On the Move

Posted: 5/12/06

On the Move

• Larry Barnett to First Church in Refugio as interim music director.

• Glen Beaty to Mosheim Church in Valley Mills as pastor from Old Time Church in Riesel.

• Carl Bilderback to First Church in Pottsboro as pastor, where he was interim.

05/12/2006 - By John Rutledge

Tennessee Baptists reject Belmont’s offer; lawsuit for control looms

Posted: 5/12/06

Tennessee Baptists reject Belmont's
offer; lawsuit for control looms

By Robert Marus & Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

NASHVILLE (ABP)—Tennessee Baptists voted May 9 to reject a $5 million offer from Belmont University that would have given the school power to elect its own trustees. Instead, the Tennessee Baptist Convention likely will now sue the university to try to retain control of the 4,600-student school.

05/12/2006 - By John Rutledge

Fellow IMB trustee criticizes Burleson

Posted: 5/12/06

Fellow IMB trustee criticizes Burleson

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

ENID, Okla. (ABP)—In what could lead to another attempt to remove trustee Wade Burleson from the International Mission Board, a fellow trustee of the Southern Baptist agency is publicly criticizing Burleson for his views on baptism, alcohol and other subjects.

05/12/2006 - By John Rutledge

Dobbses say IMB response ‘inaccurate’

Posted: 5/12/06

Dobbses say IMB response 'inaccurate'

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

DALLAS (ABP)—Wyman and Michelle Dobbs, the Southern Baptist missionaries recently threatened with termination by the International Mission Board and then reinstated, say the IMB’s description of their reinstatement is “inaccurate and inappropriate.”

05/12/2006 - By John Rutledge

Cybercolumn by Berry Simpson: Stuck

Posted: 5/12/06

CYBER COLUMN:
Stuck

By Berry Simpson

OK, so I had another one of those city-dweller experiences for the first time: I got stuck in an elevator. It was in the Western National Bank Building, and I was headed toward my office on the 12th floor. I was riding with Marshal, a banker, who was hoping to get off on the 11th floor.

The elevator stopped like it was supposed to at the 11th floor, but the doors refused to open. We pressed the buttons again and again, but to no effect. Marshal phoned his office to send help, while I picked up the elevator emergency phone.

05/12/2006 - By John Rutledge

Critics note Floyd’s stingy CP giving, controversial ministry innovations

Posted: 5/12/06

Critics note Floyd's stingy CP giving,
controversial ministry innovations

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (ABP)—News of the nomination of Arkansas megachurch pastor Ronnie Floyd to be the next Southern Baptist Convention president has brought new attention to his church’s high-tech evangelism methods and lackluster financial support of the denomination he wants to lead.

05/12/2006 - By John Rutledge

Pat Robertson labels Americans United ‘communist’

Posted: 5/12/06

Pat Robertson labels
Americans United 'communist'

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)—Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson is once again making waves with comments on his 700 Club television broadcast—this time criticizing a church-state watchdog group he frequently battles.

05/12/2006 - By John Rutledge

RIGHT of WRONG? Insisting on retirement package

Posted: 5/12/06

Right or Wrong?
Insisting on retirement package

Our church has hired a staff person who is slightly less than 30 years old. We typically have not provided retirement assistance for staff members, but this one has insisted on it. Don’t you think the person is being a bit overbearing?

05/12/2006 - By John Rutledge

IMB reinstates missionary couple

Posted: 5/12/06

IMB reinstates missionary couple

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

RICHMOND, Va. (ABP)—Under a new agreement, officials at the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board have reinstated a missionary couple they threatened to fire for establishing a church in the West African nation of Guinea that did not meet the board’s criteria for being a Baptist church.

05/11/2006 - By John Rutledge

School allows Christians equal access

Posted: 5/12/06

School allows Christians equal access

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

PLANO—A middle school Christian student group settled a lawsuit against the Plano Independent School District, granting the group the same privileges as other groups.

05/11/2006 - By John Rutledge

NAMB trustees regroup, move on after Reccord’s resignation

Posted: 5/12/06

NAMB trustees regroup, move on
after Reccord’s resignation

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (ABP)—North American Mission Board trustees took the first steps down the road to the missions agency’s recovery May 1-2, two weeks after their embattled president resigned under pressure.

05/11/2006 - By John Rutledge

Memphis Declaration voices dissatisfaction

Posted: 5/12/06

Memphis Declaration voices dissatisfaction

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP)—About 30 Southern Baptist conservatives from diverse backgrounds announced they repent of the “triumphalism,” arrogance and isolationism they believe threatens the integrity of the 16-million-member denomination.

Saying they represent “disparate constituencies” in the Southern Baptist Convention, the participants met behind closed doors in Memphis, Tenn., early this month and later issued a “Memphis Declaration,” expressing concern and dissatisfaction over the current direction of the SBC.

But the group stopped short of proposing a candidate for SBC office or actions to be taken at the SBC convention next month—to the surprise of some participants.

05/11/2006 - By John Rutledge