Posted: 10/26/07

DOWN HOME:
Abundant blessings in a chicken joint

Every now and then, life blossoms with an unexpected-yet-perfect moment. You don’t see it coming; you may not even notice when it arrives. But there it is, resplendent in beauty and simplicity and loveliness.

We experienced one of those moments the other night. It was so sacred and special, I’m still savoring it.

To tell you the truth, it was better than I had dreamed. Then again, I don’t recall dreaming about eating dinner with my family in a home-cooked fried-chicken joint.

But there we were—Joanna and I, with our daughters, Lindsay and Molly, along with Jo’s middle sister, Janis, her dad, Jim, and Molly’s friend Katherine.

One of the great things about this night was the serendipity of it all.

It started when Jo volunteered to host a baby shower for one of Lindsay’s best friends, Lindsey. (OK, from here on out, you’ll need a chart, with “Lindsay” and “Lindsey” in the middle.)

Lindsay and Lindsey grew up in Lewisville, went to church together at First Baptist, graduated from Lewisville High and roomed together at Hardin-Simmons University. Lindsey’s mother-in-law, Susan, is one of Jo’s best friends. Naturally, with all this shared history, Jo wanted to help throw a shower for Lindsey’s baby, the much-anticipated/yet-to-arrive Avery.

So, Lindsey and her husband, Matt, planned to fly down from Chicago, where Matt attends graduate school. Then Lindsay and Lindsey’s good friend Jaimee decided to drive up from Houston. Unfortunately, the only weekend Lindsey and Matt could come coincided with the birthday of Aaron, Lindsay’s husband. She felt she couldn’t leave him alone in Orlando, where he attends seminary, on his birthday. And all of us were sad.

When Aaron got wind of all the hubbub, he insisted Lindsay fly back home to Texas for the shower. He’s a smart young man. Note to husbands: When your wife really, really wants to go somewhere at a time like this, here’s what you say: “Go ahead, dear. It’s only a birthday. I’ll have another one; same time next year.”

With Lindsay’s last-minute plans in place, Jo and I thought of the same thing: Can Molly make it home, too? We only had a narrow window of opportunity, since Lindsay wasn’t arriving until late Friday and had to leave Sunday afternoon. We dove through that window, and that’s how we landed in a restaurant in Burleson, halfway between our home and Molly’s apartment.

God only knows how many meals Jo, Lindsay, Molly and I have shared around a table. Now we rarely get to do that, and each time is precious.

Over dinner, I watched my daughters and their mother—laughing and talking and basking in each other’s presence. I started to count my blessings, but I stopped at three.

They’re far more than I deserve.

–Marv Knox

Posted: 10/26/07

EDITORIAL:
Good words for BGCT: ‘Oh, behave’

Cinema’s silly superspy, Austin Powers, doesn’t have much to offer Texas Baptists. But one of his taglines suggests sound advice as we convene for our annual meeting this year: “Oh, behave!”

The behavior of Baptist General Convention of Texas messengers isn’t typically open to serious speculation. We tend to be a rather sober lot. Actions at our annual meetings lean toward the predictable and humdrum. We would do well to pray for humdrum this year.

Speculation regarding behavior revolves around rumored motions and possible responses to those motions as BGCT messengers gather in Amarillo Oct. 29-30.

According to Baptist polity—arguably among the most democratic forms of governance anywhere—any registered messenger has the right to present motions on matters of concern to the convention. Since we affirm the twin doctrines of soul competency and the priesthood of all believers, we affirm the value of individual inspiration. Throughout our long history, Texas Baptists have benefitted from ideas individuals and small groups have placed before the full convention. And since we are composed of a collection of individuals who function together in community, we vote on those motions and let the group decide which ones merit adoption.

Sometimes, however, motions have a way of taking on lives of their own, no matter how they are disposed. Like last year in Dallas: A proposed motion would have called on the convention to ask legal authorities to investigate a church-starting scandal in the Rio Grande Valley. A parliamentary ruling declared the motion out of order, to the dismay of many messengers. This non-motion became the focal point of the annual meeting and a flash point of controversy that continues a year later.

This episode illustrates the importance and power of motions, even when they do not receive the messengers’ approval, much less when they don’t stand a ghost of a chance of passage. They enter into the BGCT consciousness and linger, long after the parliamentarians rule and the messengers vote and their makers go back home. Just like epithets shouted in a family fight, words spoken in anger at annual meetings inflict harm that cannot be undone.

That’s why concern has been heightened regarding behavior at this year’s annual meeting. Blogs and other conversations have fueled speculation that messengers may present motions that can only be characterized as vindictive. Take, for example, a possible motion to fire Charles Wade, the BGCT’s executive director. Some Texas Baptists are concerned about his handling of the Valley church-starting scandal, convention reorganization and recent staff layoffs. But he already has announced his retirement, effective in three months, which will conclude almost his entire adult lifetime of service to Texas Baptists, including not only eight years as executive director, but 23 years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Arlington, a stint as convention president and many other positions of trust and responsibility. Punitive action at this point is petty and vindictive and will harm and embarrass the convention much more than it will hurt Charles Wade.

Fortunately, Texas Baptists also can look forward to positive proposals in Amarillo. Ed Jackson, a layman and Executive Board member from Garland, intends to ask messengers to authorize a study of key convention strategies. This is exactly what we need to be doing during a time of churning change and leadership transition.

The key to how we will evaluate this year’s annual meeting—what we said as well as what we didn’t say, what we did as well as what we didn’t do—is how we behave while we are together.

Let’s pray we, as well as all of Texas, will see the reflection of Christ in the messengers in Amarillo.

Posted: 10/26/07

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

By David Weaver

East Texas Baptist University

MARSHALL—Spare time is a relative term for East Texas Baptist University senior Lia Frederick.

For the last two years, Frederick—a member of Calvary Baptist Church in West Orange who attends Central Baptist Church of Marshall during the school year—has participated in both the Lady Tiger cross-country and soccer teams. On the course, she has consistently been one of ETBU’s top two runners. And on the soccer field, she’s been a starter since about midway through the 2006 season.

But when Frederick looks at her calendar, her role as a double-sport athlete takes second place to her duties as ETBU’s mascot, Toby the Tiger.

On a particularly hectic Saturday in the fall, Frederick may wake up early, run a cross-country meet in the morning, hustle back to Ornelas Stadium to assume her role as Toby on the football sidelines, then head over to Cornish Field for a grueling nighttime soccer match. She calls those experiences her “triathlon” weekends.

“The next day is always a drag. … I call the day after I mascot football games ‘mascot hangover,’” she said. Symptoms usually include a migraine and a sore jaw from Toby’s head strap.

“Sundays are always a test of discipline for me, but it’s more of a spiritual discipline test. Even though I did battle soccer, football and cross country competition that weekend, there is no excuse for me to miss an opportunity to worship at church. My relationship with God comes first, and everything else functions around that relationship.”

Physically, Frederick takes a pounding. Every muscle aches from running cross-country. She takes a lot of bumps and bruises from the pounding of a 90-minute soccer match. And spending hours underneath a stifling tiger costume, along with the physical activity of entertaining, can leave her on the verge of dehydration.

But Frederick loves the mascot’s role so much that when she agreed to play athletics, she took on the added responsibility last year with one stipulation—Toby comes first. Her mascot duties caused her to miss some meets and a few soccer games the past two years, but her coaches have been patient and understanding, she said.

“I like to think that Toby is more than just a college mascot, that’s he’s become a community icon,” Frederick said. And being mascot for a Baptist school has special benefits.

“I don’t get mugged by drunk or unruly game-watchers. I get to take postcard photographs with the president’s family,” she said. “And if another mascot ever messes with me, I have a mob of angry Baptists to back me up!”

Posted: 10/26/07

Evangelicals look overseas to global concerns

By Adelle Banks & Beckie Supiano

Religion News Service

RLINGTON, Va. (RNS)— When United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recently addressed U.S. evangelical leaders in a historic forum, there was nervousness on all sides.

Some religious conservatives clung to long-held skepticism about the world body. Meanwhile, some evangelicals were ready to make a bold step in demonstrating their commitment to engage social justice issues on the foreign policy scene.

In the end, Ban called evangelicals “good allies,” and National Association of Evangelicals Vice President Richard Cizik dubbed the U.N. chief “a friend of evangelicals.”

The two-day conference of U.S. and overseas evangelicals demonstrated the challenges and possibilities ahead for evangelicals’ growing interest and influence on U.S. foreign policy.

“We’re going to be involved in conversations, (and) we’re going to be involved in dealing with issues that make us feel a little uncomfortable,” said Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance, who spoke of the nerves that accompanied the meeting. “We’re going to be going down some uncharted paths, and that’s OK.”

As religious leaders and foreign policymakers mark the halfway point in reaching U.N. goals to significantly reduce poverty by the year 2015, Ban said evangelicals play a key role in efforts to address the world’s poor and hungry.

“We cannot do it alone,” Ban told an audience of some 300 people. “We need good allies such as you here this evening.”

Evangelicals have long been known for their missions to the world, marked by evangelism and humanitarian aid, and in recent years, their growing clout in domestic politics. Now, their focus on international social justice matters is starting to gain them even more visibility.

“Evangelical Christians are much more inclined now than they were five or 10 years ago to get involved in the policy issues, the justice issues that affect poor and hungry people around the world,” said David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, a Washington-based anti-hunger group.

Those issues include combating sex trafficking and torture to protecting the poor in developing countries from the effects of climate change. All of that and more were discussed during the meeting, sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals and Micah Challenge USA, a global Christian campaign against poverty.

Ban specifically mentioned the evangelical attention to global warming—an issue that continues to generate skepticism among some high-profile evangelical leaders like James Dobson and others.

“With faith and will, we can make a difference,” he said.

Opening the gathering, Cizik noted the “clout” Ban’s speech gave to evangelicals and said the invitation marked a change in the negative, one-world-government impression some conservatives have had about the international body.

“There are people who do have those negative ideas, and I think you have to address them with positive ideas,” Cizik said. “We are the evangelical Christians who invited a Christian man to come and talk about what we’re about.”

Osvaldo Munguia, co-founder of Mopawi, a Christian development and conservation organization in Honduras, said he is “inspired” by evangelical interest in his causes, which involve helping the poor affected by depleted forests.

“I can see that more and more the evangelical church is becoming interested in the poverty we face in our country and the environmental destruction we are facing,” said Munguia, a Baptist forester.

Foreign relations experts urged U.S evangelicals to continue to effect change in policy as American lawmakers make economic and trade decisions.

“In a sense,” said Carol Welch of the United Nations Millennium Campaign, “you’re ambassadors for the world’s poor in the halls of power.”

Posted: 10/26/07

Evangelicals debate how faith influences politics

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

WASHINGTON (ABP)—Jim Wallis and Richard Land agree faith should influence public policy. They just can’t agree on how.

The two evangelical leaders— one progressive, one conservative—locked horns in a debate at the recent Values Voters Summit in Washington. The event, organized by the Family Research Council, attracted conservative Christian voters looking for encouragement, advice and leadership going into the 2008 presidential elections.

Jim Wallis	Richard Land
Watch excerpts from their discussion here.

Wallis and Land exemplified two sides of the evangelical spectrum. Wallis, a best-selling author and head of Sojourners magazine and Call to Renewal, is known for his activism on environmental, poverty and human-rights issues. Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, is a well-known denominational leader and spokesman for social conservatives.

Wallis stressed his belief that common ground on critical issues among conservative and progressive Christians is possible. They just have to make sure their faith trumps their political ideology, he said.

“I am an evangelical Christian who tries to live under biblical authority,” he said. “A fundamental (biblical truth) is the dignity of human life. We are all created in the image of God.”

With that in mind, Wallis urged all evangelicals to work together to “dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America”—something at which politics has failed, he said.

“We simply must find common ground to actually save unborn lives,” Wallis said, adding that alternatives to abortion, like adoption, could become common ground for the two groups.

But the language of reduction wasn’t strong enough for Land.

“We are profoundly offended, and we are horrified that we allow 1.2 million citizens per year to be killed before they’ve had a chance to be born,” he said.

When asked about domestic and foreign policies of the Untied States, Wallis stressed the need to address poverty, especially the “deep connection between poverty and race.” The Bible has more than 2,000 verses that show God’s concern for the poor, but neither political party has adequately prioritized fighting poverty, he said.

“We need a new grand alliance where liberals take seriously the healing of families … and where conservatives agree to strategic public investments that actually produce results” for the poor, Wallis said.

Land agreed Christians should be concerned for poor people, but he stressed a different way to combat poverty.

“The best way, the one thing that would eliminate more poverty in the United States than anything else, is to reduce illegitimacy,” he said. “If mothers would marry the fathers of their children, that would eliminate more poverty” than any other single effort.

It all goes back to “the transcendent moral issue of our time,” which is the sanctity of human life, Land said. “I want to help poor children, but I can’t help them if they’re not born.”

Land also spoke about God’s “special claim” on the United States. America is not God’s chosen nation, he said, but the nation is “extraordinarily blessed.” God’s blessing means Americans have obligations to other countries, he added.

“The only reason under God’s sun that people have freedom and dignity anywhere in the world today is because of the armed might of the people in the United States military and (their) courage,” Land said, to loud applause.

In his response, Wallis said national security depends not only on military might but also on the well-being of others. Prosperity in the United States is tied to the health of the rest of the world, he said. The war in Iraq has undermined America’s image around the world and hurt the cause of Christ, he continued.

“We all admit the suffering and violence of Iraq,” Wallis said. “I believe it’s time to find a responsible way to end the war in Iraq that protects as many lives as possible.

“Christians should be among the hardest, not the easiest, to convince (to go to war) and we should require the highest burden of proof before military force is approved,” he added.

Posted: 10/26/07

Faith Digest

NAE names president. The National Association of Evangelicals board unanimously elected Leith Anderson as the organization’s president.

Anderson, pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minn., was named interim president in November 2006 following the resignation of former Colorado megachurch pastor Ted Haggard, who was brought down in a sex and drug scandal. Anderson, 63, has been senior pastor of his church, affiliated with the Baptist General Conference, since 1977. The congregation has grown to 5,000 regular attenders during his tenure and is known for its outreach abroad, including to people suffering from HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Group warns Brits to leave clerical collars at home. A British church safety group is advising clergy—from the archbishop of Canterbury on down—to remove clerical collars when they are off duty to reduce the risk of being attacked. A new report issued by National Churchwatch says clergy are in danger from assailants who believe they have money or who bear some sort of “grudge against God.” National Churchwatch, an independent organization that provides clergy with personal safety advice, said priests are attacked more often than those of other professions because they are considered unlikely to fight back. In Britain, five vicars have been murdered in the past decade. In a survey of 90 ministers that Nick Tolson, who heads the safety group, said he conducted last year, nearly half reported they had been attacked in some form during the previous 12 months.

‘Thou shalt donate organs.’ The Church of England says human organ donation is a Christian duty, in line with the giving of oneself and personal possessions voluntarily for the wellbeing of others. But at the same time, the church has sidestepped the question of whether to back a so-called “opt-out” system, in which everyone is considered a donor unless he or she specifically stipulates otherwise, or an “opt-in” approach that allows people to sign up as donors. The church’s statement on organ donation came during discussion in the House of Lords on whether a position on organ donation should be adopted across the 27-member European Union, of which Britain is a part. The Church of England made it clear that it remained firmly opposed to the sale of human organs, but it supports living donors giving organs when no commercial gain is involved.

Adventists see growth globally. Worldwide membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church has increased to 15.4 million, according to statistics announced at a recent international gathering in Silver Spring, Md. Membership totaled 15,435,470, a net increase of 681,448, or 4.62 percent, as of mid-2007, said John Torres, media relations manager for the international church. Matthew Bediako, secretary of the international church, also provided figures that show how many members have departed. For every 100 members who joined the church between July 2006 and this past June, 24 left. He called this year’s retention rate of 76 percent “healthy.” Although statisticians found that more than 1 million people joined the church, when departures are factored in, the net growth is 681,448. In the fiscal year ending June 2006, the church lost 45 people for every 100 new members.

Posted: 10/26/07

TV news story helps make a family complete

By Rebekah Hardage

Communications Intern

WINNSBORO—Few parents can say the first time they saw their daughter was on TV, but the moment Geno and Lisa Hill saw Deidre’s smiling face on a local television news program, they knew she would be a part of their family.

KLTV News in Tyler features a foster child available for adoption on its monthly “Gift of Love” feature. As a result of seeing a story on Deidre, the Hills were introduced to their daughter one year ago this month.

It was unusual for the Hill family to be watching TV together, but on that Wednesday, even their ever-busy son, Collin, was home.

Deidre and her mom, Lisa Hill, have a special bond, even though their relationship is fairly new. “I can actually talk to you and you give me advice,” Deidre told her mother.

“Geno looked at me and said, ‘Call them,’” Mrs. Hill said. “And the love for her was birthed in his heart at that moment.”

The next morning, the Hills began the process to bring Deidre home. They didn’t know much about the foster system, but after making several calls to agencies, Buckner offered the necessary classes and met their schedule.

“Yesterday wasn’t soon enough,” Geno said. They entered a foster-to-adopt program, foster parenting Deidre for six months prior to the adoption.

Deidre won the hearts of her parents instantly, but she didn’t know it. And even though she desperately wanted to be adopted, for her protection the Hills couldn’t share their plans with her.

For the Hill family, having Deidre in their home “felt right,” the couple agreed. In 2001, they lost a daughter following a lengthy illness. The Hills knew then that they would want to add to the family again, but they wanted to wait on God’s timing.

Deirdre, too, had experienced a turbulent past. She had been removed from her birthparents’ home due to abuse and had changed foster homes several times.

After returning from a vacation with her foster family in June, Deidre got a surprise. She was going to meet the family who wanted to adopt her—the next morning.

“I was excited and nervous,” Deidre said. She wanted to live in the country, go to a small school and have Christian parents.

Thirty minutes prior to meeting the potential family, Buckner caseworkers shared a photo of the candidate family. It was the Hills, a Christian family living in a hand-built log cabin in the northeast Texas woods. Her wish had come true.

Callie Reneau, foster care supervisor for Buckner Children and Family Services in Longview, worked with the Hills through the process of becoming foster parents.

“It was a really good match from the beginning, a perfect fit for their family,” she said.

“We could identify, because we’ve had losses too,” Lisa said. “And we can all grow in this together.”

To Deidre, having a mother like Lisa Hill is a perfect match. “I can actually talk to you and you understand me and give me advice,” she said as she gave her mother a hug on the front porch.

And a father like Geno Hill might be Deidre’s favorite part. “I like knowing there’s someone to protect me and he’s not going to leave me.”

For the first time in her life, Deidre feels like she has a real family.

“I just feel special and loved and like they were sent from God. I know they love me and they have boundaries and goals for me that they know I can reach,” she said.

Mrs. Hill hopes Deidre will be able to “rely on God for his call on her life and be successful in her relationship with him.”

Turning to Deidre and smiling, she added, “We’re all in it together—as a family.”

Posted: 10/26/07

For Southeast Texas foster
couple, 14 makes a family

By Jenny Pope

Buckner International

RANGE—At 7 a.m., the Forman residence looks like Grand Central Station. Teenagers of all ages and races—12 of them—race from room to room in search of backpacks, breakfast, clean laundry and medication. Kim Forman sits in a recliner in her living room and watches the chaos unfold.

“This is my chair,” she said while stroking the family’s two dogs on the back of their head. “I just stay out of the way until I’m needed.”

In the background, her husband, Bob, yells from one room to another, “I better hear that vacuum cleaner!”

Bob and Kim Forman raised their own family before they decided to foster.

The Orange foster family of 14 might seem chaotic to an onlooker, but it’s really a well-organized machine. With 10 bedrooms, 12 children, two dogs, and more than 15 loads of laundry a day, systems are more than necessary, Forman said.

“I’ll sometimes make as many as six trips a day to school and back,” he said. “But we love it. We’ll do anything for these kids.”

Kim and Bob Forman both quit their full-time jobs after raising their own family because they felt called to serve children as foster parents. The Bible mandates it, she said.

“James 1:27 tells us that pure and undefiled religion is to care for orphans. We do this for the Lord,” she said. “I know it seems unconventional, but we’re a family. We want the best for our children while they’re here, and we want to see them do well once they leave the house.”

One of their foster children, Clyde, looks ahead to high school graduation. After living with the Formans seven years, he considers them Mom and Dad.

“They’ve always believed in me,” he said, while pouring himself his morning cereal. “They’ve helped me keep my head up—told me I can do it. Even when I think I can’t, they tell me I can.”

The 18-year-old boy hopes to become a machinist one day, or maybe an inventor, he said. When he first came to the Formans, he thought he was mentally retarded because that’s what his parents had told him.

Bob Forman with former foster child Danny Allen, who still visits Formans’ house weekly for a home-cooked meal.

Watch Bob and Danny talk about Danny's foster family experience here.

“He worked hard,” Mrs. Forman said, “He’s got two jobs, and he can fix anything around the house. … I think it shows what some good encouragement can do.”

Kristy, 15, is another child living in the Forman home. When she first came to the Formans five years ago, she had terrible hygiene and was easily angered, throwing frequent temper tantrums.

“Now she’s our social butterfly,” Mrs. Forman said. “She’s a cheerleader, always on the phone. She’s overcoming some struggles with dyslexia. She’s just a normal teenage girl.”

“I’ve been through a lot with them,” Kristy said. “But I have more freedom and more love here than I did before. I like to talk to Ms. Kim and Mr. Bob. They sit and pray with me at night.”

Throughout the years, the Formans have fostered 60 children in their home, formerly a duplex now connected in the middle with a large family room. They typically care for teenagers, ages 12-19, anywhere from five to seven years.

Some of their foster children stay close even after they leave. Danny is one of those children. With an arm sleeve of tattoos and nickel-sized holes in his ears, “his looks can be deceiving,’ Mrs. Forman said. “He’s really easy to love.”

Danny, 21, works at a local auto body shop in Orange. He still comes back to the Formans’ house weekly for a good, home-cooked meal. Danny admits that when he came to the Formans, and even during his time with them, he was irresponsible. But he credits their caring, supportive relationship with helping him reach his goals—and come to know God.

“I wasn’t a normal teenager,” he said. “I was always getting into trouble. But Bob and Kim helped me have a relationship with God. A lot of people can talk the talk but can’t walk the walk. Bob and Kim are different, you know? Their actions speak louder than words. You can’t fake love.”

Forman agreed. “Danny has a heart of gold,” he said, giving him a pat on the back “God’s grace is upon him.”

“There is no greater thing you can do in your life than help a child,” his wife added. “I just think that anyone who’s interested in doing this has to make sure it’s what God has called you to do. It’s a ministry.”

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.

I believe the process should become fully open. Churches should be reminded regularly that ministers must be open to God’s call. Search committees should urge candidates to divulge contacts to the candidate’s church. Churches should require their ministers to disclose serious contacts, at least to key people and preferably to the entire church.

This is an idealistic but biblical position. It should be seriously discussed and implemented in our churches—which is where idealism should thrive.

Stan Joynton

San Angelo

More than personality

I must disagree with the letter from J.V. Thomas and his assessment of the conflict between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Southern Baptist Convention (Oct. 15). Thomas seems to think the whole conflict was a simple personality conflict over unimportant issues. He stated, “During this time, a major shift took place in the SBC, which preceded an equally dramatic shift in the BGCT. … From the beginning, the problems were more about conflicting personalities than fundamental issues.” He could not be more wrong. 

The new SBC leadership changed fundamental Baptist doctrines on many Baptist beliefs—priesthood of the believer, separation of church and state, and making the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message a document of doctrinal correctness by which Baptist believers are to be determined. 

People were fired not over a personality dispute, but because they failed to meet the requirement of unquestioning adherence to the so-called “conservative resurgence” and the new SBC leaders. Missionaries, SBC agency executives and seminary professors were not dismissed over a personality difference. Even ordinary employees in low-level positions were fired because they belonged to the “wrong church.”

I agree: The BGCT/SBC conflict has become a nonissue, but only because the BGCT decided  to resist falling into “lockstep” with the new SBC philosophy and changed doctrines. I also agree: It is definitely time to move on and resume fulfilling the Great Commission. 

But let’s not ever fall into the trap of downplaying this very hurtful period in Baptist life as a mere personality conflict over unimportant issues.

Bob Campbell

Missouri City

BGCT horizon

The editorial on looking to the horizon for BGCT perspective (Oct. 22) is as encouraging as anything I’ve heard in recent days from anyone either directly connected with the BGCT staff or calling himself a Texas Baptist.

Clearly, there are concerns, but primarily there is strength in the BGCT. For each real or imagined problem, there are a thousand good things God has done in or through us.   It isn’t merely a slogan; it’s the truth when we say that we’re better together. The collective IQ—and spirituality, and wisdom, and ability—is greater between us than that possessed by any one of us alone.

Heaven meets earth at the horizon. May that be what takes place among us as Texas Baptists during the remainder of this year, while many attend the annual meeting, and as a new year begins in a few weeks.  Heaven meeting earth; we need it today.

David Troublefield

Wichita Falls

Christian walk

A Christian walk is not just from your car to inside a church building. A Christian walk is taking every step in life following the path Jesus set before us.

When we meet the hungry, do we feed them? When we meet the naked, do we clothe them? When we meet the lonely, do we comfort them? Do we express faith in the way we meet every situation in life?

Can those little ones who are watching us see us trusting in the Creator? We certainly hope so, because they will most likely follow the path we set before them.

Where are you leading your children and grandchildren? Is it the path to eternal life?

Daniel Younger

Itasca

Bring back Pinson

When I was employed by the BGCT from 1980 to 2001, I had a boss who would say, “It takes Southern Baptists five years to fire someone, but no one knows when they started.” He also would comment about Southern Baptists burying our wounded.

We Baptists are no better than secular companies that use money as an excuse to dismiss good people, and we should be ashamed. If we need more money for the budget, we need to look south. There might be $3 million given away we can get back.

Many of the dismissed employees told me they read about their terminations in the Standard before being told by their supervisors.  

But didn’t I read that the “committee" or “man in charge” discussed it first with the committee and then notified supervisors and then dismissed staff? Who should I believe in all of this matter, and why should I care? The reason I care even though I have been retired six years is these people are my friends. We worked hard together to carry out strategies and God’s plans to reach Texas as we were led to believe. I know who I will believe, and you in the church should ask questions too.

I have an idea, but doubt it will happen. We need to ask the Executive Board to clean out the fourth floor and bring back Bill Pinson. He kept us alive and kicking during the late 1980s and 1990s and lost no money whatsoever.

Robert Parrish

Carrollton

Questionable nomination

I understand Roger Paynter is submitting a nomination for first vice president of the BGCT. Is he not the husband of a BGCT agency head? That may be allowable, but is it appropriate?

In my opinion, this represents a conflict of interest. I do not know the man who is being nominated. I’m sure he is a fine gentleman. However, the very fact that he is being nominated by Dr. Paynter causes me concern.

C.J. Malott

Midland

Posted: 10/26/07

BGCT launches distinctive
online missions connector

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

The Baptist General Convention of Texas plans to launch a one-of-a-kind website Oct. 29 designed to connect churches and individuals and mission opportunities around the globe.

The site—Beonmission.org—is believed to be the only online missions broker that depicts missions opportunities of multiple agencies and organizations graphically rather than through a simple database, allowing users to sift and sort through more worldwide service opportunities quickly.

More than 1,000 Texas Baptist mission, prayer and giving opportunities already are listed on the site, and more are being added daily. Users can systematically sort the entries by location, project date and required time commitment.

Mission efforts from a variety of Texas Baptist sources that serve around the globe include BGCT Texas Partnerships, Go Now Missions, Border/Mexico Missions, World-conneX, Buckner International, Texas Baptist Men, Children at Heart Ministries, Baptist Child & Family Services, South Texas Children’s Home, Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas and the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger.

The idea for the site originated in Texas Baptist discussions of mission work, BGCT President Steve Vernon said. He hopes the site will enable more people to be involved in missions worldwide.

“I think the site is a great start,” he said. “It’s just going to grow stronger as more information is added. I think this is a wonderful tool for all of our churches.”

Ashli Young, BGCT web content manager, said the convention plans on including mission projects from all BCGT-affiliated institutions on the site this fall and ultimately incorporate efforts of Texas Baptist churches as well.

She hopes the site will help connect Texas Baptists in missions.

“My hope is that churches will be able to see where others are working and be able to join them, whether that means coordinating a trip together, praying for each other or giving to help others going to that area,” she said.

Posted: 10/26/07

On the Move

• Philip Oswald to First Church in Dallas as contemporary worship leader from First Church in Wichita Falls, where he served in the same position.

• Matthew Richard to Spring Creek Church in Meridian as pastor.

• Jennifer Wills, a student at Baylor University, to First Church in Cranfills Gap as youth minister.

• Joseph Kirby to First Church in Sinton as youth director.

• Jimmie Nelson to First Church in Blum as interim pastor.

• Casey Stark, a student at Southwestern Seminary, to First Church in Godley as minister of youth.

• David Couch, formerly minister of youth at Lane Prairie Church in Joshua, to First Church in Burleson as minister of recreation.

• Bret Woodall to First Church in Clebune as music minister from Southwest Park Church in Abilene.

• David Tankersley to College View Church in Abilene as interim pastor.

• Jim Mosley has resigned as pastor of Builders Church in Merkel.

• Jack Craig to First Church in Devine as minister of youth.

• Wade Rush from First Church in Odem to First Church in Pleasanton as pastor.

• Bob Rutherford to Belmont Church in Denison as interim pastor.

• Wendell Williams to North Park Church in Sherman as interim pastor.

• George Yarbrough to First Church in Refugio as interim pastor.

• Michael Gleason to First Church in Pettus as youth director.

• David Silva has resigned as pastor of Primer Iglesia Bautista in Mathis.

• Tommy Ingle to First Church in Pawnee as pastor.

• David Diggs has resigned as pastor of Live Oak Church in Gatesville.

• Phil Beck to First Church in Sulphur Springs as worship leader. He formerly served as associate minister of worship and media at Hermitage Hills Church in Nashville, Tenn.

• Ross Shelton from First Church in Castroville to First Church in Woodville as pastor.

Posted: 10/26/07

Senator backs off on funding
earmarked for religious group

By 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.”

The group has long challenged Darwinian theories explaining the origins of life, and the earmark was seen by some as an attempt to inject Christian religious doctrine into the classroom.

Vitter announced on the Senate floor that “to avoid more hysterics,” he wanted to shift the money to science and computer labs in schools in Ouachita Parish. He said the earmark had been misconstrued.

Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the two managers of the $605 billion bill, accepted Vitter’s proposal and said the money would be reallocated in House-Senate negotiations.

The Louisiana Family Forum was launched in Baton Rouge nine years ago by Tony Perkins, now president of the Family Research Council, a national Christian advocacy group. The Family Forum’s stated mission is “to persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence on issues affecting the family through research, communication and networking.”