not long after I began to identify myself as a Baptist that I became aware of the stigma associated with that name; stigma, may I add, that was well-deserved.

I was a young Baptist minister living in a time when the leaders of my denomination were more concerned with the sexual orientation of Disney characters than the fact that roughly 7,000 children were dying of malnutrition each night. I was embarrassed that my denomination chose to use its resources to defend archaic scientific theories and remove women from leadership positions rather than to let justice roll on like a river, and I was enraged by the pettiness of it all.

It was a time when a small number of powerful leaders had so corrupted the word “Baptist” that a large number of churches found it necessary to strike it from their name, keeping their denominational affiliation secret in order to maintain some level of credibility. And it was a time when I was willing to do the same.

But although I felt hurt by the actions of some contemporary Baptists, what compelled me to stay within the denomination was the legacy left by Baptists of the past. These were men and women who shared a conviction that the freedom to work out one’s faith was more important than the transmission of right doctrine, and they believed that social concern was an integral part of that faith. They organized themselves so that each body of believers was free to choose its own path, answering only to God. They had a high view of the Holy Spirit’s power to direct the church without their assistance, and they refused to be restricted by any creed or statement of faith.

This is a new time, and I am part of a new generation of Baptists—a generation that is rising up all around the nation. We are a generation that finds great value in the principles of our Baptist heritage and yet finds it unacceptable to define ourselves by the principles of our recent predecessors. We believe the people of God are called to participate in the kingdom of God. We believe social justice speaks louder than political coercion. We believe in serving the world, rather than withdrawing from it. And we will no longer capitulate to a system that promotes intolerance and injustice in the name of dogma.

I see it all around me: I see it in the seminaries, I see it on the blogs, I see it in college groups and in the Emerging Church that is sweeping the nation. We are young, we are passionate about our values and we are mobilizing all across the country because we are unsatisfied, and we will no longer be silenced by the tyranny of a few powerful men. We are looking toward the future, and we are desperate for something new.

As a result, several thousand young Baptist leaders like me are headed to Atlanta on January 30 to participate in the New Baptist Covenant. We are going because we believe the next chapter in Baptist history is going to start sounding more like the first. We are going because we believe Baptists of tomorrow must adopt an entire new set of values—values big enough to include renewed sense of social justice and racial reconciliation. We do not expect to change 30 years of corruption in three days; we only hope to take the first step on the journey we have been called to travel.

Ken Williams is minister to students at Sunset Canyon Baptist Church in Dripping Springs.

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