By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – On July 16, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gave Will McRaney, former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, a procedural victory in his lawsuit against the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention “for intentional interference with business relationships, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” The BCMD is an independent state organization of Baptist churches and the NAMB is a ministry arm of the SBC, an independent national organization of Baptist churches. The BCMD and SBC are considered in good fellowship with one another, but each is an autonomous organization. A federal district judge in Mississippi had dismissed McRaney’s lawsuit in 2019 based on NAMB’s position that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine (also known as the religious autonomy doctrine, which prevents courts from deciding matters of faith such as religious doctrine) protected them from legal action. But a 5th Circuit panel of three judges ruled against this argument for now, stating that McRaney’s lawsuit was ended prematurely by that judge, because it was not clear that this legal principle was indeed … [Read more...]
Louisiana College to hold virtual ceremony in place of rescheuled Aug. 8 commencement
By LCNews Staff PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Louisiana College President Rick Brewer has announced changes to the rescheduled graduation set for Aug. 8 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 concerns. His statement is published in its entirety below. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Following much consideration and the latest announcement by Gov. John Bel Edwards on the resurgence in COVID-19 cases in the state, I have made the decision to cancel Louisiana College 2020 commencement exercises that had been rescheduled for Aug. 8. This was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my time as LC president, and it was made with much prayer and thoughtful consideration for the safety of our graduates and their families, as well as LC faculty and staff. To our graduates, please accept my sincere apologies that your time at Louisiana College ended the way it did. Don’t let this diminish the many accomplishments you made. We will hold a virtual ceremony honoring both undergraduate and graduate program students Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. I am asking all graduates to send a photograph in their cap and gown to Jennifer Dykes … [Read more...]
Pence urges use of masks, says reopening schools key to reopening economy
By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - Vice President Mike Pence, in a visit to Baton Rouge Tuesday, pledged continued support from the White House to help the state reopen schools amid a battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic. Gathered inside LSU’s Tiger Stadium with Gov. John Bel Edwards, White House COVID-19 task force members, state educational leaders and Louisiana’s delegation to Congress, Pence praised the state‘s efforts to reopen the economy and schools. “President Trump asked me to be here to send a very clear message to the people of Louisiana,” he said. “We’re with you and we are going to stay with you until we put this coronavirus completely in the past and we open up this economy, open up our schools and we move this state and this nation forward, bigger and better than ever before.” Pence said despite an increase in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state, he is confident Louisianans can slow the spread like they have done in the past. Furthermore, he said the White House will help ensure the state has enough testing, medicine and Personal Protective Equipment available to help schools reopen. “To open up America we’ve got to open up America’s schools,” he said. “We believe it’s … [Read more...]
Leaders urge Louisiana Baptists to wear masks, take part in three-day fast
By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptist executive director, and other state leaders have offered their commitment to wear masks and are asking Louisiana Baptists to join them; and, they are encouraging people of faith across the state to take part, as they are able, in three days of prayer and fasting, July 20-22. The letter may be viewed by clicking here. . … [Read more...]
Patience and perseverance
By Waylon Bailey We all know the need for patience. When I think of the fruit of the Spirit, I am drawn to the quality of patience. I am drawn there because I often feel so inadequate with patience. You may feel the same. Frustration and aggravation sometimes seem to take over. But, it may not be patience that I need. What I really need is perseverance. This is the meaning of the word we normally translate as patience. I need to persevere. I need to be long-suffering. I need to not quit and not give up. I need to stand strong under the pressure. Perseverance and long-suffering is exactly what I perceive that we all need right now. We need it in our lives, and we need it as the church. We have all worked hard to keep going since March 13, but we may be getting weary in well-doing. It’s natural for us to get weary. After all, if that were not the case, Paul would not have written to encourage us to keep working and serving. I want to encourage you to keep on. Don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on Christ and His church. Be found faithful and obedient. These are tough days, but our God is faithful. He will see us through until we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Waylon Bailey is pastor of First Baptist … [Read more...]
Louisiana College to reopen in August with safety precautions in place
By Elizabeth Christian, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Louisiana College President Rick Brewer has announced fall semester plans, outlining the overarching measures the school is undertaking to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. “LC will begin welcoming our incoming freshmen Aug. 12, and other students will return the rest of the week,” Brewer said. Classes will begin Aug. 17. “We will be following a modified academic calendar to allow for completion of all classes and final exams by Nov. 23,” he said. “This includes eliminating the traditional Labor Day holiday and fall break, but it greatly reduces the risk of exposure to students who travel during those times.” Since the spring, Louisiana College has had a COVID-response Task Force, chaired by Mark Shoemaker, vice president for IT and Facilities/CIO. “We have been constantly gathering and reviewing the latest information from state and national governmental and medical organizations, specifically related to ensuring the college is proactive in preparing for the fall semester,” Shoemaker said. “Each division and each building will have extensive procedures for ensuring safety and sanitation.” Brewer said work has been done in earnest since March to prepare and train … [Read more...]
Dry Prong is spiritually abundant
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DRY PRONG, La. (LBM) - Chris Smeltzer assumed he was a follower of Jesus because of the many years he attended worship services with his family. But, recently, Smeltzer realized growing up in a Christ-centered home would not get him into Heaven. He not only accepted the Lord after a conversation with Pastor Trey Lewis, but chose to celebrate his freedom in Jesus through baptism Independence Day weekend. “I truly believe that it is God and his Son Jesus Christ who have given me the strength and will to be a better version of myself,” Smeltzer told the Baptist Message. “He gave me courage to talk with Pastor Trey about becoming a member Prospect Baptist church and to stand up for everyone to see how Jesus has filled my heart. “I look back now and realize something had been missing in my life, like a void of sorts that has now been filled,” he continued. “I’m proud to be a part of a new family at Prospect Baptist Church and I’m so glad that I asked Jesus to come into my heart and life. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.” Smeltzer’s baptism, July 5, was the first for New Prospect Baptist, which averages 90 in worship, since they resumed services June 7 after state COVID-19 … [Read more...]
Masks mandatory, Phase 2 restrictions remain in force for churches
By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - Gov. John Bel Edwards announced a statewide mask mandate during a Saturday afternoon news conference. Citing a record high number of novel coronavirus related cases Friday and an increase in hospitalizations statewide, Edwards said the decision was necessary so Louisiana does not have to revert back to Phase One or Phase Zero of reopening the state’s economy. Anyone eight years or older must wear a mask when the mandate goes into effect 12:01 a.m. Monday, unless individuals have a major health condition. Face coverings should be worn in outdoor settings when social distancing is not possible, Edwards said. The new mandate also limits bars to curbside food service only and reduces indoor social gatherings to 50 people. Edwards said bars especially have posed a higher public health risk than other types of restaurants because customers are socializing and do not wear masks while consuming alcohol. Under the order, the state will remain in Phase Two until at least July 24. Businesses and churches will continue to be restricted to 50 percent capacity. While the mask mandate applies to all 64 parishes, those with a COVID-19 incidence of less than 100 cases per 100,000 people for the last … [Read more...]
During June COVID spiked among young people, 78 percent of deaths took place in nursing homes
By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – June COVID data shows that deaths of Louisianans from this disease were concentrated among nursing home residents and not among the tens of thousands of young people who were being counted as part of a surge in infections. End of month information provided on the Louisiana Department of Health website indicates 78 percent of the deaths across the state took place in these group facilities, even though these elderly residents compose less than one percent of the total state population. There have been 3,113 total deaths among Louisianans since the first COVID-19 data was collected in March. But 348 of these deaths happened in June during the surge of cases among young people in the state. Of these deaths last month, 272 occurred in nursing homes. At the end of June there were 23,058 nursing home residents among a state population of 4,645,180 men, women, boys and girls, combined. … [Read more...]
Retired NFL All-Pro denounces ‘Marxist’ BLM for its attacks on traditional family
By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Marcellus Wiley, a retired all-pro NFL defensive end, a former co-host of ESPN’s Sports Nation, and now a sports analyst with Fox Sports 1, has rebuked the NBA’s plan to paint “Black Lives Matter” on its courts, calling the proposal “not a good idea.” In a June 30 discussion on Speak for Yourself, Wiley said the league was giving in to identity politics and that "it divides and it polarizes.” He specifically objected to the Marxist nature of the Black Lives Matter mission statement, which he quoted as stating its goals as to “dismantle the patriarchy practice” and “disrupt the Western prescribed nuclear family structure requirement.” Wiley said this attack on the traditional family structure was important to him because of the family he grew up in and “the one I’m trying to create right now.” “Being a father and husband – that’s my mission in life,” he explained. “How do I reconcile that with what I just told you with this [BLM] mission statement that says, “We dismantle the patriarchal practice … We disrupt the Western prescribed nuclear family structure requirement.” Several days later, Wiley tweeted that the BLM mission statement also spoke about … [Read more...]
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