Archives
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Otto Arango’s earnings claims disputed by directors of missions
Updated: 11/03/06
In 2004, Charles Wade, BGCT executive director, speaks to an audience of Mexican church starters as Otto Arango, director of the Church Starting Institute, translates. Arango is now a central figure in a misuse of funds scandal. Otto Arango's earnings claims
disputed by directors of missionsBy Ken Camp
Managing Editor
Investigators who probed misuse of Texas Baptist church starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley reported Otto Arango—one of the central figures around whom allegations swirled—claimed he earned at least $14,000 a month from Baptist associations in Texas. But leaders of associations named in the report dispute that assertion.
Arango’s lifestyle—living in an expensive home in an exclusive neighborhood and driving luxury cars—raised questions among some fellow pastors in the Rio Grande Valley about the sources of his income. In part, their suspicions triggered the investigation that uncovered evidence of misused Texas Baptist church starting funds in the region.
11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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BGCT faces challenges, leaders say
Updated: 11/03/06
BGCT faces challenges, leaders say
By Ken Camp
Managing Editor
An investigation that uncovered evidence of mismanagement and misuse of Texas Baptist church starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley presents major challenges for the Baptist General Convention of Texas—and especially Executive Director Charles Wade, some state convention leaders agreed.
“Anytime a leader makes a mistake which proves significant, his or her leadership is called into question. The investigation clearly indicated that Dr. Wade’s response to concerns expressed several times over a period of years was inadequate,” said Bob Fowler of Houston, chairman of the BGCT Executive Board.
BorregoBell11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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EDITORIAL: Executive Board must rise to the occasion
Posted: 11/03/06
EDITORIAL:
Executive Board must rise to the occasionNow is the time for members of the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ newly reorganized Executive Board to act courageously, wisely, decisively and quickly to pull the convention back from the calamity of administrative failure. They must restore trust in the face of scandal.
The depth of calamity became apparent during the Executive Board’s called meeting Oct. 31. Members received a report on misappropriation of church starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley. The report told a terrible tale—at least $1.3 million in wasted money, years lost on a failed church starting scheme, lies and deception, and finger pointing.
The tone in the room resembled previous dark days, when fundamentalists attacked our convention. The prevailing attitude was to find external evildoers, rail against the wrong they did and rally around our guys. This is the tactic that enabled the BGCT to defeat fundamentalism, for which traditional, progressive Baptists are enormously grateful.
But fundamentalism no longer is the BGCT’s gravest threat. Our beloved convention faces far greater dangers from within—apathy among Texas Baptists and perceived irrelevance of the BGCT. Now add mistrust and suspicion. A frontal assault on adversarial bloggers and a hunker-down mentality won’t sustain, much less strengthen, the convention when loyal Baptists wonder if the BGCT will steward their trust and make a difference in their churches, and when they begin to feel they could not care less.
11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Around the State
Posted: 11/03/06
Westlake Chapel in Graham has broken ground on an expansion of the fellowship hall. The project will add 750 square feet to the existing building and will provide space for additional Sunday school classes, community outreach events, church-wide fellowships and better accommodations for other community organizations that utilize the facilities. Construction funds are in hand, and only funds for the furnishings now are needed. Don Raney, second from left, is pastor. Around the State
• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will hold a cultural fest Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Shelton Theater of the Mabee Student Center. It is free and open to the public. It will include various types of music and expressive dance. For more information, call (254) 295-5519.
• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will hold a fireworks display as a part of its homecoming festivities Nov. 10, marking the beginning of what is planned as a new tradition. Homecoming events will begin at 11 a.m. Friday during the chapel service. Following chapel, the alumni association will present its distinguished alumni award at the Heritage Club luncheon. Honorary alumni awards will be presented during the alumni fiesta that evening. The homecoming pep rally, which will include the fireworks, will begin at 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s events include a golf tournament, a barbecue lunch and the 2 p.m. football game. Reservations must be made through the alumni office. For more information, call (254) 295-4599.
• East Texas Baptist Univer-sity has welcomed several new faculty members this fall, including Denise Allen, assistant professor of nursing; Eileen Baland, instructor of English; Eric Branscome, instructor of music; Robin Cook, instructor of business; Cassandra Falke, assistant professor of English; Cole Franklin, associate professor of communication; Sandy Hoover, instructor of history; Joanna Newkirk, instructor in kinesiology and associate athletic trainer; Yu Youling, visiting scholar from Lanzhou University of Technology in China; and Lin Weisheng, visiting professor from Guang-dong Teachers College of Foreign Languages and Arts in China.
San Marcos Baptist Academy held its annual sweetheart pageant recently, crowning Nicole Hoffman, center, sweetheart. Also pictured are her escort, Josh Brame, and the ladies of the court—from left, Michelle Deschner, Jacqueline Piers, Le’Resa Stokes, Arianna Taboada and Emily Rainone. 11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Baptists prepare for annual meeting
Posted: 11/03/06
Texas Baptists prepare for annual meeting
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
Texas Baptists are set to celebrate cooperative ministry, elect a new president and vote on a proposed $50.6 million budget when they gather Nov. 13-14 for the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Dallas.
BGCT President Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, said the meeting will be a time for Texas Baptists to come together to worship, celebrate their accomplishments from the past year and look forward to where God is calling them in the coming year.
11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Book Reviews
Posted: 11/03/06
Book Reviews
Covenant & Commandment: A Study of the Ten Commandments in the Context of Grace by C.W. Christian (Smyth & Helwys)
In this “call to freedom,” C.W. Christian insists covenant and law are “inseparable” but not “reciprocal.” He reminds us of the biblical order—covenant, commandment, covenant—and instructs, “The law is the law of the covenant.”
Christian provides practical and contemporary applications after each commandment that are refreshing and thought-provoking. He presents grace as the bedrock to approach two of the most important words in Judaism and Christianity. His use and explanation of commandment as it relates to common life today removes the stigma of time restraints placed so often on the Ten Commandments.
11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Baptist Briefs
Posted: 11/03/06
Baptist Briefs
Southwestern drills for gas. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary administrators recently signed a contract with a Fort Worth company to drill for natural gas on the school’s campus. The Barnett Shale—a geological formation of sedimentary rock believed to contain trillions of cubic feet of natural gas—runs underneath the seminary’s Fort Worth campus. President Paige Patterson told the school’s trustees that over the life of the contract, it potentially could bring the seminary millions of dollars in royalties.
Missouri convention kicks out churches. The Missouri Baptist Convention voted Oct. 31 to oust 19 congregations because of their affiliations with moderate Baptist groups. During its 172nd annual meeting in Cape Girardeau, the convention voted to refuse to seat messengers from any of the congregations at the meeting or future meetings. The convention has a single-alignment requirement that prohibits churches from belonging to other Baptist organizations. The vote came without recorded dissent. Only one of the congregations—most of which had been warned about the move to oust them ahead of time—sent messengers to the meeting.
11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Former Operation Christmas child recipients now giving
Posted: 11/03/06
Youth at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth put together packages for Operration Christmas Child. Former Operation Christmas
child recipients now givingBy George Henson
Staff Writer
FORT WORTH—Most people who fill a shoebox with treats and trinkets for an orphan a world away can only guess of the happiness the Operation Christmas Child ministry brings. Four Fort Worth girls who once lived in Russian orphanages have a much keener understanding.
Now a part of Chris and Marla Morris’ family and the youth group at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, the two sets of sisters have moved from being recipients of the shoeboxes to being on the giving side of ministry.
11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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CityReach seeks to mobilize volunteers
Posted: 11/03/06
CityReach seeks to mobilize volunteers
DALLAS—Paul Henderson shook his head.
“Three of four car transmissions we checked today had burnt transmission fluid,” said Henderson, a volunteer mechanic serving single mothers through the Car Care Ministry of Colonial Baptist Church in Pleasant Grove.
One of those cars, belongs to Christie Emmesberger. She got a car wash, fresh transmission fluid, a new air filter and peace of mind for free.
“Seven children under age 16 depend on me to drive,” Emmesberger explained. “Now I know that my car won’t break down.”
Christie Emmesberger, a single mother from the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas, receives free car service, thanks to volunteers from Colonial Baptist Church of Dallas such as Sunday school teacher Paul Henderson and Pastor Steve White. 11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Prison ministry founder resigns
Posted: 11/03/06
Prison ministry founder resigns
By Adelle Banks
Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson has announced his resignation as chairman of the board of the ministry he started 30 years ago.
11/03/2006 - By John Rutledge
