Week of April 25, 2005 Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at Gulf Coast Exploreum in Mobile, Ala., will remain until May 8 instead of closing at the end of April as planned. More than 130,000 persons have visited the exhibit, the largest display of Dead Sea Scrolls ever in the United States. The turnout led exhibitors to add two weeks to the display run. The exhibit hall is running at about 90 percent to 95 percent capacity almost every hour of the day. For ticket information, call (877) 377-7469. Marriage ruling The Oregon Supreme Court recently ruled that marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples last year are invalid, while refusing to take up the issue of civil unions. The Oregon case began in March 2004 when Multnomah County – the state’s most populous county – began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The state refused to recognize the licenses and said they were invalid. Liberal and homosexual activist groups then sued the state, seeking recognition of the licenses, which numbered more than 3,000. They also requested that same-sex marriages be legalized statewide. The controversy sparked a grassroots movement to pass a constitutional marriage amendment in Oregon banning … [Read more...]

Though I appreciate the spirit with which our Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director, David Hankins, has explained his request, I do not support the idea that the Louisiana Baptist Message would move back under state Executive Board structure and authority. Though I appreciate the spirit with which our Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director, David Hankins, has explained his request, I do not support the idea that the Louisiana Baptist Message would move back under state Executive Board structure and authority. Were the state paper nothing more than a public relations instrument for the Executive Board, this would make sense. In fact, the Baptist Message serves purposes beyond state convention public relations. Baptists of Louisiana want a paper they can count on as a balanced and reliable source of news and information. Not only do they want this, they NEED this. After all, for Baptist polity to work as intended, Baptist Christians and churches must be informed. This happens best when the state paper has the freedom to tell all sides of the story. We want timely information about what’s coming up. We want inspiring stories about good things that happen. We also want fair reporting when … [Read more...]

In 1990, the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee fired Baptist Press editors Al Shackleford and Dan Martin because they would not stop writing articles about the fundamentalist takeover effort; they could not be controlled. In 1990, the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee fired Baptist Press editors Al Shackleford and Dan Martin because they would not stop writing articles about the fundamentalist takeover effort; they could not be controlled. The Executive    Committee took over the Baptist Press, and it became a public relations organ for the SBC.  We, the people, lost our hope for objective reporting from the official news agency of the SBC. In an article in the April 13th issue of the Baptist Message (“LBC leader urges key change for Baptist Message”), Louisiana Baptists hear echoes of the SBC action. Executive Director David Hankins is proposing to “take over” the Baptist Message. He attempts to justify his actions under the guise of “leadership” and “fiscal responsibility.” Hankins argues his action is not about control but leadership. Yet, he threatens to proceed with his plans regardless of what Baptist Message trustees decide and to de-fund the paper if they do not yield to … [Read more...]

The Terri Shiavo tragedy threw an exceedingly bright spotlight upon a dilemma that countless families across our nation face everyday – to what extent should a family go to sustain the life of a person who is considered “terminally” ill or is unable to care for one’s basic requirements of life? The Terri Shiavo tragedy threw an exceedingly bright spotlight upon a dilemma that countless families across our nation face everyday – to what extent should a family go to sustain the life of a person who is considered “terminally” ill or is unable to care for one’s basic requirements of life? And who makes such decisions? Ideally, the person’s whose life is at stake should make these decisions. But as was the case with Terri Shaivo, the person is not always able to articulate his or her wishes at the time the actual decisions must be made. There is a way one can communicate his or her wishes, and that is by prayerfully deciding before the crisis arrives and, then, clearly constructing documents that make clear that wish.  That is why, in this issue, the Baptist Message staff has gathered information and forms to help anyone without such documents prepare them. Three different times in my life, I have had … [Read more...]

The scene at the recent state Louisiana Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston was one Ed Jelks may never forget. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter The scene at the recent state Louisiana Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston was one Ed Jelks may never forget. During the meeting’s last session, Jelks was recognized for serving 25 years as director of the Louisiana Baptist Church Builders, an organization that constructs buildings for mission churches and organizations at a low cost. One by one, pastors and church leaders who were impacted by the Baptist Builders walked on stage, signing their name on the roof of a miniature church. The church was constructed by a team of Baptist Builders on the stage as Louisiana Baptist Convention Women’s Ministry and Missions Ministry Director Cindy Townsend interviewed Jelks about his involvement with the ministry. Then, as persons made their way onto the stage, women held candles throughout the sanctuary, while the song “Go Light Your World” played in the background. At the same time, other individuals formed a prayer circle around Jelks. However, those expressing … [Read more...]

When a massive bomb exploded outside a federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, Baptists felt the repercussions. When a massive bomb exploded outside a federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, Baptists felt the repercussions. Not only were Southern Baptists among the victims of the blast, but they quickly were on the scene to offer help and hope to those affected. Ministers traveled to the bomb site to counsel with grieving family members and even rescue workers overcome by the scene of destruction. “I’ve never seen (anything) like this before,” one Baptist chaplain said of the scene. “We’ll never get over the impact of seeing these things.” Blast victims included children who attended the daycare located in the building. All in all, 168 persons were killed in the blast – and hundreds of others suffered a range of injuries. The families and loved ones of the victims also proved to be casualties as well, left to deal with the trauma and loss. Through it all, Southern Baptists worked with affected persons – listening, counseling, crying, praying. “It’s not nearly so much what you say as just being there,” area pastor Mark Estep explained at the time. “I pray for them, and … [Read more...]

Terry Schiavo died March 31, the end of a long 15-year saga that involved physicians, judges, politicians and social pundits – and captured the attention of a nation. Terry Schiavo died March 31, the end of a long 15-year saga that involved physicians, judges, politicians and social pundits – and captured the attention of a nation. For weeks and weeks, controversy and debate swirled about whether a gastric feeding tube should be removed from Schiavo, effectively allowing her to die. She had been in a persistent vegetative state for years, following an incident in 1990 that resulted in brain damage. In one sense, her situation provided an education for the nation, many of whom equated “persistent vegetative state” with “comatose” and imagined a lifeless, still form lying day after day in bed. Instead, videos showed a somewhat awake Schiavo – and reports indicated she responded to some stimuli. As the Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia notes: “A persistent vegetative state (PVS) ... is a condition of patients with severe brain damage in whom coma has progressed to a state of wakefulness without detectable awareness. The term was coined (by neurosurgeons) in 1972 ... to describe a syndrome that seemed to … [Read more...]

One month after an Alexandria judge declared the election of Joe Aguillard as Louisiana College president to be valid, plaintiffs in the case have announced they will appeal the matter. One month after an Alexandria judge declared the election of Joe Aguillard as Louisiana College president to be valid, plaintiffs in the case have announced they will appeal the matter. The decision means the case challenging the election of Aguillard now will go to the state’s Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles. It also means the matter could end up in the Louisiana Supreme Court. At issue in the case is whether Aguillard was properly elected as Louisiana College president in a January 17 meeting. A group of college alumni and supporters – including one retired faculty member who was involved in the presidential search process at one point – filed suit following that election, charging the process violated school bylaws and procedures. The case was argued before Ninth Judicial District Judge Dexter Ryland, who acknowledged in a March 17 ruling that the election Aguillard did not follow established procedure at every point. However, he also ruled the election was valid. Last week, plaintiffs attorney Jay … [Read more...]

In case one missed the revelation in the Time magazine dated January 17, 2005, here it comes – religion fosters happiness; money does not. In case one missed the revelation in the Time magazine dated January 17, 2005, here it comes – religion fosters happiness; money does not. In an issue focused on the general topic of happiness, writers examined key areas of life – including religion and money. “Religious people are less stressed and happier than nonbelievers,” the subhead to the article on religion reads. In turn, the section on happiness and money wonders “why we remain keen for green even though it often gives us more social anxiety than satisfaction.” The ensuing articles affirm a longstanding affirmation of the Christian faithful – happiness is found in relationship with God not as a result of riches. In the article on happiness and religion, writer Pamela Paul notes that studies suggest faith commitment provides a life buffer, leading religious persons to be less depressed, anxious and suicidal than non-religious counterparts. “And they are better able to cope with such crises as illness, divorce and bereavement,” she adds. Paul also points out that incorporating religion into one’s daily … [Read more...]

The influence of evangelicals is almost everywhere – from places of political power like Congress to cultural status markers like the New York Times’ best-seller list, where titles like “The Purpose Driven Life” reside. The influence of evangelicals is almost everywhere – from places of political power like Congress to cultural status markers like the New York Times’ best-seller list, where titles like “The Purpose Driven Life” reside. But the person many evangelicals consider the most prominent member of their fold – President George Bush – does not use that term to describe himself publicly and neither does the White House. So, is he or is he not? Evangelical leaders generally concur the president is one of them. But some observers of religion and politics say his outreach to Muslims and attendance at a mainstream Protestant church demonstrate he may not neatly fit the definition. Bob Wenz said he does not mind that Bush will not embrace the particular word. “From an analysis of what the man does believe, I think we can categorize him in-house as an evangelical, but if he chooses not to use the term, I don’t think it’s an affront to evangelicals,” said Wenz, vice president of national ministries of … [Read more...]