Posted: 1/21/05

Church prepares to save lives, as well as souls

By George Henson

Staff Writer

RICHARDSON–The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson not only has a plan to save souls, but it also has equipment and trained personnel to save lives.

The church created a medical emergency response team and acquired a defibrillator, not in reaction to any event at the church, but as a proactive measure to make sure the church is prepared to render aid until emergency personnel can arrive, said Executive Pastor John Wills.

The church formed the response team because of desires of laypeople and was not a staff-directed measure, Wills added.

“We have a number of people who are in the hospitals or work with the fire departments as EMTs, and they are very sensitive to the need for this sort of thing,” he said. “They came and said: 'Hello, everyone needs to wake up here. We need to be prepared for this sort of thing.'”

Nancy Viamonte, leader of the response team program, said what happens in those moments before an ambulance arrives is crucial.

“For every minute you lose, there is a 10 percent less chance (a person in a medical emergency) will survive. If it takes 10 minutes to get help, there's a 90 percent chance he's going to die,” said Viamonte, who also is director of the education and leadership center of Richardson Regional Medical Center.

In addition to an automated external defibrillator, the church also has a first aid cart ready to roll to a variety of emergencies. Items on the cart include an oxygen tank and masks for infants, children and adults, CPR mouthshields, protective gloves, a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope, arm slings, a nebulizer machine and assorted first aid materials such as bandages, antibiotic ointment and alcohol wipes.

While 18 response team members alternate being the lead person in the event of an emergency, all the church's greeters and ushers have six hours training in CPR and first aid. That training is repeated periodically to keep the instructions fresh.

“The ushers and greeters were trained because they are out there. They are the eyes and ears. And now with their CPR training, they have the ability to save a life,” she said.

The lead response team member for each service has a pager so he or she can be summoned quickly from anywhere on the church property.

The defibrillator is not the type with the paddles seen most often on television and in hospitals but is a model that straps onto the person's body. It not only has visual pictorial instructions on the instrument, but it also gives vocal instructions. Before a shock is given, it warns everyone to stand back. During CPR, the machine may say, “Make compressions deeper” or, “Go faster.” “It's very user-friendly,” Viamonte said.

A church of virtually any size could set up a similar team, she said.

“The important part is to have a dedicated person in charge of overseeing the program,” she said.

She went on to say that the equipment is not cost-prohibitive.

An automated external defibrillator costs about $2,000, and the rest of the equipment can be purchased for less than $1,000. So, for about $3,000, a church can outfit itself to be prepared for most possibilities, she noted. A church member who works as an emergency medical technician with the Dallas Fire Department donated the defibrillator to The Heights.

“It's a pretty minimal expense to potentially save someone's life,” Wills said.

The Heights Baptist Church will be glad to share its procedures and other information with any church that is interested, Viamonte said. Call (972) 238-7243.

List of equipment needed for emergencies

1)Cart with wheels to keep equipment mobile

2) Communication device to send & receive

3) Defibrillator for adult & children

4) Airways (pedi & adult)

5) Sanicloths to clean equipment

6) Oxygen tank with holder

7) Oxygen masks to deliver oxygen (newborn, pedi, & adult)

8) Alcohol wipes

9) CPR mouth shields

10) Gloves in medium & large sizes

11) Blood pressure cuff & stethoscope (pedi & adult, xlg. cuff

12) Pedi arm slings

13) Nebulizer machine

14) Prevacare with holder on cart

15) First Aid kit: Alcohol wipes Bandages (asst. sizes) Butterfly closures Gauze pads Q-tips Zip-lock bags (for ice packs) Antibiotic ointment Anti-itch cream (hydrocortisone) Sterile eyewash solution Eyewash cup Non-latex gloves

16) Tissues

17) Two towels/face cloths

18) Clipboard & pen

19) Event form

Posted: 1/21/05

Proposed bylaws call for greater non-Anglo representation

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

A committee working on new bylaws for the Baptist General Convention of Texas has agreed to include a provision calling for almost one-third of the organization's principal governing body to be non-Anglo.

“This represents a great step forward and will speak volumes to non-Anglo Baptists that we want to be inclusive of all voices,” said Wesley Shotwell, chairperson of the BGCT Governance Committee and pastor of Ash Creek Baptist Church in Azle.

The Governance Committee approved a plan that calls for 30 percent of BGCT Executive Board members to be non-Anglo. The Executive Board makes convention decisions in the periods between the convention's annual meetings.

In recent years, the BGCT has expanded non-Anglo representation on its boards, commissions and committees. But the 30-percent requirement would be the first specific figure included in a “major governing document,” Shotwell said.

Non-Anglo members now account for about 15 percent of Texas Baptist church members, but the state population is about 50 percent non-Anglo.

“The 30-percent figure reflects both who we are now and a need to reach the broader population of Texas with the message of Christ,” Shotwell said.

To take effect, the bylaws proposal must be approved by the Executive Board and by messengers to this year's annual meeting in Austin, Nov. 14-15.

Writing bylaws is part of a broad reorganization now under way in the BGCT. Messengers to the 2004 annual meeting last fall in San Antonio approved a proposed constitution. That constitution must be approved on a second reading at this year's annual meeting before it can be implemented.

Convention leaders have promised details about the proposed reorganization would be developed and communicated well in advance of the Austin meeting. The bylaws will contain many of those details and are expected to be presented for Executive Board response in March and for final board consideration in May. If approved at that meeting, they will be considered by BGCT messengers at the annual meeting in Austin.

Racial and ethnic representation on the Executive Board had been a key issue about which Texas Baptists sought details.

Another issue of concern is the status of the Christian Life Commission, which focuses on ethics and religious liberty on behalf of the convention.

The Governance Committee identified two issues regarding the future of the convention's ethics ministry–what to name it and how it will function in the new organization, Shotwell said.

“The committee unanimously affirmed protecting the prophetic role of the ethics ministry,” Shotwell said.

Traditionally, the Christian Life Commission has spoken to Texas Baptists and not for them. This has enabled commission members to challenge Texas Baptists on various ethical issues when popular opinion might not have allowed such a position. BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade cited the commission's leadership on racial issues in past decades as one example.

Under the proposed constitution, the ethics ministry's connection to the Executive Board is tightened. Some Texas Baptists have expressed concern that this move may compromise the ministry's freedom to speak on unpopular issues.

The Governance Committee, however, approved language in the bylaws that participants said would protect the ministry's traditional role as a prophetic voice, Shotwell said.

A decision on what to call the ministry must wait a few weeks until objective information can be gathered, he said. “We are going to do a scientific study of the most effective name for this ministry.”

The two names under consideration are Christian Life Council and Christian Life Commission, Shotwell said.

The “council” language more effectively connects with the new governance structure, but some Texas Baptists believe the current “commission” name should be kept because of its familiarity around the state and its history of effective ministry, he said.

A professional polling firm will conduct a random survey of Texas Baptists, state government representatives and others.

“This will give us objective, accurate data on which to make our decision regarding the name of this important and visible ministry,” Shotwell said.

The committee worked through more than half of the proposed bylaws during the mid-January meeting, he said. The panel meets again Jan. 24.

Posted: 1/21/05

Around the State

Youth across America will use Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 6, to collect money to help hungry and hurting people in their communities through Souper Bowl of Caring. In addition, many groups will collect money to provide aid for the tsunami and earthquake victims in Southern Asia. Youth collect money in large soup pots and then donate the funds to a charity in their community to help people living in poverty. In 2004, 12,750 groups collected more than $4 million for soup kitchens, food banks and other charities. To learn more, call (800) 358-7687 or go to www.souperbowl.org.

Hardin-Simmons Univer-sity's Logsdon School of Theology will hold a special missions emphasis Feb. 10. Denton Lotz, executive director of the Baptist World Alliance, will speak at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. He also will give a brief response at 2:45 p.m. and take part in a panel discussion at 3:45 p.m. Don Sewell of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Stan Parks of WorldconneX and Dellanna O'Brien of Woman's Missionary Union will share their vision of partnering with BWA. There is no cost for the luncheon, but reservations must be made by calling (325) 670-1287.

A group of fourth-to-sixth grade children from The Heights Church in Richardson recently took toiletry items and gift bags to God's Food Pantry in Plano. The children also spent several hours packaging individual portions of food staples such as rice, beans and flour. The community outreach project was part of the church's Boot Camp program which meets on Wednesday evenings to teach basics of Christian living.

Diana Garland has been named the first dean of the School of Social Work at Baylor University. Currently chair of social work, she will begin her term as dean in August. Wallace Daniel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will step down in May after nine years as head of Baylor's largest academic unit to return to research and teaching, as will Robert Yinger, dean of the School of Education the past seven years. David Garland has resigned as associate dean of academic affairs at George Truett Theology Seminary after serving in that capacity since 2001.

Dallas Baptist University will hold its Patriot Weekend for prospective students and their families Feb. 11-12. The cost for students for the weekend is $25 and includes lodging and meals, as well as meals for their parents. For more information, call (214) 333-5360.

Alvin Petty, pastor of Calvary Church in Friona, will teach a class at Clovis Community College titled “The Jesus of the DaVinci Code.” The class will be held Feb. 14, 21 and 28 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call (505) 769-4760.

Houston Baptist University will hold an open house Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. for prospective students and their families. For more information, call (281) 649-3211.

The 84th Annual Panhan-dle-Plains Pastors' and Laymen's Conference will be held Feb. 21-22 at Wayland Baptist Univer-sity. Featured speakers will be Chris Seay, pastor of Ecclesia in Houston; Joel Gregory, author, preaching professor and former pastor; Jesse Rincones, pastor of Alliance Church in Lubbock; Ed Seay, pastor of First Church in Magnolia; and Tommy Brisco, dean of Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. For more information or to register, call (806) 291-1165.

The first doctoral graduates in Hardin-Simmons University's history recently received their degrees. Eleven students earned the doctor of physical therapy degree including Shireen Azeemuddin, Jeff Borcik, Melissa Brown, Jonathan Conrad, Alice Fahmy, Jennifer Garard, Lindsey Henson, Bradley Hicks, April Maine, Annabell Montoya and Holly Wilson.

Shirley Walker, associate professor of social work at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, has published a book, Women Without Children, Who Are They? A Life Journey. The book, based on a research study she conducted, discusses women who chose to be childless and women who are childless for other reasons. The book sheds light on common societal assumptions, stereotypes and generalizations about childlessness and provides deeper understanding of the needs, concerns and issues affecting childless women.

Ray Denson has been named the recipient of the 2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award at Houston Baptist University. Also honored was Monica Hodges, who received the Meritorious Service Alumnus Award.

Ronald Hardin has been named chairman of the board of trustees at Howard Payne University. The retired insurance executive has been first vice chairman the past two years and has completed seven years as a trustee. He is a member of First Church in Wichita Falls.

Dan Williams, founding president of the Texas Baptist Laity Institute in Dallas, has joined Generis Partners in Atlanta, Ga., as a stewardship strategist.

Anniversaries

Randall Perry, fifth, as pastor of First Church in Paris, Jan. 1.

Pedro Hernandez, fifth, as pastor of Iglesia Rios de Agua Viva in Lubbock, Jan. 1.

Bob Dellinger, fifth, as associate pastor of youth at Tabernacle Church in Ennis, Jan. 2.

Jackie Gestes, fifth, as pastor of New Horizon Church in Lubbock, Jan. 2.

Carrol Williams, 20th, as associate pastor for education at First Church in Huntsville, Jan. 27.

Randy Johnson, 20th, youth minister at First Church in Richardson. He also is celebrating 30 years in youth ministry. The church will hold a reception in his honor Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Rob Merriman, fifth, as university minister at First Church in Denton.

Darrell Opper, 15th, as minister of music at Indian Hills Church in Grand Prairie.

Robert Davenport, fifth, as pastor of Mount Sylvan Church in Mount Sylvan, Feb. 1.

Retiring

Norm Rushing, as pastor of Community Church in Riviera. He served the Riviera church more than 17 years and was in the ministry 52 years. He also served churches in Brownsville, Coyonosa, Seminole and Realitos, where he was pastor of Bethany Church 11 years.

H.G. Barnard, as pastor of Elmdale Church in Abilene, Jan. 1. He served the Abilene church 14 years and was in the ministry 35 years.

Deaths

Phil Shelton, 63, Dec. 22 in Lubbock. A retired pastor, he was killed while helping a stranded motorist. He was in the Air Force more than 22 years, serving many of those years as a bivocational pastor. He entered full-time ministry following his military tenure, serving Prairie Valley Church in Campbell, among others. He is survived by his wife, Karen; daughter, Lori Kelley; son, Kevin; sisters, Patricia Gaw, Charlene Hardy, Jimmie Bailey and Jerry Summers; and six grandchildren.

Grayson Tennison, 80, Dec. 31, in Fort Worth. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Seminary, he went to Brazil in 1949 as an appointee of the Foreign Mission Board. He transferred to Portugal in 1960. From 1976 until 1983, he was pastor of First Church in Jacksboro. He then returned to Portugal until his retirement in 1989. He was preceded in death by one brother. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty; sons, Gene and James; daughter, Laura Law; eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; brothers, Clifton, C.E. and Ike; and sister, Ramona Akins.

Jack Gray, 89, Jan. 7 in Fort Worth. Gray was professor of missions emeritus at Southwestern Seminary. Prior to his seminary service, he was pastor at several small Oklahoma churches and then served in the U.S. Navy as a chaplain. After receiving his doctorate from Southern Seminary and serving churches in Oklahoma and Missouri as pastor, he joined the South-western faculty in 1956. He served there 28 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie. He is survived by his daughters, Noralyn Carpenter and Kristen Desbien; and one granddaughter.

Gerald Riddell, 89, Jan. 12 in Houston. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Seminary, he was a minister 67 years. He was pastor of churches in Texas and Mississippi until he and his wife, Virgie, were appointed as missionaries by the Foreign Mission Board. They served 36 years in Colombia, Chile and Bolivia. Following retirement, he was on staff at Hyde Park Church in Austin, and then was pastor of Simonton Community Church in Simonton and Pattison Church in Pattison. He was preceded in death by his wife, his son, Jerry, and his twin sister, Geraldine. He is survived by his sons, John, Jim and Joe; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Ronald Prince, 82, Jan. 15 in Tyler. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Seminary, he was pastor of several churches, including First Church in Denison, First Church in Paris, First Church in Cleburne and University Church in Abilene. He served in leadership roles at HPU, the Baptist General Con- vention of Texas and the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He also conducted crusades in Panama, the Philippines and Australia at the invitation of the Home Mission Board. Upon retirement in 1987, he became a member of First Church in Tyler. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Joye. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Roberta; son, Ronald; brother, Harry; sister, Evelyn; one granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.

Events

The Southeast Texas Bap-tist United Bible Conference will be held March 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Calvary Church in Beaumont. For more information on the cross-cultural and cross-racial event, call (409) 898-8797.

First Church in Anson is taking prepublication orders of a book about its history in preparation for the church's 125th anniversary in May. The cost for the 325-page book is $27, plus $5 shipping. Orders must be recieved by Feb. 15. To order, call (325) 823-3681.

Posted: 1/21/05

Baylor University files suit against former student

Baylor University has filed a lawsuit against a former Truett Theological Seminary student who is accused of sending lewd e-mails to employees and their families and fictitious news releases about the school to media outlets.

The Waco Tribune-Herald reported the university filed a suit in state district court, alleging Matthew Bass sent more than 1,000 e-mails containing pornographic images and messages to school personnel.

The university also obtained a restraining order against Bass, prohibiting him from sending any e-mails to Baylor officials and their families.

Bass could not be reached for comment. In the lawsuit, Baylor asks for unspecified damages caused by the e-mails, as well as reimbursement for costs incurred from efforts to track and limit the e-mails.

Bass, 25, lost his scholarship to Truett Seminary when school officials discovered he had told friends he is a homosexual.

The seminary sent him a letter in late 2003 saying his scholarship was revoked because a homosexual lifestyle is inconsistent with the seminary's standards.

At the time, Bass said he left because he could no longer afford the tuition without the scholarship aid.

He later moved to Georgia to attend Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta.

Posted: 1/21/05

Book Reviews

The Church of Irresistible Influence

by Robert Lewis (Zondervan)

Robert Lewis is pastor of a church in Little Rock, Ark., that several years ago would have been called “successful” by many.

However, an internal and external survey revealed a different picture. Many members of the church reported stagnated spiritual growth. Residents of the community around the church said the church did not seem to care for them and the church was pretty irrelevant to their lives. Plus, the community survey uncovered major problems and hurts within the shadow of the church building.

The Church of Irresistible Influence is the story of how this Arkansas congregation began to see itself as a bridge builder to its community and how that has revitalized and helped to transform a community by the demonstrated love of Jesus.

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

This is a fascinating, very specific, at times convicting, and ultimately hopeful story of how churches that are focused on maintenance can refocus on mission.

Bill Blackburn, president

Partners in Ministry, Kerrville

Border People: Life and Society in the U.S.–Mexico Borderlands
by Oscar J. Martinez (University of Tucson Press)

Serving as a church planter in the largest borderplex in the world–El Paso-Juarez–created in me a thirst for greater understanding of the complexity and beauty of the border. In 1992, El Paso was Texas' fourth-largest city, with more than 70 percent of the population comprised of Hispanics and a Texas Baptist church-to-population ratio of 1:21,000. Border People helped me to see the Texas borderlands as a potential missions-sending base for the Muslim-dominated 10/40 Window. The information found in part one, “The Border Phenomenon,” is probably the most valuable section of the book. Martinez provides a helpful history of the borderlands, a unique perspective of the borderlands in global context and a borderlands typology useful for those interested in an orientation to and ministry on the border. He presents the good, the bad and the ugly of the border. This insightful, seminal and comprehensive orientation to the border is a basic primer for those serious about being the presence of Christ in the poorest and most needy region of our state.

Albert Reyes, president

Baptist General Convention of Texas

San Antonio

The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken about Pastoral Transitions
by Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree (Jossey-Bass)

The Elephant in the Boardroom addresses pastoral transition, the inevitable event that few churches or pastors discuss openly prior to its occurrence. The lack of open acknowledgement of this reality in church life leads to many poorly managed leadership transitions, which are costly to churches in both dollars and ministry. The authors build their case for strategic planning on biblical foundations, particularly Jesus' example. They identify the five key players in a successful leadership transition and define their roles. The description of four types of church cultures provides great insight, in general, for understanding the relationship dynamics within churches and, specifically, for pastoral transitions. The discussion of health-based versus illness-based transitions is valuable, as is the congregational “capability and maturity” measurement model.

Due to the generic nature of this book, some terms may not be familiar to Baptists. At times, it is confusing which “key players” the authors are addressing. However, I would recommend this book to all pastors and church leaders because of the valuable information it contains and the difficulties I have observed in Baptist churches related to pastoral transitions.

Margaret Hunt Rice,
director of student development & regional outreach

University of Houston-Victoria

Baptist Temple Church, Victoria

The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church
by Reggie McNeal

“I am reading this book in search for answers that bring direction to those who lack spiritual purpose and missional vitality. The tough questions asked in this book are challenging me while living in the present to approach the future with new ideas, new vision and new resolve.”

Nelda Taylor-Thiede, president

Woman's Missionary Union of Texas

Gonzales

40 Days to Freedom: Totally Transformed in Christ

by Bill, Anabel and Preston Gillham

“This 40-day devotional guide contains very practical, easy-to-apply biblical truths and the author's personal experiences to help the reader gain a fuller insight into a life of freedom in Christ. It challenged me to evaluate areas in my life that are 'shackled in my old ways' and to see how Christ proclaims freedom for the captives. The book helped me apply God's promise of 'total transformation in Christ' to my everyday life.”

Kevin Walker, immediate past president

Texas Baptist Men

Fort Worth

One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich
by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

“I picked up this little paperback of a classic on a sale table at Baylor University recently. As I reread it, I sensed the power of a faithful witness. The Soviet Union could not stand once the truth began to leak out. Solzhenitsyn tells in brutal detail the agonies of the Soviet prison system. Men were beaten senseless in order to make them sign 'confessions.' Baptists were sentenced to 25 years for their faith alone. In this journal of one day's experience in a wintry, cold prison, you will feel the cold, the hunger, the fear and then experience with Ivan Denisovich gratitude for small things.”

Charles R. Wade, executive director

Baptist General Convention of Texas

Dallas

Posted: 1/21/05

Baptist Briefs

Former Sunday School Board president's wife dies. Bettye Cothen died of Parkinson's disease in Miami, Fla., at age 83. A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., she was the wife of Grady Cothen, former president of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board. They were married 63 years. She was a former member of the board of trustees at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif. In addition to her husband, Cothen is survived by two daughters, Carole Shields of Westbrook of Miami and Mary Thompson of San Antonio; a son Grady Jr. of Cheverly, Md; nine grandchildren and 11 great- grandchildren.

Southwestern names recruitment director. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has named James Caldwell of Heath, Ohio, as recruitment director both for the seminary and its undergraduate college, which is scheduled to begin classes in the fall. Caldwell also has been named to the newly created post of seminary minister of worship to oversee music and worship during chapel services. Caldwell has served 25 years as a pastor, minister of music and youth minister at churches in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Virginia.

Retired Southern Baptist educator dies. Longtime Southern Baptist educator and denominational leader Arthur Walker died Jan. 14 at his home in Birmingham, Ala., at age 78. Walker served as the executive director of two SBC agencies–the Education Commission and the Commission on the American Baptist Theological Seminary. He held both positions from 1978 until his retirement in 1993. Both entities were dissolved in the mid-1990s under the SBC's restructuring plan. Earlier in his career, he served at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., first as dean of students and later as vice president for student affairs. Following retirement, Walker returned to his native Birmingham and taught part-time at Samford University for several years. Survivors include his wife, Gladys; a daughter, Marcia Walker Hamby; a son-in-law, Pat Hamby; and three grandchildren, all of Birmingham; brothers Roy and Jimmy Walker, and a sister-in-law, Rochelle Walker.

Warren writes purpose-driven column for women's magazine. Southern Baptist pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren will write a monthly column for Ladies' Home Journal. The column, which debuts in the February issue, will be called "Purpose" and will address topics of spirituality and the search for meaning among American women and their families. The 121-year old magazine has a circulation of 4.1 million. Warren is founding pastor of the 20,000-member Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., south of Los Angeles. In the last two years, his book, The Purpose Driven Life, has sold 21 million copies and been a mainstay on numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times, where it has been No.1 during 25 weeks.

Graham, Warren ranked tops among influential leaders. Evangelist Billy Graham and innovative Baptist pastor Rick Warren hold the top two spots on a list of leaders who pastors say have the greatest influence on churches, a survey by The Barna Group revealed. Barna asked pastors to name three individuals whom they believe have the greatest influence on churches and church leaders in America. Graham was chosen by 34 percent of respondents, and Warren, author of the best-selling The Purpose Driven Life, was the choice of 26 percent. The December survey was based on telephone interviews with 614 senior pastors from various Protestant denominations.

Posted: 1/21/05

Posted: 1/21/05

2ND OPINION:
Taking a risk with God for women in ministry

by Roger Olsen

I surprise students by telling them I have belonged to two churches pastored by women–one in Minnesota and one now in Waco.

For approximately seven years, our family's pastor has been a woman. Then I say: “Don't get me wrong; we don't have anything against men in ministry. If God calls a man to preach, who are we to oppose that?” That always elicits a nervous chuckle from most students; a few women students are especially tickled by the joke. And, of course, it is said facetiously.

By far the majority of pastors are and probably always will be men. However, more churches and denominations–including evangelical ones–are becoming receptive to women in the pulpit and behind the door marked “Pastor.”

Occasionally, a well-meaning person will ask me when I became liberal and began believing in women pastors. I surprise them as well. That never happened. I grew up in a very conservative denomination that ordains women to ministry; both my birth mother (who died when I was a child) and my stepmother were licensed ministers. The denomination ordained many women who planted churches, preached revivals and pastored. I first encountered strong opposition to women's ordination and pastoral leadership in seminary and never heard arguments convincing enough to change my mind.

The organization Christians for Biblical Equality explains the biblical basis for women's ordination and for women as pastors. (See www.cbeinternational.org) Evangelical theologians Stanley Grenz and Denise Kjesbo wrote a book that convincingly argues for full equality of women with men in church, family and society, Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry.

I find that many Christians–including some Baptists–have accepted full equality of women with men in ministry but have yet to be open to a woman pastor. They say, “I just don't think I could sit under a woman's ministry.” When asked why, they often appeal to comfort level and culture: “It would just feel so odd to me” and “It's a cultural thing.” I would like to help such people with my own testimony (and speaking for my whole family) about our experiences with two women pastors.

Many people are surprised to hear that neither woman Baptist pastor is an ideological feminist. Of course, both believe that men and women share full equality in every area of life, but neither uses the pulpit as a platform to promote a feminist agenda of inclusive God-talk or reverse discrimination that implies women are superior to men. Both joyfully work side-by-side with male colleagues. Neither Penny Zettler (our pastor in Minnesota) nor Julie Pennington-Russell (our pastor in Texas) has a chip on her shoulder. Both have experienced rejection due to their gender, but neither is angry about it.

At both Elim Baptist Church in Minneapolis and Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, one hears men and women saying, “You know, I didn't know how I'd feel about having a woman pastor, but now I wouldn't trade her for anyone.” Pastor Penny's husband is a lay partner in her ministry and actively involved in the church even though his profession is computer programming. Coincidently, Pastor Julie's husband also works with computers and is as active in the church as any layperson. Both take ribbing about being “the pastor's husband” with good humor. Their congregations love them as couples, but the women lead in the church. And that's perfectly all right with these traditional Baptist congregations.

Most importantly, our family found these women pastors to be models of sound biblical preaching that touches the hearts of their congregations with notes of personal application. Pastor Penny's style is narrative; Pastor Julie's is topical. Both successfully relate the biblical text to everyday life with humor, stories, self-disclosure and conviction. I have personally never sat under any pastor who more genuinely “comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable” than these two women pastors.

Some of my best seminary students are women called by God to pastor churches. And yet they often run into a cultural wall of opposition as they seek churches in which to minister. I urge them to be patient, but my heart grieves for them and for the churches that could be benefiting from their pastoral leadership just as Elim and Calvary are benefiting from their female pastors.

To those Baptists and other Christians who are open-minded to women in ministry but who still have personal and cultural qualms, I say, “Give a woman a chance; you may be very pleasantly surprised as my family and I have been.”

If we never take risks, nothing ever changes. God is calling women into his service, but he depends on us to give them opportunities to serve. Let's set aside our personal qualms and cultural hangups and give God-called women a chance to lead, just as they have been leading both women and men on mission fields for centuries.

Roger Olson is professor of theology at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Posted: 1/21/05

Texas Cooperative Program 2004 receipts top budget

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Texas Cooperative Pro-gram receipts in 2004 exceeded budget for the first time in five years, said David Nabors, chief financial officer for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The BGCT's end-of-year financial report also noted increased giving to each of five special missions offerings.

Texas Baptist churches gave $39.86 million through Texas CP last year. The budget called for $39.77 million.

Compared to the previous year, Texas CP giving declined by less than a percentage point, with $40.16 million given in 2003.

The 2004 budget represented a more realistic expectation of receipts based on economic conditions, Nabors said. Also, while total receipts climbed, churches allocated more of their gifts to dedicated causes, which are in addition to Cooperative Program receipts.

Texas Cooperative Program giving is a portion of overall Cooperative Program giving, which includes funds forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention and other worldwide ministries. Total Cooperative Program receipts dropped 2.7 percent to $55.98 million in 2004 from $57.53 million in 2003.

Designated offering receipts for missions climbed 6.08 percent, with Texas Baptists giving $22.9 million to special missions and hunger causes.

Texas Baptists gave $4.8 million through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions–a 7 percent increase over 2003 giving.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions Offering experienced the highest percentage increase of the five offerings, with an 8.32 percent hike in giving to top $1 million.

Texas Baptists gave $11.6 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. It marked the largest dollar-amount increase of any of the designated offerings, with BGCT churches giving $731,471 more in 2004 than in the previous year.

The Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger had a 6.67 percent increase, with $764,714 given to aid a variety of hunger relief efforts around the world. The BGCT partners with the Baptist World Alliance in many of the projects.

Texas Baptists' giving to the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions climbed 3.07 percent, with $4.73 million given toward the offering of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.

BGCT churches determine how their Cooperative Program giving is divided between BGCT and worldwide ministries. In 2004, those choices resulted in 71.2 percent of Cooperative Program dollars going to the BGCT and 28.8 being sent to worldwide causes.

Of the money going to worldwide causes, $14.03 million was sent to the SBC and $2.08 million went to other efforts, including $1.15 million for the CBF.

While churches choose between giving approaches, the BGCT Adopted Budget Plan is approved at the annual meeting and recommended to churches. Under that plan, 79 percent of gifts stays in Texas and 21 percent goes to worldwide efforts. In 2004, 36.4 of total BGCT Cooperative Program gifts came through the Adopted Plan, up from 34.3 percent in 2003.

Posted: 1/21/05

CYBERCOLUMN:
Ordinary men

By Berry D. Simpson

Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time with the disciples of Jesus. At church, in my adult Bible study class, I’ve been teaching from the Gospel of Luke. In the Community Bible Study that Cyndi and I are doing together, we’re studying the Gospel of John. I keep mixing the two gospels in my head, telling stories from one when thinking about the other.

I remember in my younger days when I first started reading the Bible on my own (it was a “Reach Out” copy of the Living New Testament), I saw the 12 apostles as larger-than-life heroes. They were brave men who left their families and careers behind to follow Jesus and then literally changed the world by sharing the gospel of Christ and establishing churches and writing their accounts.

Later, I begin to think of them as bumblers, who never understood the points Jesus was trying to teach, who time after time were shocked at the miracles of Jesus even when experiencing miracle after miracle month after month, who thought mostly of themselves and who slept through prayer meetings. In fact, among certain circles and certain discussions, it was fashionable to make fun of these guys, as in, “They were 12 simple, ordinary goofballs who were transformed by Jesus.”

Nowadays, I am changing my mind about the disciples once again. I see them as fellow travelers, working their way down the same road I am. Simple men looking for answers, just like me.

Just because they saw Jesus do amazing miracles, they still were surprised each time. Some miracles were just too big to expect, and we place an impossible burden on them when we wonder why they were surprised. For example, how could they have anticipated Jesus would stop a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee? Even though they had walked with Jesus for many months and watched him do miraculous things over and over, stopping a storm caught them absolutely by surprise. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him.”

But I doubt Jesus and his disciples had perfect weather during the rest of their travels. I am sure they got burned by the sun, blasted by the wind, soaked from the rain and spent many cold nights alongside the road. They lived through harsh weather day-in and day-out like everyone around them did, and so they had no reason to expect special treatment when caught in a storm on the lake. Why would they anticipate Jesus would stop this one after they’d suffered through so many others?

And just not long ago, I was reading another story about the time when Jesus fed 5,000 men (and their families—probably 20,000 people) from only two small fish and five pieces of bread. But first, he told the disciples to feed the crowd—a request that really set them back since they had no idea how to feed so many people. They did not have enough money to buy so much food and not enough heart to pray for a miracle. (I wonder why none of those 5,000 men brought their own lunch? What were they thinking, bringing their wives and kids out without lunch?)

At first reading, I wondered why the disciples were surprised at Jesus’ ability to create food and feed so many people after all they’d seen him do. But we have no record that he’d ever done such a thing before. Jesus didn’t just reach into his pocket and pull out food whenever they were hungry. No, they solved their hunger through normal methods. They bought it, or gleaned it from a nearby field, or shared it. Why would they expect Jesus to solve the problem of 20,000 hungry people any differently?

I guess the reason I am going on and on about this is because I believe the disciples were normal, ordinary men just like me. They were “on target” with Jesus one moment and “off target” the next. Just when they got settled and comfortable with Jesus, he would do something to put them off balance. I think their entire time with Jesus was like this over and over: “Wow, this is bigger than I thought!”

Because I can only understand these men through my own experiences, I view them through the same lens I see myself. When I was young, I was a hero of discipleship, out to change the world; then I felt like a goofball stumbling my way through life; and now I think of myself as a guy who searches daily for God but is constantly caught off balance with the realization that this world, this life, this spiritual realm, this Jesus is way bigger than I thought.

My eyes get opened wider and wider, over and over, time after time.

Berry Simpson, a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Midland, is a petroleum engineer, writer, runner and member of the city council in Midland.

Posted: 1/21/05

DOWN HOME:
Thoroughly modern trip to the museum

If Molly and I appear more cultured these days, it's because we're more cultured these days.

Before my youngest daughter sped into her final semester of high school, she and I spent an afternoon with her cousin/my nephew Brian at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Even if it didn't house a stick of art (“stick” being a not-too-strange substitute for some of this art), The Modern would be worth the trip. Its broad, open spaces and glass walls construct an architectural metaphor for the building's sunny, optimistic hometown. Three parallel wings jut into a reflecting pool, so the building seems to float on a placid sea. Could Cowtown be heaven? Well … yeah.

But then there's the art.

Since Molly, Brian and I are relatively normal people who don't have Ph.D.s in art history, The Modern's collection prompted us to talk about what comprises “art.”

At first, Brian insisted modern artists must know and understand all the rules of classical art so that when they break those rules, their defiance of convention has specific meaning. Later, we saw a long fluorescent lightbulb bolted to the wall at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Wordlessly, I looked at Brian. “I take it back,” he said.

Since I think life should have significance, I was always trying to interpret the theological and philosophical meaning of the pieces. For example, I loved the irony of Anselm Kiefer's Book with Wings, which is exactly what the title says, except the book and wings are both lead and must weigh a ton. And I appreciated the yearning and futility of the rickety 36-foot scaled-to-infinity Ladder for Booker T. Washington crafted by Martin Puryear.

Eventually, even Brian, who's working on a master's degree in philosophy of religion, got tired of my musings, and I kept them to myself. (But I'll tell you, if you can sit and absorb Keifer's Aschenblume and not feel the pain of the Holocaust or watch Bill Viola's moody film The Greeting and not wonder what those women are talking about, you haven't got a soul.)

Still, some of this stuff I just plain didn't get, like Green Piece, by Jackie Winsor, which looks for all the world like a light-green beehive.

We all enjoyed Ulrich Ruckriem's Untitled (a popular title for scads of modern art), a huge cube of Texas red granite. The best part was the explanation. When a truck driver delivered the stone to Ruckriem's studio, the artist was so moved by its beauty he couldn't work for months.

“There you go, Daddy,” Molly urged. “You should just tell the board of the Baptist Standard, 'I'm so moved by the beauty of my new computer, I'm going to have to take the next six months off!'”

Maybe the Lord's calling me to be a sculptor. Or maybe not. Our trip to The Modern reminded me I don't have the eye to produce art.

But it also reminded me that we–especially Christians–should recognize the beauty that occurs in our world, the beauty that inspires artists. And we should praise God, from whom all beauty flows.

— Marv Knox

Posted: 1/21/05

EDITORIAL:
We can't wait for immigration reform

Try to imagine a long-term issue as vital to the future of Texas–and, not coincidentally, the United States–as immigration. OK; health care and education. But both of those big-ticket items will be impacted in one way or another by how well we solve our immigration crisis.

A package of articles in this issue of the Standard paints a face on immigration in Texas. The sheer numbers seem incomprehensible: More than 1 million residents of our state–about one in 20 people–are undocumented. In the harshest language, they're illegal aliens. That term, “illegal alien,” sounds more like a creature from a sci-fi movie than the person who eats at the next table in the coffee shop, the child who sits next to your son or daughter in homeroom, the fellow who mows your neighbor's yard or the believer who receives the Lord's Supper with you on Sunday morning.

Segregated as we tend to be, most non-Hispanic Texans rarely, if ever, worship with undocumented workers and their children. But they are here, in Texas churches. They're sisters and brothers in Christ, like Ernesto and Maria, whose story is told elsewhere in our paper. Read about them (click here), and then come back. …

Did you resonate with their longing, old as parenthood, to help their child fulfill her promise? Did you discern desperation that roused a man to risk his life for a better one? Did you sense the pain of two years between hugs and kisses? Did you feel kinship with fellow Baptists?

Hispanic Texas Baptists have felt all this, and more. That's why a Hispanic Baptist pastor prompted the Baptist General Convention of Texas to form an immigration task force. Out of that group's work, both the BGCT and the Hispanic Baptist Convencion of Texas have passed resolutions urging ministry to and justice for immigrants.

“The allure of freedom and the possibility of prosperity are in the hearts of all people,” the Convencion resolution asserts. Both resolutions note, “People are constantly leaving their homelands at great personal costs to seek freedom and prosperity, and … Texas has become the leading receptor of undocumented immigrants.”

The BGCT resolution points out the immigration system “unintentionally provides incentives for human smuggling and other exploitation.” It also says undocumented workers do not receive the protection of labor laws and are not even known to government regulatory agencies.

Both conventions stress, “The Bible teaches and the ministry of Jesus instructs that believers are to minister to the 'alien' and the 'stranger' in the land.” They also note churches do not violate any laws when they meet the basic needs of undocumented immigrants. They both call for ministry to immigrants “through prayer and action.”

The BGCT declares that the convention speaks “forcefully and clearly in opposition to systems that keep contributing workers in the shadows, deny security to our borders and hinder the search for freedom and prosperity.” Convencion goes further. It opposes “the current immigration system that hinders the search for freedom and prosperity,” and it calls for “the adoption of new legislation that would unshackle the immigrant.”

The conventions have powerful allies. President Bush told The Washington Times immigration reform will be a high priority for this session of Congress. He has proposed temporary work visas for foreign workers–however they entered the country–as long as U.S. citizens can't or won't take the jobs. It's not “instant citizenship,” but it provides for order, security, justice and possibility in the immigration system. Texas Sen. John Cornyn has been named chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, and he will promote the president's plan. Texas Gov. Rick Perry also has advocated immigration reform, and he should push the Texas Legislature.

Some Texans oppose any steps they believe would make immigration easier. They–and we–need to think:

Biblically. God's command to care for the immigrant and the outsider is a dominant theme of the Old Testament. And Jesus says our love for him will be measured by how we treat “the least of these.” If immigrants aren't among them, you don't know “least.”

Historically. At one time or another, we all were immigrants. Who are we to deny “the allure of freedom and the possibility of prosperity” that beats in the hearts of others?

Economically. If your only bottom line is the bottom line, recognize immigrants have been the engine of our economic growth. Thank them for taking hard jobs.

This issue won't go away. As religion researcher Phillip Jenkins (The Next Christendom) notes, global migration will redefine social, political, educational and religious realities.

So, keep on the lookout, and urge Texas Baptists, Congress and the Legislature to do right by immigrants.

Marv Knox is editor of the Baptist Standard