For the week of November 28, 2002
Best colleges
Forty-five members of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges
and Schools have been listed among the nations best in the 2003 annual
survey by U.S. News and World Report. Louisiana College was among those included
in the list. It was listed 20th in the South among Best Comprehensive Colleges
– Bachelors Degrees. Two Association of Southern Baptist Colleges
and Schools also were ranked in the top 10 of schools with the highest graduation
rates. U.S. News & World Report studied more than 1,400 institutions scattered
across the United States. The rankings were determined by analyzing data gathered
in seven categories of information – peer assessment; graduation and retention
rates; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; and alumni
giving.
Most influential pastor
Southern Baptist pastor Rick Warren appears on the cover of
the Nov. 18 issue of Christianity Today, above a headline stating he may be
the most influential pastor in the country. The magazines seven-page spread
cites the influence of Warrens “Purpose Driven” model, one that
is used in churches around the globe. Warren has trained about 180,000 pastors
through his “Purpose Driven Church” seminars, and his book of the
same name has been a best-seller since its release in 1995. Warren is pastor
of Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif. Among the largest
of Southern Baptist churches, Warren and his wife, Kay, started Saddleback 22
years ago in their living room with a handful of people. The article also cites
some “SaddleFacts,” such as the fact that sermons at the church often
last 45 minutes to an hour and the fact that Saddleback practices church discipline
– removing hundreds of members for non-participation or unrepented sin.
Ten Commandments
A federal court has given Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore 30
days to remove a 5,300-pound granite monument of the Ten Commandments from the
rotunda of the state judicial building. In the ruling, Judge Myron Thompson
said he does not believe all Ten Commandments displays in government buildings
are illegal but that this monument crosses the line “between the permissible
and the impermissible.” Moore had the monument placed in the building in
the middle of the night last year, without knowledge or consent of his fellow
justices. Moore argued that the commandments are the moral foundation of American
law and that the monument does not force anyone to follow his religious beliefs.
Thompson agreed the Ten Commandments are an important source of law but disagreed
with the way the chief justice went about recognizing that source.
Abstinence settlement
A lawsuit against the Louisiana government-funded program to
promote sexual abstinence among young people has been settled. The settlement
comes after the program was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union, and
a judge ruled that some of the grants had been used to promote religion. At
that time, the judge ordered that no more Governors Program on Abstinence
grants be awarded to groups or persons that convey religious messages. That
ruling was being appealed when the settlement was reached. It stipulates that
grant recipients will be required to submit monthly reporting forms to certify
that money they received was not used to fund religious activities. In addition,
state officials will conduct quarterly reviews of funded programs. Those found
using grants to promote religion will not have funding renewed. The original
lawsuit had not sought an end to the abstinence program but a prohibition against
using funds for religious purposes.
Annuity Board change
Southern Baptist Annuity Board officials have announced an
upcoming change to a new third party administrator. Whereas in the past, only
70 percent of medical plan participants had access to discounts, expanded networks
through the new arrangement will make discounts available to 90 percent of participants,
officials said. A well baby care benefit will be added as well. A lower-cost
fourth level of the comprehensive medical plan also will be available. This
plan will have higher deductibles and co-pays with a premium that is 55 percent
of the level one premium.
Internet porn case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide if Congress can
require public libraries to install filters on their computers to block pornography.
The justices will review a lower-court decision that struck down a portion of
the Childrens Internet Protection Act. A three-judge panel ruled in May
the law violated the Constitution by mandating public libraries that receive
government Internet discounts maintain blocking software. The decision did not
overturn the laws application to libraries in public schools. The high
court may hear oral arguments on the matter early next year and issue an opinion
by summer.
Did you know?
A total of 125,000 houses in some 2,000 communities have been built around
the world by Habitat for Humanity International, providing affordable shelter
for more than 500,000 people.