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...]

For the week of June 13, 2002 Potpourri   • NEW ORLEANS — First church: Ginny Owens in concert; June 23, 7 p.m.; $12 tickets in advance, $15 for Gold Circle seating (limited), $15 at the door; for information, call (504) 895-8632; David Crosby, pastor.   • WEST MONROE — McClendon church: Legacy Five in concert; June 25, 7 p.m.; $10 per ticket; Rick Crandall, pastor.   • MONROE — Ouachita High School auditorium: Selah in concert; June 21, 7 p.m.; co-sponsored by Highland Park church; tickets $5; for ticket information, call Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association office, (318) 322-6760.   Youth   • PELICAN — Clara Springs camp: Younger Youth camp; grades 6-9; July 7, 3 p.m. registration - July 11, 7 p.m.; $115 per person/includes $10 snack ticket; to register or for information, call (318) 796-3875 or (888) 514-6959; Randy Festervand, camp manager.   • PELICAN — Clara Springs camp: Girls camp; grades 2-6; July 15, 9 a.m. registration - July 19, 10 a.m.; $115 per person/includes $10 snack ticket; to register or for information, call (318) 796-3875 or (888) 514-6959; Randy Festervand, camp manager.   • EROS — Seeker Springs camp: Seeker Day camp; boys … [Read more...]

A federal court takes it upon itself to use a simple case to launch a study of whether ministers should be allowed a housing allowance tax exemption.   Another court decides churches and religious organizations in Louisiana are not entitled to a sales tax exemption of the sale of Bibles and religious literature – or on lodging and meals at religious camps. A federal court takes it upon itself to use a simple case to launch a study of whether ministers should be allowed a housing allowance tax exemption.   Another court decides churches and religious organizations in Louisiana are not entitled to a sales tax exemption of the sale of Bibles and religious literature – or on lodging and meals at religious camps.   And in Alabama, public debate grows regarding whether churches should have the benefit of a property sales tax exemption – especially when they led the charge that defeated a state lottery designed to raise taxes for the state’s schools.   Welcome to the brave new world of churches and taxes – where everything is in flux and everything once thought settled appears up for grabs once more.   Talk to those on one side, and they insist that government – … [Read more...]

Messengers called for churches and civil authorities to hold clergy members guilty of sexual abuse accountable in a resolution adopted at the 2002 Southern Baptist Convention. Messengers called for churches and civil authorities to hold clergy members guilty of sexual abuse accountable in a resolution adopted at the 2002 Southern Baptist Convention.   The resolution addressing sexual integrity among spiritual leaders was one of 10 approved at the annual meeting. Messengers passed each of the 10 either unanimously or with only a few opposing votes.   The approved resolutions included:   • One refusing to commend the Today’s New International Version of the Bible, describing it as an "inaccurate translation."   • One defending the existence of Israel and calling for religious freedom and peace in the Middle East.   • One supporting the United States’ anti-terrorism campaign and affirming salvation through Jesus as the "only ultimate answer to all forms of terrorism."   • A call for President Bush to make enactment of a ban on partial-birth abortion a "high priority."   • A call for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to consider the … [Read more...]

A long-term ministry initiative to "seek first the king and his kingdom" was approved by Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week. A long-term ministry initiative to "seek first the king and his kingdom" was approved by Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week.   "I’m not trying to be negative at all; I’m just sounding an alarm," outgoing SBC President James Merritt of Snellville, Ga., said. "It is time for Empowering Kingdom Growth, because when you seek first the king, then his kingdom, you will have a burning, passionate desire to bring other people into his kingdom. Southern Baptists need to be reminded over and over that missions and evangelism is why we exist.   "We believe that we have not the best gospel in the world, (but) we’ve got the only gospel in the world," Merritt continued. "There may be other denominations out there that can preach the gospel better than we can, but nobody can preach a better gospel than we can."   The "Empowering Kingdom Growth" plan took shape in an eight-member Cooperation Task Force formed two years ago.   The approved plan is described as "an initiative designed to call individual Southern Baptists to renew their … [Read more...]

President George Bush last week heralded Southern Baptists as champions of the faith who "believe as America’s founders did - that religious faith is the moral anchor of American life." Bush delivered his remarks via satellite to messengers gathered at the 2002 Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis. President George Bush last week heralded Southern Baptists as champions of the faith who "believe as America’s founders did - that religious faith is the moral anchor of American life." Bush delivered his remarks via satellite to messengers gathered at the 2002 Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis. Bush’s address contained references to his personal faith in God, his commitment to preserving the traditional family and social issues important to evangelicals. Bush told Southern Baptists that he shares common commitments with them. "We believe in fostering a culture of life and that marriage and family are sacred institutions that should be preserved and strengthened," Bush said as messengers interrupted him with applause. "We believe that a life is a creation, not a commodity and that our children are gifts to be loved and protected, not products to be designed and manufactured by human cloning." Bush also … [Read more...]

For the week of June 20, 2002 Potpourri • RIDGECREST - Ridgecrest church: David Freeman in concert; June 27, 7 p.m.; Bobby Cruse, pastor.   • HOUMA - Mulberry church: "Sweet Land of Liberty" patriotic musical; presented by combined choirs of Mulberry and Coteau churches; June 30, 1:30 p.m.; Montez Coyle, minister of music; Tommy Harrell, pastor.   • START - Start church: "Liberty - a Musical Celebration of Freedom," June 30, 10:30 a.m.; Wayne Smart, music minister; Jeff Smart, pastor.   • FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Fifth Sunday circuit singing; June 30, 6 p.m.; James Mike Evans, minister of music; Joel McMickin, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: Patriotic presentation by adult choir; June 30, 6 p.m.; Gary Melanson, minister of music; Marty J. Wright, pastor.   • LIVINGSTON - Satsuma church: Ladies Day, June 29, 9 a.m.-noon. Scheduled speakers are Evelyn Crotwell and Nancy McCon; scheduled singers are the David Chavers Family, Jamie Williams and Julia Hughes; A.L. Palmer, pastor.   • POLLOCK - First church: Patriotic service of music and drama; July 7; 10:45 a.m. Brandon Bannon, music; Eddie Douglas Jr., pastor.   • ALEXANDRIA - … [Read more...]

If the proposal from the committee that says it has made an objective study of the role and relationships of Louisiana Baptist Convention and directors of missions is implemented (Baptist Message, May 30), Louisiana Baptists will make a 40-year backward step. If the proposal from the committee that says it has made an objective study of the role and relationships of Louisiana Baptist Convention and directors of missions is implemented (Baptist Message, May 30), Louisiana Baptists will make a 40-year backward step.   If the committee proposal is adopted, we will have created circumstances that would prevent all but a few Louisiana Baptist associations from having a director of missions. Also, for smaller and/or rural associations to have the services of a director of missions would require churches to divert a substantial portion of their Cooperative Program gifts to the association. No one believes that is a good idea.   In my opinion, neither the members of this committee, nor those who advise them, have placed their full agenda on the public table. With all my being, I urge my fellow Baptists across Louisiana to take whatever steps are necessary to defeat this proposal. In years past, we … [Read more...]

Re: Some churches dropping "Baptist" from the names I find disturbing.   "Baptist" carries a significant message to the world about the nature of that church. It is a congregation of baptized believers voluntarily joined together for the purpose of worshiping God and carrying out the commission of Christ. It indicates one of the two ordinances of the church - baptism - and implies both form and purpose. Re: Some churches dropping "Baptist" from the names I find disturbing.   "Baptist" carries a significant message to the world about the nature of that church. It is a congregation of baptized believers voluntarily joined together for the purpose of worshiping God and carrying out the commission of Christ. It indicates one of the two ordinances of the church - baptism - and implies both form and purpose.   To drop the word from the title is misleading. If it is a Baptist church, it ought to say so. When we lived in Arizona years ago, our churches had to differentiate themselves from other Baptist churches, by the word "Southern." So, when we moved to a different place there, we would look for churches with "Southern" and "Baptist" in their names. We would never have considered a … [Read more...]

Forgiveness is powerful but not easy, a victim of kidnapping and rape told participants in the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting last week in St. Louis.   Debbie Morris captivated persons in two presentations as she told how she was kidnapped and raped multiple times during a 30-hour period when she was 16. The Death Row story of one of her abductors, Robert Lee Willie, was portrayed in the movie "Dead Man Walking." Forgiveness is powerful but not easy, a victim of kidnapping and rape told participants in the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting last week in St. Louis.   Debbie Morris captivated persons in two presentations as she told how she was kidnapped and raped multiple times during a 30-hour period when she was 16. The Death Row story of one of her abductors, Robert Lee Willie, was portrayed in the movie "Dead Man Walking."   Morris’ own story is chronicled in her book, "Forgiving the Dead Man Walking."   Forgiving the man who traumatized her took years, said Morris, who lives in Mandeville. "Jesus says we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Some people are … [Read more...]