The adopted platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties differ clearly on three major social issues - abortion, embryonic stem cell research and a constitutional marriage amendment. The adopted platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties differ clearly on three major social issues - abortion, embryonic stem cell research and a constitutional marriage amendment.   The difference on abortion is not new. As in past platforms, the Republican platform opposes abortion while the Democratic statement embraces the historic Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.   However, in stem cell research and a marriage amendment, this year’s political party platforms address two new headline issues as well.   The Republican platform supports President George Bush’s restrictions on public funding for embryonic stem cell research, while the Democratic platform backs a reversal of the Bush policy.   The Republican platform also supports the president’s call for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, while the Democratic platform opposes it.   Although non-binding, party platforms provide an overview of the parties’ positions … [Read more...]

Just as the current presidential election is shaping up as a highly-polarized event, American views on a range of issues related to politics, religion and moral values appear just as divided. Just as the current presidential election is shaping up as a highly-polarized event, American views on a range of issues related to politics, religion and moral values appear just as divided.   Consider:   • More Americans view the Republican Party rather than the Democratic Party as friendly toward religion. However, they also say the two presidential candidates mention their faith about the right amount.   • Most American voters voice comfort with President George Bush’s reliance on religious beliefs in making policy decisions. However, they also oppose too much involvement by churches in politics.   • The debate regarding stem-cell research is growing - while the issue of a constitutional amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman ranks low in terms of priorities. However, moral issues could play a key role in the election, with 64 percent of American voters saying such matters will be very important in how they cast a ballot.   Meanwhile, interest in … [Read more...]

For the week of September 16, 2004 Church conflict seminar   The Louisiana Baptist Church-Minister Relations Department has scheduled a one-day session on church conflict for Oct. 21 at the Baptist Building in Alexandria. The theme of the session is "Transforming Your Church: Building a Culture of Peace." The scheduled leader is Ken Sande, executive director of Peacemaker Ministries, which works to help churches across the nation deal with conflict in a biblical manner. The Oct. 21 session is set to begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 4:30. Lunch is included in the $10 per person cost. Persons are asked to register by Oct. 14 by sending personal and contact information and the registration fee to : Louisiana Baptist Convention, Attn: Church-Minister Relations, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309. Information should include name, address, phone number, occupation, church affiliation and church role. For information, call (800) 622-6549 or (318) 448-3402.   Disaster relief   The first two dozen Southern Baptist disaster relief units were deployed on Sept. 7 to help thousands of Floridians reeling from the devastation left by Hurricane Frances, the second hurricane to hit the state in less … [Read more...]

Baptists will communicate. They will either communicate through reliable channels or communicate through rumors and innuendo. And solid communication is part of the fuel that moves Baptists to do their best. Baptists will communicate. They will either communicate through reliable channels or communicate through rumors and innuendo. And solid communication is part of the fuel that moves Baptists to do their best.   For more than 100 years, the Baptist Message has worked to be a reliable, trustworthy channel of communication among Louisiana Baptists. In spite of pressures, sometimes subtle and sometimes not so subtle, to do otherwise, the Baptist Message has tried to remain true to the purposes and the people of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.   Unfortunately, some people judge a state Baptist paper totally on how the paper reports a controversy, especially if the paper covers the controversy with a "slant" that agrees with that reader’s. While controversies have sometimes dominated the thinking - even the actions - of some Louisiana and Southern Baptists, those controversies have never been the purposes of the conventions. A convention - and the news and … [Read more...]

Stephen Baldwin has just told a packed auditorium of students in Dallas about his conversion to Christ following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. Stephen Baldwin has just told a packed auditorium of students in Dallas about his conversion to Christ following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks.   In the hallway next to the stage, a purple-haired teenager, probably 12 or 13 with tears flowing, bends Baldwin’s ears for several minutes before the veteran actor whisks him downstairs to the hospitality room to talk. After a 15-20-minute conversation, Baldwin gathers several others around and prays with the student.   "Good luck, man," the teenager tells Baldwin as he stands to leave.   "I don’t need luck, bro," Baldwin says, grinning. "I’ve got Jesus."   That fact is curious to some.   Baldwin is the youngest of a family acting clan - with older brothers Alec, Billy and Daniel - and a veteran of more than 60 movies, including "The Usual Suspects" and "8 Seconds." He also has been on television shows such as "The Young Riders," "Celebrity Mole" and "Fear Factor."   His conversion and his work in producing an "extreme sports" DVD to reach kids in the … [Read more...]

Pastor Tom Carlton’s interest in the Youth Challenge Program at Camp Minden began in May 2003, after he toured the facility during a pastors’ day. Pastor Tom Carlton’s interest in the Youth Challenge Program at Camp Minden began in May 2003, after he toured the facility during a pastors’ day.   Little did he know what his church’s involvement in the program would mean for the at-risk youth or for his Louisiana Baptist congregation.   When Carlton initially proposed that First Baptist Church of Doyline participate in the program for at-risk youth - known as cadets - his congregation expressed minimal interest.   However, after their first trip to the facility last October, he says the church never has been the same.   "It’s been phenomenal," Carlton says. "The program has been a shot in the arm for our church. It’s amazing for it to drop in our laps like it has done."   Janice Nelson agrees.   "I can’t even describe the feeling you walk away with after helping with the (Youth Challenge Program) each time," adds Nelson, a member at First Baptist Church of Doyline. "From my viewpoint, it’s been the beginning of a spiritual awakening at this … [Read more...]

September 19 is marked on Louisiana Baptist Convention calendars as Louisiana Baptist Message Sunday. In recognition of that emphasis, the following article looks at the ministry of the state newspaper. An accompanying article proposes 10 ways Louisiana Baptists can support the ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Message. Note: September 19 is marked on Louisiana Baptist Convention calendars as Louisiana Baptist Message Sunday. In recognition of that emphasis, the following article looks at the ministry of the state newspaper. An accompanying article proposes 10 ways Louisiana Baptists can support the ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Message.   After three decades as a Southern Baptist journalist, Lynn P. Clayton still is perplexed about one thing.   Why is not every Baptist a subscriber to his or her state newspaper?   "Why some Baptist churches choose to have their members ignorant of the wonderful things God is doing through their denomination has been - and will be - a profound mystery to me," said Clayton, who has served as editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message for 27 years.   For Clayton, the question of whether or not to subscribe to a state newspaper has only one … [Read more...]

The Louisiana Legislature addressed several issues of moral and social concerns this summer - but state voters will decide one regarding same-sex marriage this month The Louisiana Legislature addressed several issues of moral and social concerns this summer - but state voters will decide one regarding same-sex marriage this month   Note: Each year, following the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature, the governor has until near the end of August to sign or veto measures approved by legislators. Once that deadline has passed, the Louisiana Baptist Message then offers a look back at the session and how it fared related to key moral and social issues.   As far as the most-recent session of the Louisiana Legislature goes, Ken Ward said he sees some hopeful signs.   Indeed, when it comes to evaluating the session in terms of moral and social concerns, Ward offers solid passing grades. And when it comes to emerging trends, he offers a few solid words of hope.   "If you look at the session in regards to the top five moral and social concern issues and take out the issue of human cloning, I’d give the session a B or even a B-plus," said Ward, executive director of the … [Read more...]

Louisiana cannot be the first to pass a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages - but it is expected to become the second on Sept. 18. Louisiana cannot be the first to pass a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages - but it is expected to become the second on Sept. 18.   On that day, Louisiana residents will be asked to vote on a state constitutional amendment, explicitly designed to protect the traditional definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman.   Most observers expect the proposed constitutional amendment to pass by an easy margin, perhaps with as much as 70 percent of the vote.   That would move the state into select company. On Aug. 3, Missouri became the first state in the nation to pass a constitutional amendment on marriage.   A record number of state voters turned out for the Missouri election - and 71 percent approved the marriage statement. Only one other non-controversial ballot issue ever had gained a wider margin of victory in the state.   In Louisiana, it is uncertain how many voters will turn out for the election, typically an open primary date.   However, the presence of the amendment on the ballot … [Read more...]

Gasping for breath after finishing a series of relay games to gather clues, 10-year-old Jena Gray tucked a loose strand of red hair behind her ear. Gasping for breath after finishing a series of relay games to gather clues, 10-year-old Jena Gray tucked a loose strand of red hair behind her ear.   She and her friends peered intently at a pile of index cards strewn together on the grass in the field. They quickly selected a password and ran up a steep hill to an auditorium door. Knocking, they excitedly called out the word for access inside: "God!"   But the door stayed shut.   After an emergency huddle, team members tried another password from those proposed: "Soccer!"   This time, the group was allowed entrance.   "Were you surprised when you couldn’t use ‘God’ as the password to get in?" a camp counselor asked from a brightly-lit stage as more than 200 kids found their seats. "There are a lot of countries in the world today that won’t let people in just to talk about God.   "But they will let people in to play sports," the counselor continued. "Christians can share the love of God and share Jesus by playing and teaching sports in these … [Read more...]