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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

AG Landry sees victory against transgender expansion

By Louisiana Citizens for Job Creators Attorney General Jeff Landry has won yet another legal battle against Governor John Bel Edwards. Landry challenged Edward’s executive order expanding LGBT benefits for state workers. Landry believed the order exceeded Edward’s authority. A three-judge panel of Louisiana’s 1st Circuit Court of Appeal ruled unanimously. The executive order was an unconstitutional attempt to expand state law. “We have stated all along that the Governor must follow the law, just like everybody else," Landry said. "This ruling affirms a notion of basic civics that the Legislature makes the law, not the governor.” We commend Attorney General Landry on his on this victory as he continues to execute his authority as the state’s chief legal officer. … [Read more...]

Conference to urge pastors ‘to be still before God’

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE (LBM) – Organizers of this year’s Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference are hoping to equip participants with the tools needed “to be still before God.” Scheduled Nov. 12-13 at Istrouma Baptist Church, the theme is “Pause,” based on Psalm 46:10. “This theme seems appropriate for such a time as this,” said Pastor’s Conference President Jason McGuffie. “The life of the local church, the lives of pastors seem to become super busy and packed with all kinds of things. “Pausing, or being still, is something that we all need,” continued McGuffie, pastor of First Baptist Church, Tallulah. “Our time together will be one of encouragement and a reminder that Jesus is working in mighty ways in and through the local church into a world that needs Jesus.” The conference begins 6 p.m., Nov. 12, with music led by the North Monroe Baptist Church worship team. Those scheduled to preach are Frank Page, president and chief executive officer, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee; Fred Luter, pastor, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans; Tommy Middleton, director of missions, Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge; Michael Wood, pastor, First Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

Guidelines for the making of motions at Annual Meeting

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – It is important to remember that motions may only deal with one topic at a time. When making a motion, you should be as brief as possible and always begin with the phrase “I move that...” If you are making a subsidiary motion (one that deals with a motion already on the floor), it must be relevant to the motion currently under consideration and not be a motion that is the same or substantially similar to one already dealt with by this convention. If your motion is a privileged motion, it must not be dilatory (unnecessary or made only to delay the conduct of business). If your motion seeks to amend the Louisiana Baptist Convention Articles of Incorporation or Louisiana Baptist Convention Bylaws, please review these documents in advance for special rules regarding the process of amendment prior to offering your motion. A copy of the LBC Articles of Incorporation and LBC Bylaws are found in your Book of Reports. Important steps in wording your motion: A motion should direct that the Convention take some sort of action or refrain from taking some action. Include only the action you want to see taken in your motion. Do not include supporting reasons for adopting your motion in the motion … [Read more...]

NAMB to pay funeral expenses for shooting victims; Gaines, Page to minister to survivors

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas – The North American Mission Board on the behalf of the Southern Baptist Convention has confirmed it has offered to cover funeral expenses for all shooting victims in coordination with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC). Ministering in the wake of the deadliest church shooting in U.S. history, Southern Baptists say they've witnessed "God at work" despite the 26 dead and some 20 others wounded at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Local pastors and field personnel with the SBTC began providing grief counseling within hours of the shooting at First Baptist's morning worship service Nov. 5. Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines and SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page plan to arrive in Sutherland Springs today (Nov. 7) to offer prayer and encouragement. SBTC executive director Jim Richards arrived yesterday (Nov. 6). Gaines, pastor of Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., told Baptist Press SBC leaders want to help First Baptist however they can. "Yesterday as we prayed at Bellevue for the families of those slain and also the others who were wounded at First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs," Gaines said in written … [Read more...]

Sutherland shootings: And darkness did not overcome it

By Gary Ledbetter John’s prologue is my favorite Christmas passage. John shows us in theological outline what happened in Bethlehem’s stable. We know that Jesus is, “the Word,” the light that shines in the darkness, but with somber joy we read that the darkness could not resist or defeat the light. I thought of that passage this week as I considered the darkness manifested November 5 at Sutherland Springs Baptist Church. As I write this, hours after the event, pundits are talking in the background about causes and solutions—“coming together” as a nation, gun laws and our culture of violence. In due respect to those wiser than I, there is no solution by means of inspiration or policy. The darkness hates the light; the darkness hates life; the darkness really hates churches that celebrate the risen Savior. That is not new. And it will not change. But we grieve. My heart lurches within me at the grief of a pastor and his wife who lost their precious daughter to the darkness or the grandparents who never met their unborn grandchild and lost their pregnant daughter. I try to imagine the picture of an entire congregation shot down—wounded or killed. It’s just too horrible. I look ahead to the grief the entire congregation will … [Read more...]