New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees recently approved the largest budget in seminary history, created a new specialization in the master of divinity program and endorsed two new graduate certificates to aid international missionary candidates. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees recently approved the largest budget in seminary history, created a new specialization in the master of divinity program and endorsed two new graduate certificates to aid international missionary candidates. School trustees approved a budget of $18.3 million, a $1.3 million increase from the current year. Due to the establishment of two endowed faculty chairs last year, trustees were able to raise the budget with only slight increases in tuition and fees. “Once again, the Cooperative Program will contribute almost 50 percent of the funds for the operating budget of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,” President Chuck Kelley said. “Every dollar that comes to us from the Cooperative Program and from donors who think the training of ministers and missionaries is important is a dollar our students do not have to pay in fees. “We can never say thank you enough to God for his provision and to Southern … [Read more...]

“Can a night out bowling be sacred?” The heading of the column by Kay Warren, wife of well-known pastor Rick Warren, did its job – it caught my attention. “Can a night out bowling be sacred?” The heading of the column by Kay Warren, wife of well-known pastor Rick Warren, did its job – it caught my attention. In the column, Kay Warren encouraged ministers to set one night a week as “family night” and enforce it as something sacred. And before I go any further, church members should be very aware of the unique needs of a minister’s family at this point and help ensure the minister’s family has this special night. “Family night became sacred on our calendar,” Warren states. “No one was allowed to schedule other meetings or get distracted in any way.” Certainly, some folks would severely question the “sacredness” of a night of bowling, but Warren makes great sense. Indeed, both she and her husband grew up as pastors’ kids and knew how ministry constantly demands a minister’s time. “There’s always someone else who needs to hear about Christ and always someone else you need to serve,” she notes in the column. And she could have mentioned the unyielding expectations of a congregation to meet the needs they … [Read more...]

Week of May 2, 2005 LC Science Institute Louisiana College has scheduled its first-ever summer Science Institute for June 6-8. The event is open to high school students around the state.  “We are inviting young scientists – students who have a general interest in the sciences – to campus this summer for three days of workshops and activities to give them a greater understanding of the career opportunities available to them through the sciences,” said Wade Warren, coordinator of the LC Department of Biology. The institute schedule features lecture series with medical and academic professionals, interaction with peers and sessions with various Louisiana College personnel, among other things. All applicants must submit an application, an official copy of his or her high school transcript, a written summary of his or her career goals and a $50 non-refundable deposit. Total cost of the institute is $200. Space is limited, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. For information, persons should call (318) 487-7611 or e-mail warren@lacollege.edu. Belgian euthanasia A recent survey of Belgian doctors found 79 percent believed it was their duty to speed up death for critically-ill babies when … [Read more...]

The regular-scheduled business meeting of First Baptist Church of Many was held on Wednesday, April 20. At this meeting, the church membership unanimously voted to oppose moving the Baptist Message back under the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board structure and authority. Against moving paper The regular-scheduled business meeting of First Baptist Church of Many was held on Wednesday, April 20. At this meeting, the church membership unanimously voted to oppose moving the Baptist Message back under the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board structure and authority. The membership of First Baptist Church of Many strongly believes in the free and unfettered flow of news and information pertaining to our state convention. This will be best accomplished by a state newspaper independent of the control of the Executive Board and the executive director. Steven Kelly, Pastor First Baptist Church, Many … [Read more...]

Week in and week out, hundreds of Louisiana Baptists faithfully handle the offerings and finances of their churches with integrity and honesty. However, some churches are not so fortunate and must deal with persons who have stolen funds – sometimes exorbitant amounts – from their coffers. Note: Week in and week out, hundreds of Louisiana Baptists faithfully handle the offerings and finances of their churches with integrity and honesty. However, some churches are not so fortunate and must deal with persons who have stolen funds – sometimes exorbitant amounts – from their coffers. While celebrating the faithful work of so many, the Baptist Message offers the following article as a word of warning and as a reminder to churches to implement sensible procedures for the handling of funds. Such procedures protect the church as well as those handling funds from actual – or accused – thefts. When priest Brian Lisowski was caught with an alleged prostitute last summer, parishioners at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic church in Chicago began to suspect their pastor had been keeping secrets from them. They were right. He had a million of them. When the Roman Catholic priest resigned in July 2004, the Archdiocese … [Read more...]

In a study released in the April edition of Pediatrics journal, one in five ninth-graders said they have had oral sex and almost one-third said they intend to try it during the next six months. In a study released in the April edition of Pediatrics journal, one in five ninth-graders said they have had oral sex and almost one-third said they intend to try it during the next six months. However, since publication of the article, cautions about the study have been raised by co-founders of the True Love Waits sexual abstinence movements and a New York Times newspaper columnist. The published study was based on a survey of 580 ethnically diverse ninth-graders in two California public high schools. Overall, 20 percent of those surveyed said they had engaged in oral sex, compared to 14 percent who said they had engaged in sexual intercourse. The study concluded that teenagers view oral sex as less risky, more common and more acceptable than intercourse. “Given the suggestion that adolescents do not view oral sex as sex and see oral sex as a way of preserving their virginity while still gaining intimacy and sexual pleasure, they are likely to interpret sexual health messages as referring to vaginal sex,” said … [Read more...]