Evangelicals oppose gay marriage, but not a ‘litmus test’_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Evangelicals oppose gay marriage, but not a 'litmus test'

By Rob Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–A landmark study of American evangelical Christians released this month determined, among several findings, that evangelicals oppose gay marriage but are lukewarm in their support for a constitutional amendment to ban it.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Ministers use high-tech tools to capture attention of media-savvy children_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Ministers use high-tech tools to capture
attention of media-savvy children

By Barbara Neff

Religion News Service

GRAYSLAKE, Ill. (RNS)– Six years ago, Dan Huffman abandoned his lucrative career as a software development consultant to become a full-time youth minister.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texas Baptist Forum_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM
Baptists & Pentecostals

“What can Baptists learn from Pentecostals, and what can Pentecostals learn from Baptists?” asks Professor Roger Olson of Truett Theological Seminary (April 5).

While I respect Christians who are Pentecostals and have friends among them, I cannot find much common ground with them doctrinally.

Baptists can teach Pentecostals that salvation is by grace, and if by grace then not of works (Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8-9). Since salvation is by grace, the correlating doctrine is “once saved, always saved” (John 10:27-30). Pentecostals claim these doctrines are dangerous and even heretical.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Learn power of speech and silence, Gordon urges students_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Learn power of speech and silence, Gordon urges students

By Marv Knox

Editor

ABILENE–Christians fight because they don't understand the “power and poison” of both speech and silence, Carolyn Gordon told participants at Logsdon School of Theology's Maston Christian Ethics Lectures.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Louisiana College considers textbook policy_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Louisiana College considers textbook policy

PINEVILLE, La. (ABP)–Louisiana College trustees, whose December decision to screen all classroom materials was criticized as a violation of academic freedom, will consider an even stricter textbook policy when they meet this month.

Trustee Leon Hyatt is proposing a policy that would bring the college–and specifically classroom materials–in line with “the principle that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible word of God.”

The policy also would prohibit any “approval or portrayal of profanity, sexual activity outside of marriage, homosexuality, pornography or other illicit sexual expressions.”

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

BGCT, Hardin-Simmons acquire noted historian’s books, notes, manuscripts_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

BGCT, Hardin-Simmons acquire
noted historian's books, notes, manuscripts

Hardin-Simmons University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas have acquired rare books, manuscripts, notes and other materials on Baptist heritage gathered by Texas Baptist historian Leon McBeth.

“I am pleased that this collection of materials that represents a large part of my life's work will be available for use in the years to come,” said McBeth, who recently retired as distinguished professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

The entire "general inventory" of the extensive collection is almost 300 pages long, said Alan Lefever, director of the Texas Baptist Historical Collection in Dallas.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Miracle Farm not tied to bikers’ rally, boys’ ranch ministry leaders explain_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Miracle Farm not tied to bikers' rally,
boys' ranch ministry leaders explain

Promotional materials for the upcoming Dawgs on Hawgs bikers' rally at Somerville claim its proceeds will support charities including “Miracle Farm.”

But the beneficiary is not the boys' ranch in Brenham, said Jack Meeker, Miracle Farm executive director.

"As a nonprofit Christian-based boys' ranch program promoting positive values and restoration for at-risk teenage boys struggling to turn their lives around, our mission simply does not coincide with the activity currently being promoted by Dawgs on Hawgs," Meeker said. "We would not choose that activity as an avenue to raise support for our organization."

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

On the Move_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

On the Move

Butch Allen to LaWard Church in LaWard as pastor.

Debi Arnold to Southmont Church in Denton as youth minister.

Ron Boswell to First Church in Linden as interim pastor.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

UMHB Easter Pageant_41904

Posted: 4/16/04 UMHB Easter Pageant Erich Lopez of Hutto portrayed Jesus Christ in the 65th annual outdoor Easter pageant at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor in Belton. He is seen…

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Church-goers less likely to gamble, Gallup poll reveals_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Church-goers less likely to gamble, Gallup poll reveals

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Americans who attend church every week are less likely to gamble than those who do not, according to a recent Gallup Poll.

Only 52 percent of Americans who said they go to church weekly gambled in the past 12 months, while 74 percent of those who seldom or never attend religious services said they gamble.

The poll, conducted in December 2003, asked 1,011 adults about 11 forms of gambling, from buying state lottery tickets to video casinos to betting on sports.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Postmoderns value authenticity, not authority, pastor says_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Postmoderns value authenticity, not authority, pastor says

By Tom Allen

Faithworks

MINNEAPOLIS (ABP)–Clad in faded jeans, paisley shirt and sandals, Doug Pagitt doesn't look much like a preacher.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Reyes challenges Texas churches to ‘fill the gap’ to leave no child behind_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Reyes challenges Texas churches to
'fill the gap' to leave no child behind

By Eric Guel & Craig Bird

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–The federal government asked Albert Reyes to help address what U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige has called the nation's “most important civil rights issue”–the academic achievement gap between Hispanic and Anglo students on standardized exams.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge