2007 Archives
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Texas Baptist Forum
Posted: 10/26/07
Texas Baptist Forum
Secret searches
I agree with Professor Roger Olson that Baptist pastor-search practices are wrong (Oct. 1). But the real vice is the pretended secrecy of the process. An abrupt pastoral departure can result in disillusionment, anger and grief in the church. It is also rough on the departing pastor; some compare it to the feeling of cheating on your spouse.
• Jump to online-only letters below Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum. 
“When I was an atheist, I thought Christianity was a dying religion. That’s nonsense; it’s like an explosion going off all the time.”
Anne Rice
Author of Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, who previously wrote best-selling stories about witches and vampires (Charisma/RNS)“I’m very proud when I look and see guys praying in the end zone or praying after (a game). I see these guys as my sons. I gave birth to them. I see that as my purpose for playing in the NFL.”
Herb Lusk
Former NFL running back, now pastor of Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia, on being the first player to pray in the end zone after scoring a touchdown (Washington Post/RNS)“The No. 1 lesson which makes the American people different from the politics of the news media of Washington is that this is a country that is sick and tired of (partisanship) and wants red-white-and-blue solutions.”
Newt Gingrich
Former U.S. speaker of the House, speaking to a “values voters” rally (ABP)Search committees are sworn to secrecy to “protect the continued ministry” of candidates. Nevertheless, the committees on which I have served were startled to learn how quickly word would spread, first among other ministers and then other congregations. Only the target church, which needs most to know, is kept in the dark.
What is more important than God’s call to members and ministers of a church? We are missing a huge opportunity to support our ministers when we keep the process “secret.” It is vanity to think we can protect the continued ministry of a pastor. That is up to God to do.
10/26/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Senator backs off on funding earmarked for religious group
Posted: 10/26/07
Senator backs off on funding
earmarked for religious groupBy Bill Walsh
Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Bowing to pressure, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has backed off an attempt to steer $100,000 to a Christian group that supports teaching religious and alternative theories of creation alongside evolution in science classrooms.
Vitter took heat from educational, religious and civil rights groups for earmarking money in a fiscal 2008 spending bill for the Louisiana Family Forum, “to develop a plan to promote better science education.”
10/26/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Tidbits
Posted: 10/26/07
Texas Tidbits
Search committee interviews candidates. The committee searching for the next Baptist General Convention of Texas executive director is in the process of interviewing candidates. The committee plans to meet with about 10 candidates, and several interviews have been completed, said Chairman Ken Hugghins. The committee has determined it will fulfill its appointed task of putting forth an executive director nomination and will not suggest the BGCT Executive Board seek an intentional interim executive director, he said. BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade has announced he will retire at the end of January.
BGCT budget workshop planned. David Nabors, chief financial officer and treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, will lead a workshop about the proposed 2008 budget at 10 a.m., Oct. 29, during the BGCT annual meeting in Amarillo. The workshop is titled “How are We Doing More Together Through the Cooperative Program?” Nabors will talk about the ministries supported through the BGCT Cooperative Program and answer questions regarding the proposed budget. The workshop will be in Room 110 of the Amarillo Civic Center.
10/26/2007 - By John Rutledge
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TOGETHER: Details about the ’08 budget process
Posted: 10/26/07
TOGETHER:
Details about the ’08 budget processBaptists love to do our Lord’s work. Generally, we would much rather focus on that work than on the detailed finances that lie behind the work of missions, evangelism and ministry.
This year, in Texas Baptist life, the reality of our financial situation has seized our attention. As messengers prepare to consider the proposed 2008 budget, it is good to share some details about this process.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
The past few years, we have had to deal with basically a flat rate of growth in Cooperative Program giving. In 2000-01, we lost about $5 million in CP giving as more than 400 churches pulled away from the BGCT. That stabilized in 2002, and CP giving began to grow slightly over the next years.
As we have restructured our staff, there has been a time of transition in which we have moved people to new assignments, emphasized getting our staff into the field and closer to the churches and their concerns, and committed ourselves to be servants of the local churches.
10/26/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Where your treasure is…
Posted: 10/26/07
Where your treasure is…
By Ken Camp
Managing Editor
Advocates of Christian education and human care institutions insist their ministries represent the best example of what Texas Baptists can accomplish when they work together. But they fear what budget decisions over the last decade mean for the future of cooperative giving.
Changes in accounting make direct comparisons somewhat difficult. Some institutions and ministries—such as Baptist University of the Americas and chaplaincy—have moved from one funding category to another in recent years.
• See chart of CP funding of education institutions below 10/26/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Students explore world of opportunities during Mary Hardin-Baylor missions week
Posted: 10/26/07
Students explore world of opportunities
during Mary Hardin-Baylor missions weekBy Carol Woodward
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
BELTON—Students who wanted to know how God could use an accountant or an athlete on the mission field found answers to their questions during Mission Emphasis Week at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Oct. 22-26.
Lori Brown, who serves with Sports Plus in Kenya, told students she asked the same questions when she was in college. She wanted to be involved in missions, but she wondered how or where God could use her.
UMHB student Amanda Foss listens as Twyla Bell describes how children in Tanzania make their own soccer balls out of pieces of material and twine. (Photo/Carol Woodward/UMHB) 10/26/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Yale panelists ask: ‘Is there a theological foundation for political engagement?’
Posted: 10/26/07
Yale panelists ask: ‘Is there a theological
foundation for political engagement?’By Hannah Elliott
Associated Baptist Press
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (ABP)—Theologians, lawyers, pastors and ethicists shared their views on the theological foundations of political engagement during a recent exchange at Yale Divinity School.
The daylong event, called “Voices & Votes II: Shaping a New Moral Agenda,” was co-sponsored by Sojourners, Christianity Today and The Christian Century.
Greg Boyd 10/26/2007 - By John Rutledge
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