2007 Archives
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Archaeologists, evangelicals critique “Tomb” documentary
Posted: 3/02/07
Archaeologists, evangelicals
critique “Tomb” documentary
By Hannah Elliott
Associated Baptist Press
DALLAS (ABP)—Archaeologists, biblical scholars and Christian leaders are casting doubt on explosive claims about the life of Jesus in a new documentary from Hollywood director-producer James Cameron.
The film, called The Lost Tomb of Jesus, presents evidence producers say could prove Jesus was married to Mary Magdelene and had a son.
03/03/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Around the State
Posted: 3/02/07
As University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Christian studies faculty look on, President Jerry Bawcom; Jane and Paul Meyer, for whom the building will be named; and Henry Adrion III, chairman of the board of trustees, turned dirt at the site of the Paul and Jane Meyer Christian Studies Center, which is scheduled for completion in 2008. The 18,815-square-foot two-story building will have five classrooms, conference rooms, the dean’s office, a reception area and a chapel on the first floor. The second floor will include additional classrooms, faculty offices, a reading room and lounge area for students. Around the State
• Martin Wilson, associate pastor at La Verdad Community Church in El Paso, will offer the opening prayer for the U.S. House of Representatives March 7 in Washington D.C. He also is a U.S. Border Patrol chaplain.
• The Piecemakers, a knitting and crocheting group at Crestview Church in George-town, will send knitted and crocheted baby blankets and children’s sweaters with a team of volunteers who will travel to Romania in early May. Others who want to participate can go to www.forgive490.com and click on “Blankets for Romania” for patterns and more information. Blankets should be made with soft cotton yarn and children’s sweaters with wool or wool-blend yarn. Yarn donations also are being accepted.
• Ollie Finney has been named adviser of the year at Dallas Baptist University. A DBU alumna, she began serving in the college of adult education in 2000.
Anniversaries
• Gilbert Gonzales, fifth, as pastor of One Cross Three Nails Church in Lubbock, March 10.
03/03/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Baptist Briefs
Posted: 3/02/07
Baptist Briefs
Hammond recommended as NAMB president. The North American Mission Board’s presidential search committee has recommended Geoffrey Hammond to become the agency’s next president. Hammon is senior associate director of the Souther Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. The NAMB board will vote on the recommendation at its March 20-21 meeting. Hammond, 49, is a graduate of Spurgeon’s Seminary in London and earned a doctor of ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Final Arizona defendants sentenced. The five final defendants affiliated with a fraud scandal at the Baptist Foundation of Arizona have been sentenced. Donald Dale Deardoff, former BFA treasurer, received four years in prison and was ordered to pay $150 million in restitution. Sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution after accepting plea agreements were Harold Dewayne Friend, a businessman who allegedly participated in fraudulent financial transactions; Jalma W. Hunsinger, director of two BFA subsidiaries; Edgar Alan Kuhn, former president of two BFA subsidiaries; and Richard Lee Rolfes, former owner of a firm that provided accounting services for some BFA subsidiaries. Last September, former BFA President William Crotts and former legal counsel Thomas Grabinski were sentenced to eight and six years, respectively, on fraud and racketeering charges.
03/03/2007 - By John Rutledge
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EDITORIAL: Two issues resolved, 3rd straight ahead
Posted: 3/02/07
EDITORIAL:
Two issues resolved, 3rd straight aheadThe last time we met on this page, we waited to see how the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board meeting Feb. 26-27 would turn out. The board faced three key issues. It deftly resolved two of them, but the third still stands as Texas Baptists’ most crucial challenge:
• Church-starting scandal.
A special oversight group presented a positive report on the convention’s response to misappropriation of church-starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley. Executive Board staff took the lead and, supported in some cases by Executive Board directors and others, moved to implement all seven recommendations offered by outside investigators who uncovered the extent of the scandal. Although some parts of a few recommendations are not completely functional, progress has been solid. (See story, page 2.)
“Vigilance” is the watchword for moving forward in BGCT church-starting. But Texas Baptists can feel confident lessons have been learned, accountability processes are being put in place and we will benefit from a stronger, more reliable church-starting program.
03/03/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Politics plays role in hunger elimination, Beckmann says
Posted: 3/02/07
Politics plays role in hunger
elimination, Beckmann says
By Hannah Elliott
Associated Baptist Press
AUSTIN (ABP)—The movement to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty for millions of people around the world is not a lost cause, the president of Bread for the World stressed.
In fact, despite the population explosion, the number of people who are undernourished is slightly lower now than it was in the early 1970s, David Beckmann said. He participated in the Ethics Without Borders conference in Austin, organized by the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ Christian Life Commission.
David Beckmann of Bread for the World says he believes it is possible to cut hunger and poverty in half before 2015. (Photo by John Hall) 03/03/2007 - By John Rutledge
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‘Clash of civilizations’ view too simplistic, expert says
Posted: 3/02/07
‘Clash of civilizations’ view
too simplistic, expert says
By Hannah Elliott
Associated Baptist Press
AUSTIN (ABP)—The “clash of civilizations” view of Muslim and Christian conflict only prolongs problems and encourages dangerous forms of fundamentalism, a prominent scholar told participants at the Ethics Without Borders conference.
Charles Kimball, who has visited the Middle East 40 times and worked closely with Congress, the White House and the State Department, spoke at the event, organized by the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ Christian Life Commission.
Charles Kimball, a religion professor at Wake Forest University, says an “us-versus-them” mentality toward Islam shows a deep bias on the part of Westerners. (Photo by John Hall) 03/03/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Networked church key to ministering in 21st century
Posted: 3/02/07
Networked church key
to ministering in 21st century
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
AUSTIN—A “networked” church is poised for ministry in the 21st century, Anna Robbins of the London School of Theology claimed.
The world is being stretched by the simultaneous emphasis on context and culture as well as belief in a worldwide bond, Robbins said.
03/03/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Development key in Texas Baptist fight against world hunger
Posted: 3/02/07
Development key in Texas Baptist
fight against world hunger
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
The Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger feeds people today, tomorrow and long into the future.
Funds given through the offering are used to purchase food for starving families around the world, but more than of half of the donated money is used to empower people to support themselves.
03/03/2007 - By John Rutledge
