Posted: 3/4/05

Article prompts 18-year ministry in Alaska

By George Henson

Staff Writer

Ruth Smith doesn't know what her life would have been like if she hadn't been reading the Baptist Standard one Sunday morning in 1952, but she knows it would have been different.

She was riding along with her husband, Carl, as they motored to the rural mission church where he was pastor.

“I remember it was on the front inside cover, just a little story a couple of inches long,” she recalled, in vivid detail. “The headline said, 'Couple needed in Alaska.' I read it out loud.

An item in the Baptist Standard in 1952 prompted a Texas Baptist couple to serve 18 years in Alaska.

“I don't know why. I wasn't in the custom of reading out loud like that, but for some reason, that time I did.”

She continued reading the short story out loud–about how the Alaska Baptist Convention was starting a children's home and was looking for a couple to run it.

“My husband didn't say a word,” she said. “I went on reading the rest of the paper to myself. Then some time later, my husband slammed his hands down on the steering wheel and said, 'We're going to Alaska.'”

“If you had hit me with a baseball bat, I couldn't have been more stunned. It wasn't that I had anything against going to Alaska, but he didn't make decisions like that.

“He was always very deliberate, very thoughtful in his decision-making–counting up all the costs and benefits before saying anything.”

Her husband continued to surprise her as the day went along. After the benediction at the end of the service, he announced that as soon as his wife ended her term as a schoolteacher, they were moving to Alaska.

“Nobody who knows me will believe it, but I did not say a word. I was simply speechless,” she recalled.

Upon inquiring about the job at the children's home, however, the Smiths discovered a couple from Anchorage had taken the position.

“I thought that would put an end to the Alaska fever, but it “did not,” she said. “He went ahead making plans.

“Finally, I decided if I didn't want to be left behind, I should join in the planning.”

The Smiths began discarding possessions and used the equity from their home to buy a pickup truck.

The Southern Baptist Convention was held in Dallas that year, and the Smiths met pastors from churches in Fairbanks and Anchorage.

“That helped a great deal,” she recalled. “One thing they told us was that anyone who could stay sober could get a job in Alaska.

“We also were told of the great need for bivocational pastors in Alaska.”

As a matter of fact, they learned that all the Baptist pastors in Alaska were bivocational–all 11 of them.

The Smiths served there 18 years.

“It was the most wonderful experience, the most wonderful time of my life,” she said recently from her son's home in Overland Park, Kan.

And it all began on a bumpy country road, reading the Baptist Standard on the way to church.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 3/4/05

Around the State

Hardin-Simmons University's "Securing the Future" campaign has received in pledges or cash $28,251,236 –the largest amount ever received in a financial campaign at the school.

Ken Medema will be in concert at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at noon March 11. The concert is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. For more information, call (254) 295-4678.

Three staff members at the Baptist General Conven-tion of Texas have new responsibilities. Joyce Gilbreath, a member of Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, has been named world hunger consultant for the Christian Life Commission. Karen Witcher, a member of Fielder Road Church in Arlington, has been named manager of events and promotion for the BGCT's Center for Music and Worship. Rodney Cottingham, a member of Westside Church in Lewisville, has been named the convention's accounting manager.

Highland Park Church in Mount Pleasant has broken ground on an education wing. At a cost of approximately $350,000, the addition will contain nine Sunday school rooms. Participants in the groundbreaking ceremony included, front row (l-r), charter members Dean and Alma McCollum and Louise Rogers; Pastor Gaylon Riddle, Associate Pastor Troy White and Music Minister Waylon Moore. Back row (l-r), long range planning committee members Kathy McAlester, Jerry Smith, Ross Bond, Ralph Cutler and David Myers.

Two Texans were recently endorsed as chaplains by the Cooperative Baptist Fellow-ship. Receiving endorsement were Joanna Harris, a chaplain at Harris Methodist Health System in Fort Worth, and Byron Johnson, a military chaplain candidate with the U.S. Navy in Waco.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will hold its annual health fair March 22 from 10 a.m until 2 p.m. Located in Shelton Theater, the health fair is free to the public. The fair will showcase more than 50 exhibitors. For more information, call (254) 295-4623.

The Houston Baptist University student yearbook, The Ornogah, was named a gold medalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. This is the yearbook's third straight gold medal award. Rochelle Ferrada is managing editor.

Laura Johnson has been promoted to director of alumni and media relations at Howard Payne University. She had been director of alumni relations. She is a member of First Church in Brownwood. Working with her will be Kristy Mitchell, who has been named coordinator of alumni relations. She is a member of Coggin Avenue Church in Brownwood.

Jean Humphreys, assistant professor of sociology, has been named 2004 faculty member of the year at Dallas Baptist University. She has taught at the school 16 years. She is a member of First Church in Arlington.

Baylor University's Arm-strong Browning Library has acquired the archive of Joseph Milsand, French philosopher, literary critic and longtime friend of poet Robert Browning. The archive contains more than 4,000 autograph letters, numerous rare books, pamphlets, journals, photographs, drawings, newspapers, albums and original manuscripts of nearly all of Milsand's known writings. It was donated by the Bob and Anna Wright Family Foundation of Vernon. The Wrights are Baylor alumni.

The East Texas Baptist University admissions office has won national awards for its mouse pad and calendar in the 20th annual Admissions Advertising Contest sponsored by Admissions Marketing Report.

Jimmie Keeling, football coach at Hardin-Simmons University, was awarded the Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the yearly convention of the American Football Coaches' Association. Keeling celebrated 50 years in coaching this past spring and completed his 15th season as the head coach at HSU. At Hardin-Simmons, he has posted a record of 127-37 and has led the Cowboys to 10 Intercollegiate Athletic Assoc-iation or American Southwest Conference titles.

Anniversaries

Bob Stanford, fifth, as pastor of Parmer Lane Church in Austin, March 6.

Jack Ballard, fifth, as minister of activities and senior adults at First Church in Mexia, March 12.

New Deliverance Church in Waco, fifth, March 20 at 3 p.m. Stanley Adams is pastor.

James Blackwell, 15th, as pastor of South Park Church in Beaumont, March 20. A fellowship and luncheon in his honor will follow the morning service.

Elm Grove Church in Waelder, 150th, April 9. The church will celebrate the anniversary from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., highlighted with the opening of a time capsule buried at the church's 100th anniversary. Former pastors also are expected to speak. Historical exhibits, special music and refreshments will round out the festivities. Hoyt Hunnicutt is pastor.

Death

Marion Ford, 85, Feb. 18 in Little Rock, Ark. He served in the 83rd Infantry during World War II and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. Ford was pastor and interim pastor of numerous Central Texas churches during his 50 years of ministry. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Margie; son, Roger; a sister and three brothers. He is survived by his wife, Lou Ann; daughters, Delphia Adcock, Brenda Dunks, Gyla Wise, Tamara Heineman and Brenda Flora; sons, Jonathan Ford and Ben Van Patten; sisters, Maurice Chatham and Gwen Campbell; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Events

Saundra Davis-Huggins and Rose Durden were commissioned as Mission Service Corps volunteers Feb. 16 at Mount Hebron Church in Garland. Durden serves the church as a church strengthener, and Huggins is training to serve as a church starter.

Benji and Kathy Cole will be commissioned as Mission Service Corps volunteers March 13 at 2 p.m. at Lone Willow Church in Cleburne. He serves the church as youth minister/associate pastor.

Jewish Christian Steven Ger will present “The Unleavened Messiah: A Portrait of Christ in the Passover” March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Forestburg Church in Forestburg. Childcare is available. For more information, call (940) 964-2470. Stewart Holloway is pastor.

First Church in Temple will hold a marriage conference April 8-9 with Matt and Darlene Tullos as keynote speakers. Friday's session will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday's will be from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call (254) 773-6866 for registration information. Martin Knox is pastor.

Licensed

Oscar Moreira, Julio Franco, Josh Reglin and Clifton Coufal to the ministry by Primera Iglesia and First Church in Plano.

Elias Salinas to the ministry by Segunda Iglesia in San Marcos.

Ordained

Joe Dougharty to the ministry at Lakeview Church in Vidor.

Mark Zeek to the ministry at Memorial Church in Baytown.

Mike Allen to the ministry at Hilltop Church in Hamilton.

Joe Burke to the ministry at Mineral Church in Mineral.

Michelle Collins to the ministry at Cliff Temple Church in Dallas.

Zak White to the ministry at Central Church in Luling.

Speck Phillips, David Shelley, Bob McGlaun, How-ard Helmers, Clint Parks, Johnny Harris, Herbert Han-cock, Kenneth Kann, Steve Walker and Gary Jones as deacons at First Church in Victoria.

Reagan Dailey, David Dillard, Rob Francis, Margaet Redmon, Joel Snyder, Cathy Walker and Dan Williams as deacons at First Church in Richardson.

Ricky Chatham, Allen Hines and Michael Scribner as deacons at Memorial Church in Baytown.

Alan Horn, Andy Mont-gomery and J.J. Villarreal as deacons at First Church in Temple.

James Pierce and John Martin as deacons at First Church in Center Point.

Tony Hawkins and Dennis Heath as deacons at First Church in Graham.

Erik Fuessel as a deacon at First Church in Belton.

Rob McCulley, Mike Moritz, Brandon Musser, Stephen Puckett, Matthew Reue, Terry Roberts, Bryan Roper, Brett Smith, Ron Upchurch and Tom Yochim as deacons at First Church in Brenham.

Richard Manning and Ben Sims as deacons at Immanuel Church in Paris.

Kenneth Harned as a deacon at Oakalla Church in Lampasas.

Walt Baker, Cecil Smith, R.D. Harris and Wayne Johnson as deacons at Colonial Hills Church in Cedar Hill.

Revivals

Cross Roads Church, Marshall; March 6-9; evangelist, Bob Utley; music, Ken Lassater; pastor, David Rice.

First Church, Hull; March 20-23; evangelists, The McDaniels; pastor, David Pursley.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 3/4/05

Baylor presidential search committee appointed

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

Bill Brian, an attorney and layman at First Baptist Church in Amarillo, will chair an 11-member search committee charged with finding a successor to Baylor University President Robert Sloan.

In January, Sloan announced he and university regents reached an agreement that he would vacate the presidency June 1 to assume the chancellor's role, and the board formalized that transition at its February meeting.

Regents Chairman Will Davis, an Austin attorney, in consultation with Vice Chairman Jim Turner of Dallas, appointed both a search committee–made entirely of regents–and an advisory committee comprised of faculty, alumni, students and other Baylor constituents.

In addition to Brian, other regents on the search committee are Jay Allison of Frisco, Joe Armes of Dallas, Joe Coleman of Houston, Randy Ferguson of Austin, Phil Lineberger, pastor of Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugar Land, Drayton McLane of Temple, David Sibley of Waco and Donell Teaff of Waco. Davis and Turner also will serve on the committee.

“We certainly ask for the prayers of Texas Baptists and for the Baylor family that we will have a clear leading from the Lord in this process,” Brian said.

Lyndon Olson Jr. of Waco, a Baylor alumnus and former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, will chair the advisory committee.

Clyde Glazener, pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth, will represent the Baptist General Convention of Texas on the advisory committee. Glazener is a BGCT past president and a former chair of the BGCT Executive Board.

Other advisory committee members are Baylor Alumni Association President David Malone of Austin; Dianna Vitanza, Baylor Faculty Senate member and associate professor of English; Lynn Tatum, president of the Baylor chapter of the American Association of University Professors and senior lecturer in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core and religion; Thomas Kidd, assistant professor of history; Nathan Wacker, Baylor senior economics major from Sherman and chair of the Student Congress academic affairs committee; Wallace Daniel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and history professor; and Kenneth Carlile, chairman of the Baylor Foundation and Baylor alumnus from Marshall.

In a public statement released by the university, Davis said the search committee's first task is to establish a search protocol and select a presidential search firm to help identify candidates. The first on-campus meeting will include the search committee, the advisory committee and a representative of the search firm. A date has not been set for that meeting.

“I want to publicly thank the individuals who have agreed to serve on these two committees,” Davis said. “We will have the benefit of experienced, knowledgeable people who care deeply about Baylor and are representative of Baylor constituents to guide and advise the board of regents in its search for the university's next leader.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 3/4/05

BGCT will apply for Baptist World Alliance membership

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas will apply for full voting membership in the Baptist World Alliance.

The BGCT Executive Board approved–with only two dissenting votes–a recommendation from the convention's Administrative Committee that the BGCT submit an application for BWA membership.

Historically, full membership in the international fellowship has been limited to national conventions and Baptist unions, but the BWA last year agreed to open its membership to other supportive Baptist bodies.

In January, the BGCT and the Baptist General Association of Virginia cleared one hurdle toward BWA membership when they were admitted as members of the North American Baptist fellowship, one of the BWA's six regional fellowships.

The BWA membership committee will consider applications from the Texas and Virginia state conventions at a March 7 meeting. If that committee recommends approval, Baptists from around the world will vote on membership for the BGCT and the Virginia Baptist convention during the BWA Centenary Congress July 27-31 in Birmingham, England.

The BGCT decision to seek BWA membership comes in the wake of the Southern Baptist Convention's “economic and emotional pullout” from the BWA last year, but it reflects a commitment to the world body that Texas Baptists have had since the BWA's beginning, said Bob Fowler, chairman of the BGCT Administrative Committee.

Messengers to the 1997 BGCT annual meeting in Austin voted for the convention to explore the possibility of the BGCT becoming a member of the BWA as part of a proposal from the convention's Effectiveness & Efficiency Committee.

George Truett and other prominent Texas Baptists were instrumental in founding the BWA 100 years ago, and Texas Baptists long have been involved in BWA-related committees and commissions, BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade said.

The BGCT also has supported BWA-related causes financially. Since 2002, the BGCT has provided $50,000 each year to help fund indigenous church-planting efforts of the European Baptist Federation, one of six regional BWA fellowships. Last year, the BGCT contributed $129,000 to Baptist World Aid relief and development programs through the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger.

In other business, the BGCT Executive Board approved the position of associate executive director/chief operating officer for the convention. The chief operating officer will plan, direct and administer BGCT operations in accordance with the direction, strategy, priorities and policies developed by the executive director and the Executive Board, the newly approved job description said.

Wesley Shotwell of Azle, chairman of a governance committee appointed to draft new bylaws for the BGCT, presented a progress report to the board. He noted the committee is wrestling with definitions for “cooperating” and “affiliated” churches, and it is continuing to struggle with the issues of membership and representation on the Executive Board. The board will consider a final draft of the bylaws at its May 24 meeting.

Ferrell Foster of Texas Baptist Communications contributed to this article

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 3/4/05

Historic gathering reflects Texas Baptist diversity

By Marv Knox

Editor

SAN ANTONIO–A university conference room recently became a kaleidoscope of skin tones during a historic gathering of Texas Baptist leaders.

For the first time, officers of the four major fellowships affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas met together–and with BGCT officers.

BGCT President Albert Reyes convened the meeting at Baptist University of the Americas, where he is president.

Participants in-cluded officers of the African-Amer-ican Baptist Fellow-ship of Texas, the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, the BGCT Intercultural Advi-sory Council and the Texas Baptist Bivocational and Smaller-Member-ship Ministers' and Spouses' Assoc-iation.

Officers of four fellowships affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas met with BGCT officers at Baptist University of the Americas.

The Intercultural Council included leaders from Brazil, Iran, Japan, Laos, Nigeria, the Philippines and Vietnam.

They met with BGCT officers: Reyes, who is Hispanic; First Vice President Michael Bell, an African American; and Second Vice President Stacy Conner, an Anglo. African-American, Anglo and Hispanic BGCT staff members joined them.

“This is a historic occasion,” Reyes told the group. “The sweetness of our fellowship is the diversity that comes together. God blesses the unity of his people.”

And the diversity of Texas Baptists in that room reflects the increasing diversity of their state, he added.

Texas demographer Steve Mur-doch predicts the state's population will grow from about 20 million to 50 million in the next 35 years, Reyes reported. And 96 percent of that growth is expected to be among non-Anglos.

Similarly, Christianity is growing most among non-Anglos, he said, citing the findings of global religion researcher Phillip Jenkins: “By 2050, the Christian center of gravity will firmly shift south of the equator, to South America, Africa and Asia. Only one in five Christians will be non-Latino white.

“If this is true, what is our responsibility? It accentuates even more our responsibility” to transcend racial diversity, he said.

Keeping pace with Texas' diversity is a stimulating challenge, BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade told the group.

“We don't have a handle on all we want to do, but we have our heads pointed in the right direction,” he said. “Forty-eight languages worship God every Sunday in Texas Baptist churches.

“God has smiled on us by making us more aware of the cultural diversity all around us. This is not a burden to us. It is God's blessing. … We need the diversity, the spiritual quality you bring to us.”

The fellowship leaders spent much of the day discussing proposed changes in the BGCT's governance and organizational structure. They particularly focused on ways to increase ethnic and small-church in-volvement in the convention.

“We're going to find ways where we can model being a diverse family,” predicted Lorenzo Peña, coordinator of the BGCT's Associational Missions and Administration Section.

“We are part of the greater Texas Baptist family. Our desire is not just to talk about it, but to express that. We can make a difference in helping the Texas Baptist family embrace diversity.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 3/4/05

Book Reviews

Let Us Break Bread Together By Rami Shapiro and Michael Smith (Paraclete Press)

At dinner tables across America, Christians soon will learn more about their own faith as they participate in an ancient Jewish observance. They will gather for a Passover seder during Holy Week, which begins Palm Sunday, March 20. And they will depart with greater faith and understanding of their heritage.

Michael Smith, a Baptist pastor, and Rami Shapiro, a Jewish rabbi, wrote this book to help Christians celebrate the Passover meal–the original Lord’s Supper shared by Jesus and his disciples the night before he died.

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

Their book is called a haggadah, Hebrew for “The Telling.” It tells participants about the Passover meal, from its beginning among the Hebrew slaves fleeing Egypt to its re-enactment in homes today. As they follow the question-and-answer format, they will learn more about the Jewishness of Jesus and the context of their own faith.

Let Us Break Bread Together will enrich Christians’ appreciation for Passover while giving them a deeper sense of gratitude for Easter.

Marv Knox, editor

Baptist Standard

Dallas

Fundamentalism by Fisher Humphreys and Philip Wise (Smyth & Helwys)

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”–this is the fruit of the Spirit, and also the spirit of the authors in addressing Fundamentalism.

For those of us who have long grown weary of the vicious nature of the “battle for the Bible” in the Southern Baptist Convention since 1979 and of the Fundamentalist-Moderate wars of modern times in general, yet have longed for a fair and gentle treatment of the major issues involved, this book is a godsend. Fisher Humphreys and Philip Wise have written insightful and respectful chapters regarding “generic Fundamentalism,” “original Fundamenta-lism,” “the theology of Fundamentalism,” “the attitudes of Fundamentalism,” “Fundamentalists and Southern Baptists” and “relating to Fundamentalists.”

Writing primarily in order to help non-Fundamentalist Christians “understand Funda-mentalism sympathetically and to respect what is good in it,” the authors accomplish their goal, then proceed to fulfill their major objective by offering, in a concluding chapter, “A Better Way” to live an authentic Christian life.

Randall O’Brien, professor and chair

Department of Religion

Baylor University

Waco

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry (Counterpoint Press)

Jayber Crow is a novel about faith. It brilliantly articulates a story of faith found, faith seemingly lost and ultimately faith that holds us rather than faith we hold.

Berry tells the story of a small-town barber who reflects on the meaning of life as he interacts with the colorful characters of the fictional town of Port William, Ky.

Jayber, orphaned at 10 years of age, takes us along as he struggles to find his identity as a boarding school student until he becomes a Bible college dropout. Unable to find answers to life’s deepest questions, Jayber’s journey leads him back home to become the resident barber, grave digger and church janitor. It is out of these unique responsibilities that Berry reflects his profound insight into human nature and that which is true in the deepest part of ourselves.

Kyle Reese, pastor

First Baptist Church

San Angelo

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

My first reading of this classic work occurred while I was in college; I have since read it many times, always with great spiritual profit and challenge. Bonhoeffer died a martyr’s death in Hitler’s death camps shortly before the fall of Nazi Germany. His life and death incarnated obedience to Christ as the only adequate response to God’s grace. For Bonhoeffer, grace was always costly: costly for God because he gave his only begotten Son for our sins, and costly for the disciple because as, Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Dying to sin and self leaves no room for what Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace.” At Easter, it is good to be reminded of “costly grace” and how that grace stakes an eternal claim upon our lives.

Tommy Brisco, dean

Logsdon School of Theology

Hardin-Simmons University

Abilene

Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context by Glen Stassen and David Gushee

These writers give us a refreshing look at the Sermon on the Mountain that has direct application to the many ethical issues we face today. I was especially encouraged by the centrality of Jesus’ teachings and ministry in the ethical framework recommended by the authors. The reader is challenged to evaluate one’s discipleship in terms of being obedient to the teachings of Jesus.

Javier Elizondo, dean of academic services

Baptist University of the Americas

San Antonio

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 3/4/05

Baptist Briefs

CBF adds staff. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council elected Barbara Baldridge coordinator of global missions and hired Constance McNeill as coordinator of administration for the Fellowship's resource center in Atlanta. Baldridge, 54, was co-coordinator of CBF global missions with her husband, Gary, from 1999 until his retirement Dec. 31. She has been serving as acting coordinator since Jan. 1, and her election as sole coordinator is retroactive to that date. McNeill, 51, was vice president for development and chief operating officer of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City.

Laity Institute names new director. Linda Cross has been elected director of the Texas Baptist Laity Institute by the group's board of directors. Cross has served as vice president of the institute since 2002. She first began working with the Laity Institute in 2000 as a mentor in the pilot program at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. Cross is a graduate of Baylor University with a master's degree in theological ethics. She is a member of Royal Lane Baptist Church of Dallas, where she teaches a Bible study and is a deacon.

Online registration open for SBC. Churches can register messengers to the 2005 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, June 21-22 in Nashville, Tenn., online at the SBC website, www.sbc.net. By registering online, the SBC website gives a church a "messenger reference number" form to be printed out and presented by each messenger at the SBC registration booth in exchange for a nametag and a set of ballots. The appropriate church-authorized representative must complete all online registration. The process includes entering information normally found on the traditional messenger card. Online registration ends at midnight June 18, after which registration must be done at the registration desk beginning at 4 p.m. June 19. Names can be added, edited and deleted up to June 18 as well.

CBF names human rights offering for Carters. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council approved a proposal to name an annual offering, collected at the CBF general assembly, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Offering for Religious Liberty and Human Rights. One-third of the proceeds will go to support human rights and religious liberty programs of the Baptist World Alliance, and the remaining two-thirds will support CBF-related initiatives related to religious liberty or human rights. The former president and first lady are "world citizens" with a passion for religious liberty and human rights, said Walter Shurden of Macon, Ga., chairman of the task force that initiated the proposal. Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize as well as the Baptist World Alliance human rights award, for his human rights work.

Georgia churches seek to join Virginia Baptists. First Baptist Church of Rome, Ga., is considering ending its affiliation with the Georgia Baptist Convention and joining the Baptist General Association of Virginia. And two other North Georgia churches–North Broad Baptist Church of Rome and First Baptist Church of Dalton–are exploring possible links with the Virginia convention. First Baptist of Rome, which ordains women as deacons and supports the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, has increasingly found itself out of step with the conservative Georgia Baptist Convention, which frowns on both. The Virginia convention, however, includes many churches with women deacons and ministers, and it assists congregations that want to channel funds to the CBF. The 1,800-member congregation in Rome, about 75 miles north of Atlanta, will vote on the issue March 13, Pastor Joel Snider said.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.