The Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board’s study committee on the employment and supervision of the state’s directors of associational missions has stirred significant interest.   Perhaps, the interest in the committee’s work reflects grassroots’ feelings about the directors of missions and their work. The Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board’s study committee on the employment and supervision of the state’s directors of associational missions has stirred significant interest.   Perhaps, the interest in the committee’s work reflects grassroots’ feelings about the directors of missions and their work.   Directors of missions are the closest "denominational" position to local churches, their members and their ministers. Many ministers look to them as their "pastor," and many churches look to them as their "overseer" and, often, protector. They are the closest to the churches and, therefore, "give a face" to the cooperative work of Baptists.   So, when any consideration of these positions and the men who fill them is undertaken, Baptists take special notice.   The study committee, under its chair Paul Roney, has wisely made its considerations public … [Read more...]

Joyce Marcantel recalls well her first year as the First Baptist Church of DeQuincy secretary.   Now, this servant has retired from a job she has cherished for 45 years.   The church thought so highly of this longtime secretary that the membership celebrated "Joyce Marcantel Day" on June 2. Joyce Marcantel recalls well her first year as the First Baptist Church of DeQuincy secretary.   Now, this servant has retired from a job she has cherished for 45 years.   The church thought so highly of this longtime secretary that the membership celebrated "Joyce Marcantel Day" on June 2.   "The main thing was all the wonderful friends who were there," Marcantel says. "I thank the Lord for the years I was able to spend in his service."   DeQuincy Mayor L.A. Hexagan presented Marcantel with a framed proclamation of this special day and a key to the city. During the evening activities, the church showered her with a money tree, cards and a navy blue reclining chair.   A resident of DeQuincy most of her life, Marcantel grew up in First Baptist Church, where she professed her faith early in her childhood. When Elizabeth Perkins resigned as the church … [Read more...]

The current system of the state convention employing and administering associational directors of missions provides for a level of accountability and a degree of unified strategy that cannot be beat.   The current system of the state convention employing and administering associational directors of missions violates the biblical principle of local church autonomy and sets the pyramid of Baptist polity upside down.   Which is it? A proposed change: A pending recommendation would change the LBC director of missions structure - some say such an overhaul is needed, while others express concerns about its impact   The current system of the state convention employing and administering associational directors of missions provides for a level of accountability and a degree of unified strategy that cannot be beat.   The current system of the state convention employing and administering associational directors of missions violates the biblical principle of local church autonomy and sets the pyramid of Baptist polity upside down.   Which is it?   Consider the issues involved and make a choice - that is what Louisiana Baptists are doing these days as they discuss … [Read more...]

Former Louisiana Baptist Convention President Robert S. Magee died July 23 in Ruston.   Magee was 70.   Magee was a Mississippi native but spent well more than half of his pastoral ministry at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. Former Louisiana Baptist Convention President Robert S. Magee died July 23 in Ruston.   Magee was 70.   Magee was a Mississippi native but spent well more than half of his pastoral ministry at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston.   Magee received a doctor of theology degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary before entering the full-time pastoral ministry.   However, he served in several student pastorates in Mississippi during that time, leading four congregations during a 15-year span.   In 1964, just two years after graduating from seminary, Magee was called from his fourth Mississippi Baptist church to become pastor of the Temple congregation. He would serve in that post until he retired in 1998 and was named pastor emeritus of the church.   In Louisiana, Magee would serve as state convention president, elected to one-year terms in 1985 and 1986.   He also preached the state convention … [Read more...]

How many remember when we had associational missionaries - when the local association formed their own search committee to find the man God had for their "missionary?" We did not have someone from the Baptist Building telling us what kind of person we need and who would be acceptable to the executive director. How many remember when we had associational missionaries - when the local association formed their own search committee to find the man God had for their "missionary?" We did not have someone from the Baptist Building telling us what kind of person we need and who would be acceptable to the executive director.   Oh, for the good old days, when people were selected for the search committee without suggestion from the "Building" that the associational moderator place certain people on the committee, when the selection committee sought someone outside the search committee.   Oh for the good old days when a pastor was dealing with family problems or when his church was or had fired him, and the associational missionary was the first to offer help, when the associational missionary called on you, instead of you calling him.   If what the study committee presents to the Executive … [Read more...]

It’s unfortunate that L.B. Miller Jr., of Doyline, has reached the conclusion concerning the housing allowance issue. While the housing allowance does permit ministers some relief for tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service still treats the entire compensation for ministers as self-employed for social security purposes. By treating ministers compensation in this way, ministers are not allowed standard self-employment deductions for income tax purposes. This results in a virtual wash out with regards to what a minister must pay annually at tax time. It’s unfortunate that L.B. Miller Jr., of Doyline, has reached the conclusion concerning the housing allowance issue. While the housing allowance does permit ministers some relief for tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service still treats the entire compensation for ministers as self-employed for social security purposes. By treating ministers compensation in this way, ministers are not allowed standard self-employment deductions for income tax purposes. This results in a virtual wash out with regards to what a minister must pay annually at tax time.   Experience has shown that the tax laws for ministers are so obscure, few certified public accountants … [Read more...]

Connecting incoming freshman students with the Baptist group on their campus is a very important step in the student’s continued growth in Christ during their college years.   Now, there is an easier way to get the Baptist collegiate minister the information concerning the arriving student. Connecting incoming freshman students with the Baptist group on their campus is a very important step in the student’s continued growth in Christ during their college years.   Now, there is an easier way to get the Baptist collegiate minister the information concerning the arriving student. Http://student.org serves to reinforce Baptist collegiate ministry in North America. A part of that service is providing an on line form that pastors, parents, Sunday School teachers, friends or the student can complete to let the collegiate minister know the student is coming.   The process is simple. Go to the Website at http://student.org. Click on the orange box on the opening page. Complete the short form that appears. When you click the submit button on the form, the information is on its way to either the collegiate minister on the campus you indicate or the collegiate ministry state office where the … [Read more...]