DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) —Many clergy are caring for others but not taking adequate care of themselves, a recent study by Duke University revealed.

A survey of United Methodist ministers in North Carolina found them significantly more obese than their socio-economic peers in the general population. Ministers also suffered higher rates for chronic diseases like high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes.

The lead author of the study, Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell of the Duke University Center for Health Policy, said mortality rates for clergy are lower than their nonclergy peers due to lower rates of sexually transmitted disease, accidents and suicide.

That creates a false impression that the restraint clergy exercise in other areas of their lives will carry over into things like diet and exercise, she observed.

Proeschold-Bell described “an urgent need” for health interventions in the United Methodist Church and possibly among other clergy to curb obesity and chronic disease.

“Churches and other religious institutions have often been viewed as structures in which to enact health interventions,” she wrote. “However, this study’s findings indicate that it is critical to improve the health of clergy themselves.”

Clergy are not immune from depression and anxiety, Proeschold-Bell said.

Because congregants put them on a pedestal and assume they have strong enough spiritual resources to handle it, many ministers are reluctant to admit feeling strain. That only adds to feelings of stress and isolation, she said.

Clergy-related issues participants indicated as having the greatest impact on their health included the ability to set boundaries, the perception that the minister is on call 24 hours a day, church health, itinerancy and financial strain.

Participants reported feeling overwhelmed by pastoral needs from congregants and community members and struggling to set boundaries in order to protect their time for self-care practices like exercise and family time.

Barriers to protecting their personal time included the ministers’ “own servant orientation” and expectations by the congregation that they be constantly available. Several noted the expectation of constant availability made it particularly difficult to take vacations.

Other barriers included the tendency of pastors “to put everyone else’s needs before their own and to have unrealistically high expectations for themselves.”

Participants also said unhealthy church dynamics had a large effect on their health.

Several common church situations—such as a small number of congregants opposing even small changes suggested by the pastor, feuding cliques of church members that polarize issues along group lines and one or more congregants who use intimidation or abusive tactics to oppose the pastor—all had significant impact on clergy stress.

One strength of the study, the first of its kind to compare the health of ministers with people of similar demographics in the general population, was the sample, researchers said.

All currently serving United Methodist clergy in North Carolina were offered participation, and 95 percent completed the survey.

Several participants discussed the importance of taking a Sabbath or spiritual retreat. Some mentioned “religious coping” with stress, such as one minister who reported realizing he was working too hard and “just putting my trust in the Lord and really believing that it’s his ministry, not mine.”

One “interesting but not surprising” finding was that participants repeatedly included spiritual well-being in their definition of good health.

Researchers said peer support is one way for ministers to learn ways of handling the unique demands and stresses of their profession. It is more likely to be effective if it occurs in a way that allows pastors to make themselves vulnerable to each other and ensures confidentiality, especially with pastors who hope to move later to a larger church.

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Two new books challenge Christians to restore their faith to its true mission and forsake a consumerist mentality some churches adapt in a bid to meet members’ needs.

“Churches can better shape the faithful by recovering a sense that the life of faith is supposed to be a challenging experience,” said veteran journalist G. Jeffrey MacDonald. “I think that this may start with a new consumer ethic for this new religious marketplace.”

Jeffrey MacDonald takes on the consumerist gospel in his recent book, Thieves in the Temple.

Stephen Reese challenges Christians to explore what is required for an active and grounded faith.

MacDonald, an ordained clergyman and Religion News Service correspondent, takes on the consumerist gospel in his recent book, Thieves in the Temple: The Christian Church and the Selling of the American Soul. He criticizes the easy gospel doled out by some congregations, arguing that faith loses its flavor when watered down.

MacDonald says churches should remember the words and lives of people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King Jr., two 20th century martyrs who died when their public Christian activism challenged the status quo.

“American history would have been completely different if Martin Luther King had stayed inside his comfort zone,” he said. “He put himself at ultimate risk and paid the ultimate price.”

University of Texas journalism professor Stephen Reese approaches the challenge from a more personal perspective but reaches similar conclusions in his new book, Hope for the Thinking Christian.

Reese, who’s active in Austin’s Oak Hill United Methodist Church and is the author of several academic books, pushes readers to explore what’s required for modern believers to discover an active, grounded faith.

“I wanted to emphasize the everyday-life aspects in the book,” Reese said. “I wanted to get beyond the notion that you have to have a serious personal life crash in order to have a testimony. … I think we have all faced the spiritual drama of everyday life. What it means to be a father, a husband, a teacher, a friend—multiple situations.”

The rapid pace of modern life, combined with people’s constant connection to technology, limits essential time to withdraw and be still, Reese said.

“The difference between work and home is no longer there,” he said. “We’re so distracted in our world with demands on our time. There are difficulties in pulling away from work to have some kind of Sabbath moment. That’s probably more challenging than ever before.”

Since the book’s publication, Reese often finds himself speaking and reflecting on the “traditional division between the intellect and the life of the heart.” He sees a lingering uneasiness within academia over such a conversation, despite “more acceptance now of faith in the public square.”

Both the Reese book and MacDonald’s highlight the world’s need for hope, and lay the responsibility for developing an intentional spirituality—ingrained in both Christian and congregation—at the feet of the faithful.

MacDonald worries that churches, pressed to please a fickle clientele, are failing their principle mission to edify, noting the nation’s greatest social movements—from 19th century abolitionists to 20th century women’s liberationists—achieved their goals with roots in the church.

“What we’re talking about here is whether churches in America will be capable of producing a pro-phetic voice in the present or in the future,” he said. “The muscles that the church has at its disposal to shape people who know the heart of God and can bear witness in a prophetic way … are being eviscerated by consumerism.”

LAREDO—As part of its “Healthy Start” initiative in colonias along the Rio Grande, Baptist Child & Family Services has entered into a partnership with Doctors Hospital of Laredo to provide medical services through the agency’s comprehensive mobile medical unit.

“BCFS and Doctors Hospital share a common philosophy in our work with Laredo’s most at-risk families: ‘It’s a mission, not a job,’” said Cindi Garcia, executive director of BCFS’ community-based services.

“Together, our two organizations will make a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve, treating them with the compassion, respect and encouragement they need and deserve.”

Since 2001, BCFS’ Healthy Start program has led efforts to decrease disparities in access to maternal and child healthcare by providing community-based medical care and case management services to residents in colonias—unincorporated communities along the border that generally lack basic services.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, premature birth, low birth weight and shorter gestation periods account for more than 60 percent of infant deaths in the country.

High rates of infant mortality especially are prevalent in communities with large minority populations, high rates of unemployment and poverty, and limited access to safe housing and medical providers. Thanks to the BCFS Healthy Start program, more women in Webb County are receiving prenatal care than ever before.

“This partnership helps expand health care where it’s needed in the community,” said Elmo Lopez, chief executive officer of Doctors Hospital.

Women who are pregnant or have a child under age 2 years and who reside in one of Webb County’s colonias are eligible for services free of charge. Services provided include prenatal and postpartum care via the mobile unit; health education and parenting education; laboratory services; pharmacy services; and outpatient case management services to address the medical, social, financial, educational, legal, housing, parenting and employment needs of the families served.

Additionally, BCFS’ partnership with Doctors Hospital will support services such as pregnancy testing, prenatal care, heart Doppler, routine blood-pressure and weight checks, sexually transmitted disease tests, high-risk pregnancy testing, medications, inoculations, referrals and arrangements for sonograms and hospitalizations for childbirth, and postpartum referrals to a pediatrician.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—For more than 30 years, Amy Grant has been taking listeners on a musical journey filled with opportunities to share the gospel at her concerts.

Along the way, Grant became one of the first contemporary Christian musicians to cross over into mainstream radio and paved the way for other Christian recording artists.

Despite the accolades and achievements, Grant remains committed to sharing the gospel message through songs. Her albums have displayed a variety of musical styles, including pop songs, contemporary worship and traditional hymns. 

Her latest album, Somewhere Down the Road, chronicles songs about life’s most heart-wrenching moments, as well as the unexpected joys.

“I am personally moved by the concept of our journey through life,” Grant said. “Because of all the years that have come before, I find myself in a unique and somewhat rare position to be able to sing about that journey. I think that capturing someone’s hopes or dreams in a song is a pretty powerful experience, and I love to see how music changes people.

“Probably the comment that I get most from people is that they feel some sort of companionship when they listen to my music. People want to know that they are not alone in this world. So many times, music is our way of being found—whether it’s church hymns or contemporary songs.” 

At her concerts, Grant hopes the songs break down barriers and connect people to Christ.

“When a song is used to connect people to Christ, it’s the most powerful form of musical expression,” Grant said. “Music is a powerful tool and can often reach people in a different way than spoken words. Music has a way of disarming people and speaks to them in a way that refreshes them and puts them at ease.

“I hope people walk away from my concerts with a sense of being connected to the message of the gospel. The most important message that I want to share with people is about what matters most in life and to help them realize their need for Jesus.”

ALEXANDRIA, La. (ABP) — In an unprecedented open letter to trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board, the head of an SBC-affiliated state convention called Sept. 9 for NAMB trustees not to endorse a search committee’s recommendation for the board’s new president.

Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins distributed an open letter via an e-mail list calling on NAMB trustees not to elect Kevin Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. as NAMB president.

David Hankins

Trustees are scheduled to elect Ezell, whom a search committee unanimously recommended Aug. 31, during a Sept. 14 special called meeting.

Hankins said “a major flaw” disqualifies Ezell for the post.

“I believe you are being asked to elect a candidate who, while having many admirable qualities, is unqualified in one significant way,” Hankins wrote. “Dr. Ezell’s excellent credentials in areas such as character, family, leadership and theology do not compensate for [his] demonstrated lack of support for the mission of NAMB.”

Hankins noted that despite his church’s annual $6 million budget, “the financial contribution of the church, through the Cooperative Program [the SBC’s unified budget] and Annie Armstrong Offering [the annual SBC-wide special offering for NAMB], has been marginal, at best.”

“Consequently, one has to believe the anemic support of cooperative ministries has been a purposeful decision by the pastor and the church leadership,” Hankins’ letter continued. “Dr. Ezell has indicated he believes this was a better way to reach their congregational objectives. Is that what Southern Baptists believe and what they expect from the leader of the North American Mission Board?”

Hankins said those who would presume to lead Southern Baptist entities ought to have a track record of supporting those entities.

In 2009, according to SBC stats, Highview Baptist Church reported giving $140,100, or 2.23 percent of its total undesignated receipts of nearly $6.3 million, through CP. The church gave $10,000 through Annie Armstrong. They gave $50,000 through the SBC’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

Kentucky Baptist Convention records show the church gave $10,000 annually to the CP through the KBC during both 2008-09 and 2009-10. The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana reported Highview gave $140,100.04 to the CP. Highview has a satellite campus in Louisville's Indiana suburbs.

Kevin Ezell (Highview Baptist photo)

Emil Turner, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, affirmed Hankins’ call for NAMB trustees to reconsider the search committee’s recommendation.

“Dr. Hankins has a gracious and kind assessment of the situation and he is also clearly logical,” Turner said. “It seems surprising to me that the search committee would recommend someone whose level of support for the North American Mission Board through the CP and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering could not sustain the work of NAMB were it to be duplicated widely across the convention.

“While I have met Dr. Ezell and been impressed with his personality and his preaching, I would hope that the new president of NAMB could be an example of commitment to the Cooperative Program as called for by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force and to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.”

Hankins further expressed concern that a NAMB president who has chosen an independent church model will “send a chilling message” to thousands of Southern Baptist churches who generously support CP and the mission offerings.

Hankins questioned how someone with Ezell’s record could carry out the recommendations of the GCR Task Force report, approved overhwelmingly by messengers to the SBC annual meeting in June, that notes, “The greatest stewardship of Great Commission investment and deployment is giving through the Cooperative Program” and that calls on the SBC to adopt goals of giving more than $100 million annually through the Annie Armstrong offering.

“How can he challenge cooperative support if he has led his church in the opposite direction?” Hankins asked.

Hankins said he had been told there are no candidates who have all the credentials of the current nominee and an exemplary track record of CP and Annie Armstrong support.

“I do not believe this,” he wrote. “There are any number of leaders who possess outstanding leadership skills and meet all the prerequisites, including denominational cooperation and support.

“This is serious business at a serious juncture. No one needs to remind you of the struggles that NAMB has had due to conflict at the executive level,” Hankins told NAMB trustees. “I know you want to get this decision right. Compromising on cooperative missions methodology is not the pathway to getting it right. Please, seek a candidate to lead our national work who possesses all the prerequisites your Southern Baptist family expects and deserves.”

–Charlie Warren is editor of the Arkansas Baptist News.

Previous ABP story:

Al Mohler’s pastor recommended as new NAMB president (9/2/2010)

FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Money magazine consistently has ranked Fort Collins, Colo., among the top 10 places to live in the United States. Low unemployment, top-ranked schools and scenic beauty top the list of qualities that make the city appealing. But below the surface, Christians who serve there see spiritual hunger and deprivation.

Pastor Allan Reed of Pursuit Church in Fort Collins, Colo., welcomes guests at a preview service.

Some Fort Collins residents feel they have been “burned” by the church in the past, and they consequently reject organized religion. Others have crafted their own belief system, pieced together from various religious traditions and New Age philosophies.

With the spiritual climate of Fort Collins in mind, church planters have risen to the challenge—sowing the gospel in a soil that can be difficult to till. Some have adopted an organic approach to church starting—gradually building relationships and earning the trust of their neighbors, and eventually inviting them to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations about spiritual matters.

The method involves a significant investment of time, leaving church planters little freedom to have other jobs or raise funds. That’s where some Texas Baptist churches play a crucial role in providing financial support.

For example, Pursuit Church in south Fort Collins relies on partnerships with Yorktown Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Northwood Church in Keller, and First Baptist Church in Canyon.

“Without healthy partnerships like these, a potential new work lacks the spiritual and financial foundation to build off of,” Pastor Allan Reed of Pursuit Church said. “We are so thankful for the Texas Baptist Convention and their passion to see the new churches get started.”

Guests at the preview service at Pursuit Church in Fort Collins, Colo., listen to a worship band. Some Texas Baptist churches played a crucial role in providing financial support for starting new churches in the city.

Some Texas Baptist partners not only have provided financial support, but also have sent mission teams to aid Pursuit Church in its efforts—especially this summer, when numbers were crucial to help the church pull off its first preview services to build momentum for weekly worship services starting in the fall.

Crestview Baptist Church in Midland and Lake Pointe Church were among the congregations that sent teams. Each team spent about a week distributing informational door hangers in neighborhoods letting people know about the church, organizing block parties, setting up trailers and equipment for services, performing service projects for small businesses around the church, and being an encouragement to the Pursuit Church leaders.

The block party led by Lake Pointe Church included an inflatable moon bounce, obstacle course, crafts, music and face painting to create an atmosphere of free friendly fun for families, creating a relax atmosphere for young adults to meet leaders of Pursuit Church.

Pastor Nate Templin with his wife Erin and son Joshua. He leads the Inside Out Church in Fort Collins, Colo.

Inside Out Church in north Fort Collins has been empowered by having partner churches that catch the church plant’s vision for its ministry, Pastor Nate Templin said.

“The churches that have partnered with us know our character and passion for the lost. They like the vision to reach individuals outside of church and not to ‘rechurch’ people,” Templin said.

“They understand we are here for the long term and that it will take time to start churches. … Every partnership empowers us to be more focused on what matters most—making Christ known to those hesitant about Christianity.”

Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington has an ongoing partnership with Inside Out Church, and individual members of several other churches also provide support.

“We are always praying for a new church and individual partners that will help us make a greater impact on the lostness that permeates Fort Collins,” Templin said.

Amber Cassady, a communications student at Texas A&M University in College Station, served this summer as a student missionary correspondent in Colorado with Go Now Missions.

Tyler church surpasses adoption/foster care goal. Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler exceeded its goal of finding “forever families” for at least 100 orphans through adoption and foster care. The number of families enlisted was “103 and counting” before the end of August, said Kevin Burdette, minister of adult impact at Green Acres Baptist. The church launched its Hope for 100 campaign Jan. 4, hoping not only to raise awareness of the plight of orphans, but also to serve as a model for other churches to create similar adoption campaigns. “The love of these families will be felt for generations,” Pastor David Dykes said.

Retreat slated at Glorieta for retirees. The 12th annual retreat for retired ministers, missionaries and church staff will be held Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 at Glorieta Conference Center near Santa Fe, N.M. D.L. Lowrie, retired pastor of First Baptist Church in Lubbock and denominational leader, will preach; Mack Roark, retired Bible professor from Oklahoma Baptist University, will lead Bible studies; and veteran minister of music Don Blackley, organist Bill Hanson, pianist Allan Cox and the Singing Men of East Texas will lead worship. Eleven conferences will include “How to Travel on a Shoestring,” “Making the Most of Your Digital Camera,” “Hey, I Want to be a Volunteer” and “Getting My Retirement Back on Track.” For reservations, call (800) 797-4222.

Memorials Committee seeks names. Each year, the Baptist General Convention of Texas recognizes by name at its annual meeting Texas Baptists who have died during the preceding year. The BGCT Memorials Committee requests the names of individuals who died in the last year and whose lives made a contribution to their churches, communities and state. To provide information, call (214) 828-5348 or e-mail debbie.moody@texasbaptists.org before Oct. 15.

Clarifications. The article “Summer feeding programs for children enable churches to meet needs of entire families” that appeared in the Aug. 30 issue reported Southland Baptist Church fed 450 people a day. Pastor Taylor Sandlin noted: “Southland Baptist Church did not feed 450 children a day on our own. This was a communitywide ecumenical effort with dozens of churches involved at eight different feeding sites, only one of which was primarily manned by Southland members. … I’m certainly proud of the dozens of Southland members who helped with daily feedings at our site. But I’m equally proud of the larger Christian community without whom this would not have happened.” In the same issue, the news brief “U.S. News Honors Texas Baptist Schools” should have stated five Texas Baptist universities were ranked in the Top Tier of the “West Region – Master’s” category of the U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges for 2011. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor ranked No. 30, Hardin-Simmons University ranked No. 32, Houston Baptist University ranked No. 50, Dallas Baptist University ranked No. 51 and Wayland Baptist University ranked No. 62.

• Robert Burkhart to South-view Church in Manvel as associate pastor.

• Lynn Eckeberger to First Church in Sanger as interim pastor.

• Henry Goodson to Highland Church in Denton as children’s minister.

• Jimmy Griffith to Belmont Church in Abilene as interim pastor.

• Jeff Huckeby to Grace Temple Church in Waco as pastor from Eagle Springs Church in McGregor.

• Bruce Jeffers to First Church in College Station as interim youth minister.

• Ben Morris to Living Proof Church in Grandview as minister of music.

• Eric Nelson to First Church in Richwood as pastor.

• Jody Shires to Carlisle Church in Trinity as pastor.

• Russell Shires to Bethel Church in Whitewright as pastor.

• Todd Still to First Church in College Station as interim pastor.

• Scott Venable has resigned as university minister at First Church in Denton.

• Brent Weldon to Temple Church in Clute as pastor.

Happiness found in church, not shopping mall. Protestant and Catholic women in the United States have grown unhappier since stores have stayed open on Sundays, according to a study by economists from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Chicago’s DePaul University. The study found the repeal of “blue law” restrictions on Sunday shopping has corresponded with lower church attendance for white women. Meanwhile, the probability of women becoming unhappy increased by 17 percent. The study concludes that “an important part of the decline in women’s happiness during the last three decades can be explained by decline in religious participation,” said Danny Cohen-Zada, an economics scholar at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The researchers analyzed churchgoing habits of women from the National Opinion Research Center’s General Social Survey, which has collected information about American characteristics and attitudes from 1972 to 2008. They also looked at data from states that have repealed “blue laws” restricting Sunday commerce—Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Vermont—compared to others with no change.

Western Wall partition may offer one-way viewing. Jewish authorities at Jerusalem’s Western Wall hope to replace the existing opaque partition that separates the men’s and women’s prayer areas with one that will enable female worshippers to see into the men’s section but not vice-versa. The move follows years of complaints by female worshippers who have been unable to see into the men’s section, even during family bar mitzvahs. Currently, female relatives who want to see a bar mitzvah from the women’s section must stand on plastic chairs and peer over the top of the tall barrier, called a mechitza. Mechitzas exist in all Orthodox synagogues because Jewish law prohibits men and women from praying together, and it prohibits men from seeing women during prayer.

World Vision wins employment dispute. World Vision, the Christian humanitarian organization, can fire employees who disagree with its theological tenets, a federal appeals court ruled. In a 2-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said World Vision is a religious corporation and therefore exempt from a federal law that bars faith-based discrimination. Three employees, including two who had worked at World Vision 10 years, were fired in 2006 because they did not believe in the divinity of Jesus or the doctrine of the Trinity. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars religious discrimination, but it carves out an exemption for companies engaged in a religious purpose, the court ruled.

• Houston Baptist University will hold an organ concert by Crista Miller in the Belin Chapel Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. to mark the first anniversary of the dedication of its Sherry and Jim Smith Organ. In addition, the university will launch a monthly organ recital series. The 30-minute recitals, which are free of charge and open to the public, will be given by organists from around Houston at noon. The first two organists will be David Henning on Sept. 10 and Daryl Robinson on Oct. 1.

• Cleatus Rattan, professor of English at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, will be the speaker at the College of Christian Studies’ minister’s forum Sept. 16 at noon. His topic is “Stuff and Nonsense: A Study of the Ideas of St. Augustine, Bishop Ireanaeus and E.S. Brightman That Occur in C.S. Lewis’ The Problem of Pain.” The forum is free to the public, and participants are encouraged to bring a lunch.

• The Waco community hymn sing will be held Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center. Forty-eight choirs from the university and local churches will combine to form a 600-voice choir. The hymn sing will be accompanied by the Baylor Symphony Orchestra. Guest artists participating will be singer/songwriter Steve Green, worship leader David Crowder, vocalist Melinda Doolittle, pia-nist/composer Kurt Kaiser and conductor David Hamilton. The hymn sing is free, but an offering will be taken. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

• The rock band Kansas will team up with the Hardin-Simmons University orchestra for a multimedia concert Sept. 25.

• Dallas Baptist University has added six new faculty members. They are Mark Hale, assistant professor of higher education; Marilyn Haller, professor of education; Jonathan Kim, professor of Christian studies; John Pollard, assistant professor of biblical studies; Mary Beth Sanders, assistant professor of education; and Tom Vann, professor of Christian ministry.

• Michael McCarthy has been named director of finance and administration/chief financial officer of Baptist University of the Américas. His work history includes stints as both a church starter and an accountant. Since 2005, he has been director of missions for a Colorado Baptist association.

• Five Baptist General Convention of Texas affiliated universities have been marked as military friendly by G.I. Jobs magazine—Dallas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, Howard Payne University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Wayland Baptist University.

Anniversaries

• Beltway Park Church in Abilene, 25th, Aug. 29. The church also dedicated its sanctuary the same day. David McQueen is pastor.

• Sherrie Carter, 25th, as director of preschool and children’s ministries at First Church in Wichita Falls, Aug. 29.

• Bethel Church in Celina, 100th, Sept. 18-19. A reception will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, followed by a time of remembrance and gospel singing at 7 p.m. Former pastor Bob Layman will preach during the Sunday morning service. There also will be a time of testimony from four men who grew up in the church and were ordained to the ministry there—Jack May, Otis May, James Cross and Jerry Jones. A tribute to former pastor J.T. Bledsoe, who led the church 41 years, will be observed. An afternoon celebration also is scheduled. Cliff Lester is pastor.

• Oak Grove Church in Dallas, 65th, Oct. 10. The anniversary service will begin at 10:45 a.m. Rudy Owen is pastor.

• Candlestick Church in Lumberton, 15th, Oct. 17. Former pastor Paul Scott will preach, and a meal will follow the service. The Master’s Men will present a concert at 1:30 p.m. Several other pastors also will speak in the afternoon service including Delbert Milstead, Robert Carter, Gerald Edwards, Leroy Kipp and Bob Webb, as well as B.C. McCoy, who was director of missions when the church was started. A note-burning ceremony will conclude the anniversary celebration. Butch Perkins is pastor.

• East Cisco Church in Cisco, 100th, Oct. 17. A lunch will follow the morning service. An afternoon time of singing and remembrance also is planned. C.P. Floyd is pastor.

Deaths

• Jackie Shroyer, 57, Aug. 25 in Lubbock. Her husband, Carl, is pastor of Elm Grove Church in Lubbock. A retired nurse, she worked in the medical field 33 years. She was preceded in death by her father, Jack Maddox. She is survived by her husband; daughter, Valree Jo Shroyer; son, Matthew; mother, Jo Graves; step-father, H.B. Graves; brother, James Maddox; step-sisters, Phoi McGuire and Tori Hicks; and step-brother, Ben Graves.

• A.D. Norris, 94, Aug. 30 in New Braunfels. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Seminary, he was the recipient of an honorary doctor of divinity degree from the University of Corpus Christi in 1958 for his contributions to the church, community and denomination. He was a pastor almost 50 years, many of those spent in Corpus Christi at Travis Church and what is now Gateway Church. He also was pastor of churches in Weslaco and Fort Worth, as well as New Mexico and Missouri. He retired to New Braunfels in 2003. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Evelyn; son, Don; brothers, Calvert and Carl; and sister, Barbara Craig. He is survived by his son, Richard; daughter, Margie Callihan; sister, Louise Grass; brother, Bob; seven grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

• Timothy Maddox, 56, Sept. 6 in Abilene. The Hardin-Sim-mons University professor collapsed in the Skiles Building on his way to a meeting. He was rushed to a hospital but was not able to be resuscitated. A graduate of HSU and Southern Seminary, he had been a member of the faculty since 2004 as a professor of philosophy. He was a member of Cross Point Fellowship in Abilene. He is survived by his wife, Alana; and sons, Luke and Seth.

Events

• A gospel music festival will be held at First Church in Bryan Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. to benefit the Christian Women’s Job Corps. Performing will be a group of singing cadets, the Brazos-grass Band, Johnny Saculla and the Allen Chapel Choir. Tickets are $7 and free for children under age 12. For ticket information, call (979) 776-1400.

• Leonard Kramer, 90, was honored at First Church in New Braunfels with deacon emeritus status. He has been a member of the church since 1947 and a deacon since 1952.

Ordained

• Chad Fambrough, to the ministry at Immanuel Church in Abilene, Sept. 12.

Revivals

• Seventh Street Church, Ballinger; Sept. 19-22; evangelist, Robert Barge; music, Jeff Gore; pastor, David Williams.

• Bateman Church, Red Rock; Sept. 26-29; evangelist, Robert Barge; music, Jeff Gore; pastor, Jeff Jones.

WASHINGTON (ABP) — As the national debate over Islam continues to ratchet up in advance of the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Baptists joined a group of religious leaders Sept. 7 in denouncing Islamophobia, urged the nation’s top law-enforcement official to crack down on anti-Muslim bigotry and chastened their fellow Baptists for contributing to the problem.

But not all Baptists were in agreement, as demonstrated by a public spat over Islam between the pastor of one of the nation’s most prominent Southern Baptist churches and a Dallas Morning News columnist.

In a midday Sept. 7 press conference packed with reporters from national and international media organizations, Welton Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance, Roy Medley of the American Baptist Churches USA and Gerald Durley of Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta joined other prominent interfaith leaders in condemning what they called the “anti-Muslim frenzy” of recent weeks.

“We are profoundly distressed and deeply saddened by the incidents of violence committed against Muslims in our community, and by the desecration of Islamic houses of worship,” said a statement the leaders — representing a broad array of evangelical, mainline Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim groups and convened by the Islamic Society of North America — released shortly after meeting in what they called an “emergency interfaith summit” in Washington.

“We stand by the principle that to attack any religion in the United States is to do violence to the religious freedom of all Americans,” the statement continued, referring to highly publicized plans by a tiny evangelical church in Florida to hold a public burning of the Quran on Sept. 11.

“As religious leaders, we are appalled by such disrespect for a sacred text that for centuries has shaped many of the great cultures of our world, and that continues to give spiritual comfort to more than a billion Muslims today,” the statement said.

Medley told reporters he was appalled that some Baptists have been among those casting public aspersions on Islam and Muslims.

“Some of the most offensive statements about Islam, unfortunately, have come forth from the Baptist community, and therefore some of us as Baptist leaders felt it was important or us to join with the Islamic Society of North America and our Muslim brothers and sisters in order that we might live out our Baptist values of religious liberty,” he said.

Rich Cizik, president of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, blasted Christians who would cast aspersions on Muslims or deny them constitutional rights.

“To those who would exercise derision — who seek bigotry, open rejection of our fellow Americans for their religious faith — I say: Shame on you,” he said. “As an evangelical, to those who do this, I say: You bring dishonor to the name of Jesus Christ, you directly disobey his commandment to love our neighbor, you violate the command, you see, not to bear false witness and — not least of all — you drive the watching world further away from any interest in our gospel message.”

Walker, Gaddy urge Holder to protect Muslims’ rights

Later on Sept. 7, two Baptists — Gaddy and Brent Walker of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty — were among a group of Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders who met with Attorney General Eric Holder. The summit was a follow-up to an Aug. 30 meeting in which the leaders urged Holder’s Department of Justice to move swiftly to prosecute anti-Islamic hate crimes, denounce the upswing in anti-Muslim rhetoric and work to ensure that American Muslims — many of whose leaders have said they feel more insecure now about their safety and religious freedom than at any other time since immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — are protected.

“As the Attorney General has noted on previous occasions, violence against individuals or institutions based on religious bias is intolerable and the department will bring anyone who commits such crimes to justice,” said a statement Justice officials released after the meeting. “Americans of every faith have the right to worship and practice their religion in peace, and the department will continue to work with its state and local partners to ensure that this right is upheld.”

A Justice spokesperson said Sept. 8 that Holder had no immediate plans to issue any further statement about the issue.

Gaddy said Sept. 8 that in the meeting Holder “was very attentive, very open to recommendations — but what he is also intent on doing is using his presence and his voice in the way that is most helpful. And I think he and his staff are trying to figure out what is most helpful for him to do.”

Gaddy, who also is preaching pastor of Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, La., acknowledged that the issue of Islam had become a political football in the run-up to contentious mid-term elections in November.

“I think that there are many politicians who are running every bit as scared as are their constituencies, and there is such a desire to win an election that some of these people are going to do whatever they have to do to win and that involves dividing to conquer,” he said. “And they’re making what many of us see as the important issue of religious freedom a utilitarian tool to pander to prejudice.”

Prominent Dallas pastor, columnist spar over Islam

While Baptist leaders from a wide variety of ideological perspectives have condemned the planned Quran burnings as hateful and dangerous, not all have seen eye-to-eye on other critiques of Islam. In his Sept. 5 Dallas Morning News column Steve Blow took his fellow prominent Baptist — First Baptist Church of Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress — to task over recent statements Jeffress made about Islam.

“It's hard to know where to start in expressing dismay with the Rev. Robert Jeffress — for being uninformed, un-Christian or un-American,” Blow wrote, discussing a video clip from an Aug. 22 “Ask the Pastor” forum at which Jeffress took questions from members of his church. The congregation is one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s largest and most prominent.

One question dealt with comparisons between atrocities committed in the name of Christianity — such as the Crusades — and those committed in the name of Islam.

Jeffress said that, while Christians have certainly committed atrocities before, they have been “somewhat overblown” by the historical record — and that any massacres or atrocities done in the name of Christ were different than those committed in the name of Islam because “they have been done in opposition to the teaching of the New Testament.”

Christian teachings don’t encourage violence, Jeffress claimed. “But Muslims, when they commit violence, they are acting in accord with what the Quran teaches,” he said.

He went on to call Islam “oppressive” because of the way it treats women, “evil” and “violent.”

Jeffress concluded, to applause: “I believe, as Christians and conservatives, it's time to take off the gloves and stand up and tell the truth about this evil, evil religion.”

Blow said such language is dangerous in a world where American troops are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq to prove that the United States is not an anti-Muslim country.

“Do you think it helps for a prominent pastor back home to disrespect Muhammad as ‘this so-called prophet,’ to refer to him and his followers as pedophiles and to proclaim all of Islam an ‘evil, evil religion’?” Blow wrote. “And how far do you suppose that video clip has already spread across the Muslim world?”

Jeffress took 10 minutes prior to his sermon in the church’s televised Sept. 5 morning worship service to criticize Blow’s column and defend his own comments on Islam. “What I said about Islam two weeks ago … was based on facts,” he said.

“I stand by my statement … that Islam is a false religion built upon a false book that is written by a false prophet,” he continued, to a standing ovation from the congregation.

–Robert Marus is managing editor and Washington bureau chief for Associated Baptist Press.

Related ABP stories:

Kentucky Baptists plan alternative to Quran-burning ceremony (9/8/2010)

Baptists, other local religious leaders protest planned Quran burning (9/8/2010)

Baptist, other religious leaders challenge anti-Muslim rhetoric (8/30/2010)

Interfaith leaders defend ‘mosque’ project; co-leader says move off table (8/25/2010)

Analysis: Legal status of mosque project clear; pluralism’s status not (8/18/2010)

Southern Baptist leader says Obama wrong about Ground Zero mosque (8/16/2010)

Ground Zero controversy part of rise in anti-Islamic sentiment, experts say (8/4/2010)

Tenn. city latest flashpoint in culture wars (7/15/2010)

ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — An independent Baptist who died Aug. 30 in Afghanistan is the first United States Army chaplain to be killed in the line of duty since the Vietnam conflict, according to Army officials.

Capt. Dale Goetz, 43, was killed by a roadside bomb that exploded under his convoy. Goetz had reportedly been in Afghanistan less than a month. Four other soldiers perished alongside him.

Dale Goetz (courtesy Maranatha Baptist Bible College)

An Oregon native, Goetz graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wis. and Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis in Plymouth, Minn. The independent Baptist school not related to the similarly named Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., which relates to American Baptist Churches USA and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. His chaplaincy endorsement was through the American Council of Christian Churches, a coalition of small independent and fundamentalist denominations formed as an alternative to the mainline National Council of Churches.

Goetz was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo. He and his wife, Christy, had three sons, according to a tribute posted on Maranatha Baptist Bible College’s website. 

Jason Parker, Goetz’s pastor at High Country Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, said the late chaplain “was passionate about seeing his soldiers turn from their sin and trust in Christ as their Savior. He wanted men to know the eternal joy of knowing Christ.”

He reportedly joined the Army in 2000, going there from the pastorate of a church in White, S.D. He also served a tour in Iraq.

According to High Country Baptist Church, a trust fund has been established at a Colorado Springs bank in Goetz’s name. Contributions will help “to provide quality, biblically sound books and other printed materials for chaplains to use in their ministry to the soldiers,” a statement about the fund on the church’s website says. “Dale always wished he had more good materials to distribute, so Christy would like to help meet that need for other chaplains through this fund.”

Goetz’s funeral was scheduled for Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. local time at Fort Carson’s Prussman Chapel.

–Robert Marus is managing editor and Washington bureau chief for Associated Baptist Press.