Yale law professor Stephen Carter tells a story in his book "Civility" about when railroads were introduced into this country.   There was concern about how people would act on trips, jammed together in moving rooms with no escape.   Rules were proposed, articles written, discussions held. Yale law professor Stephen Carter tells a story in his book "Civility" about when railroads were introduced into this country.   There was concern about how people would act on trips, jammed together in moving rooms with no escape.   Rules were proposed, articles written, discussions held.   But in the end, all went well, with few major incidents. People understood - they were in the thing together, and the success of their trip depended on each other.   The world has lost that perspective these days, Carter and others propose. They live and move and drive in isolated fashion and fail to see that their fate rests on one another.   And civility dies.   And the nation becomes a rude place.   Who can deny it? Experience proves the point - and a recent study by the Public Agenda group affirms it. America is becoming increasingly rude and … [Read more...]

Just a matter of days remain in the 2002 Louisiana legislative session - but a few items of moral and social concern remain, Ken Ward said.   Meanwhile, after one of the measures was deferred in House committee, it appears a trio of bills that sought to raise the state tax on barrels of beer are dead for the session, noted Ward, executive director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. Just a matter of days remain in the 2002 Louisiana legislative session - but a few items of moral and social concern remain, Ken Ward said.   Meanwhile, after one of the measures was deferred in House committee, it appears a trio of bills that sought to raise the state tax on barrels of beer are dead for the session, noted Ward, executive director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation.   Meanwhile, House Bill 161 continues to wait committee action. It would levy a tax on charitable pull-tab gambling to help ensure proper regulation by state police.   House Bill 261 has yet to be referred to any committee. It would provide for a 20 year phase out of legalized gambling in Louisiana. However, many observers say it never will be heard this session, Ward noted.   A … [Read more...]

Jim Headrick poses a question - "What would happen if the Lord got in control of marriages and the church became known for healing marriages?"   He offers his own answer - "The church would become relevant and impact the whole community. They probably would no longer be plateaued or declining." Jim Headrick poses a question - "What would happen if the Lord got in control of marriages and the church became known for healing marriages?"   He offers his own answer - "The church would become relevant and impact the whole community. They probably would no longer be plateaued or declining."   And as associate professor of counseling at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Headrick is determined to be a part of making that answer come to pass.   When student families come to New Orleans Seminary, they typically fall into two categories, Headrick noted.   Some are newer-married couples, often with small children, who feel a calling on their lives and leave their parents and siblings to go to seminary.   Others are couples later in their lives who leave careers, children and grandchildren to pursue their call into ministry.   In both cases, the … [Read more...]

An advertisement by a Mr. W.M Gurley in the May 9, 2002 Baptist Message made an appeal for a more decision-oriented approach to evangelism, concluding that if one out of every 15 Southern Baptists would "witness and lead one to the Lord," 1 million people would be saved each year. As compelling as Mr. Gurley’s suggestions may be, much would be gained by rethinking some of his key points. An advertisement by a Mr. W.M Gurley in the May 9, 2002 Baptist Message made an appeal for a more decision-oriented approach to evangelism, concluding that if one out of every 15 Southern Baptists would "witness and lead one to the Lord," 1 million people would be saved each year. As compelling as Mr. Gurley’s suggestions may be, much would be gained by rethinking some of his key points.   While the prospect of 1 million people coming to faith in Christ is exhilarating, such a use of statistics reveals a deficiency in our thinking about evangelism. Since when is one out of every 15 Christians sharing the gospel something to strive for when Scripture makes it clear that all of God’s people are to be equipped for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12)? The early church was a fully-participating body of believers … [Read more...]

For the week of June 6, 2002 Potpourri • DEQUINCY - New Hope church: "Experiencing God; The Musical," June 15-16, 6 p.m.; Glenn Price, minister of music; Jerry Chaddick, pastor.   • HAUGHTON - Koran church: The Texans in concert; June 9, 6:30 p.m.; Hardy Yeatts, minister of music; George Rogers, pastor.   • MONROE - Lock Arbor church: Northeast Association Bass Tournament; banquet; June 14, 6:30 p.m.; Mark Davis, 2001 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, guest speaker; Andy Myrick, pastor; tournament; June 15 at Lake D’Arbonne, 5 a.m. launch and 3 p.m. weigh-in; $40 per boat entry fee; for information or to enter, call Andy Myrick at (318) 343-1558 or (318) 283-8667; Jerry W. Price, director of missions.   • ALEXANDRIA - Calvary church: Amanda Martin in concert; June 9, 6 p.m.; David Brooks, pastor.   • BOYCE - Wilda church: In Harmony in concert; June 7, 7 p.m.; Joey Rudisill, pastor. Youth • WEST MONROE - Highland church: "Father Knows Best" children’s musical; June 16, 10:30 a.m.; Stan Taylor, minister of music; Gordon E. Dean, pastor.   • EUNICE - Acadian center: Liferoads Youth camp; grades 7-12; July 7-11; Glen Whatley, guest speaker; Praise Band, music; $87 per … [Read more...]

Two bills in the United States Congress are well intended by their sponsors and supporters, but they harbor grave dangers that make them unwise in the long run. Two bills in the United States Congress are well intended by their sponsors and supporters, but they harbor grave dangers that make them unwise in the long run.   The May 23 Baptist Message reported hearings on the House of Worship Political Speech Protection Act (H.R.2357), sponsored by Walter Jones, R-N.C., and the Bright-Line Act of 2001 (H.R. 2931), sponsored by Phil Crane, R-Ill. Both of these bills would allow churches to endorse particular political candidates without losing their federal tax exemptions. In addition, Crain’s bill would allow a church to spend up to 20 percent of its annual revenues on political causes, including as much as 5 percent on behalf of - or in opposition to - a particular candidate.   This may appear attractive when particular candidates seem to exemplify Christian virtues and ideals - or non-Christian attitudes and beliefs. Some church leaders may feel those candidates they believe exemplify Christian beliefs deserve to be endorsed and those who do not should be opposed.   But the dangers … [Read more...]

With anger, despair and hunger soaring among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, Southern Baptist volunteers are bringing food - and hope.   "Project Future and Hope" will send up to 20 Southern Baptist volunteer teams into Palestinian towns and refugee camps through the summer months to work with Arab Baptists. With anger, despair and hunger soaring among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, Southern Baptist volunteers are bringing food - and hope.   "Project Future and Hope" will send up to 20 Southern Baptist volunteer teams into Palestinian towns and refugee camps through the summer months to work with Arab Baptists. They will distribute food and minister to families and children traumatized by the increasingly bloody street battles between Palestinian and Israeli forces.   "People are in need, and we want to share God’s love in a concrete way," says Paul Lawrence, a Southern Baptist worker among Palestinian Arabs who is coordinating the project. "There is a real feeling of hopelessness among the Palestinians. They don’t see their lives going anywhere. There’s no future in their dreams."   Months of attacks and counterattacks by Israelis and Palestinians have … [Read more...]

Ansley Union Church recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, but that is not what sets the church apart from other congregations in Louisiana.   Ansley is just what its name implies - a union church. Ansley Union Church recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, but that is not what sets the church apart from other congregations in Louisiana.   Ansley is just what its name implies - a union church.   The congregation is a union of Baptist and Methodist members who meet as one congregation but maintain separate memberships. The Baptist and Methodist pastor rotate and preach two weeks out of each month to the same congregation.   Located in the town of Ansley about 15 miles south of Ruston, the church "still operates pretty much in the same manner as in the beginning," member Shirley Walsworth says.   "We all still worship together every Sunday," she adds. "There has never been any confusion or disagreement between the two denominations. For new members, it takes a while to determine who is Baptist and who is Methodist."   And that is what makes the congregation a "strong union," Baptist pastor Larry Hatcher explains.   "It’s very true," … [Read more...]

Re: Baptist Message report on SBC appointments and nominations, May 9, 2002.   A statement made in the article is not correct. "The Committee on Committees is comprised of a pastor and a layperson from each qualified state convention." Re: Baptist Message report on SBC appointments and nominations, May 9, 2002.   A statement made in the article is not correct. "The Committee on Committees is comprised of a pastor and a layperson from each qualified state convention." This could be the case, but this is not required by the bylaws of the SBC. Bylaw 19 only requires that, "Persons named to the Committee on Committees shall have been resident members for at least one (1) year of Southern Baptist churches either geographically within the states or affiliated with the conventions of the states from which they are appointed."   There is no layperson and pastor requirement for the Committee on Nominations. Bylaw 15 requires that "one (1) person nominated to the Committee on Nominations from each state shall be a person not employed full time by a church or denominational entity." This person could be a layperson or a person like myself, who is not employed by a Baptist church or a … [Read more...]

Congratulations on the excellent editorial in the May 16 edition of the Baptist Message, titled "Search committee can help keep minister from being scapegoat." It would be well for every pastor search committee, in the present or the future, to take the advice of your column seriously. Congratulations on the excellent editorial in the May 16 edition of the Baptist Message, titled "Search committee can help keep minister from being scapegoat." It would be well for every pastor search committee, in the present or the future, to take the advice of your column seriously.   Your recommendation that the "search committee should be open and frank with any prospective pastor" is good advice. The other side of this story is true also, that the prospective pastor should be open and frank with the search committee. There is oftentimes too much hidden below the surface of any negotiations that make strife between a new pastor and the church inevitable. If the church, search committee and prospective pastor cannot be honest with each other, there is little hope of a longterm and successful relationship to ever develop.   Alas, it will be God’s work that will suffer the most from any lack of openness and … [Read more...]