ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist personnel have assembled a collection of guidelines for LBC affiliated churches to access to assist them in protecting themselves from liabilities arising from the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that overturned the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. These sample policies cover a church’s statement of faith, beliefs about marriage as well as qualifications for and expectations of members, leaders, volunteers and workers. Although each has been thoroughly reviewed, there are limitations explained in the notes at the bottom of this article. Additional resources for pastors and churches are posted on www.LouisianaBaptists.org, including a link to a handbook produced by the Alliance Defending Freedom which offers an Appendix A that contains other sample resources for churches as well for Christian schools and not-for-profit ministries. You may access the ADF handbook “Protecting Your Ministry” directly using this URL: http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/content/campaign/2014/church/SOGI-Handbook.pdf SUGGESTED POLICIES FOR LOUISIANA BAPTIST CHURCHES CONCERNING MARRIAGE & MEMBERSHIP Statement of Faith: This church … [Read more...]
God moves with numerous baptisms at Trinity Baptist
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAKE CHARLES – Trinity Baptist Church planned to baptize 24 people on June 28, as a special celebration of how God has blessed the congregation’s evangelism efforts so far this year. But by the time the last person came out of the baptismal waters, 46 had been obedient to the Holy Spirit, joining 108 others who have been baptized at Trinity this year. “When people started responding to that call to come, everyone stood up cheering and clapping,” said Greg Bath, minister of evangelism at Trinity. “It was unbelievable. During our second service of the day, we were here way past 12:00 (when the service was scheduled to end) and no one had left. “No one wanted to leave,” he added. “They wanted to see God moving.” The special emphasis, designated as Declaration Celebration, was promoted by the staff for several months. Nine new believers were scheduled for baptism during the first worship service, with 15 slated in the second. But time also was reserved for additional baptisms, and, just in case, TBC Pastor Steve James had brought a bag with t-shirts, shorts and towels to accommodate those who made decisions that day. The newly baptized members represented a broad range … [Read more...]
If we follow Jesus, persecution is inevitable – are you ready?
By Sherwon Williamson I’m sure by now everyone is aware of the recent Supreme Court decision legalizing homosexual marriage across the nation. If you have turned on a TV or logged on to the internet in the past few days you are also aware of the outpouring of opinions from people on both sides of the issue. While the issue of homosexuality is an important and pertinent topic of discussion, and one of which I am convinced that Scripture is very clear on, it is not the topic I want to discuss now. I want to talk about something that I believe is a little deeper and that some people may not even realize yet. That something is persecution. When was the last time you thought about persecution? When was the last time you thought about it in the context of you or your family being persecuted right here at home? Sadly, I must confess this is not a topic I meditate on often. This is not something that we experience very often here in the United States, at least not blatantly, and we have taken that freedom for granted. I believe that is freedom that we will find more and more lacking in the coming years. The legalization of homosexual marriage is not the root issue. After all, homosexuality is simply an expression … [Read more...]
Pastor wants more churches to fly Christian flag above the American flag
By K. Allan Blume, Biblical-Recorder SHELBY, N.C. (BP) - North Carolina pastor Rit Varriale wants to see churches fly the Christian flag above the American flag as a biblical statement, reversing flag etiquette that calls for the American flag to be flown in the prominent position. Varriale, as senior pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C., said the church installed its first-ever flagpole in order to raise the two flags in a special ceremony after morning worship on Sunday (July 5) in which the Christian flag was raised in the higher position -- which prompted interviews by Charlotte-area NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates. "If you stop and think about it, [flag etiquette] is inconsistent with what the Bible teaches us," Varriale said. "We are first and foremost Christians who are called to serve the living God." Varriale said the national motto of the United States, "In God we trust," signed into law in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, acknowledges there is a Divine Being who is the greatest authority and to whom each person is accountable. "Before our accountability to government is our accountability to God," the pastor said. "So from a Christian perspective, our flag etiquette is completely … [Read more...]
Two churches burned after Nigeria mosque bombing
By Staff, Morning Star News JOS, Nigeria (BP) - The bombing of a mosque by the terrorist group Boko Haram sparked destruction at two churches in Jos, a major city in Nigeria’s north-central state of Plateau. The churches were attacked the night of July 5 amid a week of violence attributed to Boko Haram in which as many as 300 people were killed, both Muslims and Christians. The terrorist group’s stated aim is to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout the country. An initial bomb was detonated at a shopping complex near the University of Jos while the second blast targeted the Yan Taya Mosque just minutes later, according to a report from a pastor in Jos relayed to Baptist Press. The explosion at the mosque, according to the information received from the pastor in Jos, has been widely seen as direct retaliation against Sheikh Sani Yahaya, who has encouraged Muslims to coexist peacefully with those who hold other religious beliefs. Subsequently, a crowd of Muslims attacked St. Michael's Parish of the First African Church Mission and, near the mosque, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Good News Church. The attacks on the church buildings occurred at about 11 p.m. Isaiah Oluwagbayibi, pastor at St. Michael's, … [Read more...]
Cooperative Program 1.5 percent above projection at Fiscal Year three-quarter mark
By Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 1.45 percent above the year-to-date SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget projection, and 1.24 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page. The year-to-date total represents money received by the Executive Committee by the close of the last business day of June and includes receipts from state conventions, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2014-15 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. The $143,051,247.48 received by the Executive Committee for the first nine months of the fiscal year, Oct. 1 through June 30, for distribution through the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget represents 101.45 percent of the $141,000,000.00 year-to-date budgeted projection to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. The total is $1,752,801.88 or 1.24 percent more than the $141,298,445.60 received through the end of June 2014. The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ channel of giving … [Read more...]
Baylor: homosexuality no longer in conduct policy
By David Roach, Baptist Press WACO, Texas (BP) - Baylor University has deleted an affirmation of heterosexual marriage from its policy on sexual conduct as well as a specific prohibition of "homosexual acts." A university spokeswoman told Baptist Press the revised policy will be interpreted in a manner consistent with the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message, including the 1998 amendment defining marriage as "the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime." Baylor is the world's largest Baptist university and cooperates with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The BGCT elects 25 percent of the university's board of regents and planned to send Baylor $353,125 this year, according to the convention's 2015 Missions and Ministries Budget. "A review of the sexual conduct policy had been contemplated over the last couple of years," Lori Fogleman, Baylor assistant vice president for media communications, told BP in an email. "These changes were made because we didn't believe the language [of the previous policy] reflected Baylor's caring community. We are pleased with the recent changes to the policy language and that it states more plainly the expectations of the university." The new policy, … [Read more...]
Baptist universities appeal to Supreme Court
By Art Toalston and Bonnie Pritchett, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) - Houston Baptist University and East Texas Baptist University are appealing to the Supreme Court in challenging the Obamacare mandate to provide insurance coverage encompassing abortion-inducing drugs. HBU and ETBU in conjunction with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty along with Westminster Theological Seminary filed a petition July 8 with the high court in response to a June 22 ruling by a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that the mandate did not and, likely, would not "substantially burden their religious exercise." In all, 56 cases involving 140 nonprofit plaintiffs have been filed against the mandate, according to the Becket Fund. Among various cases in the news is a last-minute temporary injunction granted to Little Sisters of the Poor from facing enforcement of the mandate in January 2014. Two other Baptist entities -- GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention and Truett-McConnell College in Georgia -- are involved in a separate challenge (GuideStone v. Sebelius), joined by Reaching Souls International, an Oklahoma-based missions organization. A federal district judge's injunction blocking … [Read more...]
LC and Rapides Parish School Board strike dual enrollment agreement
By Norm Miller, LC Communications PINEVILLE - The Rapides Parish School Board voted July 7 to partner with Louisiana College to allow qualified high school students to enroll at the college in up to six hours of college courses per semester. “We are pleased almost beyond words with this development,” said Dr. Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College. “We are grateful for the cooperation of board president Keith Breazeale and all the board members, and for their unified vision of advancing the educational quality and content for local residents. Louisiana College is elated to be a part of that equation.” Dual enrollment permits qualified high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college courses that, when successfully completed will apply to the students’ high school and college credit hours simultaneously. Limited enrollment for high school sophomores may be available, but will require the high school principal’s recommendation. Dual enrollment will be available to homeschooled students whose curricula meet Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements. “The academic and economic benefits of our agreement are remarkable,” Brewer said. “Those benefitting the most from this include … [Read more...]
First West hires new executive pastor
First West hires new executive pastor WEST MONROE – First West has a former Tennessee executive pastor to the same position. Formerly at First Baptist Church in Collierville, Tenn., Tim Spencer was hired as the new executive pastor of First West, the church announced on July 5. As executive pastor, Spencer will oversee the daily operations of First West, as well as provide leadership to its staff and various ministries. Spencer, who has been married to his wife Suzy for 21 years, said his family is excited about the future at the Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association church. “What a blessing to join the incredible work and ministry God is doing at First West,” Spencer said in a news release. “Suzy and I are excited about working with Lead Pastor Michael Wood and entire leadership team to share God’s love in Northeast Louisiana, New Orleans and the world. We are praying for great things. Things that only God can do. We have the faithful expectation that First West will be energized for Christ-centered worship, community and service.” Spencer has served at First Baptist Collierville since June 2000. In addition to executive pastor, Spencer has served as associate pastor of worship as well as leading key … [Read more...]
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