By Staff, World News Magazine NEWBERG, Ore. – A Christian university in Oregon must decide where it stands theologically and legally as it responds to an anti-discrimination complaint filed last week by a transgender student. The student, referred to in legal documents as Jayce M., came to George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., about 25 miles south of Portland, as a woman but has been in the process of legally, and physically, changing her gender. George Fox University administrators met throughout the year with Jayce, now a sophomore, to figure out where she would live once she legally became a man. Because student housing at George Fox is single-gender, campus officials proposed that Jayce live alone on-campus next year. Jayce had requested to live in an on-campus apartment with a group of male friends, Jayce’s attorney, Paul Southwick said. Southwick is a Portland attorney and a George Fox alumnus who heads up an advocacy project for LGBT students on Christian college campuses. He said he met Jayce through other students he knows at George Fox. Southwick filed the Title IX discrimination complaint on April 4 and also helped Jayce’s mother prepare a petition supporting Jayce on Change.org. “Jayce is a Christian and he’s … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/02/2014 - 10:46 GOLA VBS is one avenue in which 300 college students from Louisiana’s BCMs served last summer on mission. By Brian Blackwell. Message Staff Writer Bayou des Glaise Baptist Church in Moreauville averages four children in its weekly activities but for one week a year that attendance increases to 45. The reason for the increase is an effort by a team of Louisiana Baptist college students who coordinate a Vacation Bible School during the summer. Pastor Eugene Carlock said that without their help, putting on a Vacation Bible School would be a difficult task. “Without them it would be hard for us to have one,” Carlock said. “The team brings an energy needed and the kids that come just love it.” The largest outreach event for the church, Vacation Bible School resulted in two decisions for Christ in 2013. Carlock followed up with the new believers, as well as others who attended the event – a key component of the GOLA VBS program. “Whenever we tell the parents that the VBS is free, they are surprised,” Carlock said. “For us to open our hearts and the church says something to them. In fact, during our in-home visitations the kids keep telling us how much they enjoy having the … [Read more...]

MONROE – On April 27 the Pastor Search Committee recommended Michael Wood as the church’s new lead Pastor, thus ending a year-long search. Wood, 33, will preach in view of a call on May with church members voting at the conclusion of the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services in West Monroe and the end of the 10:20 a.m. service at the First West Fairbanks multi-site location. Unanimously recommended by committee, Wood is one of the youngest pastors in First West’s history to assume the Lead Pastor role and one of the youngest pastors of mega churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. He is also the first Lead Pastor to be recommended from within the church staff since First West’s founding in 1920, having served as the church’s student pastor for the past five years. “The search began by looking to the future of our church. The search was completed when we realized the future is now and the pastor God sent is already here,” said Pastor Search Team chairman A. J. Burns of Wood’s recommendation. The committee praised the universal appeal of Wood’s preaching style, as well as his ability to relate well with all age groups. Wood was ordained in 2005 at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, and began to serve First West as student … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE -- The Office of Admissions at Louisiana College will host, Front of the Line, an orientation and pre-registration day on the LC campus Saturday May 10. This even, which is the second of three events planned, allows students the opportunity to meet with professors about degree programs and register for courses. “We had a great turnout this past Saturday and welcomed 92 new students who are planning to join us in the fall,” said Byron McGee, admissions director. “Front of the Line is not only tailored to our new students but for their parents as well so the transition from high school to college is a little easier.” Front of the Line is available for both incoming freshman and transfer students. First time students are not required to attend the event even if they are planning to attend Louisiana College in the fall. “We encourage all incoming freshmen and transferring students to connect with us early and register for classes. Most parents and students aren’t aware of all the financial aid opportunities available to them or what to expect from their degree program,” said Fred Guilbert, vice president of internal institutional advancement. “Students have the opportunity to meet with their professors and get a plan for … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE -- The Office of Admissions at Louisiana College will host, Front of the Line, an orientation and pre-registration day on the LC campus Saturday May 10. This even, which is the second of three events planned, allows students the opportunity to meet with professors about degree programs and register for courses. “We had a great turnout this past Saturday and welcomed 92 new students who are planning to join us in the fall,” said Byron McGee, admissions director. “Front of the Line is not only tailored to our new students but for their parents as well so the transition from high school to college is a little easier.” Front of the Line is available for both incoming freshman and transfer students. First time students are not required to attend the event even if they are planning to attend Louisiana College in the fall. “We encourage all incoming freshmen and transferring students to connect with us early and register for classes. Most parents and students aren’t aware of all the financial aid opportunities available to them or what to expect from their degree program,” said Fred Guilbert, vice president of internal institutional advancement. “Students have the opportunity to meet with their professors and get a plan for … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 09:01 Jay Adkins By Kelly Boggs, Editor A Louisiana College trustee has posted on his personal blog a letter he previously sent to David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, wherein he asks the director to resign or retire. Jay Adkins, LC board member and pastor of First Baptist Church, Westwego, placed on his blog, The Crescent Crier, on April 22, a lengthy letter giving his reasons for calling on Hankins to remove himself from his post as leader of the LBC. The first portion of Adkins’ communique is printed below. The paragraphs have been broken down in order to accommodate newspaper columns and allow for a more accommodating read: “Dr. Hankins, It is with a heavy heart that I contact you today. In the past, I have expressed my concerns to you over the phone, in email and in person. Your actions over the last year have entirely dissolved any vestige of confidence I once had in your leadership. “In particular, I am referring to (1) your extreme bias against an historically rich and respected soteriological tradition, (2) the undue influence you have brought to bear on the Board of Trustees of Louisiana College and (3) your manipulation and … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 09:27 Dr. Hannah Pounds, director of the Baptist Communities Health Services Clinic, greets patient Barry Sims. The clinic, which will be staffed by full-time, licensed medical personnel, will provide quality family healthcare in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward. By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – In New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, blocks from where he grew up in poverty, Fred Luter, Jr., Southern Baptist Convention president and pastor of New Orleans’ Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, spoke at the grand opening of Baptist Communities Health Services, a full-service, primary care health clinic, and for many, a long-in-coming dream come true. “We are here because of our love for Christ,” Luter said. “We are here because of our love for the Lower Ninth Ward community.” Baptist Communities Health Services (BCHS) – staffed by full-time, licensed medical personnel – is providing quality family healthcare in one of New Orleans’ most medically underserved neighborhoods. “Since Hurricane Katrina, the Lower Ninth Ward has been the most neglected neighborhood in the city,” Luter said. “One of the reasons we decided to build the clinic here is to let people know, ‘We care … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 09:31 The Heart Gallery, a display of photographs of Louisiana children available for adoption out of the state foster care system, attracted attention at the “Wait No More” adoption conference held at Istrouma Baptist Church on May 10, in Baton Rouge. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter BATON ROUGE – More than 300 children in Louisiana state foster care are waiting for adoption and almost that many people attended a “Wait No More” conference to do something about it. Dewayne and Sharon Smith of Slidell want to foster and/or adopt a little girl while Billy and Tessie Grigg of Gonzales want a baby. Buford and Lisa Quick, also of Gonzales, are praying about an older child or a teenager. The Smiths and Griggs and Quicks were just three of more than 100 families and couples who attended the “Wait No More: Finding Families for Louisiana’s Waiting Kids,” conference, sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Focus on the Family, the Louisiana Family Forum and the state Department of Children and Family Services and hosted May 10 by Istrouma Baptist Church. Testimonies from two women who grew up in foster care, a man who has adopted several children … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist MessageNEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Supreme Court denied a writ application to review the decisions of the Ninth Judicial District Court and the Third Circuit of Appeals wherein both courts found in favor of Louisiana College in a suit brought against the school by former professors.   The decision by the Supreme Court, rendered on April 8, to not review the case represents the fourth time a court has decided in favor of LC in a lawsuit originally filed in 2005 by Carlton L. Winbery, Fredrick L. Downing, James R. Heath and Connie R. Douglas. The former LC professors filed suit against LC alleging loss of academic freedom and infliction of emotional distress. In the original ruling rendered on March 28, 2012, Judge Mary Lauve Doggett of the Ninth Judicial Court wrote: “Under the establishment Clause, the consideration is whether the issues which the Court will have to resolve will necessarily turn upon competing interpretations of religion, thus resulting in the Court becoming entangled in an ecclesiastical dispute.” The Judge continued, “The ‘Entanglement Doctrine’ provides that a court must decline jurisdiction over a lawsuit when the dispute is so intertwined with matters of religion that a proper … [Read more...]

Pineville – Beginning with the Fall 2014 semester, Louisiana College is partnering with Northwestern State University’s Army ROTC in order to provide LC students the opportunity to serve our country as commissioned United States Army officers. Lt. Col. “Macky” Underwood, professor of military science, said, “ROTC is one of the best leadership courses in the world at preparing young people for long term success. “Present at over 1300 campuses across the nation, it ensures the officers corps of the Army reflects the diversity that makes America great,” he said. “I am thrilled to be able to offer the students of Louisiana College the opportunity to participate in ROTC.” Army ROTC is a cooperative program that allows the student to continue their education at LC while they take one Army ROTC class and lab per semester at NSU, the host ROTC institution. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Louisiana College students. The Army ROTC program is an exceptional program designed to select, train, and produce the future leadership of the United States Army, Army Reserves, or the Army National Guard,” said Andrew Magee, Coordinator for the Criminal Justice Department at Louisiana College. … [Read more...]