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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

SCOTUS overturns 49-year-old abortion ruling, returns issue to states

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor WASHINGTON (LBM)—The U.S. Supreme Court overturned, June 24, its previous rulings in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) and returned “the authority to regulate abortion … to the people and their elected representatives.” The majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson was authored by Justice Samuel Alito, who was joined by Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas in overturning Roe v. Wade, 5-4. Chief Justice John Roberts joined these justices in upholding Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban, 6-3. Meanwhile, Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor dissented in both cases. In a 66-page syllabus, a summary of the decision distributed ahead of the official opinion, the majority is reported to have concluded, “This Court cannot bring about the permanent resolution of a rancorous national controversy simply by dictating a settlement and telling people to move on. Whatever influence the Court may have on public attitudes must stem from strength of our opinions, not an attempt to exercise ‘raw judicial power’” (a reference to a dissenting opinion in Roe v. Wade, 1973). Noting that it was not the Court’s place to … [Read more...]

Horn ‘gives thanks’ for Supreme Court decision, still more work to do

By Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptists executive director Jesus reminds us that we should always pray and never give up (Luke 18:1). Today’s ruling from the Supreme Court serves as a good reminder of that truth. For almost 50 years, American Christians from various denominational backgrounds have been praying and working towards the day when Roe v Wade would be overturned. That day has arrived. While we celebrate and give thanks for today’s decision, we must remember that the decision of a court does not automatically change the heart of man. Children will continue to be conceived apart from a marriage relationship. We must continue to pray for hearts to change so behaviors will change – and only Jesus can change a heart. Abortion will not go away. It will still be legal in many states. No doubt underground abortion clinics will form. Therefore, we must continue our efforts to lovingly offer alternatives, Godly counsel and assistance. It’s not our judgement that will identify us as God’s children. It’s our love. So today, we give thanks to God and to all who have tirelessly worked to bring us to this point. But we also pray God will change hearts so eventually abortion will become unthinkable. Until such time, we continue … [Read more...]

Messengers adopt SATC recommendations

By Baptist Message staff ANAHEIM, Calif. (LBM) – Southern Baptist Convention messengers, during a June 14 report on the Sexual Abuse Task Force, approved the creation of an Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force and a “ministry check” website. The Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force will be authorized to operate for one year, but the time could be extended by messengers at each subsequent SBC Annual Meeting. The task force will work with entity heads to recommend how to pay for reforms and report about their work to messengers at the SBC Annual Meeting. According to a June 8 article from Baptist Press, Send Relief will provide $3 million to fund the proposed recommendations for sexual abuse reform, and an additional $1 million to establish a survivor care fund to provide trauma care for survivors and trauma training for pastors. Send Relief is a joint compassion ministry of the North American Mission Board and International Mission Board. The task force, in coordination with the Executive Committee, will create a “ministry check” website that will maintain a record of pastors, denominational workers, ministry employees and volunteers who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse and who have been or are associated … [Read more...]

Messengers choose not to abolish ERLC

By Baptist Message staff ANAHEIM, Calif. (LBM) – During the June 15 session of the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting, messengers voted against a recommendation that would have abolished the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. It was among 34 motions presented during the meeting, June 14-15, in Anaheim, California. Joshua Scruggs, a messenger from Bethlehem Baptist Church, Jacksonville, North Carolina, moved for the ERLC’s elimination, saying some of actions of the ERLC have caused “needless divisions among Southern Baptists.” Brent Leatherwood, acting ERLC president, said the entity takes the Gospel and truth to the public square and contended the ERLC was needed more than ever, especially with a decision soon by the U.S. Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that legalized abortion. “I admit that there has been frustration with the various personalities and stances over the years,” he said. “I hear you. When I was given this role, I told our team let us double down on our mission. Because regardless of the personality leading at any given point, our mission remains the same – to equip our churches to ap[1]ply Christian principles to the moral and social problems of … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Richard, wife Lee, Ainsworth is the new traditional worship leader at First Baptist Church, Ruston. Katie, husband Kevin, Dyer director of youth at Elm Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport. Joseph Cumberland resigned as youth minister at Rose Park Baptist Church Darryl Robinson is the new pastor at Ludington Baptist Church, DeRidder. Jason Frazier is the interim pastor at Shreve City, Shreveport. Stacey Morris is the new director for Camp Living Waters, Loranger. Brian Prucey is interim pastor at Woodridge Baptist Church, Shreveport. Faye Scott retires after 30 years as children’s minister at First Baptist Church, New Orleans. HOMECOMING First Baptist Church, Jackson: 187th Homecoming, June 26, 11 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the worship service. Pastor: Joe Nesom. Gray’s … [Read more...]

Sex abuse lawsuits begin to stack up against SBC

By Will Hall, Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – As early as April, lawsuits have been stacking up against the Southern Baptist Convention, then, in large part, due to the Executive Committee having waived attorney-client privilege in response to a messenger’s 2021 motion pertaining to the handling of sexual abuse allegations and survivors. Now, lawsuits are being filed and claimants are being sought in national ads launched by legal firms after the release of the controversial “Report of the Independent Investigation” by Guidepost Solutions, and the subsequent adoption of recommendations from the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force by messengers at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting. LAWSUITS MOUNT In an April 12 report by The Pathway, the news service of Missouri Baptists, Rolland Slade, pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, California, and the then-chairman of the SBC Executive Committee, announced that as of April 1 there were 23 lawsuits against the SBC related to sex abuse issues, with 19 cases in North Carolina and 4 in Virginia. After the release of the Guidepost report, however, scores of law firms began running ads online and elsewhere seeking clients to join class action cases. One ad read: … [Read more...]

2022 Wrap up: Bittersweet legislative results for religious liberty, the unborn, women’s sports, pot

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM)—Louisianan Christians and social conservatives can celebrate several sweet victories won during the 2022 Regular Session of the legislature, but several developments likely will leave a bitter taste. PIVOTAL ISSUES Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed H.B. 953 which would have improved R.S. 13:5233, the state’s Preservation of Religious Freedom Act, by preventing the state from putting a greater burden on houses of worship than it enforces on any secular business, service, or assembly. In a letter to House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, Edwards said that the bill “would go far beyond” the lawful protections of religious liberty deemed constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, adding that “a regulation would fail under this bill if it treats any business or entity differently than religious organizations, not just comparable entities. This would lead to unfair, and, in the case of emergencies, a potential danger to the public.” Rep. Alan Seabaugh, a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport and the sponsor of the legislation, rejected the governor’s rationale, saying such logic had already been rejected by the Louisiana Supreme Court in a case that … [Read more...]

Messengers adopt resolutions, budgets and elect new officers

ANAHEIM, Calif. (LBM) – Messengers to the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting enjoyed fellowship and inspiring worship, but also conducted a great deal of  important business, June 14-15, in Anaheim, California. ELECTIONS Bart Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church, Farmersville, Texas, was elected SBC president, winning a runoff vote against Florida Pastor Tom Ascol by a margin of 1,229 votes, 3,401 votes (60.87 percent) to 2,172 (38.88 percent). In the first round of voting, Barber received 3,258 votes, or 47.58 percent compared to Ascol’s (pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, Fla.), 2,332 votes, or 34.06 percent; Frank Cox’s (pastor, North Metro Baptist Church, Lawrenceville, Ga.), 887 votes, or 12.95 percent; and Robin Hadaway’s (professor, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Mo.), 340 votes, or 4.97 percent. In other elections, messengers elected Victor Chayasirisobhon (pastor, Faith Fellowship Church, LaPalma, California) first vice-president; Alex Sands (pastor, Kingdom Life Church in Simpsonville, South Caorlina) second vice-president; Don Currence (administrative pastor, First Baptist Church, Ozark, Missouri), registration secretary; and Nathan Finn (provost, North … [Read more...]

Former Wildcat player Phillips named LCU women’s basketball coach

By Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Christian University has named former Wildcat basketball player Anna Phillips as its new head women’s basketball coach. “I am going to show up every day and give this team and school everything that I have,” Phillips said in a new conference June 16. “Louisiana Christian University basketball is part of who I am today. And I’m looking forward to building towards a championship as well as transforming lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ while making sure each student athlete succeeds on and off the court.” Phillips helped lead then-Louisiana College to a 41-34 record and qualify for the American Southwest Conference Tournament twice when she played for the program (2013-2016). After graduation, she joined the team as its academic and community service coordinator, and operated team camps. After LC, Phillips was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas (2017-2018) and head women’s basketball coach at Grace Christian School in Alexandria (2018-2019). Most recently, Phillips was head coach of Winnfield High School, her alma mater. During her time there, she led Winnfield to the 2A state playoffs during the three seasons she … [Read more...]

False claim secretly deleted from pro-gay Guidepost’s report

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM)—A false claim was secretly edited out of the highly controversial, May 15, “Report of the Independent Investigation,” published by Guidepost Solutions, which now has revealed its pro-gay sympathies, tweeting July 6 that it is “proud to be an ally to our LGBTQ+ community.” It is the second pro-gay group hired by the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to deal with accusations of sexual abuse coverup. News sources previously uncovered that Bradley, a regional law firm that now represents the SBC EC, supports the Nashville gay pride festival and the national bar association for LGBT legal professionals. SECRETS The now-debunked accusation in the report was deleted on or before June 3, without an editor’s note to explain the change. The controversy concerned an exchange between Jim Richards, then the executive director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, and Philip Bethancourt, then the executive vice president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Guidepost described the conversation on page 105 of the report with a statement that “divisions within SBC leadership were clear,” … [Read more...]