Houston pastor put on two-month leave after misconduct allegations_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

Houston pastor put on two-month
leave after misconduct allegations

HOUSTON (BP)–The longtime pastor of a prominent Houston church has been given a two-month paid leave of absence from the pulpit following allegations he sexually assaulted a 37-year-old man.

The action to suspend Brentwood Baptist Church Pastor Joe Ratliff was taken Oct. 27 during a regularly scheduled business meeting. About 5,000 people attend the church every Sunday morning.

During the next two months, Ratliff will continue his administrative duties while other staff members provide ministerial leadership, according to a statement from the church. He will return to the pulpit Dec. 31.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

Russian orphans ready for adoption_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

Russian orphans ready for adoption

Several children living in Russian orphanages are available for adoption by Christian families and singles through Buckner International Adoption Services. Among them are the children shown here, who recently were identified as adoptable by Russian authorities.

While Russian orphan children are identified as candidates for adoption, there is no guarantee that a specific child will remain available to Buckner for adoption for long.

Debbie Wynne, clinical director for Buckner International Adoption Services in Dallas, said adoption through Buckner is the result of “a positive relationship we have developed because of our humanitarian work in Russia. They know our heart for children.”

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

SBTC elects Osborne president and marks fifth anniversary in Corpus_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

SBTC elects Osborne president
and marks fifth anniversary in Corpus

CORPUS CHRISTI (BP)–Chris Osborne, pastor of Central Baptist Church of Bryan, was elected president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention during the convention's fifth annual meeting.

A total of 831 messengers registered for the convention, representing 338 of the SBTC's 1,371 uniquely or dually affiliated congregations. The SBTC formed as a breakaway from the Baptist General Convention of Texas by a group desiring to be more closely aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Osborne was nominated by Gil Lane, pastor of Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo. Osborne, who served as Pastors' Conference president this year, succeeds George Harris, retired pastor of Castle Hills First Baptist Church in San Antonio.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

SHARED SPACE: With six you get an eggroll_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

SHARED SPACE:
With six you get an eggroll

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

BEDFORD–Some congregations spend years trying to discern God's will. Leaders of Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Bedford believe God laid a vision in their hands.

Christopher Sham, pastor of Bedford Chinese Baptist Church, and his wife Alphra pose with a church member (far left) and Woodland Heights Baptist Church minister of Education Pat McDanal.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

Evangelistic skateboard video finds unlikely host_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

Evangelistic skateboard video finds unlikely host

By Shelby Oppel

Religion News Service

PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS)–Stephen Baldwin stood under the east end of the Burnside Bridge, wearing an “Army of the Lord” T-shirt with camouflage pants and directing a Christian-themed DVD of skateboarders and BMX riders.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

Did bishop slander by citing ‘spirit of Satan’?_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

Did bishop slander by citing 'spirit of Satan'?

By Kevin Eckstrom

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–An Iowa judge will decide if the phrase “spirit of Satan” is basis for a slander suit after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a dispute at a rural Iowa church.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

Spiritual sleuth studies violent religions to fight crime_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

Spiritual sleuth studies violent religions to fight crime

By Sharon Schlegel

Religion News Service

TRENTON, N.J. (RNS)–Police were puzzled by the crime. A corpse had been disinterred in the cemetery, mutilated and left near a mausoleum covered with graffiti.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

Small church grows strong leaders_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

Small church grows strong leaders

By George Henson

Staff Writer

KYLE–If it is true that leaders are born, not made, then the soil around Kyle is good for something other than cotton.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

BGCT: Smaller Texas churches can grow_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

BGCT: Smaller Texas churches can grow

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Four of ten churches affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas have fewer than 100 resident members, according to convention statistics.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

Southern Seminary to close day-care center_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

Southern Seminary to close day-care center

By David Winfrey

Kentucky Western Recorder

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP)–Citing a need for classroom space, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary officials have announced plans to close the school's Child Development Center.

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

Texas Tidbits_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

Texas Tidbits

Baylor names master teachers. Two Baylor University professors–one living and one dead–have been named master teachers by President Robert Sloan. The master teacher designation is the highest honor granted to Baylor faculty members. Sloan bestowed the title on Ray Wilson II, professor of biology, and the late Helen Ligon, emeritus professor of information systems. These are the first master teacher designations granted during Sloan's nine-year presidency.

TOGETHER: Advance the kingdom of heaven_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

TOGETHER:
Advance the kingdom of heaven

Clearly the theme of the kingdom of God was central to Jesus' gospel message: “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news'” (Mark 1:14-15).

Perhaps you have heard your pastor say, “We must be about kingdom business,” as you were urged on to a vision that was not centered on just what was good for your local church.

Can we be concrete about what the kingdom of God is? Note what any kingdom anywhere is. A kingdom is a territory that is under the rule of a king. The kingdom operates where the king's rule is respected, his name is honored, his laws obeyed and his taxes paid. The lines on a map may say that an area of land is in the kingdom, but if in that province no one takes the word of the king seriously, then it is part of the kingdom in name, but not in reality.

CHARLES WADE Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge