For the week of October 2, 2003
Correction
In the September 25, 2003, issue of the Baptist Message, a typographical error
appeared in the letter Louisiana College trustees approved to be sent to all
prospective faculty members. As printed in the newspaper, the letter contained
a sentence that read, “Over the years our denomination has adopted a statement
of faith that reflects our disbelief system based upon the Bible and this document
is called the Baptist Faith and Message.” Obviously, the sentence should
indicate that Southern Baptists have adopted a statement of faith that reflects
their “belief” system, which is how the letter was approved by Louisiana
College trustees.
Appeal for unity
The president of the Baptist World Alliance appealed to Southern Baptist leaders
to stay with the global organization last week. Speaking to the SBC Executive
Committee, Billy Kim of Korea urged: “Stay with us. Pray with us. Evangelize
with us.” Convention leaders currently are evaluating the denominations
relationship to the alliance, especially since the world group granted membership
to the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In June, convention messengers
also reduced the denominations annual $425,000 in funding for the alliance
by $125,000. In his remarks, Kim thanked Southern Baptists for their role in
creating the Baptist World Alliance in 1904 and for their support through the
years. “I beg you, stay with us, …” he said. “My heart still
cries for the unity of Baptists around the world, so we can do more for the
kingdom of God.” Kim reminded committee members that unity does not mean
uniformity. “Too many think other believers should be just like themselves,”
he said. The truth is there are many differences, Kim added. “But we come
together as a unity, as a force. … We need everybody together who believes
that Jesus is the only savior to go out in the highways and hedges and help
them come to know Christ and baptize them.”
LC Founders Day
Louisiana College has scheduled its annual Founders Day celebration for
Oct. 2 at 10:50 a.m. Founded in 1906, Louisiana College has graduated more than
10,000 students. The only Baptist college in the state, the school also has
gained a national reputation for academic excellence and quality. During its
Founders Day chapel service each year, school trustees honor Distinguished
Service Award recipients. The award is given by trustees for exceptional service
to the church, outstanding achievements in the arts and exemplary service to
philanthropy toward Louisiana College. This years recipients are: Dottie
and the late Herman Hayes of Lafayette, Bill Ichter of Minden and the late Claude
Kirkpatrick of Baton Rouge. For more information, call (318) 487-7401.
Online translation
LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention is presenting
a “pre-release, preview edition” version of the entire Holman Christian
Standard Bible online at www.LifeWay.com. LifeWay recently added the Old Testament
section to the Internet presentation. The entire Bible is scheduled to be released
in hardcopy form next spring. However, a LifeWay spokesperson said the agency
released the online version now as a means of serving church leaders. The new
translation also is being used in some LifeWay Sunday School curriculum beginning
this fall. The translation is the result of a $10 million, seven-year effort.
For details, visit www.lifeway.com/hcsb.
Missions workers
A couple with Louisiana ties recently were appointed as associate missionaries
by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. Robert Alan Brown will
serve as a strategy coordinator in Middle America. He is a native of Monroe
and considers Eastwood Baptist Church in Haughton as his home church. He also
served as minister of missions there. He is married to the former Donna Lorraine
Elliott, a native of Farmerville.
Domestic partnerships
California recently became the second state to award homosexual couples most
of the rights of married couples. Gov. Gray Davis signed a domestic partner
bill into law late last month, but it is not scheduled to take effect until
January 2005. The law does not use the words “marriage” or “civil
union,” but it still grants homosexual couples who are registered with
the state dozens of rights and responsibilities previously given only to married
couples. Vermont also awards most of the rights of married couples through what
it terms “civil unions.” The California law covers a wide range of
areas, including health coverage and parental status. For example, homosexual
couples now will be able to take extended unpaid leave to care for an ill partner.
However, neither Vermonts civil unions nor Californias domestic
partnerships include federal benefits such as Social Security and Medicare.
Pro-family supporters in California say they will file litigation against the
new law.
VeggieTales bankruptcy
The makers of the best-selling VeggieTales video series has filed for Chapter
11 bankruptcy as part of a deal to sell the financially-troubled company. Big
Idea Productions has agreed to sell its assets including copyrights to
Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber and other VeggieTales characters
to Classic Media LLC, which owns or manages media properties such as “Rocky
and Bullwinkle,” “Lassie,” “The Lone Ranger” and “Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Eight of the top 10 best-selling videos in the
Christian retail market are from Big Idea Productions, but the company still
has had cash flow problems in recent years. Layoffs have cut the companies staff
from a high of 200 part-and full-time employees to a current staff of 44. A
spokesperson blamed the companys woes on strategic errors. He also said
the company will continue making VeggieTales videos but plans for a second
film are on hold.
The Gospel of John
The first major theatrical film of an entire book of the Bible adapted on a
word-for-word basis is scheduled to debut in theaters this fall. “The Gospel
of John” is a three-hour epic on the story of Jesus life. The film
is scheduled to open nationwide, beginning Oct. 10. Those who have previewed
the film have praised its adherence to the biblical text and its quality presentation.
The film has been awarded the National Evangelical Associations Seal of
Approval. Ted Baehr of “Movieguide” gave the film his top rating of
four stars.