GLENDALE, Ariz. (RNS)—An Arizona school board member who was instructed to stop quoting Bible passages during board meetings filed a federal lawsuit against her district Sept. 27.

Heather Rooks alleged her First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion had been violated.

Rooks, a Christian who attends a large nondenominational church, has been serving the Peoria Unified School District, one of Arizona’s largest districts, since January 2023.

She is being represented by the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and the First Liberty Institute, a Plano-based conservative legal organization.

Since the start of her term, Rooks, whose four children attend school in the district, has quoted short Bible passages during the “board comments” portion of each board meeting. The passages were often related to the theme of courage.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” Rooks said at a meeting in January, quoting from the first chapter of Joshua.

“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge,” she said in April, quoting from Psalm 16.

Rooks told Religion News Service she was surprised and then saddened after being instructed not to quote Scripture, because she “never thought that would happen in America.” She said she recited Bible passages as a source of strength when faced with difficult decisions.

‘With everything that goes on as a new school board member, we’re facing a lot of adversity and challenges. So reading those verses really gave me some strength and courage and peace,” Rooks said.

Rooks said, in particular, she was seeking courage to “keep speaking out for parents.”

Critics cite political overtones

Critics of Rooks say her quoting of Bible passages has political undertones, especially during board meetings where issues like white supremacy and gender nonconformity are discussed. In April, the board voted down a bathroom policy Rooks supported that would have restricted transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity.

In February, the group Secular Communities for Arizona issued a complaint to the board arguing Rooks was violating the Constitution’s establishment clause.

“It is coercive, embarrassing and intimidating for citizens from a different religion or nonreligious citizens to display deference toward a religious sentiment in which they do not believe, but which this school board member does,” Dianne Post, legal director of Secular Communities for Arizona, wrote in an email included in the lawsuit.

In May and again in June, a staff attorney for the nonprofit group Freedom From Religion Foundation sent emails to the board president requesting the district stop board members from promoting their beliefs. The emails said failure to do so would “subject the school district to unnecessary liability and potential financial strain.”

The board’s legal counsel emailed board members in mid-July saying it would “be in the best interest of the district” for board members to stop quoting Bible verses, because doing so violated federal and state laws and because Freedom From Religion and Secular Arizona had “threatened” to “take further action,” including filing a lawsuit.

Shortly after, Rooks announced at a board meeting that she would refrain from reciting Bible passages. She added that she would “have my attorneys at First Liberty Institute handle this matter,” according to the suit.

‘Substantially burden her religious exercise’

The lawsuit claims that quoting brief Bible passages without comment does not violate the First Amendment’s prohibition against establishment of religion but is instead part of the “longstanding tradition of government officials solemnizing public occasions in this way.”

Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel for First Liberty Institute, clarified the tradition of calling upon a resource to solemnize an occasion applies to people of all religious backgrounds, not just Christians quoting the Bible.

Rooks’ lawsuit also says the district’s policy and actions “chill her ability to freely speak” and “substantially burden her religious exercise by forcing her to choose between following the precepts of her religion and retaining her position as a member of the Board.”

Thus, it argues, the district has violated state and federal laws guaranteeing Rooks’ right to freedom of speech and free exercise of religion.

Freedom From Religion Foundation co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor questioned the efficacy of the suit, saying because the district didn’t discipline Rooks, there’s “no actual case or controversy for a lawsuit.”

“She’s suing her own school district because she disagrees with a legal opinion about the legal liability that the board is entailing if her conduct continues,” Gaylor said. “Heather Rooks is basically abusing judicial resources in order to fight a culture war.”

Sasser told RNS by joining the case, First Liberty Institute is “fighting to preserve the correct and original meaning of the Constitution.” He added school districts still are adjusting to the Supreme Court’s Kennedy v. Bremerton School District decision, which found the Constitution protected a football coach’s right to pray with students on the 50-yard line after games.

“You have 50 years of legal precedent that essentially tilts the scales in favor of censorship of anything religious in public,” Sasser asserted. “That is suddenly gone, and the new standard is to accommodate religious speech.”

In her July email to the school board, the board’s legal counsel argued Kennedy v. Bremerton did not apply because the coach’s prayer was silent and not broadcast publicly. She did not return requests for comment.

As of Oct. 2, Peoria Unified School District had not yet been served, but Sasser said the process was underway.

“Heather decided to let the legal process play out,” said Sasser. “That’s why we filed the lawsuit: to see if they’re right, or we’re right.”

Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for churches to observe “School Choice Sunday” and for ministers to use pulpits to promote a voucher-style legislative proposal is “out of bounds,” 21 past and present Baptist General Convention of Texas leaders said.

Executive Director-Elect Julio Guarneri and President Ronny Marriott joined 15 BGCT past presidents and former BGCT executive directors Bill Pinson, Charles Wade, Randel Everett and David Hardage in a public statement registering objection to a government official seeking to “co-opt a Sunday morning time of worship.”

“Regardless of one’s view on the legislative proposal, a call from a government authority to intervene in Sunday worship goes beyond what any church body should accept or condone,” the Texas Baptist leaders stated.

In a Sept. 19 teleconference with clergy, Abbott announced he would call a special session for the purpose of passing “school choice” legislation. He called on pastors to “go to the pulpit, speak from your pulpit to your congregation, and let them know how important this issue is to the fabric of the future of Texas.” In a press release the same day, Abbott urged Texans to participate in “School Choice Sunday” on Oct. 15.

“I believe that every parent can do a better job of raising their children if they are given the power to choose the school that is best for their child,” Abbott stated. “If they are given that power, that child will go down a pathway to better educational success, personal success and relationship success.”

Separation of church and state affirmed

The past and present Texas Baptist leaders affirmed the historic Baptist principle of separation of church and state.

“It is out of bounds for any representative of the government to co-opt a Sunday morning time of worship,” they stated. “A government’s request for churches to join a legislative agenda violates the conscience concerning religious liberty and separation of church and state. Churches that too closely entwine with political affairs hamper both their Christian witness and citizenship responsibilities.

“Texas Baptists remain committed to the separation of church and state. Government should not interfere with the free exercise of religion, and no religion should depend on public tax dollars for support.

“We encourage all citizens, including church members, to be informed on the various proposals before the state, and we also encourage all churches to protect their autonomy from interference by the state.”

The Texas Baptist leaders closed by offering “prayers and encouragement to Baptists in Texas and all citizens of goodwill to honor the separation of church and state, while seeking the flourishing of all people made in the image of their Creator.”

Joining Guarneri, Marriott and the four former BGCT executive directors in signing the statement were former BGCT presidents Michael Evans, Danny Reeves, René Maciel, Kathy Hillman, Jerry Carlisle, Victor Rodriguez, David Lowrie, Joy Fenner, Steve Vernon, Michael Bell, Albert Reyes, Ken Hall, Clyde Glazener, Dick Maples and Joel Gregory.

Guarneri and Wade each served as president of the convention before they were elected as executive director.

Prior to the beginning of the Vatican Synod on Synodality, Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Elijah Brown offered a prayer for peace at an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil in Rome, a historic event that included participants from Orthodox, Anglican and various Protestant traditions.

The Sept. 30 prayer service—which drew an estimated crowd of 18,000 participants to St. Peter’s Square around the theme “Together”—marked the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church’s XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

The Synod on Synodality is a summit of 464 Catholic bishops, priest and laity—including women—to discuss a range of issues, based on two years of conversations in Catholic parishes around the world.

At the prayer service, Brown followed Mor Ignatius Aphrem II of Antioch, patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, who prayed in Arabic: “Christ Jesus, look down upon your family. We entrust all your disciples to you, that they may continually grow as peacemakers.”

Brown prayed: “For all who suffer from violence and war in Ukraine, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Haiti, Nicaragua, Congo, Syria, Sudan, Ethiopia and in many other places around the world, for those who persevere, wherever they live, in the service of justice and reconciliation, we pray to you.”

Other participants included Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury; Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople; Jong Chun Park, president of the World Methodist Council; Anne Burghardt, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation; Thomas Schirrmacher, secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance; William Wilson, president of the Pentecostal World Fellowship; and Kuzipa Nalwamba, representative from the World Council of Churches.

The ecumenical Taizé community organized the two-hour prayer service, which included eight minutes of silence for personal prayer.

In his remarks to the ecumenical gathering, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of silence as “essential in the life of the believer,” noting it “enables true discernment.”

‘A spirit of Jesus-centered worship’

“While we maintain our differences, I was grateful to participate on behalf of the Baptist World Alliance in this historic gathering as church leaders from Catholic, Orthodox, Mainline and Evangelical churches came together for the very first time to pray,” Brown said.

“There was a spirit of Jesus-centered worship when the many thousands who were present spontaneously joined with a children’s choir from Ukraine to sing ‘Alleluia.’ I was encouraged that the prayer service began and concluded with each of the church leaders standing and prayerfully reflecting before the cross.

“With so many around the world bearing the cruelties and injustice of war and persecution, it was humbling to pray again for peace and to ask if each one of us would follow Jesus with courage and conviction into the sufferings of violence in the path of peacemaking.”

In a brief encounter with Pope Francis, Brown said he told him, “The Baptist World Alliance prays for peace and for renewed Pentecost witness.”

“The Pope responded, ‘Pray for me, as well,’” Brown said.

Taizé hosted a youth gathering prior to the prayer service. Brown met with 125 young people from Egypt, Sri Lanka, Spain, Germany, Sweden and other nations to talk about what it means to follow God’s call and live on mission.

He also preached at La Chiesa di Trastevere, the largest Baptist church in Rome.

Erik Carter believes the church needs the gifts people with disabilities bring to the body of Christ as much as those individuals need the church.

Carter directs the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities and leads Baylor University’s new interdisciplinary Disability, Faith and Flourishing Initiative within the School of Education.

“It’s my passion to help churches welcome and embrace persons with disabilities,” he said.

For Carter, that desire comes from personal experience. Growing up, he had no contact with any people with developmental disabilities.

“They were a hidden part of our community,” he said.

However, the summer after his freshman year in college, he worked at a camp for youth. To his surprise, he was assigned to work in programs for young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

“I stumbled into relationships with people who had Down syndrome,” he said, noting they unconditionally embraced him as a friend.

The young people with developmental disabilities were Christians. At the time, Carter was not.

However, he was touched by their love for Jesus, their joyful approach to living, their accepting attitudes, and their firm conviction God accepted them just as they were.

“They shared their testimonies in a way I had never heard before,” he said. “That’s how I became a Christian.”

‘A matter of reciprocity’

As director of the new Baylor Disability, Faith and Flourishing Initiative, Carter hopes to influence the way churches view ministry with people who have disabilities.

“It’s not just about trying to open up churches to make them more hospitable and accessible to persons with disabilities because of their needs. It’s also about opening minds of church people who need to encounter people who have disabilities. These are individuals with gifts that we need,” he said.

“It’s a matter of reciprocity. It’s not a charity thing. It’s a faithfulness thing.”

In a society that values speed, people with disabilities can teach others the value of slowing down, he noted. In a culture that emphasizes independence, people with disabilities can help others learn the importance of interdependence, he added.

“People do come to Christ through the witness of people with disabilities. And I would love for it to be an unremarkable story,” Carter said.

Help churches become accessible and inviting

After teaching at Vanderbilt University, where he was co-director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Carter joined the Baylor university faculty in January. He felt drawn to the university because of Baylor’s commitment to being “a preeminent Christian research university.”

Carter believes Baylor is uniquely positioned to become “the first of its kind hub” for research, theological reflection, ministry training and resource development to help congregations become accessible and inviting faith communities where people with disabilities can flourish.

“Most churches want to do it well, but they don’t know how,” he said.

The initiative Carter leads not only will examine empirical research that already exists, but also will do further research and seek to discover ministry models that work in churches of varied sizes and settings.

Based on research so far, Carter observed larger churches tend to respond to people with disabilities by creating programs geared toward them and hiring staff to carry out those programs. Programs may include specialized classes for individuals with disabilities, along with support groups and respite care for families.

“In smaller churches, it’s more a matter of coming alongside particular individuals and their families,” he said. “It’s dealing with one person at a time and one family at a time.”

Regardless of church size, ministry to people with disabilities demands time and intentionality, he noted. The initiative will seek to help churches identify barriers that may keep people with disabilities from participating fully in worship, discipleship, service and fellowship.

“Barriers to their participation can be architectural, and they can be attitudinal,” Carter said. “Churches may inadvertently exclude people.”

The Baylor initiative defines “disabilities” broadly enough not only to include people on the autistic spectrum or with Down syndrome, but also individuals who experience disabilities that accompany aging, such as memory loss, impaired mobility and loss of hearing and vision.

Seen in the broadest sense, 70 million Americans—1 out of 5 people in the United States—have disabilities. One student in 7 receives special education services in school. One child in 36 is on the autistic spectrum.

Think about disability from God’s perspective

One area of potential collaboration may be with Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary, as the initiative seeks to help churches consider disabilities from a theological perspective.

“We want to enter into conversations with those who are thinking theologically about it,” Carter said. “How do we think about disability from God’s perspective?”

The initiative will include a training component for churches and make resources available to congregations, he noted.

In January, the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities will host a five-part training series focused on helping churches become more accessible, welcoming and supportive communities for people with disabilities and their families.

Designed for pastors, ministry leaders and other interested church members, sessions will focus on practical ways churches of all sizes can plan worship, religious education, fellowship activities, outreach and support that make possible ministry with and by people with disabilities. Both in-person and online options will be available. Dates and times will be announced online here.

As churches find ways to remove barriers and include people with disabilities in their congregations, they benefit from the gifts those individuals bring, Carter insisted.

“People with disabilities have different life experiences and perspectives to offer,” he said. “Even those who are unable to communicate can help us expand our imaginations, teaching us how to pray without speaking and worship without singing.

“As churches widen the welcome, we become more creative and imaginative. … We want to support churches in the journey.”

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—After meeting with church music leaders for multiple listening sessions, Lifeway Christian Resources announced the decision to continue operating lifewayworship.com for another year.

“Lifeway exists as a ministry partner for the local church. We are committed to churches and their leaders to support the ways God is using them,” said Ben Mandrell, Lifeway president and CEO.

“The listening sessions we held with worship leaders and music directors gave us invaluable feedback in understanding the benefit lifewayworship.com provides for their ministry. As a result, we will continue updating the website for another year, including the production of new music through September of next year.”

Brian Brown, director of Lifeway Worship said it is important for churches to understand that the resources currently on the website will not go away.

“Everything we’ve created for the past 15 years will remain available to churches,” he said.

In July, Lifeway announced it would shut down the website that provides arrangements, charts, sheet music and other music resources for church worship. Churches were given until Aug. 31 to purchase new music and until Sept. 30 to download all their content.

In response to concern from ministry leaders, however, Lifeway made the decision to postpone the shutdown.

 “While we originally made the difficult decision to discontinue lifewayworship.com with prayerful consideration, we should have invested more time to listen to church leaders, provide more notice of the impending change, and partner with those who rely on this tool every week,” Mandrell said at the time.

As part of that commitment, Lifeway hosted four listening sessions in Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Texas. In those meetings, Brown, Scott Arvay, senior vice president and chief revenue officer, and Carol Pipes, director of communications, heard from music ministers and worship leaders from those four states, as well as surrounding states.

“We were very pleased with the listening sessions as each one allowed for open and honest dialogue about the unique role Lifeway Worship plays in serving worship leaders. It was so encouraging to hear how important of a role it plays in many aspects of the leader’s responsibilities, including discipleship of those that serve on their teams,” said Arvay.

After hearing from users of the website, Arvay said Lifeway recognized this is a ministry issue for worship leaders and not just a technology or tool challenge.

“Lifeway’s ability to compose worship music note by note in keys that are singable by the congregation allows the leader to involve more of the church in worship ministry, especially classically trained musicians. Or simply put, Lifeway Worship is their curriculum,” he said.

“Additionally, we left inspired as we heard stories of Lifeway Worship serving as the key resource that helped leaders find unity between those at odds over traditional versus modern worship styles.”

Arvay said the organization will continue discussing ways to come alongside churches in their worship and music ministry.

“Over the next year, Lifeway will work closely with worship leaders to develop a holistic strategy on how we can best serve their needs, including the place lifewayworship.com plays,” he said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned atrocities committed by the ruling military regime in Myanmar as “inhumanity in its vilest form.”

In Sept. 26 remarks to the U.N. Human Rights Council, High Commissioner Volker Turk called for an end to “an unspeakable tragedy,” saying the Burmese military regime should be brought before the International Criminal Court.

“There is no time to lose,” Turk said, noting at least 4,108 deaths caused by the Burmese military—known as the Tatmadaw—and its affiliates.

Last year, the Baptist World Alliance general council approved a resolution condemning the coup in Myanmar, saying the Burmese military was waging “a campaign of terror and violence, particularly against minority religion.”

The violence has escalated and the human rights situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent months, Turk told the council.

“Widespread campaigns of violence perpetrated by the military continue, in full disregard for the fundamental principles of humanity and repeated demands of the United Nations Security Council for an immediate cessation of the hostilities and calls for unhindered humanitarian access,” he said.

Turk presented a report—the eighth report submitted by his office since the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar—covering the period from April 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. It points to “a seemingly endless spiral of military violence” in Myanmar.

“Its findings describe a range of incidents—many of particular brutality, emblematic of a systematic negation of human rights, human life and human dignity,” he said. “We are faced here with a system of ruthless repression designed to coerce and subjugate its people and to erode a society so that the predatory interests of the military are preserved.”

Turk reported 22 documented incidents of mass killings. In some cases, soldiers tortured villagers and mutilated their bodies.

“Three specific military tactics have been systematically directed against the civilian population: airstrikes, mass killings and burning of villages,” Turk said.

He pointedly noted the Burmese military is depending on heavy weaponry that “can only be purchased from foreign sources,” and it relies on foreign currency to buy hardware, aviation fuel and other materials.

On Sept. 18, 2021, Burmese military shot dead a Baptist pastor in the Chin State. Pastor Cung Biak Hum was shot while he was attempting to help a church member extinguish a fire after the man’s home was set ablaze during military attacks.

“Civilian rule of law in Myanmar has vanished,” Turk said.

He noted credible sources reported 24,836 people have been arrested, 19,264 still are detained, and 150 have been sentenced to death by military-controlled courts. At least 7,368 individuals have been convicted “in ad hoc trials, most lasting mere minutes, and without defense counsel,” he added.

Hkalam Samson, past president and former general secretary of the Kachin Baptist Convention, is among the religious leaders who remain imprisoned in Myanmar. Samson was seized last December before he could board a flight to Bangkok, Thailand, for medical treatment.

“People in Myanmar have long suffered with insufficient attention being paid by the international community to their plight,” Turk concluded. “That must change.”

Earlier this month, the founding president of the 21Wilberforce human rights organization urged Texas Baptists to call on Congress to provide support for persecuted people in Myanmar.

Randel Everett, a former executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, sent an email asking Texas Baptist leaders to endorse a letter to Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, urging full funding for the Burma Act.

Everett noted the importance of contacting Granger and other members of Congress immediately to influence the decision-making process for funding.

“The funding will provide vital aid that will help the communities affected by the violence to rebuild, promote a federal democracy, and hold accountable those responsible for the ruthless abuses of human rights and religious liberty,” Everett wrote.

NASHVILLE (BP)—The recent elimination of five Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee staff positions—including two related to ministry among Hispanics and Asians—prompted letters from ethnic leaders.

Prior to Sept. 13, Luis Lopez directed Hispanic relations and mobilization, and Peter Yanes led Asian American relations and mobilization.

The California Southern Baptist Convention first reported the letters from the National Hispanic Baptist Network and a group of 18 Asian American church leaders.

‘Unhelpful’ and ‘short-sighted’ decision

The National Hispanic Baptist Network expressed “disappointment” at the elimination of Lopez’s position.

“We believe that the decision to eliminate this position is unhelpful, short-sighted, and leaves Hispanic Baptists with no representation on the Executive Committee as well as the Board of trustees (again),” the letter said. “This represents a step backwards in our communication and collaboration when we should be moving forward together to reach and disciple the lost in the U.S. and beyond (including the more than 52,000,000 lost Hispanics in the U.S.).”

The letter from National Hispanic Baptist Network Executive Director Bruno Molina included statements from Pete Ramirez, executive director of the California Southern Baptist Convention; Emanuel Roque, Hispanic Multicultural catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention; and Jesse Rincones, executive director of Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas.

The network delivered the letter—which included a request for an in-person meeting—to Executive Committee Interim President and CEO Jonathan Howe.

“This is devastating news for the over 3,000 Hispanic Baptist congregations in the SBC,” Rincones said. “I fear that the loss of Luis Lopez as the Associate Vice President for Hispanic Relations does not convey being ‘fully committed’ to relating with a fellowship that, if it were a state convention, would rank 4th largest.”

Ramirez said the Executive Committee’s decision to remove Lopez and Yanez from their positions “has left our partnering ethnic family with a deep sense of discouragement.”

“Their work is invaluable and made a positive impact in building unity throughout our SBC family, especially among groups of various languages and cultures,” Ramirez said.

“With a void in these important positions, where only diverse leadership can understand and minister to these specific differences, I’m not sure the EC will be able to fulfill this vital initiative.”

2011 work group study cited

Both groups cited a messenger-approved 2011 Executive Committee workgroup study analyzing ethnic involvement in Southern Baptist life.

That study originated from a 2009 motion by Paul Kim, pastor emeritus of Antioch Baptist Church in Cambridge, Mass., and ultimately led to a final report affirmed by the Executive Committee prior to the 2011 SBC annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio.

The letter signed by 18 Asian Baptist leaders said eliminating the positions opposed the mandate of the 2011 report.

“Ethnic fellowships value the SBC because of its emphasis to fulfill the Great Commission,” said Francis Chung, California Southern Baptist Convention Missions Initiative Team leader. “However, we hope that as we reach the nations and become more diverse, our leadership will reflect that diversity in our convention. It’s not that we need the leadership to look like us, rather, our leaders would understand the complexities and needs of the entire convention.

“The leadership of the SBC doesn’t look like us but what is even more concerning is that it does not understand nor represent the ethnic fellowships well.”

Howe points to budget constraints

The Executive Committee faced “several painful decisions” due to “current budget constraints,” Howe told the reporter from the California Southern Baptist Convention.

“Thankfully, these budget constraints affect only the EC and not the already-established networks of Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hispanic, Brazilian, Laotian, Hmong, Native American, and other ethnic Southern Baptists who are taking the name and fame of Christ to their countrymen and beyond,” Howe said.

“Their vital work serves as a reminder that we are truly better together, and these ethnic fellowship groups represent the best of what we all strive for: a steadfast commitment to reaching all tongues and tribes with the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

Howe said it is impossible to ignore an ongoing budget crisis that has resulted in “painful” cuts to personnel and operations budgets.

“Over the past two years, we have spent nearly $10 million more than was budgeted and are on the verge of depleting our financial reserves as we continue to respond to the sexual abuse crisis across the Convention,” he said.

“Even with the recent personnel and operational cuts, the EC still does not have a balanced budget and will have to draw from reserves again in 2024.

“Unfortunately, it is unknown how long the EC will be facing these budgetary restrictions, but this is the reality in the present as well as for the foreseeable future.”

The Executive Committee has faced a significant financial downfall since 2021, due to the ongoing legal fees and investigation costs related to addressing sexual abuse.

Bearing costs for salaries previously shared

In November 2019, then-Executive Committee President and CEO Ronnie Floyd announced the addition of three full-time staff positions focused on increasing engagement among ethnic groups.

Julio Arriola quickly filled the first of those positions as Lopez’s predecessor over Hispanic relations and mobilizations. Yanes joined the following month. Charles Grant was named to oversee African American relations and mobilization in August 2020. All three positions were jointly funded by the Executive Committee and the North American Mission Board.

In December 2019, Willie McLaurin came on board in the newly created position of Executive Committee vice president for Great Commission Relations and Mobilization.

McLaurin’s role, which began the following January, called on him to “implement Cooperative Program and stewardship education, work to strengthen relationships and promote increased giving among Southern Baptist churches, develop strategies to strengthen relationships with multiple demographic groups within the SBC and provide oversight and assistance to the executive directors of church relations and mobilization for Hispanics, Asian Americans, African Americans and of church affiliations.”

In November 2021, NAMB shifted away from the partnership. Arriola became director of Send Network Southern Baptist Convention of Texas, a NAMB-funded role. Ashley Clayton, the executive director of church affiliation, whose position also was jointly funded by NAMB, moved to a church mobilization role with NAMB’s Send Network.

This meant NAMB and the Executive Committee went from equally sharing the cost of four positions to now each retaining responsibility for two, a budget-neutral impact.

In March 2022, McLaurin, who by then was interim Executive Committee President, hired Lopez to fill the vacant position for Hispanic mobilization, now fully funded by the Executive Committee.

Going forward, Grant will serve under the title of associate vice president for Convention Advancement and Relations.

“Significant gains in collective synergy, new fellowships and growth have been achieved among the Asian and Hispanic networks,” Grant told Baptist Press. “I am grateful to hear from both the Asian Collective leaders and the National Hispanic Baptist Network leaders concerning their heartfelt expressions about the recent EC staffing changes.

“Although the restructuring has caused pain, I am thankful for their willingness to dialogue about how to continue the momentum created by the partnership with the Executive Committee. I look forward to listening, learning and discovering ways to leverage opportunities to partner for strengthening diversity in the SBC and advancing the kingdom of God.”

In a statement to Baptist Press, Howe said that “diversity of representation and leadership is an integral part for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention—especially in our trustee system.”

Trustees are not selected by entities, Howe noted, but are received through a nominations process that requires approval of Southern Baptists at annual meetings.

Future discussions and efforts led by Grant with ethnic leaders will focus on how best to serve those communities.

Howe expressed his gratefulness to the International Mission Board and NAMB, as well as seminaries and state conventions with staff members “focused on mobilizing all ethnicities.”

“We are committed to partnering with them to continue to reach, elevate and mobilize Southern Baptists of all ethnicities and backgrounds,” he said.

With additional reporting by Managing Editor Ken Camp.

Allen Bramlett to Trinity Hills Baptist Church in Benbrook as pastor, effective Oct. 15, from First Baptist Church in Onalaska, where he was pastor.

Kelly Knott to Getsemani Baptist Church in Fort Worth as pastor, beginning Oct. 15, from Corona de Vida in Socorro, where he was pastor, and El Paso Baptist Association, where he was missions coordinator.

Hundreds gathered at East Texas Baptist University’s annual Great East Texas Hymn Sing on Sept. 22, in Baker Chapel of the Rogers Spiritual Life Center. ETBU welcomed students, faculty and staff, alumni, community members and churches from around the East Texas region and neighboring states for an afternoon of worship, fellowship, and celebration of Christian faith. “ETBU has produced phenomenal worship leaders over the years, and it is a rich opportunity to have them return and lead us in song,” said Cari Johnson, director of alumni relations. Worship leaders included David Berryhill, music minister at First Baptist Church in Kilgore; Austin Anderson with Mundt Music in Longview, former pastor of worship arts at Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville; and Aaron Perkins, minister of music at Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Longview; along with Debbie Stevens, director of admissions, and Jonathan Kaan, assistant professor of music. Pat Antinone, director of choral activities, led ETBU’s Concert Choir during the worship service.

The 8th annual Latino Fest is scheduled Sept. 29 at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The university’s Hispanic Student Association, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Kingdom Diversity Office will host the event. UMHB’s string and wind ensembles will perform works by Astor Piazzolla, Rafael Hernandez, Michelle Fernandez and others at 7 p.m. in the Baugh Performance Hall of the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center. The concert is free, but a ticket is required. To secure a free ticket, call the box office at (254) 295-5999 or click here. Following the concert, a street festival on the plaza of the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center will showcase food, dancing, carnival games and face painting reflecting Hispanic culture.

Howard Payne University will honor nine individuals for achievements and service during the Stinger Spectacular Oct. 13-14. The honorees for 2023 are Dale Fisher of San Angelo, Distinguished Alumnus; Micaela Espiricueta Camachoof Kopperl, Coming Home Queen; Natalia Lopez, an attorney with offices in Brownwood and Fort Worth, Outstanding Young Graduate; Robert and Cheryl Everett Mangrum of Early, Grand Marshals; Pastor LJ Clayton of Missionary Baptist Church in Cuero and educator Lori Hassel Clayton, Medal of Service; evangelist Rubén Hernández of Richardson, the Dr. José Rivas Distinguished Service Award; and longtime pastor Doug Holtzclaw of Goldthwaite, recipient of the new Jacket Alums in Ministry Faithful Servant Award. The honorees will be recognized at the HPU Alumni Banquet on Oct. 13 and included in the Stinger Spectacular Parade and the halftime show at the homecoming football game on Oct 14.

Wayland Baptist University secured $9.96 million in gifts and grants during the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a record amount for the 115-year-old institution. The record total includes $6.37 million in gifts plus $3.58 million in federal grants benefiting veterans, as well as Hispanic and first-generation students. “It is absolutely remarkable how the dedication and passion of our donors, as well as the work of our Wayland family, has been on display during this record year,” Wayland President Bobby Hall said. “We now prayerfully and diligently seek to utilize that which has been entrusted to us.”

Senior Pastor John Ogletree of First Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston will be the featured speaker at a “Save Texas Schools: Boot Vouchers” rally at the Texas Capitol. The rally, sponsored by Texans for Public Education, will be held at noon on Oct. 7 on the south steps of the Capitol. Ogletree, president of Pastors for Texas Children, served 18 years on the school board of Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.

Buckner Retirement Services hired Hannah Culp as healthcare administrator for Ventana by Buckner, effective Sept. 18. Culp will provide leadership and oversight for Ventana’s assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing levels of care at the Dallas senior living community. She most recently served at Life Care Services, where she was associate executive director for Autumn Leaves and health center administrator for Walnut Place, two senior living communities in Dallas. Prior to that, she worked in Kansas as an administrator and executive director for several health care and assisted living focused communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in human development and family science from Kansas State University and a Master of Arts degree in aging studies from Wichita State University. She is a licensed nursing home administrator in both Kansas and Texas.

Julio Guarneri, executive director-elect of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, preached in chapel at East Texas Baptist University on Sept. 25. Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen and first Hispanic individual to serve as executive director for the BGCT, challenged the campus community to reclaim the insurmountable peace only found through faith in Christ. “The struggle for peace is real,” Guarneri said. “College students need peace. We all need peace. Our world needs peace. And the Bible tells us that peace is a product of the Spirit, and peace comes to us when the Spirit is in control of our lives. It’s not something we produce or fabricate. It is something that God alone gives to us.”

Elizabeth Espinoza is the new director of the Buckner Family Hope Center in Midland. Espinoza will lead the Family Hope Center’s team in managing day-to-day operations, providing strategic oversight to the Midland Family Hope Center as it continues to expand its community impact, and serving vulnerable children and families in the community where she was raised. Espinoza began working for Buckner International in 2021 as foster care case manager, then she transitioned to the Family Hope Center as the community coordinator. Before coming to Buckner, she was an adolescent case worker with the El Paso Department of Health and Human Services. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Colorado State University—Pueblo.

Anniversary

150th for First Baptist Church in Hamilton. The sesquicentennial celebration begins Sept. 30 with a “meet-and-greet” event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the church’s youth and family center. On Oct. 1, a potluck dinner will immediately follow the 11 a.m. worship service. After lunch, the church will gather at 1:30 p.m. for a service of commemoration and dedication. Drew Dabbs is pastor.

75th for Chinese Houston Baptist Church on Oct. 8. Kai Yuen Choi is interim pastor.

FRESNO, Ca – Dos cartas enviadas al Comité Ejecutivo de la Convención Bautista del Sur por parte de grupos de liderazgo hispanos y asiáticos expresan preocupación e insatisfacción por la decisión del CE de eliminar dos roles de vicepresidente asociado, ocupados por Peter Yanes y Luis López, del personal de la SBC .

Las cartas fueron en respuesta a un artículo de Baptist Press fechado el 13 de septiembre , que detalla las luchas financieras que obligaron al comité a eliminar cinco puestos de tiempo completo y dos trabajadores subcontratados. Yanes y López fueron incorporados al personal del CE para movilizar a los bautistas asiáticos e hispanos, respectivamente, para el Comité Ejecutivo de la CBS.

La primera carta, enviada por la Red Nacional Bautista Hispana (NHBN), que representa a más de 3.300 iglesias, expresaba “decepción” por la eliminación del cargo de López, mientras que la carta de los líderes asiáticos, fechada el 20 de septiembre, expresaba “profunda preocupación”. consternación y decepción” por la eliminación de ambos cargos étnicos de vicepresidente asociado.

Según la carta, firmada por 18 líderes bautistas asiáticos, esta decisión se tomó en oposición a la moción de 2011, que “tenía como objetivo llegar a varios grupos étnicos… posteriormente fue reafirmada, votada y asignada recursos presupuestarios”. Las etnias de la iglesia representadas en la carta asiática incluyen camboyana, laosiana, filipina, vietnamita, birmana, coreana, hmong, china y tailandesa.

Tres líderes hispanos, entre ellos Emanuel Roque, Catalizador Multicultural Hispano de la Convención Bautista de Florida; Jesse Rincones, Director Ejecutivo de la Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas y Pete Ramírez, Director Ejecutivo de la Convención Bautista del Sur de California, hicieron declaraciones en su carta, que fue entregada al Presidente Interino Jonathan Howe.

Ramírez dijo: “Con un vacío en estos puestos importantes, donde sólo un liderazgo diverso puede comprender y ministrar estas diferencias específicas, no estoy seguro de que el CE pueda llevar a cabo esta iniciativa vital”.

La carta hispana señaló que con la destitución de López, los hispanos ahora no tienen representación en la SBC, incluida la Junta Ejecutiva.

“En nombre de nuestras más de 3,300 iglesias, la NHBN quisiera expresar su decepción por la eliminación del puesto de Vicepresidente de Relaciones y Movilización Hispana… Creemos que la decisión de eliminar este puesto es inútil, miope y deja a los bautistas hispanos sin representación en el Comité Ejecutivo ni en la Junta Directiva (nuevamente). Esto representa un paso atrás en nuestra comunicación y colaboración cuando deberíamos avanzar juntos para alcanzar y discipular a los perdidos en los EE. UU. y más allá (incluidos los más de 52.000.000 de hispanos perdidos en los EE. UU.)”.

Ambas cartas piden acción por parte del Comité Ejecutivo. Los líderes hispanos piden al CE que “se reúna con nosotros en persona para establecer un camino a seguir más constructivo y fructífero que resulte en la expansión del Reino de Dios y la edificación de su Iglesia”.

Los líderes asiáticos dijeron: “Les imploramos que consideren soluciones alternativas que tomen en consideración y no obstaculicen el trabajo significativo que Dios está haciendo para unir y movilizar a nuestras comunidades asiáticas hacia el cumplimiento de la Gran Comisión como parte de la CBS. Nuestra ferviente esperanza es que el futuro sea testigo de mayores esfuerzos en comunicación y transparencia hacia las iglesias asiáticas y asiático-americanas en sus procesos de toma de decisiones”.

Francis Chung, líder del equipo de Iniciativa de Misiones para la Convención Bautista del Sur de California, dice que esta cuestión va más allá de la representación étnica. “Las comunidades étnicas valoran la CBS por su énfasis en cumplir la Gran Comisión. Sin embargo, esperamos que a medida que lleguemos a las naciones y nos volvamos más diversos, nuestro liderazgo refleje esa diversidad en nuestra convención. No es que necesitemos que el liderazgo se parezca a nosotros, sino que nuestros líderes entiendan las complejidades y necesidades de toda la convención”.

Chung continuó: “El liderazgo de la SBC no se parece a nosotros, pero lo que es aún más preocupante es que no comprende ni representa bien a las comunidades étnicas”.

El presidente de la Convención de California, Victor Chayasirisobhon , está de acuerdo con Chung en que estas preocupaciones van más allá de la simple representación. “Nuestra convención es toda una familia y si una parte de nuestra familia está sufriendo debido a una decisión que se tomó, entonces es muy importante que los escuchemos. No se trata sólo de personas que caminan como yo o se parecen a mí… se trata de entendernos y amarnos unos a otros de una manera que honre a Dios y nos haga más eficaces para servirle”.

Según Chayasirisobhon , “ Yane y López trabajaron duro y lograron grandes avances en reunir grupos de iglesias -iglesias que a menudo permanecían en sus propios territorios- para servir a Dios juntos, lo que hizo que la familia fuera aún mejor”.

Cuando se le preguntó sobre las perspectivas de la decisión de la CE de eliminar las dos posiciones étnicas, Chayasirisobhon añadió: “Es una pena que todo esto recaiga en un vicepresidente asociado que ahora está a cargo de una tarea que ya era demasiado grande para los tres que teníamos. Es más importante que nunca acompañar al hermano Charles Grant para ayudar a lograr la resolución presentada originalmente por el hermano Paul Kim hace tantos años”.

Añadió: “Tengo la esperanza de que nuestra familia nacional de la CBS pueda unirse para ayudar a inspirar confianza en nuestras iglesias hispanas y asiáticas de que todavía importan y continúan teniendo algo más que un asiento temporal en la mesa”.

Al momento de escribir esta historia, el presidente de la SBC, Bart Barber, y Charles Grant, vicepresidente asociado para el avance y las relaciones de la convención, han programado una reunión con el Dr. Bruno Molina, director ejecutivo de la NHBN, el Dr. Jesse Rincones y el Dr. Daniel. Sánchez, Profesor Emérito Distinguido del Seminario Teológico Bautista Southwestern, a finales de esta semana, así como una reunión adicional con Jonathan Howe en noviembre.

Howe le dijo a CSBC: “Debido a las limitaciones presupuestarias actuales, el Comité Ejecutivo de la SBC se ha enfrentado a varias decisiones dolorosas en las últimas semanas. Afortunadamente, estas restricciones presupuestarias afectan sólo a la CE y no a las redes ya establecidas de coreanos, chinos, vietnamitas, hispanos, brasileños, laosianos, hmong, nativos americanos y otras etnias bautistas del sur que están llevando el nombre y la fama de Cristo a sus hogares. compatriotas y más allá. Su trabajo vital sirve como recordatorio de que realmente somos mejores juntos, y estos grupos étnicos de compañerismo representan lo mejor de lo que todos buscamos: un compromiso firme de alcanzar a todas las lenguas y tribus con las Buenas Nuevas de Jesucristo”.

Ramírez está animando a todos los Bautistas del Sur a participar cuidadosamente en las conversaciones más importantes. “Estamos en días difíciles como familia. El personal del CE se vio obligado a tomar decisiones difíciles y no es momento de que el liderazgo interino resuelva estos problemas. Esta es una temporada para reunirnos para involucrarnos y colaborar en vías de avance para que, con suerte, en cuatro meses, nuestro recién elegido Presidente del Comité Ejecutivo de la CBS pueda desarrollar una estrategia para liderar a toda la familia en la obra del reino a la que todos hemos sido llamados”.

PLAINVIEW—When Libby Cleveland, longtime math professor at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, saw news coverage of the Lahaina fire in Maui, her heart was broken for students left without classrooms more than 3,400 miles away.

So, she asked administrators at Wayland, which has an external campus in Hawaii, to provide a way to help students displaced by the fires on the island of Maui.

“What I saw was such devastation. There was nothing left. I was concerned for the children—the students,” said Cleveland, who has been teaching math for 62 years, including 30 years at Wayland.

“Schools offer a stable place for students. They lost their schools, and the students need to get back into school. I wanted to help.”

Wayland’s external center in Hawaii has multiple teaching locations, but none of those are located on Maui. However, many of the students and professors were affected by the fires in which 97 people died and 31 are still missing more than a month later.

The Maui fires, which burned 27 days, spread across more than 2,100 acres on the island. The fires have been deemed the deadliest in the United States in more than a century.

“The wildfires of Lahaina deeply hurt our souls,” said Henrique Regina, executive director and dean of the Hawaii campus. “They are our friends and families. They are our community. It hit very close to home.”

“Our guidance to our employees was to be engaged with the healing and rebuilding of Lahaina as they see fit. We decided to have faith and trust God for his wisdom and guidance leading us through his perfect timing.”

What Regina and other students, facility and staff at the Hawaii campus didn’t know was that God was already working in the heart of an 87-year-old math professor on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

Cleveland gave initial donation

Cleveland offered to donate the first $500 to get a relief fund started at Wayland. She envisioned other members of the university family joining her in donating to help students on Maui.

At Cleveland’s request, administrators in Plainview and Hawaii began exploring how Wayland’s home campus in Plainview could help without being just another relief collection point.

“What I wanted Wayland to do was to help a school with students,” Cleveland said.

That wouldn’t be easy immediately following the disaster. However, Regina eventually connected with representatives of Doris Todd Christian Academy, which operates two campuses on Maui.

After receiving authorization to collect donations for the school through Wayland’s Student Emergency Fund, a webpage was created for online giving.

Once the fund was established, Cleveland became the first donor, giving the $500 she promised.

“We can help these children,” she said. “Some may not have anything. That’s why I said I’d be the first to give.”

Once the fund has grown significantly, Regina plans to present the money personally to Doris Todd Christian Academy.