N~W. Ssrvi~aof the Southern Imptias Cnnvsncion 460Nashv~lle, James TennesseeRobertson 37219Parkway Telephone (615) 244-2355 W. C, fields, Director produced by Baptist Prers Jim Newton, Assistant Director
I - 7-. F 3
(Third in a Series) , r 1"I,. .-i, [!AY :-, i<"
* t f -r Baptism of the Spirit '6 HiSTO;(?(,,',L L -1, c,+~,%."*.~a +,- .i Could Tear It Asunder by the Baptist Press . \ h+ The movement is Jesus. Its theme is love, The credit is almost always given, not to some charismatic leader, but to the Holy Spirit.
From coast to coast, as a team of reporters for Home Missions and Baptist Press question- ed participants in the spiritual phenomenon, the youth unhesiatingly credited every good action to the Holy Spirit.
The manifestations of their belief varied from the jabber of speaking in tongues and raised hands ans swaying bodies, to a quiet movement through the dry plains of nearly dead churches.
Some youthful Christians who are "turned on to jesus" reject, however, the emphasis in speaking in tongues among other youth groups,
Ironically, right here might come the theological battles of the movement, both over tongues, or "the baptism of the Spirit" as it is usually called, and over free expression of one's faith.
Because of differing views on "~!cesolalia" (another name for speaking in tongued, some youth groups denied they were a part of the "Jesus movement, " as the media have labeled this national spiritual phenomenon.
"No, we're not part of it, " one person wodd say. But another, referring to the first individual's group, would counter: "Yeah, they're in the movement', but we're really not part of the Jesus freaks. "
Conflicting opinions quickly developed as to who is included in the national spiritual awakening among youth, even among the West Coast groups.
It was as if each was so busy seeing the minor dissimilarities--glossolalia, Jesus "freaks, " for ins tance--that they overlooked the glaring similarities , such as youth, eschatology sponteneity , vigor, freshness ,
But the Spirit is moving among the kids. Though they differ greatly over the "tongues ," aspect of its manifestation, they are giving credit to the Holy Spirit for the movement.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Missions Professor Jack Gray said church leaders should not be surprised or alarmed over conflicts of opinion that might come from the moving of the Spirit and its differing manifestations.
"As in meterology, so in the theology, when two fronts meet, we may expect some turbulence, " he said. "When nz::.:;-? 5l:l.ft.: froc winter to spring, there are spawned some tornados and storms. And when the fresh winds of the Spirit striek the arid wastes of decadent religion, we need not be surprised if a few theological storms are spawned. "
Home Missions Editor Walker L. Knight compared being emmersed in the Jesus Movement to flying a small plane into a thunderstorm. "It is to be tossed emotionally into sudden highs and lows, to be at a loss for a clear direction, to be forced to struggle for control-- in short, to be half scared to death with the force of something you do not understand that alternately exhilerates and depresses," he said.
Southwestern Seminary Theology Professor William Hendricks said he sees both positive and negative implications in the emphasis on the Holy Spirit in the movement.
On the positive side is the whirlwind power of the Spirit. But on the negative side is the tendency on the pitrt or thc pit ticipar.':~to bs su sure of their own pos:tion thst all others are s;lrnm=,;I l:r r~)~c;eJTIc.r> jwlr:k.; 71 3 'lr;~_n-2 S! 7 xes re :J z2ke a fl;rs:21:7 en??~tio~z!. mmnmDImIRImRIIII May 27, 197' 2 Sagtist press fe? hlre
experience with the Spirit the only vehicle for receiving him.
Specific examples are numerous. One young girl said that Arthur Blessitt's "His Place" in Hollywood, was leading people to hell. Another described youth at Bethel Tabernacle of Redondo Beach, Calif. , where glossolalia is emphasized as "fanatics, freaks. "
Time and time again, testimo&s from kids espoused the idea that the "second blessing" was imperative; that unless you had "the baptism of the Spirit," you were outside the fold-- definitely lacking in your Chris tian experience.
At Bethel Tabernacle, a 17-year-old attractive girl wearing a sweater and jeans softly asked a Baptist Press reporter, "Do you know the Lord, " She was exhuberant until dis- covering that he hadn's received "the baptism of the Spirit." A brooding concern replaced the shining face.
Bethel Tavernacle , with its Pentecostal iniluence and glossolalia, is ples apart from the type of spiritual experience at Truett Memorial (Southern) Baptist Church in nearby Long Beach, Calif. But Jesus is magnified in both; and the Holy Spirit is moving in each.
Bethel Tabernacle's revival has been going on for three years, seven nights a week. The pastor says nearly 4,OcrO drug users have been cured after they accepted Christ.
Attending one of Bethel's four-hour prayer meetings is both awesome and scarey. Kids are kneeling on the floor between rows of metal folding chairs. Their voices, mixing their unintelligible syllables in a changing, sing-song chord, create a nerve jaring din. And the faces range from expressions of agony to supreme ecstacy.
The young people at Truett Memorial Baptist Church have been turned off by the evidence of glossolalia they saw elsewhere in the movement.
Pas tor of the church, Paul Brooks Leath, stopped the first advocates of glossolia when the youth wanted to start special youth services. He prached on the subject during Sunday worship, and successfully kept this aspect out of the growing services led by eight teenagers in the church.
The format for the youth worship service at Truett, however, offers freedom of expression. The kids wave their arms, clap, or sway their bodies gently in time with the music. They hold high their pointed index fingers, signifying the "one way" they've found to get right with God--Jesus Christ.
Somewhere in between Bethel Tabernacle and Truett Memorial on its stance on glossolalia is Calvary Chapel, a non-denominational church in Costa Mesa, a Los Angeles suburb. "We believe Clavary Chapel is the heart of the Jesus movement," said the pastor of the church, Chuck Smith.
Calvary Chapel sponsors a monthly rock concert that attracts tbousandr;, about 50 Christian communes, its own Bible school, drug abuse programs in schools, beach evangelism, and several similar ministries .
After its services, Calvary invites young people to stay for an "afterglow" service where they are encouraged to pary for "the baptism of the Holy Spirit. "
The practice has led to criticism for other ministires. One, whose church is experiencing a youth revival, argues that "Calvary is Pentecostal, I don't care what they say."
Smith disagrees. "We're totally opposed to Pentecostalism ," he said. "We believe the greatest manifestation of the Holy Spirit is love. "
A group in the Los Angdes suburb of Azuza called "Agepe," (love), want no association with glossolalia, and say they do not want to be identified with the Jesus movement "because it puts too much emphasis on tongues and rapture. "
Ron Turner, the group's leader, said that "after a while they start preaching tongues and a secret reflure more than they preach Jesus."
Will the "Jesus movement" be torn asunder by differences of opinion over the validity of glossolalia and the expression of the Spirit? The answer is uncertain. I -more - May 27, 137i 3 Baptist Press Feature
It is doubtful, however. How can any "movement" so unorganized and fragmented in its manifestations be "torn asunder? " Especially when almost all of the participants give credit to the differing manifestations to the Holy Spirit?
Hendricks feels schism can be avoided if those following the Spirit do not insist that their experience be undergone by everyone; and if those who find expression of their belief in daily action will recognize the possibility of the Spirit's movement in emotional ways, and not feel threatened by such expressions.
In short, if you've not had an emotional experience, don't condemn those who do; and if you have emotionally received the Spirit, don't flaunt it. -3 0 -
The Jesus Movement (Four in a Series)
Jesus Is Coming, Soon! So Forget the World's Ills By the Baptist Press
The theology of escatology permeates the Jesus movement with the exciting message the youth involved in its strongly believe: "Jesus is coming again, Soon! "
Maybe tomorrow. Perhaps this year. Hopefully in this generation.
They believe it. Their actions show it. Their attitudes toward social issues and financial problems reveal it.
It is in startling contrast with the social consciousness of modern youth who are not a part of the Jesus movement.
Many main-line Protestant denominations moved toward social action partially in response to the righteous anger of justice-minded young people.
If the kids in the Jesus movement are a true indication, the youth now seem to be racing past the churches going the other way--crying out for gut religion characterized by feeling, experience, spirit consciousness, exhileration , and open, soul-rocking expression.
At the heart of the sudden turn-about is a theology of escatology (last things) that seems to be saying to the kids: "Don't worry about the mess that the world is in socially, politically and economically. Jesus is coming soon. Those things won't be important then. "
And they are buying it.
Furthermore, they are selling it with a feverish thrust of evangelism, motivated not only out of love, but of fear that the end will come before friends, and everyone know Jesus as they do.
Yet most of the witnessing done by the kids involved does not harp on the theme that "you're going to hell if you don't repent.' Rather the emphasis is on sharing the love they have found in Jesus as illustrated by the greeting: "Jesus loves you. Can we rap on it?"
Take, for example, the approach of two widely different Baptist youth evangelists whose results are past of the phenomenon sweeping the country.
Richard Hogue, whose SPIRENO (Spiritual Revolution Now) crusade in Houston resulted in 4,000 conversions in three months, is frankly eschatological in his sermons.
But it is not Doomsday revival. His message is positive--"the abundant life can be yours. " The mood is celebrative , happy.
Hogue preaches one sermon entitled, "Here Comes de Judge." He and his wife have not bought a home because they feel so little time is left. He adds that members of his team feel so strongly that the end is coming that some dropped out of college to work with him. May 27, 1971 ."A 5- ':is t Press Feature
Hogue , a Southern Baptist, is stylish, He wears mod clothes, his neat hair is long and slightly curls at his neck. Xis dress includes black turtlenecks, suede suits, and flashy shirts,
In contrast, James Robison, 27, of Hurst , Tex, , wears his hair trimmed close, his sideburns short, his clothes conservative by comparison. Both, however, have phenominal success with high school students . And both preach a strong message that the end of the world is soon.
Robison, in a style similar to Billy Graham's, preaches judgment in the mast basic language. His frequent preaching about hell seems to run counter to the "Jesus loves you" theme of the movement on the surface.
"I preach judgment and love, " he said. "I can't preach John 3:16, without using the word 'perish.' God put it in there. You don't improve on the methods of Jesus. Jesus preached on hell and eternity. "
"I don't have the idea of frightening people--not many people are afraid of the idea of hell today, anyway," Robison added. "I preach it because it is fact, because it is God's truth.
"I believe time is running out," Robison continued. "Of course, all spiritual movements had this--Paul preached that way; Billy Graham does. But I really believe this is it, " he said.
It is easy to understand why the youth believe Jesus is coming soon, and even want it.
For the last decade, youth have witnessed the decay of society. It has not been a pretty sight, the drugs, demons, witchcraft, poverty, alienation, riots, killing, assassinations, war, meaningless, impersonalization, hypocrisy, discrimination, pollution and on and on. Social ills sent many of them on a frantic search br meaning through Buddhism, astrology, witchcraft, Eastern religions, and mind-expanding drugs.
They found it all empty, Now they have discovered Jesus, and say he is "the only way, " And they desperately want him to come again and take them out of all this mess the world is in, and give them the ultimate rapture of heaven and all its bliss,
William Hull, dean of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said that the emphasis on the second coming of Jesus was spawned by "the apocalyptic terror of this desperate decade. "
Hull predicted a polarization between the escatological and his to rical visions of human nature .
"The escatologist is always looking for that which is ultimate, final, eternal, supreme, " Hull observed. "He seeks the constant in the midst of the temporal, and the divine in the midst of the human. "
On the other hand, Hull continued, "the historicist attempts to be realis tic about the 'given' of history, to trace causation in events, to see the human in the divine, to be honest about the complete fabric of human existence." Thus it is easy for them to explain away the Jesus movement in sociological terms as a search for a way out of the complexity of today's society.
Hull gave a warning to Christians, saying they must not choose between theee two alternatives "because it (Christianity) is both a profoundly escatological and a profoundly historical religion. It affirms both that Jesus was the 'Word' and that he was 'flesh;' that the eternal became temporal. . . .
Christianity affirms the paradox that eternity has broken into time, and thus history and eschatology are inextricably intertwined until the end of the world. "
Most participants in the Jesus movement would say in response, " Right on, brother. I' 1 And quickly add that the end of the world is near. ramurn May 27, 1971 5 Baptist Press Feature
The Jesus Movement (Last in a series) Fifth
The Jesus Movement: How Will The Church Respond ?
by the Baptist Press
What does it mean, this so-called "Jesus movement" that is causing youth across the country to "turn on" to Jesus and his love?
And how will the church respond? How should it respond? Will the movement roll into, or around, the churches ? Will the churches embrace it? Run from it? Claim it? Or fight it ?
There are no clear answers to some of the questions the Jesus movement raises.
"Maybe only his tory will be able to properly tag what is taking place ," wrote Home Missions Magazine Editor Walker Knight, in an evaluation of the movement. "But I have no doubt we are in the presence of a religious phenomenon within the youth culture. . . .
"Like the revitalizing movements of history, this turning to Jesus is as fresh and new as dogwood blossoms in spring, " Knight wrote.
"In our reporting, we have tried to catch the national pattern to this thing, to capture its stormy, surging feeling and rolling expression--to present a clear picture of what we could no longer ignore: a deeply emotional religious experience rushing West-to-East across the land, " he wrote. "We tried to look without being judgmental and we learned this: you better look--look skeptically if you want, but look.. . . "
In their reporting and investigation, the Baptist Press and Home Missions reporters detected at least three major trends in "the movement:" (1) an emphzsis on love that has evangelism as its response; (2) the moving of the Holy Spirit and the joy, celebration and rapture that results; and (3) a strong belief among youth that Jesus is coming again, soon.
These same three streams (Jesus' love, the Holy Spirit and Jesus' return) were also dominant in the great Shantung revivals in the 1930's in China, said C. L. Culpepper of San Antonio, a retired missionary to China.
The retired China missionaries who were part of those revivals feel God may be preparing the American churches for a national catastrophe like the Communist takeover of China, Missionaries in Indonesia only recently reported the samek kind of manifestations breaking out among Baptist missions workers in that country.
If, indeed, a spiritual awakening is happening today, not only among youth but else- where, it may be simultaneous with an international world self-consciousness arising from the electronic explosion of communications, from man's venture into space where he gained a new world view of h imself, and from living in the midst of the longest, bloodiest unde- clared war in history in Vietnam.
Could it be that the movement is a breakthrough into new cultural patterns? Whenever the Christian faith has become institutionalized and formalized, it has broken out of confining walls with force and vitality.
The kids involved feel the movement is preparation for the imminent return of Jesus Christ, his second coming signaling the end of the world. They feel God is preparing for the evangeliziation of the world.
And they believe God is powerful enough to do it with or without the institutional church.
The movrament does not, however, seem to reflect a hostility toward previous church experience. There are, of course, exceptions. Most of the kids interviewed did feel "cheated" by thcir previotls church life. "Why did it take so long for me to find this , man? " they asked. "Why didn't someonc vEfcr mc this before?"
Two young Baptist evangelists, Richard Hogue of Houston and James Robison of Hurst , Tex. , are seeking to Sri~;;?tht: cjc?~~bztwLerl tkopcmcss of ~routizto Jcsus, and the institutio~al ck>lr,-F dCCI1.I1111riilirlLrr L ..-? -- - -7 Baptist Press Feature
Robison expresses a preference for a church-centered revival, but he questions the possibility. "No great spiritual movement has started in the churches," he said. "I wish it would, because I think it would be more lasting."
Hogue might be one of the best at bridging the obvious gap between the affluent, administratively-efficient churches and turned-on young people who don't want any clutter between them and their Jesus.
And his views on the role of the church in the movement are strong. "If we don't discipline these kids--if the Jesus movement folds , it will be the church's responsibility, " Hogue said.
"If we just bend a little, I think we'll see the greatest spirutual revival there has ever been, " he continued. "But if this Jesus movement doesn't go, man, you can just put it down: the churches blew it."
"These kids are open to the church, man, " Rogue declared. "It's just a matter of the churches being open to the kids. "
Hogue is banking on the churches to not only accept the movement, but to cultivate it, nourish it, indoctrinate it, and guide it to maturity.
"I think both the kids and the churches as we see them today will have to give a little," Hogue said. "There's got to be more for kids because churches will never fulfill their needs with Sunday morning services. They need opportunities for spiri tual expression and Bible study." He added he felt the church should place more priority on evangelism and spend less on buildings.
The Jesus movement is already sweeping into many churches to varying degrees; but probably the majority of the churches are not yet aware of the manifestations of the phenomenon in other localities.
Some pastors, particulary of the more dignified, affluent congregations, are frankly afraid of anything that is so "out of control. "
Said one minister: "We've said we want revival, but I'm afraid we have meant revival that wouldn't change anything. We've wanted to reach ourbownkind on our own terms. "
Some Baptist pastors in Tennessee and North Carolina, for example did not know just how to react when their youth returned from statewide youth evangelism conferences where the kids "turned an" to Jesus. More than 20,000 overflowed the Greensboro, N. C . , coliseum for one rally, and more than 12,000 packed a gymnasium in Nashville.
One pastor came away from a California mass rally depressed, calling it "a Jesus pep rally. " Shaking his head, he added, "from a positive standpoint, there are more youth involved, with seemingly greater sincerity, than I've ever seen before. The movement is sweeping radically, and I think it is going to get a lot stronger before it dies out.
"But the superficiality of it alarms me," the pastor said. "I asked one girl about the implications of the gospel (concerning pollution, racial injustice and poverty) and she said indifferently, 'Oh, they're bad. But the main thing is to love ,Jesus!"
Another observer said he was excited that so many kids are turned on to Jesus, "but I'm concerned that we take them where they are and equip them to live in this world.. . .How long can they sustain this 'high? ' The pep rally can only last so long. What's the @next step?"
John R. Bisagno, pas tor of Houston's First Baptist Church which sponsored Hogue's SPIRENO crusade that resulted in 11,000 decisions in four months , s trongly believes that the church must embrace the movement.
"I am disturbed about the future, " Bisagno said. "If this thing does not become church- centered, I'm afraid it will give rise to all manner of heresy--tongues, snake charmers, etc, There must be church-centered guidance . " May 27, 1971 i
But Bisagno warns that some of the kids the church can reach by embracing the movement may shock some of the older members, because the kids often don't know haw they are ''suppo~ed'' to act in church.
Telling of the revival in his omchurch, Bisagno said that "when some of those really tough kids were saved. . .the kids just spclntaneously shouted: 'Praise the Iiord, he needed that! ' We didn't try to thwart this, " Bisagno continued. "It was so refreshing, we just let 'er rip. I'
Bisagno urged the churches to strike now with bold leadership to assure the churches a necessary role in this revival of the young.
"Revival will sweep around the church if the church does not become a part of it, and then, unfortunately, all sorts of unhlblical heresy will spring from the revival, " Bisagno said. "We need to get these kids into the church and make a place for them. "
In an evaluative sermon cn~cer~iincjthe Jesus movement, Pastor James Monroe of First Baptist Ci~urch,Fort W?l"on Beach, Fla., raised a few red flags and sounded a few warnings, bot for the youth, and for the ch~rch. He put it this way:
--One could become attracted to the movement, and not to Jesus; to enjoy the sensations and never know Jesus. --One could make a superficial attachment to Jesus out of curiosity or personal n ed, like most of the 5,000 Jesus fed who werP satisfied with the bread but never ate of the bread of life, --One could fail to see total invoJverr,o,n.t of growing spiritually, or to find nurturing fellowship and place of service, or to coe thc larger implications of one's faith as applied to racism, poverty, wnr, poilutioil and 0ih2r such issues.
Monroe also folclnd these dangers facing the church, and the establishment:
--.The temptation to dismiss this 2s a fad and to fail to see the invalvmnt of She Holy Spirit. ---Continuir.g the hypocrisy which caused many of the young people to lase respect for the churcl~os. -.-Staying aloof by failing to open heards and doors to alienated youth.
Editor V~ig!it,in the special issue of aome Missions magazine covertng the phenomenon, offered several, 0thspecific suggestions to churches on "how to encourage the movement" or conversely how "tc nip it in the bud" by reversing the suggestions. He wrote: *Maintain an open, uncrlticsl attitude, at least until more information is secured. R - £rain from condemning it for such dnimportant manifestations as applause or cheering. *Be flexible enough to allow joy and celebration to be expressed in new fonns in worship services. *Allow young people leadership ro!.es, but do not permit deviations of doatrines. Make sure it is not culture or tradition you are defending, however. (Knight quoted one pastor as saying he was concerned that the youth would incorrectly interpret the Scripture, but he soon found them to be intelligent and perceptive. If one got off track, someone else would straighten him out. ) *Find and encourage new ways in which to cornmunicete the message, *Open church facilities for ybuth nerviccs on other nights than Sunday, and ke p adults in the background. *Provide substance through Bible study that is informal, positive, sounds the notes d joy
and celebration, and if possibk, is Ied by a young- person.- *Provide for a free sharing of exparienczs, taking the risk that someone might drop a careless remark. *Trust the young people to do any disciplining necessary. "Allow the Holy Spirit the freedom to lead. Don't force the situation to "succeed" or attempt to institutionalize the movement. Whether the movement is the begirlning of the greatest spiritual awakening to hit America, or just another youth fad, remains to be seen. Much may depend on the way that the Church--the body of Christ and not just the local I insiitution, responds. For the Jesus movement, too, is a part of the Church. It remains to be seen if the institution will embrace these Joyous happy, turned-on-kids who have suddenly found Jesus, and br!ng a depth to the rnova~mntthat it needs: or if the institutional church will reject them because it did not stai't the movement. r30- BAPTIST PRESS 460 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, Tennessee 37219
LYNQ MAY HO H Is'lQ31CAIl CCUMt$$IQN 127 9,TH AVF:. NO. NAiJ#VIl,LL 'it4 37203 , . ,
Nmwa Servloe of the Southern Baptist Cobvent;ian C NEWS m SOUTHERN BAPTIST W. C. FIELDS THEME: IN THE Press R presentatlvo JIM NEWTON CONVENTION smno,cnRlss News Room Manager JUNE 1-3,1971 KIEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (814) 281*016
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP)-- -George .W. Schroeder, executive secretary of the Brother- hood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention for 19 years, died Friday night (May '29) at Baptist Hospital here after an illness of almost one year. He was 57.
Services -.re held at First Baptist Church;: Sunday afternoon. Burial was in Pinckney- ville, Ill,
Schroeder retired a month ago as chief administrative officer of the Southern Baptist ' mission education agency here when his ill health ke$hirn from his duties.
Under Schroeder's leadership, enrolment in Brotherhood units in Baptist churches climbed to a high of 634, 646 in 1964, It's now 422,000..
Schroeder assumed the leadership of the Southern Baptist agency on January 1, 1952 as the third executive secretary in 43 years. He replaced Lawson Cooke, who retired.
During the late years of his career, Dr. Schroeder said he set three goals in life.
They were to provide a suitable home for Brotherhood work, develop a challenging program for men and boys, and lead men into putting that program into practice. He ac- complished all three.
Born and reared in Pinckneyville, Dr. Schroeder was graduated from Somrnunity High School in Pinckneyville in 1931.
In 1945 he received a bachelor of arts degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a master's degree a year later.
Schroeder began his Brotherhood experience as a Brotherhood member in a Baptist church.
In 1940 he was employed as director of Brotherhood work for Illinois Baptists, a post he held .f,~rsix years before joining the Brotherhood Commission as an associate secretary.
Internationally, Dr. Schroeder worked actively in the men's section of the Baptist World Alliance, ultimately serving as leader of it's rnen18 department. Schro der was preparing to leave for Tokyo last July to lead a meeting of this group when he became ill.
A writer for a wide variety of national religious journals for the past 20 years, Dr. Schroeder also wrote two books, roth her hood-~uidebook and You can speak for God.
Brotherhood Guidehook represented the first effort to describe in book form the aperat- ing principles of Brotherhood work in a Baptist church. It was published in 1949.
The other book was written in 1958 to inspire Baptist laymen to share their Christian faith with others more readily.
During his early years in Memphis Dr. Schroeder was a member of Eudora Baptist I Church. Later he became a member of First Baptist Church, An active member of the Memphis Kiwanis Club, Dr. Schroeder also wasa Maean.and a member of the Scottish Rite. Dr. Schroeder left his wife, Mrs. Lorraine Schroeder, a daughter, Dr. Harriet Schroeder of Memphis; two sons, Dr. George T. Schroeder of Little Rock, Ark., and Dr, Lawson L, Schroeder of Batavia, N, Y,; his mother, a brother, and two sisters. --3o-- - NEWS m SOUTHERN BAPTIST W. C. FIELDS Press Ropnrsentatlve THEME: IN THE ,,,,I, 0, ,,,,ST JIM NEWTON C 0 N V E N T I 0 N News Room Manager JUNE 1-3,1971 KIEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (814) 231-0266
For Immediate Release Religious Education Conference
ST. LOUIS, May 30--An emphasis on creative approaches to ministry and sensi- tivity to the tthurts" of individuals highlighted the Southern Baptist Religious Education Association meetin,: here (Sunday night).
James L. Pleitz, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla. , described his church's award-winning program for youth; and Peter McLeod, pastor of Fir st Baptist Church, Waco, Tex. , called for increased sensitivity to the "heart hurts of humanity. "
They addressed more than 250 persons who had registered for the two-day Religiauq Education Cwference preceding the Southern Baptist Convention here. The conference is being held at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel.
Pleitz's address on "Involving Youth in a Dynamic Church Programtt was one of the five "Happening Now" topics to be discussed during the conference. McLeod delivered one of five scheduled major addres ses.
Pleitz said an effective youth program must be creative, must allow youth to be involved in helping people and must meet the needs of the "total person. "
"Young people are just itching to get involved, " he said. "They are tired of huddling and want to run some plays, It
He said 94 young people of the Pensacola congregation and 12 physicians and den- tists from the area have formed "Good Samaritan South," a singing-healing group that will minister to people in the Dominican Republic for two weeks this summer. I The young people, most of high school age, have been learning Spanish durind * church training meetings in preparation for the trip.
"Don't tell anybody, It Pleitz said in a loud whisper, Itbut they're being taught Spanish by a Catholic couple who are friends of oun. It
The young people also are training as teams with the medics so that they can assist them in treating patients during the summer trip.
To raise money for "Good Samaritan South," Pleitz said he is encouragind member: of the church to donate household items for a "Sell It Like It Is" attic sale .
Youths from the Pensacola congregation helped rebuild a church in Pass Christian, Miss. , when Hurrican Camille flattened that Gulf-coast town recently.
Norman Vincent Peale, nationally- known author and minister , preached to Pletiz's congregation and presented them the Guideposts magazine award for its youth program.
Young people serve on committees and are involved in planning various aspects of the church's program, and a teen-ager reads the Scripture and leads a prayer durin,: every Sunday evening service, Pleitz said. Religious Education Conference Page 2 -& McLead said Southern Baptist ministers need to guard agailier t p~pfessi ali which they are untouched by "the real deep needs of people, mafiy okwhom aerting like hell ins idc.
Consider persons as unique individuals, he admonished his audience ae he reminded that Jesus placed human personality above the letter of the law or institutions.
"I am somebody! That is the message of this day and time, " McLeod said, "Blacks, women's liberationists, young people---it's what they're saying and it's what
Jesus says. 'I
Like Jesus, the minister of today needs to get down iritla the market place and know what is going on, the Waco pastor continued.
The minister needs to get back to where the people live, 'trvhere they hurt like hell because they are sinners," he said.
Jesus doesn't save sotils in the abstract; he redeems every part of one's being--- the total person, McLeod.:declared.
He criticized what he called "a creeping humanism" among Southern Baptists.
"We have come to believe we can do it by ourselves but there is no other name under heaven given among meA whereby we must be saved. 'I
"We still must stand unquestionably on the centrality of Christ, " said McLeod.
"Jesus sets all men free. If you want people to grovel, to be bound, to be slavesr, don't tell them about the power of Jesus," he said.
By Mike Dixon 10:lO a. m., Monday NEW fr,
W. C. FIELDS SOUTHERN BAPTIST Pmrs Repreoentatlvs THEME: IN THE ,,,,I, 0, ,",I, JIM NEWTON C 0 N V E N T I0 N News ~oomManeger JUNE 1-3,1971 KIEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS
For Immediate Release
ST. LOUIS, May 30--The genius of Southern Baptists is that they go after the people, Gaines Dobbins, a national authority in religious education, told Southern Baptist religious educators he re Sunday.
Dobbins, emeritus professor of religious education and church administration at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, reminded delegates to the Southern Baptist Religious Education A ssociation that their denomination's guide in the past was largely quantitative and must emphasize quality in the future.
His address, "The Contribution of Religious Education to Baptist Life, " was the first of several major speeches scheduled during the two-day R: E.;z;P;~\usEducation Con- ference preceding the annual sessions of the Southern Baptist Convention here. The conference is being held in the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel.
Ministers of education in SBC churches must develop qualitative educational processes, Dobbins said. The oetogenerian dean of religious education in the 11.5 million-membe r denomination, who now live s in Birmingham, Ala. , called for the recovery and renewal of Southern Baptists1 heritage in the teaching and training of church members. Basically, what Southern Baptists have done is "get the Bible to the people, I' Dobbins said. This has come mainly through the Sunday School as a teaching agency.
A church training service was developed to produce knowledgeable and skilled church members able to put into practice what they learn in Sunday School and from the pulpit.
Training Christians to go "into the turmoil of modern life with solutions to problems.. . can be more fascinating than all the soap operas, westerns, panel discus- sions, sex-oriented romances, newscasts and editorials the 'tube1 and the screen can produce, " Dobbins predicted.
"Materials for the renewal which we so desperately need do not have to be found outside the Bible and Christian history. They need only be made to come alive in dramatic teaching and applied training as relevant to life today as when the Old Testament prophets preached and the New Testament apostles and disciples witnessed."
In their attitude toward the past, Southern Baptist educational workers must not seek to reproduce "the good old days" of denominational beginnings, Dobbins said, nor can they ignore their history and "meet revolution with revolution. I'
Rather, they should say "the past is prelude1' and make their plans "right on, . . ,to match the times. "
The pragmatic approach of Southern Baptists in finding, enlisting, teaching and winning people--a "science of the Sunday Schoolf1--may sound naive to a sophisticated g neration, said Dobbins, but "it works. " -30- By Mike Dixon 10:25 a.m. Monday *
W. C. FIELDS SOUTHERN BAPTIST PM Repmsmt*t/ve THEME: IN THE N N SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON C 0 N V E T I 0 News Room Manager JUNE 1-3,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (814) 231-02S6
Pastors' Conference Afternoon Session For Immediate Release
ST. LOUIS, May 31--The president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Monday chided Baptists who engage in bitter battles over the Bible.
Speaking at the afternoon session of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference at Kiel Auditorium here, Grady C. Cothen said, "One of the strangest things in all Christendom is the fights we have about our Bible. We engage in a contest on who is the most orthodox. 'l
Cothen disagreed sharply with Baptists who "attack those who don't say it like we do. Many of us almost hate one another over the Scriptures, The devil will beat us if he gets us to fighting about the Bible."
The seminary president was one of five speakers at the session who dealt with'bodls Preacher as a Person. The conference closed Monday night with five speakers, in- cluding W. A. Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, and immediate past SBC president.
The pastors elected John Bisagno, pastor of First Baptist Church, Houston, as president, succeeding another Texan, Landum P. Leavell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls.
Gene Phillips, pastor of University Baptist Church, Peoria, Ill., was elected vice president, and Bill Wallace, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church, Charlotte, N. C., secretary.
Speakers at the afternoon session dealt with how a pastor should face the fleshly, worldly problems that beset him in the performance of his work.
Specific issues included the pastor and his manners and attitude, his handling of money, his morality, and his wife and family.
W. Fred Swank, pastor of Sagamore Hills Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Tex., cautioned pastors that their attitudes play a large role in their relationship with others. He said attitudes should be rooted in their Christian faith and reflect Christ.
He took those to task who rejoice in the misfortunes of other pastors, jealously attempt to explain away their successes, and pettily try to undermine them.
John I?. Gibson, pastor of Wesleyan Drive Baptist Church, Macon, Gal , emphasized that "God's man must pay his own way in the world. " I I "Since our creditors have been influenced in part by our positions and by the basic honesty expected of our calling, they are entitled to receive their due from our purge.
"Ministers should be paid well enough so that there should be no need for 'ministerial discounts1 or 'clergy rates' anywhere.
"The high calling of Christ demands that his messengers, who are not of this world, but who live and labor in it, are not to let mercenary concerns be their chief goal. But they must judiciously guard their reputations and their credit rating by paying their bills. " -more- Partora' Conference Page 2
Dealing with the various problems that effect a minister's morality, Cothe,n of New Orleans seminary said a pastor can function without many things--but not without personal integrity in all hie relationships. If he tries, Cothen said, he will be a "fugitive from one failing situation to another. "
He outlined pressures and temptations to which Christian integrity must be applied, including sexuality, dishonesty, hostilities and hatred and temptation to ineinuate falsely about others, including the tendency to "carelessly label" others as "liberal1' or "unscriptural. "
"If you understand who you are and what you are, Cothen said, "you will etand firm against temptations. When temptations come the problem should not be whether you will do it. That issue should be settled long in advance. The question should be, when the hour of crisis comes, how you are going to get away from the temptation. I'
Former SBC President H. Franklin Paschall of Nashville, Tenn., echoed a sentiment of the other afternoon session speakers- - "preachers and their families ar flesh and blood, just like other people, subject to the same frailties. It
The pastor's heavy schedule can cause a resentful wife. The family may be plagued by money problems, disagreements over children, wives who compete with their husband8 and other types of friction, Paschall said.
"A lot of preachers and wives would divorce if they weren't in the church, I' he said. "But the situation in which some of you may be locked should cause you to work harder to solve your problems.
"The Christian faith is a great ally in dealing with family problems. The eros, or physical love, is transcended by agape, or spiritual love. That's the kind of lov Paul was talking about when he said husbands should love their wives. "
By Robert O'Brien 6: 30 p. m. Monday NEWS @ w. c. FIELDS SOUTHERN BAPTIST Pnrs /?epmentaih THEME: IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON C 0 N V E N T I 0 N News Room Manager JUNE 19,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phm (814) 2S1-0266
Students For Immediate Release
ST, LOUIS, May 31--Folk music filled a third floor assembly room at Third Baptist Church Monday afternoon as Baptist students mapped plans for a dialogue with Southern Baptist 6.
Ware than 125 students, representatives of Baptist Student Unions ac roe s the United States, packed the room for music by The Bridge, a folk music group from the University of Alabama, and orientation by a student steering committee.
Bob Young, president of the Tennessee Baptist Student Union and chairman of the committee, told the group, "We don't want them (the Southern Baptist Convention) to get the impression we are on the outside throwing rocks. We want to be on the inside making the changes that need to be made to meet the needs of the day through the churches.
"We are individual students with individual concerns. We are hopefully, as a group, to say to the Southern Baptist Convention that we care. We hope we can say what we want to say in a positive and constructive way, "' Xaung s~id, 5,s Students are attending the Southern Baptist Convention for dialogue with messengers and will make multi-media presentation on Wednesday morning.
Dialogue with messengers will be in the "Rap Room, " pait of the student's booth in the Convention display area at Kiel Auditorium.
Students will man the booth from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p, rn. daily during the convention,
W. Howard Brarnlette of Nashville, Tenn., a Southern Baptist Education Commission staff member, welcomed the students on behalf of Convention officials who were unable to attend the afternoon session.
"Your denomination is Antexested in you. You belong here. You are welcome. Stick around and come back every year, 'I Bramlette said. .-'TNEWS SOUTHERN BAPTIST W. C. FIELDS Press Represomtlve THEME: IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON C 0 N V E N T 10 N News Room Manager [SAINT LOUISJ JUNE 1-3,1971 KlEL AUOlTORlUM ST. LOUIS Phone (814) 281-0258
Executive Committee For Immediate Release
ST. LOUIS, May 31 --The Southern Baptist Executive Committee voted here Monday to ask messengers to change bylaws of the Southern Baptist Convention for abvance consideration of resalutions by the resolutions committee.
In a move to give the resolutions committee time to do its work, President Carl Bates, of Charlotte, N. C., named Warren Hultgren of Tulsa, Okla., chairman of this year's committee and asked messengers to send copies of resolutions to Hultgren 30 days before the convention met.
This practice is basically what the bylaws will authorize; calling for the appoint- ment by the president of the committee 60 days in advance and sending in resolutions 30 days in advance. <
The resolutions committee started handling the resolutions on Monday night, opening with two offered by the Executive Committee. They expressed appreciation for the services of George Schroeder, recently deceased head of the Brotherhood Cornmi@-' ., egon, and Hardy M. Harrell, out going executive secretary of the discontinued Hospital Agency of the SBC. !. In other actions the Executive Committee voted to ask the denomination to prgvide representation to the North American Baptist Fellowship. Basically the represene- tives will be agency heads and eight laymen and pastors appointed by the Gomrnitteq on Boards.
The Committee of Fifteen, appointed to study programs and organization of the denomination, was continued.
The Executive Committee voted to ask the Southern Baptist Convention to re- affirm the principles which govern the Cooperative Program, the basic unified budeet method of fund raising of the SBC and its state conventions.
These principles cover such subjects as recognizing the unity of the denomination's work, the method of raising funds through the states, the obligation to recognize dssigna- tlon of gifts, the SBC share in promoting the work in the states, and that no decrea'ges ij? gifts be made without allowing for a hearing of needs from convention represent&ives.
Executive Secretary Porter Routh of Nashville, Tenn. , announced that SB C Cooperative Program gifts for the first five months of 197 1 were running ahead of last year's figures by 5. 6 percent.
"If this continues we will raise $29,489, 119 by the end of the year, " Routh sqid. "1 have every reason to be encouraged, I'
A sub-committee of the Executive Committee made an oblique reference to the tight financial situation the SBC faced last year by asking churches to analyze the . Itdiminishing average percent of total offering which goes to support causes outside the lpcal churches.
To combat this trend the denomination is being called Itto a bald:, aggressive and daring breakthrough in Cooperative Program giving, I' the committee reported. P / ~ecutiveCommittee - 2-
Texts of the resolutions follow:
George W. Schroeder
For 19 years George W. Schroeder s rved faithfully and well as executive secre- tary cf the Brotherhood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
His retirement on April 30, 1971 because of ill health brought to a close an administration that currently has 422, 000 men and boys enrolled in mission education
programs. /P a
Prior service of Dr. Schroeder included five years as an associate secretary of the Cornmisslion and six years as Brotherhood secretary in his native state of Illinois.
His 30 years of service to Baptists and in the cause of Christ have endeared him tp the hearts of Southern Baptist people everywhere.
Dr. Schroeder passed to his reward on Friday, May 22, 1971.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, in session at St. Louis, May 31, 1971, record here our abiding gratitude for the work of this noble layman. i BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this expression of esteem for an honored colleague be appropriately conveyed to his family, and to the Brotherhood Commission.
Hardy M. Harrell
I As a dedicated layman Hardy M. Harrell has given many years of distinguished Christian service in Baptist life. After retirement from an executive post with an insurance company, he was asked to be acting executive secretary-treasurer of Southern Baptist Hospitals, Inc. After a year and a half in this interim capacity the Fospital board elected him to the post as the executive secretary-treasurer. I
For three and a half years now Mr. Harrell has labored efficiently and well in this important responsibility. His spirit of coopera tion, his careful attention to at1 details, and his personal commitment to the task have: made him a valuable collea&e. 1 BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Sauthe~n Baptist Convention meeting at St. Louis on May 3 1, 197 1, in connection with the annual convention, does hereby express its deep respect and gratitude far Mr. Ha~rell and for his leadership during an important time in the life of the denomination. + BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this expression be suitably conveyed to Mr. Harrell and the messengers to the 1971 meeting of the Southern Baptist Conventiop.
Hospital Agency of SBC
We record here the gratitude of the Southern Baptist Convention for the pais of ministry in healing performed as well by the Southern Baptist Hospitals at New Orleans and Jacksonville, Florida, and for the effective work of the agency related to them, Southern Baptist Hospitals, Inc.
The New Orleans Hospital opened March 8, 1926. The Jacksonville Hospitzil open d September 13, 1955. They have had through these years a spiritual missiah as well as a medical mission, Likewise the operating agency, Southern Baptist Hospitals, Inc. , has functioned effectively as an arm of the churches.
"'' In 1924 the Convention adopted a hospital policy which said: "that the general hospital policy be to observe denominational state ownership and control of Baptist hospitals. I' The hospitals at New Orleans and Jacksonville were established as exceptions to that rule. In 1958 the Convention reaffirmed the principle established in 1924 that sponsoring of hospitals is a function most appropriately performed by state and local groups. 4 qxecutive Committee
The action of the Convention in Denver in 1970 released these two hospitals from the Southern Baptist Convention ownership and into the hands of the trustees to be operated as non-Southern Baptist institutions.
I Southern Baptists will continue to have an abiding interest in hospital minis tries. There are 21 hospitals overseas related to the Foreign Mission Board. State and local gjroups of Southern Baptists operate 41 hospitals. The oldest of them, founded in f 884, is here in St. Louis, We reaffirm previous decisions that these institutions function best under state and local ownership and control, We wish them well in tbe Christian service which they render.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention in its session on May 31, 197 1, in St. Louis, Missouri, expresses to Southern Baptist Hospitals, Inc., and to "The Hospital Agency of the Southern Baptist Convention, I' the corporate name utilized during 1970-7 1, profound gratituae for a mission fulfilled with distinction. i
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we present this resolution to the Southern ,: Baptist Convention gathered in St. Louis and pray Gc.dls blessings on the broadening tuture which opens before the hospitals at New Orleans and Jacksonville a$ they fupction jn a new relationship, NEW SOUTH ERN BAPTIST W. C. FIELDS Press Representatlvs THEME: IN THE N I SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON CONVE T 0 N News Room Manager JUNE 13, 1971 KlEL AUDIT ORlUM ST. LOUIS Phone (914) 231-0255
WMU AFTERNOON SESSION
I For Immediate Release
ST, LOUIS, May 31--A penetrating plan for harnessing more Southern Baptist strength for missions in the United States emerged in the second session of the annual meeting of Woman's Missionary Union Monday afternoon at Kiel Auditorium.
Under the thern~,'~Cornmittedto Mission Action, It WMU leaders, pastors, and Southern Baptist Home Mission Board officials outlined their partnership and told of their achievements in missions.
Mission Action is the plan of church missions organizations (WMU and Brotherhood) Pf corn bining ministry and witness to reach persons whose human needs make them unreceptive to the usual outreach of the church.
M. Wendell Belew, director of the division of Missions at the Home Mission Board, said that the HMB and WMU share purpose, concept and support.
"WMU mission action implements home missi ns, while home missions uses WMU hission action and establishes MU wherever it is not in existence, It said Belew, I
"This is a new day of doing home missions, " the mission executive said. "The Vome Mission Board would be ill advised to depend upon its 2, 000 missionaries blone to accomplish its work when there is the potential of six or seven million
$outhern Baptist women who are able to become involved, It
Belew said that while WMU leads in gaining prayer and money support for homb missions, the HMB supports WMU by producing techniques which are used in mission action.
In a feature entitled "Dimensions of Success" three pastors, two church leaders, 8 physician, and a state WMU official gave examples of ways WMU mission action is effectively reaching people. The ministries described included healing, nutrition, qewing, teaching, tutoring, befriending, and recreation.
: Recipients discussed were the economically disadvantaged, blacks, language groups, new citizens, women prisoners, and the hard-core unchurched.
Three persons from Second Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., presented the' blaborate ministries of their church in ghetto areas. The pastor, Dale Cowling, who traced the beginnings of the program from the early days of Little Rock's racial troubles, said his stand on acceptance of Negroes into the church caused the loss of 200 members and $25,000 from the church budget. k "From those losses came a great church, " he said, "Programs such as these can bappen only through the laity.
Jasper McPhail, a physician who served as a foreign missionary in India and now beads the clinic sponsored by Second Baptist Church, urged Southern Baptists to accept ministry as a valid approach for local missions. He said that Baptists have recognized the proper role of ministries in foreign missions, but have been too slow to apply the concept at home. WMU AFTERNOON SESSION Mpy 31, 1971
"Bearing witness is most effective as the witness meets needs of people, " McPhail said. "The witness earns the right to give his verbal testimony- -first the deed and then the word, "
The doc-tor said the church's program has resulted in community awareness of Christian love, in the deepening of spiritual life among the laity, and better health for the community.
Mrs. David Hicks of Oxford, Miss. , told how women of First Baptist Church in OHord conducted Vacation Bible Schools for bck children and developed prayer meetings with black women even when their own church denied use of its facilities for th? projects.
: James Pleitz, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla., accused some , churches of "staying in the huddle all the time and not running plays between huddles. It Pleitz' own church is sending a jet of 120 young persons to the Dominican Republic for a short term ministry and witness this summer.
Russell Dilday, Jr. , told how women and men of Second- Ponce deLeon Baptist qhurch, Atlanta, Ga. , participated in mission action. Dilday credited WMU with a spill-over of enthusiasm for ministry which has resulted in his church's hiring a full time ministries coordinator.
Miss Kathryn Bullard of Raleigh, Baptist Women director for North Carolina WMU and a member of the advisory committee for the Correctional Center for Women, dgscribed how Baptist women are helping rehabilitate women prisoners.
I "A cafeteria, a can of hair spray, a walk around a store can take on added meaning when you have been in prison 40 years, 'I Miss Bullard said.
In a brief business session, Mrs. R. L. Mathis of Waco, Tex., was re-elected president of the 1. 3 million member organization. This is Mrs. Mathist second term in
recent years. She served for seven years during 1956-63. She is director of the ' Student Union at Baylor University.
- Mrs. Roy E. Snider of Camden, Ark., was re-elected recording secretary* Vice presidents of national WMU organization are the state WMU presidents,
Re-elected members-at-large of the WMU Executive Board were Mrs. John Maguire of Jacksonville, Fla., Mrs. Duke K. McCall of Louisville, Ky., Mrs. David ~orthkutt of Oklahoma City, Okla., Mrs. Gary McNeese, LaPalma, Calif. , was named for a first term.
By CATHERINE ALLEN 5:45 pm . Monday NEWS e
W. C. FIELDS SOUTHERN BAPTIST Press Rapresentatlve THEME: IN THE JIM NEWTON C 0 N V E N T 10 N SPIRIT OF CHRIST News Room Manager JUNE 14,1971 KlEL AUDIT ORlUM ST. LOUIS
Phone (314) 231-025s
PASTORSf CONFERENCE ELECT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. LOUIS, May 31--John Bisagno, pastor of First Baptist Church at Houston, Tsx., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference Monday at the affernoon eession of the annual meeting of the 25,000 member ministerial group.
" Bisagno, whose churches have led all other Southern Baptist churches four out d the laat erix years in persons baptized, won in a close race with James L, Pleitz, pastor of First Baptist Church of Peneacola, Fla., and outgoing vice president of the csnference. Bisagno replaces Landrum P. Leavell, pastor of First Baptist Churcb of Witchita Falls, Tex , I In a nominating address, Bisagno was also praised for an aggressive social sewice program which led to 300 jobs for persons in his church community last year,
Pleitz was cited for a etrong bus ministry and for mission action programs involving yqung people.
Elected vice president was Gene Phillips, pastor of University Baptist Church a$ Peoria, Ill. He was opposed by R. B. Culbrath, pastor of Hoffman Baptist Church of, Birmingham.
Bill Wallace, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church of Charlotte, N. C. , was elected secretary without opposition.
J -30-
by ROY JENNINGS 4:i5 pm. Monday NEWS
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Phone (314) 231-0255
SUPERINTENDENTS OF MISSIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST, LOUIS, May 31--About one hundred Southern Baptist superintendents of associational missions heard three major addresses, elected officers for the coming year, and participated in other presentations during their five- hour meeting here Monday at Third Baptist Church.
New president of the group is Harold Gregory, Superintendent of missions for the Nashville Tennessee Baptist Association. G. Allen West, Jr., executive director of Long Run Baptist Association, Louisville, Ky., was elected vice president. Re-elected secretary was C, Melvin Ratheal, director of metropolitan missions, Catalina Association, Tucson, Ariz, New treasurer is Robert Helmich of the Muskagee Association, in Oklahoma,
In a message concluding the morning session, West said the associat$on will have a place of growing importance in the next 30 years, if it can be flexible enough to see the changes taking place in society and in the churches and bring about program changes at the church and community level to meet the needs confronting them.
Closing speaker for the conference was 3. Woodrow Fuller of Jacksonville, director of the mirsions division of the Florida Baptist Convention, who predicted associations will change in the near future with a decrease in small struggling associations with multiple arrangements.
Fuller predicted that the role of the associational superintendent will either "phase down to unrest, turmoil, and discontiduation, or it will rise to find its finest hour" in the next few years.
To reach his finest hour, eaid Fuller, the superintendent "should have a clear jab descriptive title, and a quality of spirit and service second to none. l1
In business session, the group made several constitutional changes, and recognized those with 20 years of service.
by Gomer Lesch 4 p, m. Manday mws w. c. F1Eu)s SOUTHERN BAPTIST Pnrr Rapmentetlve THEME: IN THE JIM NEWTON C 0 N V E N T I 0 N SPIRIT OF CHRIST News Room Managar JUNE 14,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS
Pastor1i3 Conference
For Immediate Release
ST. LOUIS, May 3 1--Three pastors and two evangelists scrutinized the motives, methods, and message of modern-day prophets Monday in the opening session of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Colifercnce at Kiel Au'ditorium' here.
Examining the theme, God's Preacher as a Prophet, 'I the speakers urged pastors to be faithful to their prophetic role. Later sessions will deal with "God's Preacher os a Person1' and "God's Preacher as a Preacher. I'
"Far too many so-called modern-day prophets make about as much impact upon society as a rubber balloon filled with dry oatmeal dropped on a foam rubber cushion, " said J. D. Grey, pastor of First Baptist Church, New Orleans, La.
Citing prophets of the Old and New Testaments, the former Southern Baptist Con- vention president said God's plan- -today and in Biblical times - -has always been to spread his message through a man.
"We modern-day Jonahs are not left to our own discretion nor must we attempt to gratify the . tastes of the people, Grey said. "We must preach the message God gave us earnestly and faithfully.
Grey cited God's approach, through the Prophet Jonah, to ancient Ninevah and said, "If God's Word preached by His prophet got those results in the ancient city of Ninevah, I maintain emphatically that God's word when faithfully preached by his mode rn-day prophets will bring results in our modern Ninevahs. "
Howard H. Aultman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Columbus, Miss., said the prophet today must have the right motive--to faithfully follow Christ, his master.
Aultman emphasized that a man must be selected by God before entering the minis - try.
"One of our troubles today is that we are so interested in filling our pulpits that we forget to ask 'Bid God call you to preach."'
That special call by God to preach does not place a merit badge on the one called not place him above others, Aultman said. He described it as a peculiar call to a particular task.
The Mississippi pastor chided the "horizontal vision" of those who select the minis- try "after careful consideration of comparative advantages of law, medicine, science or trade.
"There is nothing vertical in that type of vision, 'I Aultman said. "There is nothing from above. I'
James Coggin, pastor of Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Ft, Worth, Tex.& describ- ed a new approach to method which he says transformed the ability of his congregation to reach people. Pastorst Conference For Immediate Releaee Page 2
After study of 15 large churches of several denominations in the United Stater which were reaching people, Coggin and his staff revamped the church's methods,
The church's priority became evangelistic outreach, giving prime emphasia to the chuchts Sunday School program, Coggin said.
Resulting changes included simplicity of organization and operation and use of the Bible as the primary text.
"We had so many meetings in our church that no member could keep up with all of then. We were so busy meeting that we were failing to reach people for Christ and involve them in Bible study. "
The result was paaing,down and combining meetings and emphasizing visitation, Sunday School attendance increased from more than 1,400 to almost 2,000.
"God will bless any church that gives priority to reaching people, It Coggin said. "But it matters little what we have unless we really care, unless what we do is undar- girded by compassion, "
Coggin urged the pastors to be as anxious to reach the underprivileged aa the affluent.
"Therals not much competition to reach those out there where no one seems to car 0' Butyoulll get run over by those after people moving their church membership, ''
Also on the morning program were Eddie Lieberman, an evangelist from Greenville, S. C, , and Leandro Castro, an evangelist from Wichita Falls, Texas.
Lieberman, a converted Jew, will lead Bible study at all three sessions of th Southern Baptist Pastors1 Conference. Castro, converted gang rnembes, is a member of First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, where Landrum P. Leavell, PaStorot Confer- ence president, serves as pastor.
By Robert OtBrien 1: 15 p. rn. Monday RN BAPTIST W. C. FIELDS ,A * . ' L" Ny -I' THEME: IN THE Press Representative *! . .. ?!, PC: $ ' it, 1; ! . :: ?$ ?, i t. .. '' SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON News Room Manager JUNE '1 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (314) 231-0255
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
NLRS. MARCUS (RUTH)ROHLFS ( Biographical Information)
Mrs. Marcus m~hlfsof Seattle, Washington, president of the American Baptist Convention, will participate in a press conference Tuesday afternoon at 1: 30 with SBC President Carl Bates of Charlotte, N. C.
Mrs. R&&lfswas elected president of the ABC at the convention's annual meeting held in Minneapolis in May, 1971. She will serve for one year and will preside at the :I* annual meeting to be held in Denver, Colo. , May 10- 14, 1972.
A native of Seattle, she attend ed the University of WaAington and Union Theological Seminary, New York, N. Y. She is a member of the First Baptist Church in Seattle.
Active in denominational affairs, Mrs. Rahlfs was a former national officer of American Baptist Women; served three years as president of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies; was a member of the General Council of the ABC; was an appointed member to the National Council of Churches Assembly; is a member of the Regional Policy Board of the American Baptist Churches of the Northwest.
Mrs. Rohlfs is active, not only in Baptist circles, but in business and community life. She served as president of the Seattle Business and Professional Club; as presi- dent of the National Business and Professional Council and Assembly; as a board member of the Seattle YMTCA for 20 years; and as a member of the National Board of the YWCA. She has made significant contributions to community life through her involvements in the Urban League, PTA, the Japanese Resettlement Committee, the NAACP, and the Seattle Experiment in International Living.
Mrs. Rohlf was married to the late M3rcus Rohlfs, a Seattle attorney. Their son Richard, now married, was the first American Baptist student to go abroad under the International Christian Youth Exchange Program. NEWS
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Phone (814) UI1-02!l8
WMU Morning Session Catherine Allen For Immediate Release 1:40 p. m. , Monday ST. LOUIS, May 31- -Twin emphases on motive and method in missions were featured at fh~:07ening session of the annual meeting of Woman's Missionary Union Monday at Kiel Auditorium,
The motive element beckoned Southern Baptists to greater personal and in- stitutional commitment to sharing Christ. This emphasis will climax at the evening session with a time of commitment. \
G, Webs ter Carroll, Southern Baptist missionary in Uganda, urged the audience to preface their attempts to share Christ with a full comprehension of who Jesus is.
"Some Southern Baptists have been doubting who Jesus is, " Carroll said. "When people doubt the authority and cornpas sionof Jesus, they begin not to care. Their Chriati~nityhas no authority. I' %
Car~ollsaid he sees a revival spreading among Southern Baptists, \
"Pastors know once again who Jesus really is, " he said. "Hundreds of church niexhcr~are being washed of prejudice and lethargy and worldliness in the renewal of the real Jesus, " the missionary reported.
Carroll, who will return to Uganda later this weak, urged the audience to enact their concern for world missions by sharing Christ with their neighbors in addition to giving prayer and financial support.
A multimedia presentation by Kenneth Chafin of Atlanta, director of evangelism for the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, also supported commitment. A panorama of picklres flashed behind Chafin as he talked about people with needs. Chafin urged Baptiets to have a closer identification with persons in order to break down walls of alienation such as age, race, class, and culture.
The opening session accented missinn study, one of WMU's major purposes. Remaining sessions will focue on personal direct missions and on mission support.
Seven persons from six states told success stories in mission study. Mrs. T. Shad Medlin and Don B. Harbuck of First Baptist Church, El Dorado, Ark. , told of the impact of their first churchwide study of missions.
Miss Ruth Provence of Columbia, WMU executive secretary for South Carolina, attested + to the role WMU mission study has played in calling out missionaries.
Mrs. Bruce Andrews, WMU leader from Wheaton, IlL, described how she began a chain of VMU Bible study groups in her home.
Miss Claudia Jones, Dallas, staff member for Texas Vv MU, told of the determination and ingenuity of women in providing mis sions education for children.
Mrs. HuSer Drumright,- WMU leader from Fort Worth, Tex., urged women to create a spirit of zest and vitality to attract pa~ticipation~inWMU. Harper Shannon, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dothan, Ala., told how he assisted Sayti4, v~h;~a in his church to boost involvement. He described a successful churchwide week of prayer for home missions, combined with prayer for the church's revival. In a closing plea for reater commitment, Mrs. Robert Flin president of New York nd ormer resi8yt of the Wo?antg Auxiliary askd W~Uembers to slu y mi wMU ?or &elr owR enrlc merit and to eat mlsslon 0 er- can Tecomeaware o$ worra FikOeYs . -30- %+"'r ; \y a
* + EKN RAP'r W. C. FIELDS 4- > 9 . . '5 ' ' " t" I THEME: IN THE Press Representative tt *, - ?I !. SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON News Room Manager JUNE 1-3,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (314) 231-0255
For Your Information
Biographical Sketch V. Carney Hargroves
Dr. V. Carney Hargroves, retired pastor of Second Baptist Church of Germantown in Philadelphia, Pa., was elected president of the Baptist World Alliance during the 12th Baptist World Congress in Tokyo, July 12-18, 1970.
Born in Nansemond County, Virginia, on Sept. 4, 1900, he received the bachelor of arts degree from Princetown University, Princeton, N. J. , in 1922; the doctor of theology degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., in 1925; and the master of arts degree from Princeton in 1927. The University of Rich- mond, Richmond, Va., awarded him the doctor of divinity degree in 1941, and Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., conferred on him the doctor of laws degree in 1955.
He was an instructor at the American School in Kuling, China, 1922-23, and pas- tor of the Princeton (N. 5.) Baptist Church, 1925-27. He was pastor of Weatherford Memorial Church, Richmond, Va., from 1928-32, when he became pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Ge rmantown in Philadelphia. He retired from that pastorate early this ye ar.
He has travelled extensively throughout the world, and participated in one of the firet preaching missions into Russia permitted in 1955. An article he wrote on that visit to Russia was published in the Saturday Evening Post.
He has been a former moderator for the Philadelphia Baptist Association, a director and former president of the Philadelphia Council of Chuxche s, a former president of the Arne rican Baptist Convention (1954-55), and former vice president ' of the Baptist World Alliance. He also was chairman of the Noxth American Baptist Fellowship Committee, 196 0-65, a committee affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance aimed at seeking closer relationships between Baptist groups in North America, W. C. FIELDS Press Representative THEME: IN THE JIM NEWTON SPIRIT OF CHRIST News Room Manager JUNE 1-3, 1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS
Phone (314) 231-0255
ROUNDUP FOR TUESDAY AM'S
ST. LOUXS, May 31--Southern Baptists focused on the themes of lay involvement and personal morality Monday night as they closed out four inspirational conferences and prepared to open a three-day annual convention at Kiel Auditorium,
More than 15,000 messengers (delegates) from throughout the United States are expected to approve a nine-month opemting budget of 24.6 million dollars, re-elect President Carl Bates of Charlotte, N. C., to a second one-year term, and transact routine business before winding up the 114th annual session of the Southern Baptist Convention at noon Thursday.
A battery of speakers developed the lay involvement emphasis at the day-long session of Woman's Missionary Union, Southern Baptist auxiliary, and at a two-hour Baptist Men's Conference while Southern Baptist ministers were receiving advice on the value of personal morality in doing their work.
Dale Cowling, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark,, used the ministry activities of men and women in his church in an effort to motivate Southern Baptist lay per- sons to help others when they return home.
Cowling said the Little Rock church is trying to develop a concept of spreading an umbrella of spiritual concern over the whole city, by establishing ministry points, each with a broad span of activities designed to meet specific needs of individual communities.
The minister emphasized his church was trying to meet "the real needs" of all the people in the community, regardless of race, using such activities as tutoring sessions, sewing classes, instruction in family nutrition, family planning, medical self help, and directed recreation.
The church also operates a Christian medical clinic, refers persons to two dental clinics and an orthopedic ,.clinic, provides a nursery school-kindergarten program, visits on a regular basis six nursing homes, and sponsors a special hard rock radio program.
James E. Johnson, an Arlington, Tex. , layman, described the wide variety of services Texas Baptist laymen were offering. They ranged from building construction and vacation Bible schools on the Ria Grande to the operation of mobile medical clinics in the Big Bend Country.
Johnson, a computer executive, told the Baptist men of a growing need for help from physicians, dentists, carpenters, agronomists, truck drivers, journalists, accountants, and pilots.
Grady Cothen, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Semirary, underlined the value of personal morality as he advised ministers to settle moral problems ahead of time.
"When sexual temptation arises---and there will be for most preachers.. .many oppor- tunities and temptations---prior decision is crucial.
"The preacher who drifts morally is headed for trouble. He needs to have made some decisions in his life," Cothen said. "He needs to have previously settled moral questions and predetermined what his course of action is going to be in a given set of circumstances." Roundup for Tuesday AM'S Page Two
Cothen told the preachers their conduct was so basic to their ministry that persons examine it to see if there is anything to the claims about God.
John F, Gibson, pastor of Wesleyan Drive Baptist Church in Macon, Ga., urged the ministers to pay their own way in the world and not rely on ministerial discounts and clergy rates. He also suggested that the ministers pay their debts on time.
"The economy of our time demands credit buying by every segment of our society, preachers included. However, when we must engage in such business transactions there should be a valid recognition of our obligations as for any other person, There is no sound, rational reason whereby we may declare ourselves exempt from these debts, even though we might wish it so.
"Our creditors have every right to expect us to deal honestly with them, and leave the playing of modern-day Robin Hoods to the Federal government. "
The ministers also got help on how to get along with their wives.from H. Franklin Paschall, pastor of First Baptist Church of Nashville, Tenn., and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Pasch 11 called for unity on rr, 9ney matters, harmony with in-laws, agreement on disciplining children and a bridle ~n dispositions. -yJ%+7- -$#- ?q-@4" -1 '3% 'fy i4_i&r 33
W. C. FIELDS &"I w* I '4 t Press Representative s I THEME: IN THE
,L a 'P. 1 I SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON {) $: \ pl ;$d [ 1 8 News Room Managor JUNE 1-3,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (814) 231-0255
For your information Immediate Release
Following is the text of a communication from President Richard M. Nixon to the messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention. Text fallows:
THE P HITE HOUSE Washington May 28, 1971
TO THE MESSENGERS OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
It is a pleasure for me to greet you as you gather for your annual meeting--reminding all of us once again of your considerable achievements and of the dynamic role you play in our nation's 1ife .
Your organization has thrived in adversity. The thorny path has but increased your strength. And your gains have been a blessing for our country.
The sustaining spiritual support you have given to the leaders of this country in times of crisis, the understanding and compassion which you have shown to your fellow citizens, the Christian charity that fills your ranks and inspires your public service: these have earned you a nation's enduring respect.
As one who continues to be heartened by the selfless spirit of your mission, I share your confidence in the future, and trust your deliberations will further your important work in our society.
Richard Nixon $% T,?T ,+--I "%4T"",,*' ' "ri + 0 . Ef .I V
*. . .A 2 : $ .-J S ERN BAPT W. C. FIELDS :. I'L * " press Repreaentatlve 8 $jt!'< ,,>,& 9: ; 4 4 *$ THEME: IN THE I i. *. ii c .)" 7 SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON News Room Manager JUNE 1-3,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (314) 231-0255
For Your Information
Western Union & Telegraph
Two Telex machines and five telephones with unlisted numbe.rgq have been installed for your use during the SBC.
Copy sent on Telex or by Western Union should k billed collect (press rates). Long distance telephone charges hould NOT be billed to the convention listed telephone number.
There is a strong possibility that Western Union will go on nationwide strike at midnight, May 31. In that ca se, Western Union supervisory personnel will make every effort to staff the Telex equipment in the press room so that your copy can be moved quickly to meet deadlines.
Because of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 31, there will be no Telex Service on Monday. Call 621-8800, the main Western Union number, for messenger pickup service, or take your copy to the main office, 908 Chestnut (6 blocks East, 1 block North of Kiel Auditorium), for fastest service.
Western Union is planning to staff the Telex equipment at the Press Room from 2:00 p. m. until 10:00 p. m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
All incoming calls will be received on the mail News Room phone line, (314) 231-0255. If you have long copy to dictate and want your paper ta call you back on its Watts line, see the News Room manager for one of the unlisted phone numbers for the call-back. If you receive incoming calls, the receptionist will page you.
There are several "pay" phones in the area: one each in themen's rooms and women's rest rooms at the rear of the News Room, several in the hallway, one just downstairs outside the News Room, and two down the corridor beside the News Room, W. C. FIELDS THEME: IN THE Press Representative SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON The Gatcwny Arch jSAINT News Room Manager LoulsJ JUNE 1-3, 1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (314) 231-0255
Pastors' Conference Roundup For Immediate Release
ST. LOUIS, May 31--Supported by an enthusiastic crowd at the closing session of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference, W. A. Criswell of Dallas vigorously reaffirmed "the inerrant and infallible word of God I' Mmday'hight at Kiel Auditorium.
The Amen-punctuated sermon by Criswell, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, to more than 7,000 persons ended a day packed with 15 sermons on various aspects of preachers and their ministry.
Speakers at the closing session examined "God's Preacher as a Person, I' while those at morning and afternoon sessions scrutinized him as a prophet and as a person facing the world's problems and temptations.
The preachers elected John Bisagno, pastor of First Baptist Church of Houston, Tex. , as their next president,
Gene Phillips, pastor of University Baptist Church, Peoria, Ill. , was chosen vice- president and Bill Wallace, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church of Charlotte, N. C,, secretary.
"The preacher's special mandate is to preach the Word of Godt'--the Bible--which says that "all Scripture is inspired of God. 'I said Criswell, pastor of Dallas' First Baptist Church, largest among the 34, 360 in the denomination with 15,000 members. "This introduces us to the long and bitter controversy about the inerrant and infallible Word of God. "
Criswell characterized the modern day as one in which there is vigorous opposition and antagonism to the Bible.
He criticized! "modern intellectuals" who would say "the Bible is like Aesop's Fables-- full of fairy tales" and cited historical and scientific information in efforts to rebuff persons who claim the Bible contains historical and scientific error.
"Science, like a chicken molts every day. "
Citing a library in Paris which he said contains three-and-a-half miles of obsolete science texts, Criswell jabbed at those who would "rewrite the Bible on the basis of the latest scientific information. "
Criswell referred to archaeology which in all its probing into "tens of thousands of years of history" has never made "even one discovery contradicting the Word of God" and "tens of thousands which uphold the Bible. I'
Isaiah spoke of the Lord sitting above the circle of the world--centuries before it was discovered that the earth is round, Griswell said.
The Hittite nation, once dismissed by scholars as a figment of a Biblical writer's iyzlagination, have been proven to have existed, he said.
Evolutionists, who convince young people that they evolved "from a green scum in the dawn of timet' drew Criswell's particular disapproval Pastors' Conference Rov.~dtr,p
"Theae yomg people say it (evolution) fa proved by drosophiiallthe fruit fly,'' ha declared with a characteristic jab of the finger. H said that sci ntbt8 have bdmbrrded tb fruit fly's genee praclucing mutatioaa equival nt to th usadr of generntfoxrrr. ?
"But he is still doosoghila, It Criswell thundered, "not a jue bug or a bumble be . Never has there been an imtance to known mcieoce where there has been a tranrmbrion from one species to another. Xtfs like it sayr here in the book."
Earlicx, Grbdy Cothea, president of New Orlaane Baptist Theological Sami~ry,chided Baptists who engage in bitter battles over the Bible.
"One of the strangest things in all Chrirtendom is the fights we hare about our Bib1 We ngage in a contest on who is the moet oxthodox. Many of us almoat hate on another over the Scriptures. It
Dealing with the various problems that effect a minietertsmorality, Cothen said a ps~torcan function without many things--but not without personal integrity in all hie rela- tion~.
He outlined preeaures and temptations to which Christian integrity rnurrt b applied, including sexuality, dishonesty, hostilities and hatred and temptation to inminuate falsely ab ut thers, including the tendency to careleasly label others ar liberal or unscriptural,
Jon F. Mssk Jr, , of New York told the pastors that "the spiritual poverty of tlre city is eo great thzt it de-man& tha attention of our convention, It demands priority attantion, It demands thzhve give zttcr-tion to the investment of rnissione funds.. .to the attention of msn,money and methods send any and everything that will bring to bear an eff ctiva wltnaas for Ch~ist."
Meek, miscions director of fke Zaptist General Convention of New York, maid prsrche~,a and churches mlzot not XC,*I from the city, as they would naturally tend to do, but rtay minister to the pacgls.
Former SBC FrceT6~ntJ. D. Grey, pastor of First Baptirt Church, New Orlaonrr, rai* p~eachersshou.ld fill thc rorc of modern-day ~rophetswithout fear of trying to pl as8 var yans.
@'Fartoo r;nan,y GO-calledmodern-day prophets make about as much impact upon society as a rc35er %silo03filled with 2i.p oatmeal dropped on a foam rubber cushion, It ha said.
"If God's Vord ?reached by His prophet got result8 in the ancient city of Ninevah, I maintain emp5aticR..?lythat God's word when faithfully preached by hie modern-day progh ts will brhg rssu1:s in our modern Ninevahs, It
James Hestez of Dallw# aesociate in the evangelism division of the BalpMst Gcn ral Convention of Texas, urged preachers to realize the importance of foreign misrrioas,
"When your only area of concern is one small area, you live in a mighty rmdl world, 'f eraid th forme:: mitsionary to Brazil.
The preacher aad his fitlawial integrity drew the attention of John F. Gibmorr, pastor of Wesieyan Drive naptist Church, Macan, Ga. 1
"Since our creditors have been influenced in part by our positionr and by the baric honesty expected of our calling, they am entitled to receive their due froara our purue*"
W. Fred Swank, pastor o~~agamoreHill Bsptlet Church in Ft. Worth# Tub, pllllan Q partors that their attitdea play a larg role in their r lati mnhfp with athers.
We took to task thoea who rejoicg in the misfortun s of other paetors, j a1 wfy attempt to expiaia away their successes ox pettily try to undermine them. PaQf43:e1Conferenc ' Roan9 up Former SBC Pre rid nt H, Frankkin f ea hall of Na~hvilla,Tenn, , choed scatim nt of othex speak 3at -Itpra ch xs and th it fanxilies are flesh and blood, jurt like other peopl , subj ct t9 th @om fxsilifi 8,'"
He said a lot of preach rs and wiw s, subject to h avy pr ssuree, would div rc if th y weren't in the church.
By Bob OIBrien 9: 10 A. M. Tuesday W. C. FIELDS Press Representative THEME: IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON The Gateway Arch News Room Manager /SAINT Loulsl JUNE 1-3,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (314) 281-0255
For Your Information
CORRECTION
Correction for Pastors' Conference Roundup
13th graph on page 2.
James Hester should be identified as a formcr missionary to Ibly, nct Braeil.
Thank you.
The Press Room W. C. FIELDS Press Represenbtlve THEME: IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON News Room Manager JUNE 1-3,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (314) 291-0255
Background Story BROADMAN BIBLE COMMENTAW.
For the past year, Southern Baptists have been embroiled in a running controversy over the publication of a Bible commentary on Genesis and Exodus by the denomination's Sunday 3c hool Board.
Last year, at the Southern Baptist Convention in Denver, the convention messengers voted 5,394 to 2,170 in favor of a motion asking the Sunday School Board to withdraw from circulation the commentary volume, and to rewrite it "with due consideration to the con- servative viewpoint. "
Herels some background on the rundrn&ng controversy.
Volume One of the Broadman Bible Commentary was released in January of 1970 by the Sunday School Board, prompting editorials in several Baptist state papers the following month criticizing the biblical interpretations of the authors.
During February, several Baptist state papers, including the Word and Way of Missou'ri and the Baptist New Mexican, disagreed, with the views of the author of the Genesis comrnen- tary, G. Henton Davies, principal of Regent's Park College, Oxford, England.
Both editors W, Ross Edwards of Jefferson City, Mo, , and G. Eugene Whitlow of Albuquerque challenged Davies' interprekation of Genesis, Chapta~.22, which relates the story of Abraham's offering his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to God.
Davies wrote that he did not feel God ordered Abraham to kill his own son. "Indeed what Christian or humane conscience could regard such a command as coming from God?" Davies questioned. "How then did this conviction arise in the mind of Abraham, since we believe that God did not put it there? The question can only be answered in part, " he continued. "Abraham's conviction that his son must be sacrificed is the climax of the psychology of his life. 'I
Several Baptist editors did not like Davies' conclusion. "Whom are we going to , believe as to what took place, the Bible as it is plainly written or Dr. Davies' suppositions?" asked Whitlow. The editor claimed "Davies' approach to Scripture interpretation is inaccu- rate and therefore untrustworthy. Consequently, his entire commentary is suspect and should be withdrawn from the Broadman Bible Commentary. I'
Editors Edwards and Whitlow joined several others in sponsoring an ",iffirming the Bible Conference" in Denver just prior to the SBC, saying it was an opportunity for the great "silent majority" of members of the denomination to speak out in support of the Bible. During the conference, several speakers roundly criticized the commentary for being "too liberal. I'
Then came the convention. Gwinn Turner, pastor of First Baptist Church , Mar Vista; Calif. , a suburb of Los Angeles, made the motion asking that the commentary volume be withdrawn and rew ritten "because the Broadman Bible Commentary is out of harmony with, the beliefs of the vast majority of Southern Baptist pastors and people. It Vote was 5,394 to 2,170.
In X.ugust, the Sunday School Board elected trustees voted by a two-to-one margin$ to comply with the convention's request to withdraw the volume and appointed a special committee headcd by Allen B. Cornish of Columbus, Ga., to make recommendations on rewriting the commentary volume. - more- BROADMAN BIBLE COMMENTARY Page Two
In January, the board approved the committee's recommendation to request the original authors of the commentary, Davies and Roy D. Honeycutt of Kansas City, Mo., to revise their own materials giving "due consideration of the conservative point of View. It
The committee expressed hope the work would be done during the summer and fall of 1971 making possible publication of a revised edition of Volume One of the Commentary following the publication of the remaining books in the 12-volume series.
The committee reported the authors had been contacted, and they had made five agreements: (1) willingness to explore a revision with the understanding no major alter- ations or redirection of the thrust of the treatments would be made; (2) willingness lo resolve the problem in "the spirit of Christian conciliation.. . not as a matter of convic- tion that the material calls for revision;" (3) that the general editor of the commentary $hould take the initiative in pointing out areas for possible revision; (4) an insistence by thi writers and general editor to maintain their own integrity while pledging to do all feasible to achieve a positive response to the request made by the SBC; and (5) a iequest that "what they (the writers and general editor) undertake in good faith will be accepted in good faith by the board and will have its acceptance and support. I'
; A few weeks after the board's decision was announced,, Editor Whitlow questioned :whether it was "a wise decision, It observing that it would Itprobably be difficult if not impossible" for those who were critical of the cornmentar; last year "to view future writ- ings of these two authors with anything less than skepticism. " r Edwards, in an editorial following the board's action, urged a spirit of reconciliation at the SBC in St. Louis, and asked that those who apposed the commentary at first give the authors "another chance" to revise their materials.
, In April, a reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer, Ben Kaufman, interviewed Davies in London, who amplified on the earlier agreements he had made with the Sunday School '.:..-. Board on the revision of his material. Davies repeated that he was unwilling to compromise his conclusions and his integrity, but that he was willing "to give more space to conservative views.
"I'm going to make a real effort to meet their needs, because they are in real diffi- culty trying to maintain unity in their convention, It Davies told Kaufman.
He added, however, that he would not give up his position on the authorship of the ?orah, but he might be willing to express it "in the setting of other views;" and that he would not "move" on his interpretation of the Abraham and flood stories, but he "might" phrase them differently, It
He said he would be in Nashville in July to ask the Broadman editors to "point out passages that are difficult for them. "
' Editor Alvin C. Shackleford of the Indiana Baptist, in an editorial, predicted that the timing of the story "can enflame the questions of Volume One into another major crisis" at the SBC in St. Louis.
Edwards, in an editorial just before the SBC, again issued a plea for reconciliation at the convention. Concerning the quotes attri hted to Ddvies, Edwards questioned whether it would be wise for the Sunday School Board "to excuse Dr. Davies from the Cask of rewriting Volume I, I' adding that there are many Southern Baptist scholars (in $he USA) who could do an excellent job of revising the cor-mcntary.
. Edwards offered about a dozen suggestions for achieving a better fellowship in the SBC and bringing about a spirit of reconciliation in the convention. He concluded by iPrging reconciliation "for our own sake, fox the sake of our image, for the sake of youth, for the sake of truth, for the sake of a dying world and for the sake of Him who died fox US. " --3o-- W. C. FIELDS Press Representative THEME: IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON The Gatcwny Arch News Room Manager ISAINT LOUIS 1 JUNE 1-3,1971 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (314) 231-0255
FOR 1MMEDWTE RELEASE
ST. LOUIS, May 31--'The Southern Baptist Convention should elect a woman as president, " the leader of the American Baptist Convention said here Monday.
Mrs. Marcus Rohlfs of Seattle, mash., president of the American Baptist Convention, made the suggestion when she was introduced to women at annual meeting of the Sotl:l:;'-,zn Bxpti q4t Wcrnari' s Missionary Union meeting.
"I am very impressed with this meeting and with what you are doing to extend the Kingdom of God, I' Mrs. Rohlfs said. "But one thing you haven't done you ought to do- - elect 2, .Yoman pscr;idcnt. Seeing all these wonderful women here, I think maybe you are overlooking something, I'
Mrs. R. L. !'T.zthis of Waco, Tex. , president of WMU, has served as a SBC vice president.
by Catherine All=:: 4;15 am Tuesdsy I 2 -3- NEWS
w. c. mEm$ SOUTHERN BAPTIST Pnrt Re~tatlv~ THEME: IN ME JIM NEWTON CONVENTION SPIRITOF~HRI~ : New8 Room Managmr JUNE 118,1971 KIEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS
WMU ROUNDUP Far Xmmediate Releane
ST, LOUIS, May 31---"Here is my life, I' sang almost 3,000 women and a generous :sprinkling of men in a resounding finale to Southern Baptist Woman's Missionary Union's annual meeting Monday night at Kiel nuditoriurn. 1, The three-session, one-day meeting was climaxed by a time of commitment, In song, Scripture, and meditation, the audience was urged to pledge personal commitment ~~LmY~sr~ions.
"he Volunteer State Chorale, ministers of music from Tenneesee, wove the service jogether with special music such as "Hallelujah, 'I by Handel. Claude H. .~hea,Jr., of Birmingham, Ala., and Gene Bartlett of Oklahoma City, directed congregational music pnd sang in tandem,
I Each session spotlighted one of WMU's purposes: mission study, mission action, and mieeion support through prayer, money, and preparation of missionary vocation volunteers, i < Mrs. R. L. Mathis of Waco, Tex., who was re-elected for a third term as president pf the 1. 3 million-member organization, asked women to make more than a token commit- bent to WMU1s goals. I r' I ; ";We must determine to act on a higher commitmcnt to Christ's plan, " she said.
Alma Hunt of Birmingham, Ala., executive secretary of WMU, called in three addresses tor a "committed minorityIt of women. 1 "Where there's a woman, there's a way, " she repeated. "WMU was born out of the peed for mission support, We are committed today as we were in 1888 to sustaining hissions. Miss Hunt described the popular interest in education as an asset to WMUts gesire to make churches aware of the world missions situation,
. "WMU is committed to helping the church make of itself a force in the world through pission action. Our goal is not only to help people in Christ's name but to change attitudes through action. " 3 Porter Routh of Nashville, Tenn., executive secretary of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Baker J. Cauthen of Richmond, Va,, executive secre- $ary of the Foreign Mistsion Board, both praised the woken for their part in a recent up- surge in Cooperative Program gifts. i ' Cauthen also thanked the women for their promotion of the Lottie Moon Christian offar- 'I brig for Foreign Missions, which recently rang up a record total of $16,220.104.99, 1, 1 . Arthur B. Rutledge of Atlanta, Ga., executive secretary of the Southern Baptiet Home . I pdission Board, expressed optimism for the annual home missions offering now being Feported,
i r 9 I Mrs. Robert Fling of Pleasantville, N. Y. , a forrne r national WMU president and now president of New York WMU, delivered pleas for personal commitment to the three WMU burpose s. * 1 ; "We must cut the roots of self-love personally, in churches, and in states in order that world missions not be curtailed, tt -.-
WMU ROUNDUP Page Two
Two foreign miaeionaries and two home missions executives spoke during the meeting, Rob rt C, Davis, Jr,, mirreionary to Vietnam, raid that regardless d division in the "- United States over the nation's role in Southeast d=aia, Southern Baptirt miseionari B are certain God wants misrionaries in the country.
Davis praised Baptirt service men stationed in 'Vietnam who have helped the mirsionariea minister to human needs ~f the Vietnamere.
G. Webster Carroll, missionary to Uganda, spoke of Southern Baptistat need to base , their work on a full understanding of Jeeus.
"Whe,~men begin to doubt the authority and power of Jesue, they begin not to care. Their Chriatiaoity ha$ no authoxify, "
Carroll said he believes Bapfitits will more support to foreign miosione if they are moved with cornpaasion for neighbors next door.
Wendell Belew, of Atlanta, director of the divi~ionof mtsqiona at the hiioms Misaion + Board, pledged partnership with WMU in sharing Christ with tmmricans,
"WMU mia r ion action implements home rnisaions , while home miss ionr weer missrbn action wherever women are organized to work, Where WMU is not in sxirtence, home mis eionaries want it orgahioed immediately, " he said,
Kenneth L. Ghafin of Atlanta, director of the department of cvangeliem for the Home Miseion Board, spoke three times on why Southern Baptists rhould be involved ia meeting needs of and witneaeing to fellow-Americans,
By Cdtherine zdren 8:45 a. rn, , Monday k NEWS
w. c. MELDS SOUTHERN BAPTIST ~reuRopra~~ THEME: IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON C 0 N V E N T 10 N Newa Room Manager JUNE 14,1071 KlEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS
BAPTIST MEN'S CONFERENCE
For Immediate Release
ST. LOUIS, May 31- -Laymen hold the keys for communicating with and understanding modern man, Fred Rhodes of W aehington, D. C. , first vice president of the South rn Baptist Convention, said here Monday night.
In a major address to the Baptist Men1$ Conference at Southwest Baptist Church, Rhodes declared that "the world of the 'earth people1 is sure and simple a layman's world. Laymen work and live where the action is. 'I
The conference, sponsored by the Brotherhood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention,attracted laymen from more than 30 states. Rhodes was one of six speakers on the theme "Laymen in Missions. It
'For years laymen have griped that there was no place for them in the Convention, 'I the deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration said. "If that were true, it is no excuse. "
He asked if there is not a need for laymen in the field of education ox as Convention executives. He askad why laymen are not used in hard-to-fill jobs in the state conven- tions or as editors of Baptist state papers.
The answer he said is that laymen have not prepared themselves to take the jobs.
"There will be a lay involvement in the Convention because laymen are concerned and cannot be contained within the four walls of the church. This concern will press our denomination into new frontiers of expression, 'I Rhodes said.
James Jchnson of Arlington, Tex. , a cornputor specialist, todd how laymen can become involved in missions through their vocations. He challenged the Home and Foreign Mission Boards to provide assistance and guidance to vocational missionaries.
"The boards can express mission needs in small terms that can be understood and met by individuals and small groups of laymen .
I 'The Brotherhood Commission and various state missions agencies can establish mission project information offices where missions needs and missions resources (men and material) can be matched into functioning projects, " the computer expert said.
Johnson introduced two Texas laymen invalved in mission a*'tion.
Jim Wren, an .Atlaens, Texas layman, is president of Amigos Internationales which op rates a medical-dental missions project working along the RioGrande River.
Theprginization recently signed a contract with the government of British Honduras to operate the mobile medical-dental units in that country after January, 1972.
Dr. Timothy Pennell of Bowman Gray School of Mediciae in Ulinston-Salem, N. C., examined the philosophy of missions in the light of the New Testament.
"If we accept this philosophy we must be concerned and involved in missions, " he said. ItWe can no longer talk the big game. , . we must live it. " BAPTIST MENIS CONFE~ENCE Pox Wrnediat Re1 aa
Psnnell &numerated miaahon needs which he described as "unbelievttable~'afid'able to r ach men at th "gut 1 P 1.
Jack Stanton of Atlanta, Ga., tmangslism consultant for the; Baptist Home Mission Board, told how laymen can be I5nwEred in miseionn through evangelirm, H4 shared the te~ultaof recent lay ev~gelfsmschoale.
! Laymed will a&mw'$aQitip.t. in a special forum on Wednwday afternoon hero. The Eo rum is ders ignad to provide an opportunity for laymen to exchange -ideas and to have qialogue on missions involverncnt and support.
'0 D* Dennis am'. Tueaday LSOUTHEKII: BAY' W. C. FIELDS Press Representative THEME: IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST JIM NEWTON 0 N News Room Manager JUNE 1-3,1971 KIEL AUDITORIUM ST. LOUIS Phone (314) 231-0255
For Immediate Release REWGIOUS EDUCATfON CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
ST, LOULS, May 31- - -Most Southern Baptists have "made a profession out of not letting anybody find out anything important about them, " Kenneth La Chafin of Atlanta, division of the evangeliclm department of the Home Miesion Board, told Southern Baptist educator8 here Monday night.
Chafin, who is spearheading the development of workable witneseing techniques for church members, spoke at the concludimg session of the Southern BapYlrO Religious Edu- cation Association conference which attracted 272 religious education workers. The conference featured a series of talks on developments that are happening now in church ministries and addresses by several denomination leaders including Carl E, Bates of Charlotte, N. C. , president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Ghafin shswd the podium with Jaroy Weber, pastor of Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala. , who told about hie congregation's busing ministry.
The association elected Joe Burnette, minister of education at First Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C., president. He had been president-elect during the past year,
The president-elect is John Durst of Columbia, Sunday School secretary of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Elected first vice president was Tam kllerton, minister of education, First Baptist Church, Atlanta.
The new second vice president is Miss Rita Stewart, dean of women at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Tex. William E, Young, director of church adminiatration field services, SBC Sunday School Board, Nashvilk, Tenn, , was re- elected secretary-treasurer,
Burnette succeeded William H. Souther, proferror of church ad&dsb#atiora at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, as president.
During the last 18 months, Chafin and evangelism workers have developed a program designed to help Southern Baptist church members witness effectively to non-Christians and the unchurched.
The witwesing tecwwnr have been taught and used in on-the-jab training in the Atlanta area as well as in several other cities, Chafin said.
The witnessing program, which is taught in learning laboratory situations where group dynamics are essential, has revealed some startling things about Southern Baptist churches and their members, Chafin said.
Uang cliut.bw~twllthepr wh& they believe, b& &by dm9 knew h w to articulate their beliefs--how to talk about Jesus Christ to non-Christian#, he continued.
Most Southern Baptists, including many who are "running our churches, " don't witness at all, Chafin said. A major reason is that there are almost no known Itlost peoplet' attending church services and churches have very little information about un- converted, wchrrrctwd people in their communities, he explained.
- more - RELIGIOUS EDUCATTOTT GONFFF ENCE WRAP- UP Page Two
"Religious educators in our churches have almost totally lost track of the lost people. A major revolution in techniques is needed to get in touch with lost people, I'
Chafin said that trained, confident witnesses making door-to-door surveys is still the best way to discover the unchurched. "Bdptists kept in a church house can be a pretty miserable bunch to live with, " he observed. kveragc laymen will "land on their feet" in diffic~ltsituations more often than most Baptist leaders think, he said.
Chafin advocated that religious educators form the vanguard in training their church members to witness evangelically. A continuing program of evangelism in Southern Baptist churches "will probably be in the hands of religious education
workers, I' Chafin.said.
SBC President Bates told the educators that religious education has "played a major part in the ministry God has given me thus far. I' Bates, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, recal2zd how his parents, teachers and colleagues in the ministry have been his religious educators,
Another speaker, Vi. L. Howse of Nashville, Tenn., enumerated some tasks of religious education in he 1970s acd was honored by the association during a luncheon,
Howse, who will retire Oct. 1 as director of the Education Division of the SBC Sunday School Board, and Bates both noted that their ministries have always been team efforts. Hov~zc:said that "if the pcogle in our churches just knew how their denominational workers w-r : to !\ern, they would rejoice greatly. "
iieligious education in the '70s must achieve a state of wholeness, Howee said. It must be concerned *:tith the whola person, the whole gospel and the whole world.
r'-mingham, another conference speakers, Gaines S. DcSbins of -. kla., called for religious educatorc +- ' --.'--, . L *r tat;-: a 5ducational processes for Southern Baptist churches. He reminded the delepates that while the denomination's guide in the past was 't;rr-, ', - ., it must he qualitative in the future.
Dobbins is emeritus professor of religious education and church adrninietration at Southern Baptist T:,eologic~l Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.
Creative approaches to ministry and sensitivity to the "hurts" of individuals were keynotes in an addr\-s~h;- Pepel* McT~eod,pastor of First Baptist Church, Waco, Tex. He said that Southern Baptist ministers need to guard against a professionalism in which they are untouched by "the real deep needs of people, many of whom are hurting like hell inside. "
John Bisagno, pastcr of First Baptist Church, Houston, Tex., described his inner- city congregation's numerically- successful outreach program as an example of what reiigious educator$ in cirni1~-cituati---- Liight develop.
Bisagno, whose church is averaging 36 additions per Sunday, said new and unusual schemes are unnecessary. The "normal, simple laws of Sunday School growth" have been sufficient for his congregation, he caid,
"First Bapti~tChurch of Housbn puts its highest emphasis on evangelism, on 3t??:reach, " he said. "c/utre,ch is the only salvation of any church. Enrollment is the name of the game. "
By Mike Dixon 12:15 p, m, , Tuesday FOR IMMEDLATE RELEASE
#4 WMU CONVENTION
WMU CONVENTION-- Southern Baptist Woman's Missionary Union1s annual meeting was held at the Opera House, Auditorium, St. Louis.
#5 OUTGOING OFFICERS--Thethree officers of the Southexn Baptist Pastor's Conference conferred during the opening aession of the annual meeting of the 25,000-member minister's group at Kiel Auditorium. They are President Landrum P. Leave11 (center) of Wichita Falls, Tex, Vice-President James L. Pleitz (left) of Pensacola, Fla., and Secretary Charles A. Jolly of Madison, N. J.
#7 WMU LEADERS MEET- -Mrs. R. L. Mathis (left) of Waco, Tex. , was elected to another term as president of Woman's Missionary Union and Mrs. Roy E. Snider (center) of Camden, Ark. , as recording secretary. They met with Miss Alma Hunt, executive secretary of WMU, between sessions of the woman's auxiliary.
#lo NEW LEADERS OF PASTORS--Selected to lead the Southern Baptist Pastorst Conference the next twelve months were John Bisagno (right), pastor of First Baptist Church, Houston, Tax. , president; Gene Phillips (center) pastor of University Baptist Church of Peoria, Ill., vice-president; and Bill Wallace, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church of Charlotte, N. C. secretary.
#9 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION EXHIBITS-- Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis visit the exhibit area.
#37 YOUTH SPEAK OUT--Stan Smith, newly appointed missionary journeyman to Indonesia from Mo. , and Bonnie Stricker of St. Louis answer questions related to youth for messengers attending the Southern Baptist Convention.
#12 KELIGIOUS EDU CATION ASSOCLATION OFFICERS--Elected to lead religious educators of the Southern Baptist Convention for the next year are:(left to right) Joe Burnette, First Baptist Church, Charlotte, N. G., president; William Young, Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., secretary-treasurer; Miss Nita Stewart, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. V!orth, Tex., 2nd vice-president; Tom Allerton, First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. , 1s t vice-president and John Durst, Sunday School Secretary for the General Association of South Carolina, president elect.
#6 PREACHERS MEET--Southern Baptist pastors met for a one day session at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Mo.