AUGUST 2010 | Vol. 28, No. 8 | baptiststoday.org $3.95

‘‘HHooppeeffuull iimmaaggiinnaattiioonn ’’ TTrraannssffoorrmmaattiioonn ccaann hhaappppeenn —— eevveenn ddoowwnnttoowwnn ppaaggee 44

CCooaacchh BBiillll CCuurrrryy ttaallkkss aabboouutt rraaccee,, ffaaiitthh aanndd ffoorrggiivveenneessss ppaaggee 3344

AUGUST 2010 | Vol. 28 No. 8

John D. Pierce Baptists Today serves churches by providing a reliable source of Executive Editor [email protected] unrestricted news coverage, thoughtful analysis and inspiring Jackie B. Riley features focusing on issues of importance to Baptist Christians. Managing Editor An autonomous national [email protected] Baptist news journal Julie Steele Director of Operations and Marketing [email protected] PERSPECTIVES Keithen M. Tucker > Fostering fairness in a culture of diversity ...... 7 Director of Development 13 [email protected] By John Pierce Tony W. Cartledge > Healthy families give voice to pain, fear and loss ...... 8 Contributing Editor [email protected] By Paul Mullen Bruce T. Gourley > Broadway play explores evangelical faith, gay life ...... 16 Laxness, liability Online Editor [email protected] > Can we talk — about homosexuality? ...... 17 in the laying Vickie Frayne By Tony W. Cartledge on of hands Art Director Jannie Lister > When faithful people become friends ...... 18 Office Assistant By David M. Weatherspoon Walker Knight Jack U. Harwell Publisher Emeritus Editor Emeritus > Americans’ charitable giving draws attention ...... 24 Board of Directors By Martin E. Marty Gary F. Eubanks, Marietta, Ga. (chairman) Kelly L. Belcher, Spartanburg, S.C. > Adolescent challenges no laughing matter ...... 25 (vice chair) Z. Allen Abbott, Peachtree City, Ga. By Tom Ehrich Jimmy R. Allen, Big Canoe, Ga. Nannette Avery, Signal Mountain, Tenn. Ann T. Beane, Richmond, Va. Thomas E. Boland, Alpharetta, Ga. IN THE NEWS Huey Bridgman, Columbus, Ga. Mary Jane Cardwell, Waycross, Ga. > American Baptist pastor appointed as new ...... 11 Robert Cates, Rome, Ga. religious-freedom ambassador Kenny Crump, Ruston, La. David Currie, San Angelo, Texas > Study: Devout less stressed than non-believers ...... 11 James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. Cover photo by R. Kirby Godsey, Macon, Ga. > Baptist Seminary of Kentucky moving to Georgetown ...... 12 Tony W. Cartledge. William B. Greenhaw, Macon, Ga. Leslie D. Hill, Lexington, Ky. > Bread for the World wins top hunger prize ...... 12 The transformation taking Michael M. Massar, Tyler, Texas place at a 200-year-old J. Thomas McAfee, Macon, Ga. William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. > Homeowners weigh morality of walking out ...... 14 church in Wilmington, N.C., Ella Wall Prichard, Corpus Christi, Texas on mortgages just might spark “hopeful Michael G. Queen, Wilmington, N.C. imagination” in other places. Mary Etta Sanders, Dalton, Ga. > Churches torn over child molesters in pews ...... 15 Charles Schaible, Macon, Ga. Page 4 Macon Sheppard, Folly Beach, S.C. > Is criticism of Israel anti-Semitic? ...... 26 Walter B. Shurden, Macon, Ga. Cookies, Charlotte Cook Smith, Raleigh, N.C. > Baptists give aid to strife-ridden Kyrgyzstan ...... 27 David M. Smith, Houston, Texas cooking Leo Thorne, Valley Forge, Pa. > Sex, violence warnings come to Christian movies ...... 32 Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. & caring Clement H. White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Winnie V. Williams, Seneca, S.C. > Megachurches on building boom ...... 38

Baptists Today (ISSN 1072-7787) is published monthly by: Baptists Today FEATURES P.O. Box 6318 Macon, GA 31208-6318 > Virginia businessman puts faith into action ...... 31 Subscription rates: 1 year, $20 2 years, $35 > Mormon influence runs deep through ‘Twilight’ ...... 33 1 year groups of 25 or more, $18 1 year groups of less than 25, $20 1 year Canada, $35 1 year foreign, $50 IN EVERY ISSUE 30 Periodical postage paid at Macon, Ga. 31208 and additional mailing offices Editorial 7 In the Know 23 POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to: Quotation Remarks 10 Global News 27 Baptists Today P.O. Box 6318 Bible Studies 19 Lighter Side 28 Macon, GA 31208-6318 © 2010 Baptists Today . ChurchWorks! 22 Reblog 29 All rights reserved. Classifieds 23 Media Shelf 33

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 3 FEATURE STORY AND PHOTOS BY TONY W. CARTLEDGE

Pastor Mike Queen stands at the entrance to the Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center that houses multiple social ministries and humanitarian services in Wilmington, N.C. ‘Hopeful imagination ’ Transformation can happen — even downtown

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Transformation serving the community in a variety of ways. A cultural shift The church hosts a growing ministry center of doesn’t happen overnight, especially Early in his tenure, Queen saw a need for the faith-based social and humanitarian ministries congregation to become more involved in its in facilities it bought from the county and for a sizable downtown church with a community. When Jim Everette came as min - continues to renovate, for example. ister of education and missions 20 years ago, lengthy history and traditions to In addition, lay members are empowered Queen charged him with getting more mem - match. But transformation can hap - to initiate acts of service to the community. An average of 100 new members join the bers plugged into missions and outreach. pen, and when it does, amazing church family each year, and a dynamic pro - That cultural shift, said Queen, “has defined us, shaped us and made us a different things follow in its wake. gram of education and discipleship has scores of church members involved in researching kind of congregation.” He credits Everette, First Baptist Church of Wilmington was and writing its own Bible study curriculum. now associate pastor, with successfully engag - not unlike many older downtown churches On October 22-23, the congregation ing more members in hands-on ministry, and when Mike Queen became pastor 24 years will host a conference for church leaders who changing their mindset from self-service to ago. Its historic twin spires were firmly long to see congregational transformation in serving the community. planted in the downtown area, but it was in their own settings. Called “Hopeful An early opportunity took place when some ways an island unto itself, disconnected Imagination,” the conference is not designed Wilmington’s Good Shepherd soup kitchen from the surrounding community. to make one church’s story the model, but to lost its space and was on the verge of shutting Today, the church is deeply involved with spark the imagination and stoke the passion down its ministry of feeding the homeless. missions programs and outreach activities, of participants for their own churches. With Queen’s encouragement, Everette called

4 | Baptists Today • August 2010 FEATURE

Kathy Dawson, who was directing Good Southerland advised them to be patient: oper who thought the leaks could be con - Shepherd at the time. “The older the church, the slower you go.” trolled, Queen and the staff began to dream As Queen recalls it, when asked why she It took four-and-a-half years before the about ways in which the building could had not already called on First Baptist for first major change, the addition of a well- become a hub for cooperative but independ - assistance, she said “We never dreamed that a done contemporary worship option, came to ent ministry activities serving the downtown church would take us in … you fruition. Other changes were incremental, Wilmington community. know the crowd we serve.” though sometimes changes came in spurts. Making the purchase would prove to be Good Shepherd fed homeless persons “Being deliberate means sometimes a challenge, however. The church placed a from First Baptist facilities for 19 months, you’re stirring a lot of pots, but nothing is bid of $1 million on the building, which had until the ministry was able to obtain its own happening,” said Jayne Davis, minister of a tax value of more than $10 million. A local building. At least half of the volunteers education. “But then, several may start to developer offered a competing bid, raising it remain members of First Baptist, Queen said. boil at once.” by five percent within the required 10-day Another opportunity came when a Through the gradual process, “We period. Pentecostal congregation’s building burned opened ourselves in such a way that we didn’t The church was preparing to counter- and the pastor asked Queen if his congrega - ask why we could not do something,” Queen offer when a member read the county’s bid tion could use First Baptist’s large activity said, “but focused on how we could do it.” requirements more carefully, and realized that center, located a few miles from downtown. competing bids must raise the offer by 10 The Rock Church used the facility for 33 An audacious dream percent of the first $1,000, and five percent months before completing a new building. By An unexpected opportunity arose in 2003 of the remainder. The competing bid was then, new relationships were born. when a large county-owned building that $50 short of meeting the requirement, and wrapped around two sides of the church the 10-day waiting period passed with no A willingness to risk became available. Built in an architectural other offers. The county was then obligated As Queen completed his 14th year in style called “Brutalism,” the massive red brick to sell the property to First Baptist for the $1 Wilmington, he and other church staff mem - structure had housed the sheriff’s depart - million bid, but some of the commissioners bers invited consultant George Bullard to ment, a variety of other government offices, reversed their vote to approve it, and the join them for a retreat during which they and the county jail in more than 60,000 chairman refused to sign the contract. sought to understand their congregation’s square feet of heated space, plus an under - Enter Evelina Williams. As The Rock past and to envision a “future story” for the ground parking garage. Church prepared to dedicate its new facility, church. Bullard led them to think about what The building had so many leaks that Queen was invited to attend and say a few changes might be needed in order to turn Queen wondered if it might be best to tear it words so the congregation could express their dreams into reality. down and use the space for parking. When appreciation for the hospitality First Baptist After several suggestions had been made, challenged by a friend and real estate devel - had shown to them. longtime youth minister Don Vigus said, with some hesitation, “Mike has to change.” An imposing former government building that The room became very quiet as Vigus included a jail has become a place of redemp - suggested that his boss had been holding tion where ministry is carried out daily by a large number of volunteers and through a vari - back. “You’ve been building up capital for 15 ety of agencies and organizations hosted by the years,” he said to Queen, “and you need to First Baptist Church of Wilmington, N.C. spend it.” “I think you have a vision for the church, but are afraid,” Vigus said, suggesting that Queen had been holding back in preaching and vision casting. “You need to let go and let God lead us where he wants to lead us.” When asked for a response, Queen said, “I think Don is right.” Though still wonder - ing if he had the courage needed, he asked the staff to support him and pledged to give his best. Shortly afterward, Queen attended a conference on church transformation at Flamingo Road Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where Don Southerland was pastor, and later took the staff and several deacons to the same conference.

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 5 FEATURE

The purchase and repurposing of the county jail is but one of the many stories Queen and his staff will tell during the Hopeful Imagination conference.

The next week, he received a phone call Christian Women’s Job Corps, Campus supplies and set up shop in front of the from an African-American woman who Crusade for Christ, an after-school program church, where they offered peanut butter identified herself as Evelina Williams and for at-risk children called “Communities in and jelly sandwiches to homeless people. said she had seen Queen at the “grand Schools,” a quiet retreat for abused or threat - The teens are still there every Tuesday opening” at The Rock Church. She had ened women, and several other ministries. night, providing a meal to the homeless 52 called to tell Queen that she and her “prayer An entire floor of the administration weeks a year, even when Christmas falls on warriors” had been praying for months that building remains to be renovated, along Tuesday. They operate on donations and First Baptist would be able to purchase the with the jail. Opportunities for new their own funds, with just enough adults county building so they could “turn that jail ministries still abound: Queen hopes the around to provide security, passing on lead - from a place of incarceration to a place of former jail may one day house a home for ership from youth to youth. redemption.” developmentally disabled adults. When a woman in the church said she The prayer warriors turned out to be wanted to begin making prayer shawls for 18 women, both black and white, who had Empowered for mission the sick, Queen didn’t expect much from crammed into Williams’ tiny living room The purchase and repurposing of the county the incipient ministry. But, the project has for a time of ardent prayer every Thursday jail is but one of many stories Queen and grown as other women and girls who knit morning for the past 22 years. Queen asked his staff will tell during the Hopeful have joined in. Queen said he often finds permission to visit the group so he could Imagination conference. hospital patients holding the prayer shawl thank them for their prayers, and before the Several years ago, tired of learning they have provided, using it to cover their morning was over he had been anointed about community needs but taking no head while praying, or even wrapping it with oil, prayed over, and left weeping by action, some of the church’s youth obtained around an injured knee. the fervor of the women’s faith. three cases of bottled water and distributed Ministries like these can arise because Some time after, Williams called Queen them to random people in the streets and both the staff and the membership have to say she had good news — that Jesus had parks of Wilmington. The next week, they “incredible freedom” to hear God’s call and come to her the night before and said bought dozens of donuts and took them to respond to it, Davis said. Such freedom “You’re gonna get that building,” though the staff at the local hospital. The third grows from “an amazing level of trust” she didn’t know where the million dollars week, they used their own money to buy between the congregation and the staff, she would come from. A few weeks later, she said, and it empowers individuals to find called again to say Jesus had told her that their place of ministry. one man was going to donate the entire sum. Hopeful Imagination Fast-forward four weeks, when a local The upcoming conference “is designed to businessman named Bobby Harrelson offer hope, encouragement, inspiration and invited Queen and Everette to lunch, and practical ministry tools” for leaders from indicated that he wanted to help the church traditional churches on the journey of get the building. Queen thanked him, and transitioning and transformation, said said they’d been applying for grants, looking consultant Eddie Hammett, who is helping for other sources of revenue, and could use to organize the conference. Co-hosted by all the help they could get. But that wasn’t several entities and open to all, the confer - what Harrelson had in mind: he wanted to ence is especially designed for “churches donate the entire million dollars in memory that are plateaued, stuck and drifting,” but of his wife, who had recently died. who desire to move forward, he said. When Queen called Williams to say, Participants will not get instructions on “You’re not going to believe what just hap - “how to do what we do,” said Davis. pened,” her response was, “When will you Rather, the conference is designed “to be a learn that when the Lord makes a promise, Pastor Mike Queen credits Evelina Williams spark to get you thinking about what God (shown with him in the photo he holds) and he keeps his promises?” her prayer partners for ardent prayers and is doing and what God wants you to do in Today the JoAnn Carter Harrelson blessings leading up to the purchase of a your church.” Center is home to the Wilmington Area neighboring building that now makes a posi - More information about the Hopeful tive impact on the larger community in and Rebuilding Ministry, Cape Fear Habitat for around the coastal city of Wilmington, N.C. Imagination conference can be found on Humanity, Phoenix Employment Ministry, page 39 and at www.cbfnc.org. BT

6 | Baptists Today • August 2010 PERSPECTIVE editorial Fostering fairness in a culture of diversity By John Pierce

he Supreme Court is divided — Must a Young Republicans group a small house that provided dorm rooms and so am I. Both sides in the accept a Democrat for treasurer? Can Hillel for a few students and a limited program. T recent Christian Legal Society v. not limit its officers to Jewish students? Someone from the student activities office Martinez decision raised some valid As a longtime Baptist campus minister had just called to ask about the organiza - concerns. who served on state university campuses, tion’s racial and ethnic diversity. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in writ - these are considered as very practical ques - Then came the warning: Either ing for the court’s 5-4 majority in the case, tions. Yet, good relationships with become more racially diverse or lose your defended the University of California’s reasonable university administrators and status as an official campus organization. Hastings College of the Law policy that my own caution about Lutheran Campus Ministry did not requires all official student organizations proper church-state have policies designed for exclusion. Rather — including positions of leadership — to separation kept me out the organization simply drew a very limited be open to all persons. She described the of such conflicts over audience based on the number of Lutherans policy as “reasonable” and “viewpoint the 13 years I served on in the widely diverse student body. neutral.” government-funded At the Baptist Student Center, we On the surface, that sounds right. campuses. offered a warm welcome to the larger cam - Who wants an official student organization Challenges did arise pus community too. Yet the students who on campus that practices ugly acts of exclu - on occasion. The presi - were elected to lead the organization were sion such as forbidding membership to dent of one school asked expected to share certain Baptist commit - African-Americans or Jews? Our history me to serve on what became known as “the ments and identity. has more than enough of that stuff to make sensitivity committee” — launched when a Allowing religious groups to have lead - everyone cautious of discrimination. new counselor, who was Jewish, objected to ership that affirms common beliefs is not On the other hand, the Christian an overtly Christian prayer at a faculty and the same as giving official status to a racist Legal Society seems reasonable in wanting staff dinner. He was quite shocked when the organization that fosters hatred. It is about the freedom to have student leaders who Baptist campus minister (me) made the case identity, not exclusion. reflect the organization’s name and pur - that such sectarian religious exercises were In fact, the wider array of organiza - pose. Is that discrimination too? improper in that setting. tions on campus reflected the university’s Many, including a number of Supreme But it seems wholly proper that stu - diversity rather than ignoring or compro - Court justices, think not. Writing for the dent (or faculty) organizations with mising it. Court’s minority in the case, Justice Samuel particular religious, political or social inter - While not familiar with all details of Alito called the decision a “serious setback ests would serve a limited audience. the recent Supreme Court case, the issue of for freedom of expression in this country.” Public universities that grant official funding seems most problematic. Enacting Justice Alito explained: “There are organizational status to student groups a policy of not passing along collected stu - religious groups that cannot in good con - should expect a cooperative spirit and dent fees to any organization would be a science agree in their bylaws that they will openness to the larger campus community. better option. Surely dues, outside sponsor - admit persons who do not share their faith, Yet, on the other hand, the reason for hav - ships and fundraising can float student and for those groups, the consequence of ing so many groups on campus is to organizations just fine. an accept-all-comers policy is marginal- provide students with options for different My biggest concern as a leader of a ization.” interests and, yes, religious beliefs. religious organization on a state university Like the high court, I have a divided While serving as Baptist campus min - campus was always about access. And, as a opinion on this issue. Acts of discrimina - ister at Georgia Tech in the early ’90s, Baptist who affirms liberty for all, I wanted tion are highly offensive and should be there were regular meetings of the chap - no more or no less than any other recog - countered at every turn. Yet it seems quite lains or directors of religious organizations. nized group — whether fraternal, political, reasonable, and constitutional, that volun - On one occasion the Lutheran campus religious or otherwise — on campus. tary student groups whose very identity is minister, who also served as chaplain at a Such an assurance of equal access, it tied to a shared religious or political per - retirement facility in Atlanta, came storm - seems to me, guarantees both fairness and spective would limit its leadership to those ing into the room. the space needed for rich diversity to who share such commitments. His on-campus activities were held in blossom. BT

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 7 PERSPECTIVE

Editor’s note: This is the eighth in a yearlong series of articles on “Healthy ministers for healthy churches,” produced in partnership with the Center for Congregational Health and supported by a gift from Henry V. Langford. Bearing our burdens: Healthy families give voice to pain, fear and loss By Paul Mullen

When Nancy’s husband was I visited with her several times in her experienced before. own hospital room. She began to pour out Nancy and her church had done the best diagnosed with leukemia, her heart, sharing closely guarded thoughts they could to cope with the harsh realities of their lives were devastated. and feelings. pain, suffering and loss. Like all of us, they “I’d prayed so hard for my husband to just needed some help along the way. Multiple, accumulating be well, but it seemed like the harder I In the face of overwhelming anxiety, our prayed, the sicker he got,” she said. “I was religious coping efforts often take an uncon - demands spawned a nearly confused and afraid.” scious turn toward emotional denial, unbearable burden. She continued: “I thought I was sup - suppression or repression of our honest posed to be a tower of strength, a witness of feelings. ancy’s religious faith and upbring - faith for my family and church family. I What is adaptive in the immediate after - ing, as important as they were, left thought if I believed God without doubting, math of tragedy can become maladaptive if it N her ill prepared to deal with the and kept my faith from lingers. What appears to be a healthy faith, onslaught. wavering, that he would holding our fears and pain at bay, can work The emotional pain of seeing her hus - answer my prayers. against us in unhealthy ways — physically, band suffer was compounded by fears of the When the church mem - emotionally and spiritually. unknown. Anger brewed at the threats to bers came by, I knew it The anxieties of church members who their security and the utter lack of control. made them nervous if I want to offer support can add to the Untold stress resulted from trying to wasn’t doing well. So I dilemma. maintain the household while navigating a pretended that every - How people handle emotional pain in complex medical system. Lurking in the sea thing was all right. the face of the harsh realities of life is central of sadness was anger at her husband for leav - “But underneath, I to healthy adaptation. When our faith rein - ing her to cope alone. sometimes wondered if my prayers were forces denial and suppression, the physical, Nancy, an active member in her church, doing any good. I secretly wondered where emotional and spiritual outcomes are usually turned to her faith to cope with the assault God was and whether he cared. I felt angry negative. on her spirit. She and the church prayed and disappointed with God. Mostly, I felt Prosperity theologies, with an emphasis fervently for her husband to be healed. ashamed for feeling that way. But the harder on positive thinking, can heighten the denial. When church members visited Nancy and I tried to push the feelings away, the stronger Candace Pert, a neuroscientist and her husband in the hospital, they marveled at they got. I think that’s maybe why I had the expert in mind-body medicine, observed that how she seemed buoyed by her faith. With a seizure.” while positive thinking may be helpful, it calm demeanor and apparent sense of control, With spiritual support focused on becomes harmful when the truth of how you she was the picture of grace under fire. empathy, honesty and compassion, Nancy honestly feel is avoided. “Undigested emo - Nancy’s husband became progressively gradually felt permission to embrace her tions” create stress in the body and increase worse. He was moved to an ICU unit and authentic feelings. She fully experienced the vulnerability to disease. put on a ventilator. When the physicians said depth of pain and sorrow. Over time, the David Spiegel, a Stanford psychiatrist, his prognosis was grim, Nancy and her intensity of her anticipatory grief subsided. wrote: “Adapting well to a situation does not church continued to pray for a miracle. When her husband died a few weeks require that a person maintain an upbeat or A week later, she was asked to consider later, she went through a process of normal, rigidly positive attitude. Ventilation of nega - removing the life support and allowing him healthy grief. She emerged with a stronger tive emotion … helps patients acknowledge, to die. Standing by his bedside, Nancy and more resilient faith, with a deeper bear, and put into perspective their distress.” collapsed in a seizure. connection to Christ than she had ever The Book of Lamentations expresses a

8 | Baptists Today • August 2010 PERSPECTIVE

The package of human experience brings pain, reader’s response fear and loss to all of us along the way. Appreciates lessons, other similar theme from a faith perspective. Some time later the parents experienced content in news journal Israel was torn apart at the seams following a “new orientation,” in their spiritual lives, as EDITOR: How much I do appreciate the destruction of the Temple and the Baby- God began transforming the darkness into your very fine publication. You do lonian exile. The author arranged many of hope. such a great job in selecting outstand - the poetic verses into acrostics, where each They were able to say, “We have a much ing writers covering a wide range of line begins with a successive letter of the clearer sense of God’s presence in our lives. subjects — all with a keen sense of Hebrew alphabet. Our faith is deeper than before the accident. fairness and giving the readers the The intent was to express the full range We’d give anything to have our child back, truth, inspiration and often a humor - of emotions in the nation’s suffering and grief but with God’s help, we’re making the best of ous slant. — from crushed hopes and anguish to life that we can.” Truly outstanding were the Bible renewed faith and hope as Israel remembered The package of human experience brings study lessons for August by Jim Dant. God’s mercy and power. pain, fear and loss to all of us along the way. Such an outstanding grasp of human James Hollis wrote: “Life is a series of As we entrust to God our authentic voices, nature. So very interesting how he gains, but it is also a series of losses; failures giving expression to the whole range of revealed the hand of God using per - to grieve loss and disappointment openly, human emotion, God can transform the sons for his purposes in spite of such honestly, will rise again, as unbidden ghosts ashes of despair into renewed hope. Spiritual foibles inherent with us all. This sec - from their untimely burial, through depres - wholeness emerges in the context of coura - tion will be clipped for my files. sion … or captivation by the mindless geous, honest, healthy faith. BT May God continue to empower distractions of our time. Failure to incorpo - and bless your good efforts. rate loss into our lives means we have not yet P—aul Mullen is director of church and commu - Miriam F. Griffin, Thomson, Ga. accepted the full package life brings to us. nity relations at Wake Forest University Everything given is also lost … Jung chal - Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. lenges us: ‘Real liberation comes not from glossing over or repressing painful states of feeling, but only from experiencing them to the full.’” I remember a mother and father’s great courage in experiencing loss to the fullest when their young child was killed in an acci - dent. Active church members, they had turned to God immediately after the accident in effort to bring order to the chaos. Initially, they were sustained by faith and the support of their church family. However, within months they came undone in a season of “spiritual disorienta - tion.” They cried out to their pastor, “Why did God let this happen? Why would God want to hurt us like this? Where is God? Does he care? Is he even there? Are we losing our faith?” The pastor managed his own anxiety well enough to listen without denying the pain of life’s most poignant questions. After a time of silence, he said, “I’m so very sorry…. You’re not losing your faith at all…. Grief has times of peace and tremendous pain on the way to healing — a time when you’ll remem - ber with more joy and less pain. But not right now. God completely, fully understands — like he did with David, Elijah, Jeremiah and Jesus on the Cross.”

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 9 PERSPECTIVE quotation

remarks

“Testimony envy may be part of any “It was a very tumultuous time. In “Senator Byrd’s simple faith in God community, but we evangelicals fact, it was just warfare. A time of and his love of family and service to seem to have a particular bent great strife, disagreement, hardship our nation will be greatly missed.” toward narrative one-upmanship.” in everybody’s life.” “ —A statement from the Americ”an Baptist-affiliated —An editorial in Christianity Today , after Liberty —Former Southern Baptist Convention President West Virginia Baptist Convention on the late Sen. Baptist Theological Seminary President Ergun Charles Stanley reflecting on the 1985 SBC gather - Robert Byrd (D-W.Va) who was raised in Crab Caner’s demotion for exaggerating his story about ing in Dallas during a video tribute to him at the Orchard Baptist Church in Crab Orchard, W. Va., growing up a militant Muslim (RNS) June SBC Pastor’s Conference in Orlando (BP) and was baptized into the First Baptist Church of Beckley, W. Va. “It’s much easier to have an opinion “In early May, I was having break - about how someone else should lead fast with a group of businessmen “… Nothing strikes fear in the hearts than it is to actually lead yourself.” when one of them asked me sin - of the leaders around CBN than (Pat) —Colleen Burroughs, moderator-elect of cerely, ‘Do you think the Gulf Robertson when he is not speaking the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and could be the next Dead Sea?’ I carefully.” vice president of Passport, Inc. think it was at that moment I real - —Auburn University scholar emeritus David ized the historic, ongoing, Edwin Harrell, author of a new biography, long-term impact this oil spill is “Our response has not been as com - Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy , on the likely to have on the Gulf Coast.” passionate and loving as it should be.” Christian Broadcast Network founder’s —Stephen Thurston of Chicago, president of the —Barry Howard, pastor of First Baptist annual predictions (RNS) National Baptist Convention of America, to the Church of Pensacola, Fla. Chicago Tribune about how black churches are “… The sort of radical Christianity slowly becoming more outspoken about testing and “There is no Pharaoh-like dominion education on HIV/AIDS (RNS) exemplified by [Manute] Bol is rarely over the Earth. There is a Christ-like understood by sports journalists. For stewardship of the Earth.” all its interest in the intimate details “The sanctuary is designated as the of players’ lives, the media has long holiest of holies in a place of worship —Resolutions committee chairman Russell Moore to reporters after the Southern Baptist Convention passed been tone deaf to the way devout — an especially holy place in the a resolution condemning the Gulf oil spill (ABP) Christianity profoundly shapes some church building … We have lost sight of the main purpose of coming to of them.” ““It has been a place where we could church, which is to worship God.” —Jon A. Shields of Claremont McKenna College, either become Baptist or remain on the 7 ’7 ” former basketball player and Sudanese —David Stovall, facilities manager at Highland Baptist.” Christian who died June 19 at age 47 after years of Baptist Church in Waco, Texas (ABP) —Executive coordinator Daniel Vestal on the serving those who suffer ( Wall Street Journal) Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in his report to the “Well-meaning church members who 20th annual assembly in June focus on ‘traditional.’ ‘contemporary,’ “I don’t want to be a part of the or even ‘emerging’ labels get off track. “I have decided to create a new body generation that leaves our children People connect with a church, regard - with the aim of promoting a renewed with a less free nation.” less of music, if they feel noticed, evangelism.” —Mercer University President Bill Underwood, welcomed, accepted and plugged in.” —Pope Benedict XVI , naming Italian Archbishop speaking to a Baptist Joint Committee luncheon in —Worship consultant Dave Nyland of Florida Salvatore Fisichella to lead a new office aimed at Charlotte on threats to religious liberty from those (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship) reigniting Catholic faith in the West (RNS) seeking government support of sectarian beliefs

10 | Baptists Today • August 2010 INFORMATION President chooses American Baptist pastor to serve as religious-freedom ambassador

By Robert Marus Mariners’ Temple and Bronx Christian taking this issue seriously, it would choose an Associated Baptist Press Fellowship are both aligned with American expert in international religious freedom with Baptist Churches USA, and Johnson Cook’s experience in foreign affairs. It would choose a WASHINGTON — President Obama has ordination is through the denomination. proven leader who can change things at the responded to more than a year of speculation Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released State Department and re-energize our flagging and criticism among advocates for inter- a statement praising the choice. “Dr. Johnson [religious-freedom] policy,” he said. “Perhaps national religious freedom by naming an Cook is an experienced religious leader with a Rev. Cook will surprise the skeptics and prove American Baptist minister as the nation’s top passion for human rights and an impressive to be that leader. I hope so, and will certainly diplomat for religious freedom. record of public service,” she said. “President do everything I can to help her.” But some international-religious-freedom Obama could not have found a more fitting Robert Seiple, who served as the first advocates are questioning the nomination of choice for this important position.” international-religious-freedom ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook as the State Department’s Johnson Cook’s after the position was created by a 1998 law, ambassador-at-large for international religious name had been floated said the job is a delicate one even for experts freedom because of her lack of professional for months as a potential in the field. experience in foreign policy. choice for the long-vacant ‘‘You don’t get a lot of grace in the State In June, the White House announced that post. But the pick may Department for on-the-job training,” he said, Obama had tapped Johnson Cook for the post, not have placated activists according to RNS. which had remained vacant since Obama’s for global religious liberty, Johnson Cook holds degrees from inauguration a year and a half ago. many of whom have Emerson College, Columbia University, Union accused the administra - Theological Seminary and United Theological Johnson Cook has been a teacher, pastor, Johnson Cook motivational speaker and political adviser for tion of soft-pedaling the Seminary. She is the owner of Charisma three decades. Most recently, she served as the issue since Obama and Clinton took office. Speakers and has served since 1990 as a chap - founding pastor of Bronx Christian Fellowship Thomas Farr, the first director of the lain for the New York Police Department. Baptist Church in New York. office Cook will oversee, praised her résumé as She advised President Bill Clinton on race Before founding that congregation, from a pastor, but told Religion News Service that relations and also advised Obama when he was 1983 to 1996, Johnson Cook was pastor of the the position needs someone with a strong a senator. The New York Times has called her historic Mariners’ Temple Baptist Church in grasp of, and experience in, the complex field one of the best preachers in New York and New York — which meets on the oldest Baptist of foreign policy. described her as “Billy Graham and Oprah worship site in Manhattan, dating to 1795. “If the Obama administration were rolled into one.” BT Study: Devout are less stressed than non-believers TORONTO (RNS) — Religion may pro - “sacred” or “divine.” psychology at the University of Toronto. vide a “buffer” allowing the devout to feel Another experiment required partici - Inzlicht and co-author Alexa Tullett less anxiety when they make mistakes, com - pants to identify the color of words that added, “Thinking about one’s religion, con - pared with non-believers, according to new flashed on a screen. Some words were sciously or otherwise, acts as a bulwark scientific research. depicted in their correct color while others against defensive reactions to errors; it muf - Researchers at the University of were not. fles the cortical alarm bell.” Toronto measured “error-related negativity” They were then asked to quantify their The authors note that many “varieties of — people’s defensive response to errors — belief in God on a scale of zero to seven. belief” — not just religion — can produce a and compared it to religious belief. Their The study found that those who were similar calming dynamic as long as it provides findings were published in the journal religious or claimed belief in God “showed “meaning and structure” to one’s life. Psychological Science . low levels of distress-related neural activity” “If thinking about religion leads people In the experiments, participants had when they learned of their test errors, com - to react to their errors with less distress and electrodes measuring their brain activity as pared with nonbelievers. defensiveness ... in the long run, this effect they performed cognitive tests. One test By contrast, atheists demonstrated a may translate to religious people living their of 40 students involved making a grammati - “heightened neural response” and reacted lives with greater equanimity than nonreli - cally-correct sentence out of jumbled more defensively when they learned of their gious people, being better able to cope with words; some of the sentences contained errors, wrote the study’s lead author, the pressures of living in a sometimes-hostile words with religious connotations, like Michael Inzlicht, an associate professor of world.” BT

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 11 INFORMATION Baptist Seminary of Kentucky relocating School also reaches like BSK,” seminary President Greg Earwood College President William Crouch told the said June 29. Louisville Courier-Journal that while it is a accreditation milestone Launched in 2002 in the education business relationship, “we look at it as if building of Calvary Baptist Church in we’ve added them to our family.” By Bob Allen Lexington, Ky., Baptist The first Baptist college founded west of Associated Baptist Press Seminary of Kentucky the Allegheny mountains, Georgetown since 2005 has rented College traces its history to an academy LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Baptist Seminary space on the campus of started in 1787 by a Baptist minister named of Kentucky, an 8-year-old theological part - Lexington Theological Elijah Craig. ner of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is Seminary, which is affili - Earwood, a former longtime Kentucky moving to the campus of Georgetown ated with the Christian pastor who taught three years as an adjunct College, a historic Baptist school that loos - Church (Disciples of professor of Old Testament at Southern ened ties with the Kentucky Baptist Christ). The Baptist Baptist Theological Seminary in nearby Convention in 2005. seminary began looking Greg Earwood Louisville, said that Baptist identity was “cer - The move comes on the heels of another for a new location last tainly a strong point” for attracting the milestone. Member institutions of the year when Lexington Seminary indicated it seminary to Georgetown. Fall semester classes Association of Theological Schools voted would likely downsize and move out of its for the seminary will be offered in August. June 23 in Montreal to grant associate- campus in downtown Lexington. Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, which member status to the seminary. The seminary will remain independent started with 14 students in the first class in “Seminary personnel are very excited from the college, while leasing space and the fall of 2002, enrolled 53 full- and part- with this entry-level status which the accred - sharing resources like a 55,000-square-foot time students in the most recent academic iting body encourages for 8-year-old schools library completed in 1998. Georgetown year. BT Bread for the World wins top Four in 10 Americans anti-hunger prize for programs think Jesus will return by year 2050 By Ankita Rao churches — Catholic, Protestant and Religion News Service Orthodox — to advocate for hunger By Ankita Rao causes on Capitol Hill and within their Religion New Service WASHINGTON — The president of a congregations. Christian anti-hunger lobbying group Beckmann is also the author of Four in 10 Americans believe Jesus Christ won the premier award for fighting world Exodus from Hunger , and the president of will return to earth by 2050, while a slightly hunger. the Alliance to End Hunger, which con - larger portion (46 percent) don’t believe Secretary of State Hillary Rodham nects diverse religious they’ll see a Second Coming by mid-century, Clinton awarded the World Food Prize to and scholarly groups according to a new survey. Bread for the World President David to political leaders. As part of Smithsonian Magazine ’s 40th Beckmann at the State Department on “The progress anniversary issue, 1,546 adults were asked to June 16. the world has made guess the forecast of war, energy, science and Beckmann, an economist and against hunger and religion in the next 40 years for a survey ordained Lutheran minister, shared the poverty is God mov - conducted by the Pew Research Center for $250,000 prize with Jo Luck, president of ing in our time, and People & the Press. Heifer International. God is calling us now Evangelicals were most likely (58 per - David Beckmann The World Food Prize Foundation to get our country to cent) to predict a Second Coming, followed recognizes individuals “who have advanced do more to provide help and opportunity by 32 percent of Catholics, and 27 percent human development by improving the to hungry people,” Beckmann said in a of mainline Protestants. quality, quantity or availability of food in statement. Fifty-two percent of people living in the the world,” according to their website. Norman E. Borlaug, winner of the South, and 59 percent of people without a col - Bread for the World focuses its work 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with lege degree, expected a Christ comeback more on nutrition programs, development assis - wheat production, created the prize in readily than their counterparts, according to tance and political advocacy. The 1986. Iowa businessman John Ruan spon - the survey. The survey had a margin of error organization works with Christian sors the program. BT of plus or minus 3 percentage points. BT

12 | Baptists Today • August 2010 STORY AND PHOTO BY TONY W. CARTLEDGE , Contributing Editor INFORMATION Laxness, liability in the laying on of hands Historian urges Baptists to give attention to ordination Guided by an ordination committee, a candidate would be required to read selected materials before a recommendation is brought HARLOTTE — Many Baptist to the deacons and the church. Whether the churches have such lax approaches to committee is a standing committee or C ordination that they will lay hands appointed for a particular candidate, members “on most anyone who shows up with limited should be well versed in their responsibilities preparation, evaluation or systematic process,” and given plenty of time to read all materials said Baptist historian Bill Leonard. “Then we and interview the candidate. complain when we get what we deserve.” Ordination committees should never be Leading a June 25 workshop at the convened on the same day as the planned Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General ordination ceremony, Leonard said: Assembly, Leonard noted that other denomi - “Candidates should know that ordination nations, from Presbyterians to Methodists to requests can be approved, postponed for the Assemblies of God, have more stringent more evaluation, or rejected.” ordination requirements that may include After recommendation by the commit - mentoring, a seminary degree, knowledge of tee, the church should take some action to Greek and Hebrew, passage of exams in theol - indicate formal approval, at which point the ogy, history, church polity, or even a candidate can help to shape the actual ordina - psychological profile. tion service. At minimum, services should Baptists have practiced ordination include a report to the church from the com - throughout their history, and in some cases mittee, a statement by the candidate, and the Baptist associations have exercised some influ - What should churches do? Leonard sug - “laying on of hands.” ence on the practice, but the principle of gested several procedures drawn from Baptist In some churches, only ordained persons church autonomy allows individual congrega - history and practice that churches might fol - participate in the laying on of hands, but tions to set the requirements for ordination. low before laying hands on future ministers: other congregations allow all persons present As dean of the Wake Forest University • Develop a strategy for mentoring to participate. That practice “is very mean - Divinity School, responsible for working with persons to ministry inside your own ingful and worth doing so all can bless the students from a variety of denominations, congregation. person in that high and holy moment,” Leonard said he was “stunned” at how little When divinity schools were not avail - Leonard said. attention most Baptists give to those matters. able, Leonard said, prospective candidates Approved ordination policies establish an The churches’ failure to take more responsibil - used to “read theology” with established min - impartial and consistent method of examin - ity on ordinations is exacerbated by several isters and learn from them. ing candidates, said Leonard, and may be current realities, he said, including the declin - • Develop written, church-approved cited in legal cases, if necessary, to show that ing influence of denominational systems on procedures to be given to ministerial candi - the congregation has done due diligence in the new generation of candidates, the limited dates long before they seek ordination. examining those it chooses to ordain. previous church involvement of many who These procedures — which set forth a • Give serious attention to and docu - seek ordination, and the litigious nature of clear process to be followed before ordination mentation of a congregational theology of American society. is offered — could include granting a ordination and its relationship to the “If for no other reason, in today’s society, “license” for ministry for a set period of time church’s overall mission statement. you need to hone your ordination practices prior to ordination; requiring the candidate Ordination practices should be because your church could be held liable for to make a formal, written request well in “intricately related to the congregation’s illegal actions by persons you ordained,” advance; requiring the candidate to provide understanding of the nature of the church and Leonard said. written statements about basic theology and its congregational responsibility to the church An added wrinkle is that churches are beliefs, especially related to a theology of pas - and denomination at large,” Leonard said. being called upon to ordain persons who have toral ministry and ecclesiology, baptism, the As a new generation of Baptist students not yet found ministry-related employment. It Lord’s Supper, and pastoral identity; and prepares for ordination, churches need to see was once common for churches to ordain only some evidence of formal or informal study. how much promise they hold, Leonard said. those persons who had been called to a church Leonard said churches should require ordina - “They’ve decided there’s something position, but that doesn’t work for an increas - tion candidates to submit to a criminal about being Baptists that galvanizes, shapes ing number of candidates who want to serve background check as well. and centers them,” he said. “For all the strug - in chaplaincy, where ordination is required for • Develop a process for moving gles we feel about church life and the licensure, and licensure is required for through the ordination process that gives changing nature of culture, there is promise employment. time for evaluation. here.” BT

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 13 INFORMATION Homeowners weigh morality of walking out on mortgages By Amy Green Religion News Service

ORLANDO, Fla. — Lynn Thompson quit paying the mortgage on her investment prop - erty — not because she couldn’t afford the payments, but because she thinks walking away is better for her long-term financial health. Thompson bought the property here for $175,000 in January 2007, just as the hous - ing market began its slow downward slide. At the time, she planned to rent the house and eventually sell it for a profit. Today, she estimates the house is worth $85,000, maybe less. Unable to find renters to help cover the mortgage, she tried to convince her lender to Photo by Casey Serin allow a “short sale” — selling below the loan amount, with the lender forgiving the bal - report by Paola Sapienza of Northwestern “The simple answer is we make certain ance. When the lender declined, Thompson University and Luigi Zingales of the promises when we move into a neighborhood decided to walk away. University of Chicago. that we’re going to be good neighbors,” said “I would have basically no money left That doesn’t mean, however, that home - Childs, author of Greed: Economics and every month if I made the payments,” said owners are walking away without feeling like Ethics in Conflict . Thompson, a single 39-year-old pharmacist. they violated some ethical or moral code “If my greed ... is realized at the expense “If I tried to sell the house in, say, 10 years about not buying something they can’t afford. of my neighbors and I say I’m free to do that, from now, I still would have to come up Some are left with a deep sense of debtor’s then I’ve missed an ethical point entirely.” probably with, say, $75,000.” shame. Yet in an economy that rose and fell on Desperate homeowners like Thompson Brent White, a law professor at the the backs of unaffordable mortgages, home - have raised an ethical debate: Is it ever OK to University of Arizona whose writings include owners aren’t the only ones to blame, ethicists walk away? The Morality of Strategic Default , said more say. Nationwide, up to 25 million homeown - than 80 percent of homeowners still think White, from the University of Arizona, ers — about one in four — are “underwater”: defaulting on a mortgage is immoral, and believes the housing market and economy like Thompson, their mortgages are worth those who do it usually make the decision could recover more quickly if homeowners more than their homes. Those who do walk not for financial reasons but emotional ones, could rid themselves of negative equity, away face an array of financial consequences, he said. allowing housing prices to hit bottom faster. from damaged credit to the prospect of a In other words, it takes more than a The longer homeowners remain underwater, lender suing to recover the balance. Yet for dismal financial reality to push homeowners the longer they feel poor and spend less many, the question fundamentally is a moral to default. Often underwater homeowners money. What’s more, a job loss or medical ill - one. Is it the right thing to do? feel angry, depressed or hopeless, he said. ness could be even more devastating. It’s unclear how many homeowners, like “People walk away because they’re angry For now, Mike Booth will remain in his Thompson, are opting for strategic defaults at their lenders,” he said. “They have been home. He and his wife bought their first — allowing their homes to go into fore- unable to work with them, and the govern - home in 2008, two years after they married, closure even when they can make the ment hasn’t done anything to help under- for $205,000 — a bargain since the house payments. Many feel their homes are decades water homeowners who are trying to make was appraised at $240,000. away from regaining value and they see no their mortgage payments. If people were act - Today, he estimates the house would sell other options. ing purely on a rational basis, they would for $165,000, but the 30-year-old engineer is But especially in hard-hit places such as walk away much sooner than they do.” taking the long view on what he and his wife greater Orlando, where 55 percent of home - At the heart of the question are biblical call “our little castle.” owners are underwater, the question is concepts of promise-keeping and neighbor- “We’ve entered into a binding moral nagging at more homeowners, and the num - liness, said James Childs, theologian and contract,” said Booth, who lives in suburban ber of strategic defaults appears to be rising. ethicist at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Orlando. “... Really we don’t think about it Strategic defaults accounted for 31 per - Columbus, Ohio, who noted that one neigh - being underwater. It’s kind of like being in a cent of all defaults in March, up from 22 bor’s default can sink another neighbor’s long-term investment, and tracking it daily percent the year before, according to an April property values. doesn’t make sense.” BT

14 | Baptists Today • August 2010 INPFEORRSMPEACTTIIOVN E Churches torn over child molesters in pews By Adelle M. Banks On July 1, a Georgia law took New Hampshire Assistant Attorney Religion News Service General Nicholas Cort argued in court doc - effect that permits convicted uments that Perfetto should not be “All are welcome” is a common phrase on permitted to change the conditions of his many a church sign and website. But what sex offenders to volunteer in probation to attend a Manchester congrega - happens when a convicted sex offender tion because “restricting the defendant’s takes those words literally? churches if they are isolated access to minors was an appropriate means Church officials and legal advocates are of advancing the goals of probation — grappling with how — and if — people from children. Permitted activi - rehabilitation and public safety.” who’ve been convicted of sex crimes should Barbara Dorris, outreach director of be included in U.S. congregations, especially ties include singing in the choir Survivors Network of those Abused by when children are present: Priests (SNAP), said it may be possible for — On June 23, a lawyer argued in the and taking part in Bible studies convicted offenders to attend worship if New Hampshire Supreme Court for a con - “proper safeguards are in place,” but offend - victed sex offender who wants to attend a and bake sales. ers “forfeit many rights when you commit Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation with a this kind of a felony.” chaperone. In other cases, the wording of laws has “What we argued is that the right to “The key lesson for churches is this: made it difficult for offenders who want to worship is a fundamental right, and the The policy, however it winds up, must be a worship to be able to attend church legally. state can only burden it if it has compelling consensus of the congregation,” Shockley In North Carolina, attorney Glenn interest to do so, and then only in a way said. “I talked to so many pastors who Gerding is representing James Nichols, a that is narrowly constructed,” said Barbara decided they’re going to make the decision convicted sex offender who is contesting a Keshen, an attorney with the New because they know what’s theologically and state statute that made it illegal for him to Hampshire Civil Liberties Union who repre - spiritually right — and that’s absolutely the be within 300 feet of a church’s nursery. He sented Jonathan Perfetto, who pleaded wrong thing to do.” was arrested in a church parking lot after a guilty in 2002 to 61 counts of possessing Shockley’s church will soon commission service. child pornography. a minister to address prevention of child sex “Technically a person could go to an — On June 28, the Seventh-day abuse; the church also distributes a 20-page empty church and violate the statute if that Adventist Church added language to its policy on protecting church has a nursery,” said Gerding, whose manual saying that sexual abuse perpetra - children and dealing client was convicted in 2003 of attempted tors can be restored to membership only if with sex offenders. second-degree rape and released from prison they do not have unsupervised contact with Shockley declined in 2008. children and are not “in a position that to say how the church In Georgia, the Atlanta-based Southern would encourage vulnerable individuals to handled its admission of Center for Human Rights successfully trust them implicitly.” a known abuser in argued for the removal of a legal provision Garrett Caldwell, a spokesman for the 2007, citing the congre - that would have prevented registered sex denomination, said the new wording in the gation’s limited offenders from volunteering at church func - Madison Shockley global guidelines tries to strike a balance disclosure policy. tions, said Sara Totonchi, executive director between protecting congregants and sup - Beyond the thorny legal questions, the - of the center. porting the religious freedom of abusers in ologians also find that there are often no Experts say churches need to abide by “a manifestation of God’s grace.” easy answers to the quandary of protecting state laws and be prepared to handle the On July 1, a Georgia law took effect children and providing worship to saints possible presence of sex offenders, which that permits convicted sex offenders to vol - and sinners alike. could mean ministering to them outside the unteer in churches if they are isolated from “My own theology of forgiveness is not church building. children. Permitted activities include singing that it’s a blanket statement — ‘You are for - Steve Vann, co-founder of Keeping in the choir and taking part in Bible studies given; go and sin no more,’” said Joretta Kids Safe Ministries in Ashland City, Tenn., and bake sales. Marshall, professor of pastoral theology at said children’s safety must be paramount, Pastor Madison Shockley, of Pilgrim Texas Christian University’s Brite Divinity but giving convicted abusers social support United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, Calif., School. “Part of what we have to do is cre - could help reduce additional offenses. whose church publicly grappled with ate accountability structures because damage “We talk about covenant partners,” he whether to accept a convicted sex offender has been done.” said, using his ministry’s phrase for chaper - three years ago, said he hears from churches Sometimes, legal and religious experts ones. “They’re not just there to watch what several times a month seeking advice on say, crimes are so severe that convicted the person does. They’re there to assist the how to handle such situations. offenders must lose their right to worship. person in spiritual growth.” BT

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 15 PERSPECTIVE Broadway play explores evangelical faith, gay life

By Solange De Santis accident and is comatose in a hospital. His Religion News Service partner of four years, Adam (played by Patrick Breen), paces the waiting room, along NEW YORK — A new Broadway play that with two friends and Luke’s divorced parents. was nominated for a couple of Tony awards Nauffts alternates scenes between the features a character that might seem rarer hospital and flashbacks to Luke and Adam’s than a unicorn: a gay evangelical. relationship to tell a faith story of subtle Next Fall , by Geoffrey Nauffts, won the ambiguity. Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Adam, a classic urban neurotic with no American Play on Broadway, and was nomi - faith, first realizes his partner holds beliefs he nated for Best Play and Best Director at the might not share when Luke does something Tony Awards in June. weird before eating: pray. The production is particularly timely, “Is that an everyday occurrence?” Adam given the conflicts taking place within many wants to know. He asks whether Luke is denominations about the place of gay really gay, since all the Christians he knows Christians and whether the Bible condemns consider homosexuality a sin. homosexuality. Luke, a Southern boy, who seems to The title Next Fall , which has the ring of have found a serene way to accept both him - Genesis about it, refers in the play to when self and his faith, cheerfully answers, “We’re the evangelical character Luke, played by all sinners. This one happens to be mine.” Patrick Heusinger, plans to reveal to his Since he has accepted Christ as his sav - parents he’s gay. ior, he explains, he will go to heaven despite But as the play opens it looks like he his sins. Adam wonders if killers, such as might not get the chance. those who murdered gay victim Matthew He’s been in a severe automobile Shepard, would go to heaven if they had accepted Christ, while Shepard, who was not a Christian, would not. “Can we change the subject?” Luke responds. caricatures, and the acting and directing are As the play develops, it becomes appar - poignant, such as when Luke asks Adam, “Is ent that Luke is more conflicted than he it so wrong that I want you to go to heaven?” wishes to admit. When his father, Butch, Luke is clearly liberal: he approves of (played by Cotter Smith) phones to say he’ll abortion rights and embryonic stem cell be dropping by, Luke rushes around trying to research — areas where he would differ from “de-gay” the apartment, hiding the Truman many evangelicals. His father, Butch (the Capote biography, erotic photographs, and character names are a bit obvious), takes a Adam, who he asks to disappear. more conservative view — marked in the play Their relationship is either an unlikely by his distrust in Darwin’s theory of evolu - pairing, or a testament to the enduring mys - tion. teries of love. Adam hangs in there despite But Butch and one of Luke’s friends, what he sees as Luke’s quirks: “He’s afraid I’ll Brandon (played by Sean Dugan), who is die before I accept Christ and we won’t be in even more deeply conflicted about homo- the afterlife together.” sexuality and Christianity, are not written or Perhaps their union isn’t so far-fetched. played as monsters. Among Internet postings in response to the At the play’s conclusion, after a crisis at play, one man writing on The New York the hospital concerning Luke, Adam says, Times’ website as Brian, from Philadelphia, “finally, I believed.” said he has “endured” his partner’s He may be referring to his relationship “ingrained, intractable Catholicism,” and with his partner or to religious faith. He fol - even attended Mass with him. lows by telling another character, “My name “It is because I love this guy that I allow is Adam,” an intriguing reference to the first him to be what he apparently needs to be,” man of the Bible and a sense of renewed life. he wrote. Is his new life enriched by faith or bless - What lifts the play above the level of edly free of it? Next Fall , like life, doesn’t polemic is that none of the characters are provide easy answers. BT 16 | Baptists Today • August 2010 ANALYSIS AND PHOTO BY TONY W. CARTLEDGE PERSPECTIVE Can we talk — about homosexuality?

uring the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s (CBF) General Assembly D in Charlotte, more than 300 people packed a conference room that promised “A Family Conversation about Same-Sex Orientation.” It has been a long time coming. Ten years ago, facing charges from critics that the Fellowship was too friendly to gays, the Pastors George Mason of Dallas (left) and Joy Coordinating Council adopted an organiza - Yee (center) of San tional policy declaring that CBF would not Francisco share in a “family conversation knowingly hire homosexual persons or fund about same-sex orien - groups that affirm homosexuality. Program tation” moderated by planners clamped a virtual lid on discussion of David Odum (right) of Duke University during the topic in workshops or elsewhere. the June assembly of Sitting on the issue has not been comfort - the Cooperative able, however. Some CBFers, especially Baptist Fellowship. younger ones, yearn for greater inclusion and want to talk about it. Thus program planners that homosexuality “is not what I would call “I’m not certain about either position,” agreed to the “Family Conversation” on June God’s Plan A.” But, “not much of the human Mason said. “It seems that people are more on 25, but with considerable control. journey in history or even in the Bible has fol - a continuum about their orientation. That’s The session was conducted with much lowed Plan A,” she noted, while “there has uncomfortable.” seriousness and almost palpable fear that out - been a lot of redemption through Plan B or C Mason noted that the few biblical texts siders might criticize or that more conservative or D.” that mention homosexual behavior are more insiders would bolt. In near-funereal tones, Where we deal with passages condemning likely to be about specific acts such as rape or facilitator David Odum of Duke University homosexuality, Yee said, “we also have to deal pederasty, and that “the Bible seems to be noted that none of the participants had volun - with passages condemning condemnation.” silent about orientation.” teered for their assignment and then read a Yee said members of her church run the Mason recalled a time when divorced disclaimer that opinions expressed were those gamut of perspectives and that they have no people were often shunned or denied leader - of the presenters and not of CBF as a whole. specific policy on same-sex orientation because ship positions by their churches, but most The workshop was presented in the form of a “We need to hear each other’s stories and hold people since then have found a way to read the solemn worship service, with verses of a hymn them in respect,” while “policies can stop con - scripture to include people who were divorced. sung between each segment of the discussion. versations before they begin.” “My suspicion is we are trying harder than Odum called to mind the divine vision “Loving someone whose sexual orienta - ever now to read the scripture in a way to cre - that impelled the Apostle Peter to be a witness tion is different from mine is no different from ate space for people who are gay among us to to the Gentiles. Peter was criticized “for being loving people who are different in other ways,” have a life among us.” a witness to people he shouldn’t be a witness Yee said. “For some that extends to ordination and to,” Odum said, leading to several rounds of George Mason, pastor of Wilshire Baptist being fully welcoming and affirming,” Mason debate among leaders of the early church. Church in Dallas, said “I can tell you that my said. “Others are more reticent, and I hope we The question of “How is God calling us mind has changed and I am seeing differently will be patient with them, because they are to be the family of God to people of same-sex on this over time.” trying to be faithful to the gospel, too.” orientation?” should be conducted in the same That has disappointed some people, he Both Yee and Mason offered helpful per - spirit of debate and compromise, he said. said. “As a pastor, I have known the pain of spectives, and the session provided a hopeful “I agreed to facilitate this discussion because people who have left the church I serve because beginning of future conversation. People who I believe congregations are healthier if they I was too conservative about the matter — and are willing to talk about the matter — and to talk about things that are important.” people who have left because I was too liberal include people of same-sex orientation in the Two prominent CBF pastors had been about the matter.” conversation — are increasingly coming to see recruited to share their personal perspectives “A family conversation about same-sex the issue as a question of justice, and not just on the issue. Both noted that they and their orientation is not necessarily about behavior,” morality. congregations did not always agree. Mason said. “Some people think different ori - As people who are called to “do justice, Joy Yee, pastor of Nineteenth Avenue entations don’t exist, that there is only acting love kindness, and walk humbly with our Baptist Church in San Francisco and a past gay and sinning as a result. Others say people God” (Micah 6:8), the least we can do is to moderator of CBF, said her personal view is are simply born one way or the other.” talk about it. BT

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 17 PERSPECTIVE guest commentary When faithful people become friends By David M. Weatherspoon

mid growing religious diversity in the acts of service. Most religious traditions place dialogue and cooperation across faith lines. United States and a more accessible a high value on serving other humans. The effort should begin with service because A global community, the White House Therefore, this becomes a place to work across it is hard to work alongside someone and not Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood faith lines and establish the foundation for build some type of a relationship. Partnerships, and the White House Office for interfaith engagement to begin. Gross religious generalizations are over - Social Innovation and Civic Participation I use the term engagement because I come when we are able to say, “My friend invited a group of 110 people to gather at the believe it is not enough simply to build an who happens to be (insert faith tradition) White House June 7 for a discussion on awareness and tolerance for people of differ - believes …” as opposed to saying, “All “Advancing Interfaith and Community ent faith backgrounds. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Service on College and University Campuses.” As Baptists, we Buddhists, believe …” The group included college and univer - have been engaged in The religious ignorance that leads to sity chaplains, presidents, professors and the preservation of reli - many harmful outcomes is overcome when NGO representatives. I was fortunate to rep - gious diversity and faithful people become friends. This is what resent both the American Baptist Campus identity from the begin - conference participants will begin trying to Ministries Association and Franklin College ning of our nation’s achieve on college and university campuses. where I serve as campus minister. history. Baptists have President Obama hopes to have 500 With the realization that many of the been at the forefront of campuses partnering with the White House world’s conflicts stem from religious assump - the conversation about and participating in interfaith and community tions and misunderstandings, participants protecting all faiths, service by the end of his first term in office. discussed the need for a concentrated effort to from the pioneering demands for religious By engaging in this goal, we can become a increase communication and interaction freedom by such leaders as John Leyland and nation that not only is aware of other faith across faith lines. Isaac Backus to Roger Williams, who founded communities, but also we will be able to dia - Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth the colony of Rhode Island to forge a safe logue and work together in ways that will Core and author of the book Acts of Faith , haven for all who wished to practice their make us better members of our own faith tra - spoke of the need for colleges and universities faith free from persecution. Even today, the ditions, even as we extend the hospitality that to take a leadership role in promoting inter - Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is at the heart of our various faith communi - faith dialogue and education as they have serves to ensure that space is provided for all ties to others. effectively done in issues of race and the faiths to practice their beliefs freely in the As a Baptist Christian, this means loving environment. context of the First Amendment. my neighbor as I love myself and, thus, being Given the vast and diverse dogmas The meeting in Washington D.C. pro - transformed further into the image of God. BT among religious and nonreligious communi - vided the impetus for the next step — moving ties, it is necessary to begin with some beyond having a safe space in which separate — David Weatherspoon is campus minister at common ground that can often be found in faiths can practice to building a platform for Franklin College in Franklin, Ind.

design • print • distribute Two Companies are now One. Over two hundred years of experience.

Digital Printing • Oset Printing • Graphic Design • 6-color Press • In-Line Coating Banners & Signs • Stamping & Embossing • Die Cutting • Pocket Folders

7980 Macon Highway • Watkinsville, GA 30677 • p: 706.310.0286 • f: 706.310.0631 www.burmanprinting.com www.waltonmedia.net

18 | Baptists Today • August 2010 LESSONS FOR: Sunday, Sept. 5-26, 2010 2010 Written by Robert Wallace, assistant professor of biblical studies at Judson Bible Studies University in Elgin, Ill.

These lessons follow the adult Formations studies from Smyth & Helwys Publishing www.helwys.com

Sept. 5, 2010 drought, however, shows that Ahab needed to Why is a foreign widow better able to accept Elijah as a true prophet. God holds accept this unreasonable Elijah and believe in Trusting God’s Supply back the rain, and Ahab is impotent as a king. Yahweh? Shouldn’t the great king of Israel be 1 Kings 17:1-24 After providing Ahab with Yahweh’s mes - closer to God? Maybe it is because she had sage, Elijah leaves the kingdom of Israel and nothing to lose and no illusion of control. “I lift up my eyes unto the hills. Where will the circle of influence of the king. Elijah then When Jesus said, “Blessed are you who my help come from?” (Ps. 121:1). In times of lives out what he challenged Israel to do: he are poor” (Luke 6:20), he was likely met with difficulty where can we turn? In the psalmist’s trusts in God’s miraculous provision. Elijah guffaws and an incredulous audience. What case, even the hills could not provide security trusts in Yahweh, and Yahweh provides. “blessing” did Jesus mean? The poor could see in the midst of life’s difficulties. Only faith in Still outside Israel (where Ahab can their need, and in their position of powerless - the LORD God could provide hope. receive no credit for Elijah’s successes), Elijah ness, they could easily give God control. The In the face of the difficulties of the 21st moves on to take up one of the great causes of rich were used to having power and being in century, our culture often looks to the govern - Yahweh. Psalm 68:5 says, “A father to the control, and that too often gets in the way of ment to provide military and economic fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his trusting God. “Surely it’s easier for a camel to security. People have not changed much, and holy dwelling.” Elijah meets a widow who is go through the eye of a needle …” in ancient Israel, the king was expected to pro - We may not reject God by turning to the vide that security. Kings insured military at the end of her supplies. She has enough for storm god Baal, but our lack of faith is just as security and were expected to provide for the one last meal, and then she knows that death real. What god do we trust more than fertility of crops. In other words, the king was is coming. She has no more hope in this life Yahweh? If we have ever uttered the phrase, thought to be responsible for the rain much in and no one to care for her. the same way contemporary culture associates She knows of Yahweh, but when speaking “If I just had a little more money, I would be the economy with a president. to Elijah, she does not claim God as her own okay,” then we know what it is to replace God In 1 Kings 17, that expectation falls on (v. 12, “Yahweh your God”). This widow, with an idol. Our god is just as seductive as Ahab, the king of Israel. It is Ahab’s responsi - however, is willing to do the unreasonable — Baal. It promises to provide the necessities of bility to provide for his people, and God she provides for Elijah’s need. When she steps life. It is tangible. And most insidiously, it is wants that provision to come through Ahab’s out in faith, she experiences Yahweh’s provi - not jealous. Money does not mind if you wor - surrender to Yahweh. In an ironic (but all too sion. ship God as long as you worship it as well. common) twist, Ahab and his government are When her son dies, she believes that A foreign widow did exactly as God unwilling to surrender to God’s authority, but Elijah’s presence in her house has called God’s requested and received miraculous blessings. they do enthusiastically support the storm god attention to her and her sinfulness. She would May we never trust in our finances more than Baal. Perhaps it is reasonable to believe that be on the lowest rung of the social ladder, in an unseen and unpredictable God. May we supporting the rain god brings rain. God, perceived to have nothing meaningful to con - never set aside faith because it is difficult. however, wants the unreasonable sometimes. tribute to society. Against everyone’s Faith is always difficult. May we truly pray, To confront the people of Israel and their expectations, God does the unreasonable. “Give us today, our bread for the day.” And king, God makes a profound theological and Yahweh provides grace and revives her son. may we trust in God to provide each day — political statement in 1 Kings 17. Yahweh calls After witnessing God’s provision and sometimes in unreasonable ways. an unknown to bring the divine’s message to power, the widow is able to confess, “The Israel. Though “Elijah” is a familiar biblical word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.” Sept. 12, 2010 character now, he comes onto the narrative Yahweh is now her God. scene from nowhere. Elijah then models what In this story, Elijah demonstrates what Trusting God’s Direction God expected Israel to do — rely on the Ahab was unwilling to admit. Though it 1 Kings 18:1, 17-40 divine provision. This loud, hairy and pre - seems to make sense, do not trust in the sumptuous prophet announces that drought is things of this world. Yahweh is truly king in Can you remember a time when you were rid - coming on the land by the hand of Yahweh. It Israel. It is Yahweh who controls the rain. It is ing with a friend, and that person didn’t go seemed reasonable for Ahab to dismiss the Yahweh who can provide food. It is Yahweh the way you expected? You had driven this message of this crazy nobody, Elijah. Yahweh’s who gives life. route several times, and your friend wasn’t

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship provides these Bible study resources to church leaders through this supplement to Baptists Today . For more information on how CBF is “serving Christians and churches as they discover their God-given mission,” visit www.thefellowship.info or call 1-800-352-8741 BIBLE STUDIES going the way you thought best. Maybe your in verses 26 and 29. The prophets are all alone protest was polite, “Oh, I didn’t know you with no answers. Sept. 19, 2010 could go this way,” or maybe it was a little After the frenetic activity of the prophets more forceful, “I think you’re wasting gas/time of Baal, the actions of Elijah seem anticlimac - Trusting God’s Voice going this way, and now we are going to be tic. Elijah repairs the altar, further handicaps 1 Kings 19:1-17 late.” Yahweh by soaking the sacrifice with water, Giving up control when we are convinced and prays. Elijah asks that Yahweh answer so Depression after success is not unusual. Often, that we know best is difficult. The stakes are that the people of Israel will know who is the gold-medal winning athlete wakes up the higher when we move to matters of our life. truly God and who is truly a prophet. next morning wondering, “What now?” Like Surely we know what is best for us; and yet, Yahweh’s answer is immediate and complete, the athlete, Elijah had just had an amazing when God is driving, we can often take a winning the contest and showing Baal to be success. The nation had seen the power of different exit from the one we planned. nothing. Yahweh and supported Elijah. The prophets of In 1 Kings 17, God says a drought will The prophets of Baal, who have been on Baal had been killed. The drought was finally come to Israel. Ahab and the people do not government subsidy, have been deceiving broken, and the storms the people needed had want to accept God’s word on this; they want Israel. They have taken the support of the finally come. Finally, a national revival! rain. So, Elijah issues the challenge to Ahab to people and the blessing of the monarchy, and Finally, the people will turn their hearts to establish whose plans are best — a winner- it is now obvious they have been lying. They Yahweh and experience a new beginning. take-all fight on Mount Carmel for the heart claimed to have the power that is reserved for Except … and mind of the nation. Yahweh alone, and for that, they are killed. Those plans are interrupted by a simple The nation to this point has been “limp - “Yahweh indeed is God!” is a cry that verse, “Ahab rode off to Jezreel.” (1 Kgs. ing between two opinions.” Rather than would resonate with most Christians. Great 18:45). Elijah knew Jezebel would soon find commit to Yahweh and trust him only, the care must be taken, however, that we do not out what he had done. So, Elijah picked up his people are willing to trust in whatever has the go “limping between two opinions.” The peo - robe and ran from Mount Carmel to Beer most promise to deliver rain. They are not ple of Israel were seeking anything that would Sheva (the traditional border of ancient Israel). sold out to doing what is necessary for Yahweh accomplish their will. They wanted rain, so How intimidating must Jezebel be if Ahab’s to achieve the divine purpose in this world. simple “I’m telling!” sends the great prophet they turned to the Baal, the god of the storm. The people want their own prosperity, and of Yahweh fleeing into the wilderness and They wanted fertility, so they turned to Baal’s they are willing to commit to whatever prom - ready to give up. consort Asherah. Israel refused to accept that ises to benefit them. So the nation has placed Maybe Elijah knows that Jezebel will obedience to Yahweh meant pursuing Yahweh’s its trust in Baal, the god of the storm. quickly swing the popular opinion back to her will wherever that led. Elijah wants to demonstrate to Ahab and and to Baal. Maybe he thinks it is better to die It is easy to see ourselves in the lives of the nation that they have placed their confi - on his own terms than to give Jezebel the pub - those ancient Israelites — bending to whatever dence in a fake. Yahweh is God. Baal is lic relations victory that would come with promised help, assuming that their plans and powerless. Perhaps to be sporting, Elijah gives killing the premier prophet of the Lord. God’s plans must be the same. They were try - the prophets of Baal every advantage in the Emotionally and physically exhausted, and ing anything they could to end the drought, contest. Bulls were often used to represent perhaps to escape the difficulties of life, Elijah but they never considered it was Yahweh’s will Baal, and Elijah suggests they use this not-so- goes to sleep under a tree. to bring the drought. They had something subtle image as their sacrifice. The numerous I was told years ago that the angels who prophets of Baal are allowed to choose first, they wanted to accomplish, and they were are in your life are the ones who say, “Don’t and a lightning strike should be no problem going to use any means necessary to accom - worry” and “Eat something.” Elijah has an for the god of the storm. plish it. If Yahweh was leading elsewhere, they angel of the Lord feed him two meals while he Elijah quietly waits and watches the would turn to Baal. finds the stamina to meet the Lord on his holy prophets of Baal all morning as they try to get If we are willing to sing the old hymn, mountain. The last time Israel’s people wor - Baal to answer them. After lunch, however, “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go,” we must always shiped God on a mountain, God’s presence Elijah begins to harass them. The Living Bible take care to avoid the prayer, “God bless our was accompanied by fire and lightning. Just still provides the most vivid characterization of plans!” That is what ancient Israel wanted. We before that, the great wind of God blew the his trash talking. “You’ll have to shout louder need to pray instead: “God, these are our sea, and Israel crossed over on dry ground. than that … to catch the attention of your plans, but what do you want? Please conform Elijah would definitely need his rest to face god! Perhaps he is talking to someone or is sit - our desires to your plans.” that challenge. ting on the toilet or is away on a trip or is God’s plans are often unexpected and dif - This time, however, God is not in the asleep and needs to be wakened!” ficult. In 1 Kings 18, it is God’s plan for there wind, the fire or the earthquake. Elijah knows The prophets of Baal do everything in to be a drought for three years. In the Garden that God can be flashy and obvious. Yahweh their power to justify the support they of Gethsemane, God’s plan took Jesus to the had just brought the fire from heaven and received from Ahab and the people of Israel. cross. Ancient Israel’s decisions showed a self- consumed the sacrifice on Mount Carmel They even shed their own blood to encourage serving faith of convenience. Jesus’ life showed (1 Kings 18), beating Baal at his own game. Baal to answer. Though the prophets are a faith that humbly sought God’s will. What God did sometimes move in ways that might frantic and loud, Baal’s silence is emphasized does our life show? look like the other gods of this world.

20 | Baptists Today • August 2010 BIBLE STUDIES

Sometimes, though, God will move in message from God to an unwilling religious ways we do not expect. Instead of the big, Sept. 26, 2010 audience, who at best dismisses the prophet as multimedia light-and-sound show, God speaks crazy and at worst tries to kill the faithful mes - to Elijah out of the sound of silence. Elijah Trusting God’s Future senger. When Elijah, the great prophet of the might have been craving the reminder of the 2 Kings 2:1-14 Lord, told him to stay, Elisha could have said, Lord of Hosts who drowned pharaoh’s chari - “Well okay. This is a long and uncertain walk. ots. He might have wanted a display of God’s “How can I be sure what God’s will for my life So, let’s say our goodbyes here. I am going to almighty power. God felt what Elijah needed is?” How many times have we asked this ques - be one of these numerous prophets.” was a voice in the quiet of his soul, reminding tion? Every day, people face life-altering It is the safer choice to be one of those him of his calling. questions: “Should I major in chemistry or prophets in the city. Of course, the prophets Twice God asks Elijah why he came to ministry?” “Should I take the new job or stay who chose to stay are not remembered in the put?” “Should we try to have children?” We Horeb. Twice Elijah answers that the people biblical story. Instead of the safety of seek godly counsel that leads one direction, have sinned and his life is in danger. Elijah’s anonymity, Elisha chooses to go. Elisha even and then someone gives us godly counsel that depression seems to be motivated by his fear asks Elijah for the “double share” of his spirit. leads another. of Jezebel and the futility of his calling. He has In other words, Elisha asks Elijah to make him Following God means we listen to a voice been passionately, singularly and utterly his “firstborn” (see Deut 21:17). He is asking we cannot hear. We follow a path we cannot Elijah, “Let me carry on your work. Let me devoted to God. That devotion is now the see and are led by a hand we cannot hold. Is it inherit your mission and your calling. I am source of his difficulty. Elijah is convinced he any wonder that questions about “God’s will” willing to go as far as God calls.” is the only person left who truly understands are so difficult to answer? How far are we willing to go? It is a how to serve Yahweh, and he is confident that Elisha is faced with a difficult choice. A tough question to answer because we rarely he will soon be martyred. All of his work and prophet of the Lord, Elijah, had told Elisha to know how far we are going. Elijah never told sacrifice accomplishes nothing. stay at Gilgal. Instead of obeying his mentor, Elisha that they were going to make a big cir - Fear of Jezebel is one thing, but the feel - Elisha protests, ignores Elijah, and decides he cle from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho and back ing that the calling to which he has devoted wants to go a little farther. through the Jordan. God did not tell Mother himself faithfully does not matter had to cause The two of them go on to Bethel where Teresa in Albania that she would be a nun a great personal crisis for Elijah. All of us want prophets of the Lord come out to meet them. teaching in India and never see her mother “Stay here,” Elijah says. Bethel is located in to feel needed. All of us want to believe our again. God never told Saul of Tarsus, when he the central hill country of Israel. Elisha would life is moving forward to something. Elijah was on the road to Damascus, that he would have easy access to whomever God has called wanted to believe he was doing Yahweh’s work eventually die in Rome as the great missionary him to speak an oracle against; and obviously, and moving the nation to greater things. to the Gentiles. And, unfortunately for us, Unfortunately, Elijah realized he risked his life a prophet of the Lord can find work there. Instead, Elisha protests, goes with Elijah, and God does not send a roadmap for our lives to convince people who will ultimately turn sees the Jordan part. He sees fiery chariots and giving instructions on God’s perfect will. whichever way the wind blows. whirlwinds — all because he wanted to go Paul could have had a quiet ministry in How many life crises have begun by look - “a little farther.” an Antioch church. Instead, he was willing to ing in the mirror and asking, “What am I Elisha could make the safe choice and go a little farther and become that great mis - really doing with my life?” Elijah has that time stay with those other prophets. It does not sionary (and writer of a considerable of introspection and has decided he is doing seem as though Elijah is trying to guilt Elisha percentage of the New Testament). Amos nothing. Jezebel has material resources, the into coming with him. He could simply be could have kept on serving God as a shepherd army, the will, and Elijah stands alone. He saying, “Elisha, this is a hard mission with in Judah, but went a little farther to be God’s decides it is better to die in the wilderness hard choices ahead. If you want to get off this mouthpiece in Israel. Elisha could have kept than face a life of futility. ride now, you can. You can serve God here on plowing his field when Elijah called him. Into that crisis, God speaks the words anonymously. Consider the cost. You can He could have stayed at Gilgal or Bethel, but Elijah needs to hear. God reminds Elijah he is make the safe choice.” he was willing to go a little farther. not alone. Elijah does not bear the burden by When considering the life of a prophet, As a result, Elisha sees the waters part, himself, and it is time to get back in the game. who could blame Elisha for making the safe the winds blow and the chariots burn. And we He gets up, goes where God instructs, and choice? A prophet speaks an unpopular know his name. BT never doubts again. The dramatic movement of the chapter carries Elijah from despondency to fresh energy and militancy. Read about it in Baptists Today We all have moments of doubt. We all look around in frustration when we see faith - DISCUSS IT AT fulness bring empty results. May God speak in the quiet of our souls to remind us: God is God, we are not finished, and we are not www.BaptistLife.com alone.

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 21 RESOURCES 2010 Brought to you this month Church Works! by Sarah Stafford Good ideas for effective ministry How to put excitement back in your older children’s choir

everal years ago I was looking for an year. The children received 10 points for every idea to bring energy to our older chil - choir rehearsal they attended and 10 points S dren’s choir. After visiting with my for every mission session they attended. I gave mentor, Maryann Tyler from First Baptist extra points for the times our choir led in Church in Roswell, Ga., I had an idea: take worship and participated in the Christmas the children on a trip. I visited with our min - program. I also gave extra points for each ister to children, Julie Girards, to get her ideas hymn the children memorized for the Hymn and with our minister of music, Doug Haney, Memory program. The children were required to get his input on ways we could incorporate to earn at least 75 percent of the basic points some of the activities he uses with the youth and could earn extra points if needed. choir. On the Wednesday before we left on Julie and I came up with a music/mission Saturday, we had a parents’ meeting to discuss trip. We decided to use a point system to help the plans and to collect permission slips and boost the children’s attendance throughout the notarize the required paperwork. year. We then had to decide where and when I divided the group by grade and gender, we were going, how much money the church with two sponsors per group for each site. We could contribute, how much each child would had a wonderful experience. The children pay and other important information. We advance, and condominiums are probably a bonded in a significant way outside the four planned to have a parents’ meeting at the better option than hotel rooms.) walls of the rehearsal space, and also experi - beginning of the new music/mission year to After reserving hotel rooms, I asked enced helping others outside their comfort share our plans. Mission Arlington if our children could sing zone. Tillie Burgin at Mission Arlington made We decided on an overnight stay that in one of its churches. The Mission arranged the children feel so special about their project. would include a ride on a chartered bus, a for them to sing at the South Side Baptist We decided the children’s music/mission mission project, a fun experience, hotel lodg - Church located in an old telephone building, trip experience was worth repeating. This year ing, and singing at a church. Arlington, Texas, which would provide a wonderful new wor - we repeated the mission project at Mission about 45 minutes away from our church, was ship experience for the Wilshire children. Arlington, but ate at the well-known Joe T. our destination. I contacted Tillie Burgin, Months before the trip I reserved a char - Garcia Mexican restaurant in Fort Worth, founder and director of Mission Arlington, to ter bus and then began working on the went to the Fort Worth Zoo, played at Main investigate what kind of project our 4th-, 5th- budget, which included the bus, one night’s Event (bowling and laser tag) and sang at and 6th-graders could do. She put us on the lodging, four meals, Six Flags tickets, a tip for Agape Baptist Church in Fort Worth. We had Mission’s calendar. I then checked the Six the bus driver, costs for the sponsors, a few our 6th-graders lead the Saturday evening Flags Over Texas website for group-rate ticket scholarships and miscellaneous items. I made devotionals as well as help with the Sunday prices. a proposal to our minister of music and asso - morning Bible study. The older children The hardest part of the planning process ciate pastor, asking if the church could cover enjoyed the leadership responsibilities and was finding a hotel that would fit our needs. the cost of the charter bus, which it did. were wonderful role models for the 4th- and Wilshire’s policy is that we have at least two I selected music for the choir to learn 5th-graders. adults per group of children. I searched for over the entire choir year, which we could use Even after leading children’s choirs for hotels/suites that had adjoining rooms. After for the end-of-year spring program and also more than 30 years, I have learned that there numerous phone calls I found a hotel with sing at the mission church. Julie planned sev - is always an opportunity to try fresh ideas and enough adjoining rooms to take care of our eral mission projects for the children so that add new excitement, not only for the children group. (Reservations are best made months in they could earn extra points throughout the but also for myself. BT

ChurchWorks! is provided by the Congregational Life office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in partnership with Baptists Today and for those dedicated lay leaders working in the educational ministries of local churches. This month’s page was written by Sarah Stafford, associate minister of music at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. More ministry resources are available at www.thefellowship.info/News/subscribe and www.thefellowship.info/Resources/Church-Resources/Baptists-Today-resource-page.

22 | Baptists Today • August 2010 CLASSIFIEDS

First Baptist Church of Spruce Pine, N.C., is accept - position and Heritage Baptist Church, visit Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, a CBF-affiliated ing résumés for senior pastor . FBC is a moderate www.HBC Cartersville.org. To apply, send a church in Athens, Ga., is seeking an associate pas - congregation of approximately 350, and has two résumé to: Heritage.Résumé[email protected]. tor for youth and education . Candidates should Sunday morning services (traditional and contempo - have specific skills in the area of youth ministry and rary) and supports missions through both BSC and general skills in spiritual formation and pastoral Temple Baptist Church, a CBF church in Durham, CBF. Applicants should have a minimum of a mas - ministries. A Master of Divinity degree and experi - N.C., is seeking a full-time minister of music . A full ter’s degree from an accredited seminary or divinity ence working with youth are preferred. Send job description is available at www.tbcdurham.org. school. Please send résumés and references to: résumé, references and a statement of faith to: Wanda Henline, Pastor Search Committee, 125 Lucy Bell at [email protected]. Tappan St., Spruce Pine, NC 28777. College Parkway Baptist Church of Arnold, Md., is seeking candidates for the full-time position of Calvary Baptist Church of Lexington, Ky., is accept - First Baptist Church of King, N.C., near Winston- associate pastor for music and faith develop - ing résumés for a full-time minister of youth . The Salem, seeks an experienced senior pastor . ment . This staff member, a spiritual leader in the responsibilities for this position and additional infor - Averaging 400 in worship services, we are a pro - church, will be responsible for music leadership, mation are posted at ww.calvarybaptistchurch.com. gressive, mainstream fellowship, friendly and involved with worship planning in partnership with Résumés may be submitted to: Youth Ministry loving, that empowers purpose-driven ministry the senior pastor, and providing leadership and Search Committee, Calvary Baptist Church, 150 E. regardless of gender or race. Excellent preaching oversight of faith development programs for all High St., Lexington, KY 40507. skills, genuine pastoral desire and strong leadership ages of the congregation. Additionally, we seek a abilities are expected. Direct inquires to: person who especially values the role of children [email protected] or the church and youth in the life of the church and has strong Let Gather ’Round help your church come office (336) 983-5252. skills in directing youth ministry programs. The together around the Bible! Gather ’Round: candidate should have an appreciation for our cur - Hearing and Sharing God’s Good News is the rent traditional/blended worship style while Heritage Baptist Church, located in Cartersville, Ga., Bible story-based curriculum that connects possessing the skills to lead the congregation into is seeking a visionary leader to serve as lead pastor church and home. Gather ’Round nurtures a contemporary setting. A degree from an accred - of our diverse congregation. Heritage is a covenant children, youth, and their families in becom - ited seminary and ministry experience are strongly congregation that seeks to honor and praise God ing followers of Jesus — exploring their preferred. For more information, visit www.college- through its missions, ministries and programs that faith and putting it into action. Find sample parkwaybaptist.net. Please send r ésum és by Aug. are structured around fulfilling the covenant commit - sessions, Bible outlines and more at 31 to: [email protected]. ments we have made with one another and God. www.gatherround.org. Heritage is looking for a lead pastor whose life is Order a free preview pack today! characterized by a spirit of service, humility and Baptist Temple, a historic church located near down - prayer. At Heritage the lead pastor serves as the town Houston, Texas, with ties to CBF, SBC and spiritual leader for the church family and leads the BGCT, is seeking an associate pastor to join our TRIANGLE SOLUTIONS congregation in worship through preaching from ministry team. We seek a person with energy, cre - God’s word. The lead pastor is also charged to work ativity and strong faith who feels called to an urban Résumé Development, Career Guidance, with and provide guidance and supervision to the church setting. The ideal candidate would have a Interview Coaching church staff as, together, they provide spiritual willingness and ability to contribute to many areas of Professional/Confidential instruction, pastoral care, and leadership to the con - our church’s overall ministry and mission. A semi - (888) 723-8623 gregation. This is a full-time position with a nary degree and ministry experience are preferred. [email protected] competitive salary. For more information about the Submit résumés to: [email protected]. in the know Keeping up with people, 12-year pastorate at Mooreland Baptist places, and events Church in North Garden, Va. Dennis Herman , pastor of the Greystone PEOPLE Gary Nelson who held the post for 10 years. Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., for the past Chase, who was born in England, raised in 11 years, will retire on Aug. 31. Chris Adams is student minister at First Ontario and served his entire ministry in west - Baptist Church of Wilmington, N.C. ern Canada, is of Indian descent. He is the first Travis Russell is minister to children, youth non-Anglo to hold this leadership role. and families at First Baptist Church of Gwendolyn Belton Brown , a graduate of Whiteville, N.C. Mercer University’s McAfee School of David John Hailey is youth ministry intern Theology, received the Addie Davis Award for at First Baptist Church of Burlington, N.C. William J. Shaw has been named to the U.S. excellence in pastoral ministry by Baptist Commission on International Religious Women in Ministry. Brown also received Ruth Harris is working with Springdale Freedom by President Obama. He has been McAfee’s William Ollie and Nell Ray Key Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Okla., to pastor of White Rock Baptist Church in Excellence and Leadership Award during the start Hispanic house churches around the city. Philadelphia since 1956, and is immediate School’s May commencement in Atlanta. She Harris previously helped start Hispanic Baptist past president of the National Baptist currently serves as pastor at In Christ We churches in Brunswick County, N.C., and Convention, USA, Inc. Trust Christian Church in Grayson, Ga. Franklin County, Va., after serving 14 years in Arlington, Texas, with Iglesia de la Comuni- Robert Wallace is assistant professor of Old Sam Chase will become the next general secre - dad Peach (part of Mission Arlington). Testament at Judson University in Elgin, Ill. tary of the Canadian Baptist Ministries, an Previously he served as assistant professor of association of four regional and language-based Clarke Hawkins is pastor of Hillcrest Baptist religion and director of international pro - Baptist conventions in Canada. He succeeds Church in Mechanicsville, Va., going from a grams at Shorter College in Rome, Ga.

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 23 PERSPECTIVE guest commentary Americans’ charitable giving draws attention By Martin E. Marty

he Chronicle of Philanthropy the Evangelical Council for Financial financial stewards and draw the conclusion chronicles — you guessed it — Accountability showed giving was down that almost across the board, there’s been a T philanthropy, and in the June 17 only 3.7 percent there, all according to the decline of more than 0.3 percent. You might issue reports on “Giving USA” for 2009. “Giving USA” reckoning. Empty Tomb say that the professionals can “feel it in their While the category of religion may not found that overall giving to religion, after bones,” trading anecdotes, looking in the always overwhelm casual readers of trend- inflation, was down only 0.3 percent. mirror, and reading e-mails about unem - reports, religious giving is much watched. The first question about statistics is: ployed relatives who, no matter where their There is much to watch. According to How accurate are they? One gets the heart is, cannot keep up with pledges or another monitoring agency, Empty Tomb, impression from the numerous people match those from earlier years. “religion” last year raised 100.95 billion quoted in the several Chronicle articles that Why is accuracy important? Consultant dollars, which means that it represents 33 a) they recognize the Edith Falk says “people want to have these percent of all charitable giving. surveyors as conscien - numbers so they can benchmark against While such giving is from the heart and tious, their methods national numbers.” They are “also impor - so, on that level, is secret, it is also very ever-improving, their tant because they are used to measure just public, thanks to the Internal Revenue intentions good, b) but how generous Americans are.” Service and the reports of the congregations the results are not fully Joblessness, market jitters, and other and agencies, most of which must, and do, trustworthy. factors can take a spiritual toll. It is also give scrupulous accounting of the funds. Many observers important to see where priorities are. The public knows that the financial think that the decline Dan Busby, president of the Evangelical crisis and recession have hit philanthropy in most of the areas, Council, rightly says that “the impact of hard. The big givers held back most: Gifts including religion, the least-declinist, is the recession has been spotty. Rescue mis - in the over-one-million-dollar class were more steep than reported. These analysts sions and child-sponsor groups in many down 63.6 percent! look at annual reports and balance sheets of cases have done well, while others are Giving to colleges and universities was religious organizations, most of which have impacted more significantly.” down 17.8 percent and to hospitals, down had to cut back on personnel and projects Favorite causes and those that have 11 percent. because there are smaller funds with which commanded loyalties over the years fare On such a scale, religion held up well. to work. best. Analysis of 1,247 religious organizations in They talk to development officers and In the Great Depression, many reli - gious groups suffered a great depression, so in this Great Recession it is natural for a Be a voice to sustain Baptists tomorrow. parade of leaders to experience some, if not great, recession. I am / We are pleased to make a gift commitment to Baptists Today of $ ______per year for three years. Those who stress religious motivations, TOTAL GIVING LEVEL ______and speak of the bounties from God and the Name values of community, will not and should ■ Heritage Partners ($50,000 or above) ______not be satisfied with the giving levels in ■ Founders Circle (25,000-$49,999) ______still-prosperous America. But comparing Address ■ Freedom Circle ($10,000-$24,999) international and local cultural trends, one ______can only conclude that great numbers of ■ Visionary Circle ($5,000-$9,999) City Americans, moved by their faith, can be ■ Editor’s Circle ($1,000-$4,999) ______counted on. BT State/Zip ■ Circle of Friends ($500-$999) (______)______— Martin E. Marty is the Fairfax M. Cone Phone ■ Patrons ($100-$499) Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at ______■ Contributors (up to $99) Email the University of Chicago where he taught for 35 years. This Sightings column comes from Please fill out this form and return it to Baptists Today, the Martin Marty Center at the university’s P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318 divinity school. 24 | Baptists Today • August 2010 PERSPECTIVE guest commentary Adolescent challenges no laughing matter

By Tom Ehrich, RELIGION NEWS SERVICE

EW YORK — My heart chilled are flooding local schools. “(Experts) tell us accumulated while trying to maintain yes - when I read about teenagers who that, if nothing changes, America won’t have terday’s unaffordable lifestyle get high. N gather on the Great Lawn of a capable work force in 20 years,” she said. Look at expensive colleges that steer Central Park and flaunt laws against under - As a former teenager myself, I know students into the clutches of debt mer - age drinking. Many attend the independent that it is a solemn duty of youth to irritate chants, and financial institutions that have schools lining the park, including the school and worry grown-ups. I also know that kids discovered it’s more profitable to prey on from which my 18-year-old son just gradu - grow up, and their adolescent fascination their customers than to serve them. ated. with danger fades. The young man who prowls the Great Yes, my son grimaced, he knows all Yet it seems truly worrisome to have an Lawn selling margaritas to middle schoolers about these kids. They are 11 to 14 years entire generation entering adulthood with is just an early introduction to a predator- old. They walk onto the lawn carrying six- an addiction, bodies run economy. packs of beer. They buy margaritas for $5 bloated by junk food, Who is going to curb the predators? from a young man who works the crowd inadequate skills for That should be our question. with a white cooler. holding a job, or self- We parents need to start by reclaiming Their obnoxious behavior is driving esteem crushed by adolescence as basically a safe and surviv - older teens like my son away from the Great self-absorbed parents. able condition. Being clueless and career- Lawn. The last straw came when Margarita These aren’t driven parents simply cannot excuse Man saw cops coming and hid among my deficits that maturity damage being done to our kids. This isn’t son’s friends (not his customers), thereby will erase. Like years 1964 or 1984. Parents need to get smart putting them at risk in any ensuing bust. lost to imprisonment, and push back. At a Faith & Addiction conference that these deficits can have permanent conse - A recent epidemic of cyberbullying in a I coordinated recently, a speaker from quences: low graduation rates, higher New Jersey middle school is a sobering Partnership for a Drug-Free America said likelihoods of incarceration, lower lifetime reminder, because parents apparently aren’t that half of the nation’s more than 22 mil - earnings and the myriad negative conse - taking action, such as canceling their kids’ lion active addicts are younger than 30. A quences of addiction, ranging from Blackberrys and confronting the bullies’ growing number are teenagers. depression to premature death. parents. Parents are dangerously clueless about Moreover, deficits carried from adoles - Parents, faith leaders and community the alcohol and drugs flowing into the lives cence into adulthood are a setup for leaders must join forces against the preda - of children ages 9 to 17. predators who are already waiting. Look at tors — even when doing so gets in the way The keynote speaker, Teresa McBean, the payday loan shops and used-car huck - of work. BT of the Richmond, Va.-based NorthStar sters that ring military bases, preying on Community, said alcohol and drugs (includ - the underpaid and anxious. Look at debt- — Tom Ehrich is a writer, church consultant ing marijuana cigarettes laced with heroin) settlement firms that pounce when debts and Episcopal priest based in New York.

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 25 INFORMATION Is criticism of Israel anti-Semitic? By Michele Chabin June conference on anti-Semitism sponsored Israel’s three-year blockade of Gaza, which is Religion News Service by the New York-based Anti-Defamation intended to prevent weapons from reaching League (ADL). Five years later, he said, the test the militant group Hamas. Nine members of JERUSALEM — Veteran newswoman Helen still works: the flotilla were killed in the early morning Thomas’ suggestion that Israelis should “get If all other peoples, including Arabs and raid, and several Israeli commandos were the hell out of Palestine” and “go home” to Muslims, have the right to live securely in injured. Poland, Germany and the U.S., was widely their homelands, “then the Jewish people have In the time since, the ADL compiled a seen as anti-Israel. But was it anti-Jewish? that right as well,” Sharansky has said. hefty volume of cartoons in the Arab media As Israel faced unprecedented censure Yet not all Jews share Sharansky’s analysis, that they say depict Israelis — in the guise of from the world community — including eco - or even the idea that criticism of Israel is stereotypical hook-nosed Jews in black hats — nomic, academic and cultural boycotts — the somehow out of bounds. as “blood-thirsty monsters, sharks and other Thomas incident raised the question of when, “There can be someone who thinks the marine wildlife swallowing up or crushing” the if ever, anti-Israelism equals anti-Semitism. existence of the State of Israel is wrong flotilla. It’s a question that’s simmered long before because the creation of Israel is an injustice to While some cartoons used the iconic Star a Long Island rabbi caught of David that’s emblazoned Thomas’ outburst on on Israel’s flag, others used videotape. purely religious imagery — In 2005, former an Israeli soldier attacking Soviet dissident Natan an activist with a menorah, Sharansky (now head of for example — to link the the Jewish Agency for state of Israel with the reli - Israel) said Israel was a gion of Judaism. proxy for lingering anti- James Zogby, president Semitic hatred toward of the Arab American Jews. While “classical anti- Institute, is highly critical of Semitism” was aimed at these cartoons, even as he the Jewish faith or the supports “legitimate criti - Jewish people, “the new cism of Israel and its anti-Semitism is much behavior.” more subtle,” Sharansky “If it goes from Israel’s wrote in The Forward policies to ‘this is typical newspaper, “directed as it is Jewish behavior,’ that’s against the Jewish state.” crossing the line,” Zogby Sharansky proposed a said. “3-D test” — demoniza - Some Arab-Americans tion, double-standards and say there can be legitimate de-legitimization — that criticism of Israel without has become an unofficial A cartoon that appeared in Al-Watan , a newspaper in Qatar, criticized the Israeli raid on a Gaza- dabbling in anti-Semitism. bound flotilla with the words "Terror State" in Arabic. RNS photo via Anti-Defamation League. yardstick to measure Nabil Mohamad, vice-presi - whether criticisms directed dent of the American-Arab against Israel are, in fact, really directed at the Palestinians,” said Adam Keller, a Jewish Anti-Discrimination Committee, said Israel Jews. Israeli and spokesman of Gush Shalom, a lib - should be held “accountable” when it “routinely 1. When critics compare Israelis to Nazis eral organization that is critical of Israel’s violates international law.” — the embodiment of evil — and Palestinian treatment of the Palestinians. “While I would At the ADL conference in Israel, national refugees to survivors of Jewish concentration not deny that some people are using criticism director Abraham Foxman said “criticism of camps, that’s demonization. of Israel as a mask for anti-Semitism, I think Israeli actions or policies is not by its nature 2. When Israel is singled out for criticism there is a systematic campaign that tries to anti-Semitic,” yet he remains troubled by the while other governments are not, that’s a label everyone who criticizes Israel an anti- recent rhetoric. double standard. Semite. Doing so does not make me a “If Helen Thomas had told Hispanics or 3. And while it’s no longer condoned in self-hating Jew.” blacks to go home, everyone would under - polite company to deny the legitimacy of the The comments that cost Thomas her stand how racist this is. To say Jews should go Jewish faith, when Israel is portrayed as an ille - front-row perch in the White House briefing back to Poland is like telling them to go back gitimate or rogue state, that’s de-legitimization. room came in the wake of a May 31 Israeli to Auschwitz,” said Foxman, a Holocaust Sharansky resurrected the 3-D test at a raid on a flotilla that was trying to break survivor. BT

26 | Baptists Today • August 2010 INFORMATION Baptists sending aid to strife-ridden Kyrgyzstan By Bob Allen Associated Baptist Press

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Baptists have begun sending aid to Kyrgyzstan, home of a growing humanitarian crisis stemming from violence fueled by ethnic intolerance that has killed hundreds of ethnic Uzbeks and driven tens of thousands more from their homes since June 10. Baptist World Aid, the relief-and- development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, pledged June 18 to send an initial $5,000 in response to an appeal from Baptists in Russia who are providing assis - National Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic. tance to those affected by the violence. “The Baptist World Alliance is deeply about 15 percent of the population, but for what some view as a weak response to troubled by the disturbing reports of con - they are concentrated in the south, where ethnic violence. flict in Kyrgyzstan,” said Raimundo ethnically homogeneous neighborhoods Baptists in Central Asia are part of the Barreto, director of the BWA’s Division of have lived peacefully side-by-side for the European Baptist Fellowship, one of six Freedom and Justice. “We urge the world - last 20 years. regional fellowships of the Baptist World wide Baptist family to pray for our sisters Political instability has allowed unre - Alliance. and brothers who are in the midst of the solved animosity over land ownership and “We have all been saddened to learn of violence and have been forced to flee to employment to rekindle. In 1990, more the violent conflict which has broken out makeshift refugee camps. We pray that than 300 people died during similar clashes in the south of the Central Asian Republic order and peace may be restored soon and before Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev of Kyrgyzstan, especially the attacks on the urge the national authorities and the inter - sent in troops to quell the violence. ethnic Uzbek community,” Tony Peck, national organizations to do all at The Union of Evangelical general secretary for the EBF said in a their powers to ensure the safe Christian Baptists in Kyrgyztan news release. “We are appealing to the return of refugees to their reports 64 churches with a member Unions of the EBF for some homes.” total membership of 3,100. immediate help.” BT Observers say violent That is down from about protests that led to the resigna - 13,000 Baptists in 1987, as — Bob Allen is senior writer for tion and expulsion of President Uzbekistan’s emigrating Russian Associated Baptist Press. Kurmanbek Bakiev in April population has dropped from 45 reignited old ethnic hostilities in the percent to less than 10 percent. former Soviet republic, which gained inde - The ethnic-German president of the Gifts to pendence in 1991 following the breakup of Kyrgyz Baptist union said recently he sees Baptists Today the Soviet Union. a bright future for starting ethnic Kyrgyz have been received An interim government, meanwhile, congregations in the country, William in memory of … has been unable to enforce order in the Yoder, who works in the external-relations southern part of the country as fights office of the Union of Evangelical Albert Cardwell between rival gangs have driven more than Christians-Baptists of Russia, wrote in from Betty and Don McGouirk 100,000 ethnic Uzbeks into refugee camps Christianity Today . That’s despite a dracon - in neighboring Uzbekistan. The refugees ian law passed in 2009 to stop the Cecil Sherman have been reporting tales of brutal beat - conversion of Muslims, who make up 75 from May W. Cain ings, killings and rape in the southern percent of the population. Kyrgyzstan city of Osh. Yoder said the Kyrgyz Baptist Union E. Augustus Verdery “We fear for our lives,” a Baptist eye - reported that its churches in Uzbek neigh - from Eleanor Verdery witness wrote in an e-mail that circulated on borhoods of Osh and the heavily Uzbek Russian-language websites and was quoted by city of Jalal-Abad had so far escaped dam - Christianity Today . “Hear our desperate cry!” age, thanks to government tanks and Debbie Williams from Kathy and Milton Martin Kyrgyzstan’s 5.5 million people are soldiers that managed to repel approaching nearly 70 percent Kyrgyz. Uzbeks comprise mobs. The government has been criticized

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 27 PERSPECTIVE the lighter side To sit where Jesus walked By Brett Younger

hen I was growing up, I had no desire to go to the Holy Land — W which is what we always called it at our church, never “Israel,” always “The Holy Land,” as if there were no flies there. People came back with what might be considered tacky souvenirs — holy water drawn by the woman at the well, tiny crowns of thorns and Lily of the Valley perfume. The excited travelers made us watch slides of them making funny faces while eating strange food, riding on a donkey that was “the direct descendant of the one Jesus rode into Jerusalem,” and pointing at the empty tomb as though they are angels in the Easter pageant. They usually had no pictures of Jewish people or poor people, but they had multiple shots of Floridians baptizing one another. When my fourth-grade Sunday school The Jordan River. teacher went, she brought back yarmulkes for Photo by David Bjorgen everyone. (The previous summer we got mouse ears from Disneyworld.) someone to take a picture. I realize I will have afternoon we will study a biblical story that Veterans of the Holy Land decorated to be strong. Clever salespeople with minia - took place at the spot we have just visited. their living rooms with commemorative mus - ture wood nativity sets, praying hands and The stereotypical trip to Israel is to hurriedly tard seeds, widow’s mites and wooden key chains made from the Cedars of Lebanon “run where Jesus walked.” Our hope is to donkeys. They made Israel seem like a theme are waiting for people like me. reverently “sit where Jesus walked.” park — “Jesusland.” Will I be able to resist Nazareth candles, I trust that the picture of Jesus in my I pictured the Holy Land like “Six Flags Bethlehem incense and Jerusalem honey? head will soon look more like a Middle Over Palestine” with rides where you climb What if I am offered Eastern Jew and less like the pictures in chil - “Zacchaeus’ Tree,” ride out a “Storm on the what looks like a good dren’s books. When I sing “born is the King Sea of Galilee” or herd demon-possessed pigs. deal — I am not good at of Israel,” it may seem different. I assumed there were “Loaves and Fishes” math, so I will not be I want to see the Garden of Gethsemane, restaurants and police officers dressed like completely sure — on the Jordan River and the Mount of Olives, Roman soldiers — sort of a biblical Branson. Christmas tree orna - but I may appreciate the common sights Mark Twain said that the second coming ments, parchment scrolls more than the crowded sites. I look forward was never going to happen because Jesus or Song of Solomon to praying where Jesus prayed, worshipping would not want to go back to Israel. The Anointing Oil? What if I Brett Younger where Jesus worshipped and listening where neighbors must have invited the Twains over see some fine-looking Jesus listened. to see their slides. myrrh and know a friend back home needs I am not planning to come home and It is, nonetheless, time for me to go to some? What if I come across Holy Land soil kill conversations by starting every sentence Israel, because I have started to feel like the inserts so that I can “walk on Holy Ground”? with “When I was in the Holy Land … , ” French teacher who has never been to Paris My trip with the inimitable church his - but the more I think about it, I cannot make (and I have not marked anything off my torian Loyd Allen and 18 pastors is more of a any promises. BT bucket list since I went to a Jimmy Buffett pilgrimage than a tour. We will spend a week concert). I think I can be trusted not to give in a monastery in Galilee and a week in — Brett Younger is associate professor of little shakers of Dead Sea salt as Christmas Jerusalem. Each day we will share morning preaching at Mercer University’s presents. If I ride a camel, I will not force prayers and then travel to a holy site. Each McAfee School of Theology.

28 | Baptists Today • August 2010 REBLOG — Selections from recent blogs at BaptistsToday.org PERSPECTIVE

Holy mackeral … uh, marlin!

By Tony W. Cartledge which had the potential of netting the boat Posted June 23, 2010 $912,825 in first-place winnings and a www.tonycartledge.com $318,750 bonus for catching a marlin that exceeded 500 pounds. an you conceive of a competition in Alas, any celebrations were premature. which you won $1.2 million — then One of the crew members realized that he C watched it swim away because of a had failed to purchase a North Carolina technicality? recreational fishing license, so he went out Imagine the heartache felt by the and bought one before the fish was weighed captain of the Citation , a fishing boat par - in — but hours after it was caught. ticipating in Morehead City’s Big Rock Blue Then he was caught, and the lack of a Marlin tournament. $10 ten-day license cost the team more Early in the competition, one of the than $1.2 million. The prize went to a boat anglers on his boat hooked a record-setting that had landed a 528-pounder. 883-pound specimen, and the crew safely Can you imagine how sick he must feel brought it on board and in to shore. — and how angry his shipmates must be? Through the rest of the competition no one Little things can make a big else came close to matching the catch, difference. BT

Baptist bureaucracies in the bull’s eye

By John Pierce direct support of international missions for their own operations. Posted June 22, 2010 (Lottie Moon offering) — signal that Also worth noting, these groups dip www.johndpierce.com change is coming. However, restructuring into the same limited pool of resources old systems is more likely to result from for funding. The Great Commission Task Force report the vote of congregations with the direc - CBF leadership left the retreat with that was overwhelmingly approved by tion of their funding than any report or a promise to explore some ways the messengers to the Southern Baptist self-initiated insider trimming. Fellowship could be restructured. Many Convention on June 15 has its roots in a Likewise, the much younger and of us are eager to hear these ideas and chapel address given by Southeastern smaller Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is to have the chance to respond. Seminary President Danny Akin in April looking at restructuring. During a retreat To that end, a 14-person task force 2009. In that address, but not in the of Fellowship leaders and partners in has been appointed to take a serious adopted report, is an expressed concern April, there was much discussion about look at CBF structure and funding over over “bloated bureaucracies” in the how the CBF has evolved over the past the next two years with updated reports denominational structure. 20 years and how it might need to evolve along the way. Nothing gets bloated bureaucrats structurally over the next several years. Change is never without pain and is more agitated than someone bringing up Coming out of the singularly con - rarely initiated by those who feel it the bloated bureaucracies. But clearly trolled SBC, the Fellowship made every most. But it is often necessitated by Baptist bureaucracies get a closer look effort to be structurally free from the realities (such as funding and other when money dries up or when some loy - possibility of a takeover. But such loose - strong indicators of need) and dealt with alists become concerned that too little ness has its own challenges. because simply “staying the course” will of it is getting to the preferred location For example, theology schools have not work. — in the case of the SBC, that is the emerged in much greater number than Such efforts can be done with international mission field. the six that are owned and operated by clinched fists or open hands. Yet, if How the recommendations of this the SBC. These schools relate to CBF to change is inevitable, the latter sure report play out in SBC structures are various degrees along with ties to other seems to produce better results than uncertain and likely varied. But staking institutions and agencies. defensiveness and territorial protection. down turf is sure to increase. Other independent partners (includ - It takes a certain amount of More than anything, the vote for the ing Baptists Today ) work in voluntary openness — to fresh thinking, new task force report and the election of cooperation but have no clear divisions methodologies and even personal risk — Georgia pastor Bryant Wright as SBC of responsibilities (like SBC entities). And to consider a future that is unlike the president — whose congregation splits state and regional CBF groups that have past. But the results are often worth the its SBC mission giving between the uni - emerged over the past two decades are pain, if an organization comes out fied budget (Cooperative Program) and autonomous as well and require funding leaner, healthier and more effective. BT

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 29 FEATURE STORY AND PHOTOS BY JANLYN ECHOLS THAXTON Cookies, cooking &

Hardin-Simmons University President Lanny Hall (left) receives the 10,000th dozen of chocolate chip cookies baked by Bill (right) and caring Janis Altom to benefit students and campus ministry programs. Altoms serve their alma mater, larger community

ABILENE, Texas — In the front Since 1983, Bill and Janis have been HSU campus,” Bill recalled. baking chocolate chip cookies for students So Bill and Janis started helping students yard of their home on Abilene’s and delivering them to a cookie jar that now who were involved in BSM by going with north side, Bill and Janis Jensen sits in the Connally Missions Center on cam - them on mission trips. That, in turn, sparked pus. Next to the cookies is another jar for the idea for the cookies as an ongoing min - Altom sprinkle their favorite rub students to drop their change into when they istries fundraiser. on 75 pounds of brisket. A fire is get cookies. That money supports BSM sum - The Altoms have been known to turn mer missions. out as many as 300 dozen cookies in just burning hot in a smoker sitting by In the very first year, the Altoms deliv - eight hours. One year, when the BSM con - the curb while fragrant smoke ered 1,300 dozen cookies to Hardin-Simmons vention was coming to town, the Altoms and students, and have continued to do so for the 40 Hardin-Simmons students baked enough can be seen and smelled from last 28 years. The practice started in part chocolate chip cookies to give one to every several blocks away. because business slows down for the Altoms student who lived on campus as a reminder in the winter, and they have more time. to participate in the activities. hey are cooking for a Bible conference “Back in 1983, Janis suggested that there Bill says they have kept up with the at First Baptist Church of Abilene. might be some volunteer opportunities at the cookie count on a calendar. Every new T But it is nothing new; the Altoms month, they put the total number of dozens have a long history of volunteerism. from the last month at the top of the new At the start of the fall semester, the month. Altoms can be found with their smoker near So, how many cookies can you make in the pond at Hardin-Simmons University 28 years plus a few months? The Altoms cooking hamburgers for a Baptist Student delivered their 10,000th dozen to Hardin- Ministries (BSM) welcome party. Simmons President Lanny Hall in April. Bill and Janis open their home to all That’s 120,000 cookies! Hardin-Simmons students anytime, day or Ask Bill or Janis why they have baked night. In fact, there have been many nights cookies for Hardin-Simmons students for so when students simply come over to wash many years and they will tell you, “It’s one of clothes or bake a cake at the Altom home. the most enjoyable things we do.” Both Bill and Janis graduated from As for the cost, Bill just says, “I don’t Hardin-Simmons, Janis in 1969, and Bill in think we’ve suffered for it, the Lord just con - 1971. The Altoms live close enough to the tinues to help us stretch our dollars.” BT campus that students have been known to go Bill and Janis Altom fire up the smoker to feed to their home just to watch television. participants in a Bible conference at First — Janlyn Echols Thaxton is director of public Baptist Church of Abilene. Their volunteerism But the Altoms also have a way of is seen on the local campus and throughout relations at Hardin-Simmons University in bringing their home to the campus. the community. Abilene, Texas.

30 | Baptists Today • August 2010 BY JUDY LUNSFORD FEATURE Va. businessman puts faith into action

Several years ago, Charles Pond operating the company — which provides have been put to good use. He has given refrigeration to commercial customers stor - sermons at more than 40 churches and has and his wife, Juanita, were dining ing peanuts, cashews, Brazil nuts and a host taught Sunday school for at least 20 years. at Shoney’s in Waynesboro, Va., of other foods — after his father died a few Charles strongly believes in the impor - years later. tance of sharing Christianity with young when they had an unexpected Ten years ago, he expanded by buying people. A former Boys Scouts leader, he Taylor Freezer Sales in Chesapeake, Va., and enjoys telling how his troops always had opportunity. With their meals growing his business into a thriving com - 100 percent attendance at their devotionals pany with offices throughout the Southeast. — a detail he is more eager to talk about before them, they held hands, The company sells and services restaurant than the fact that he is a recipient of the bowed their heads and prayed. equipment, from milkshake machines to ice Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor pre - makers, to the original slushie machine. sented to a scouting volunteer, and the Their server came over and quietly A soft drink, milkshake or ice cream Good Shepherd Award from the Association asked, “Do you believe in prayer?” cone from McDonalds, Burger King and of Baptists for Scouting. “We really do,” Charles replied, “or Chick-fil-A, especially in He is one of the founders of the otherwise we wouldn’t do it.” the Southeast, mostly Christian Service Association at Chowan The server asked if they would be likely is being dispensed University. In addition to providing scholar - around when she finished her shift, and from a machine sold by ships to young men and women who plan Charles said they would. The couple talked his company. to go into the ministry, the organization and prayed with the young woman, who Charles has infused helps with mission trips for students to had recently separated from her husband. his faith into his busi - assist and minister to people in need. They agreed to stay in touch and encour - ness practices. “It is important that we reach out to aged their new friend to go to church. “Treat others as you our young people and teach them our The end of the story is what Charles would be treated, try Charles Pond Christian values and beliefs,” he said. “They enjoys sharing the most. The young woman not to argue with any - will be the ones to carry them forward. If began attending church. She and her hus - body, and take a portion of what your we don’t take the time to do this — to care band reunited. She became her church’s company makes and give it to various reli - enough to support the effort to do this, who youth Sunday school teacher, and, years gious organizations to help promote will?” later, her daughter became the youth Christianity,” says Charles of his business One of the reasons Charles enjoys read - director. practices. “Our motto is we live by what we ing Baptists Today is learning about people “You just don’t know where and when tell you.” who are promoting Christianity and the you will touch somebody and will bring Charles serves on numerous boards, Baptist principles he has followed through - that person to Christ,” said Charles. including the Suffolk Center for Cultural out his life. “Wherever you are, somebody may look at Arts, the Suffolk Education Foundation and “It helps me feel connected to people you and be affected by what you say or do. the Colonial Virginia Council of Boy Scouts who have similar beliefs and values,” he Good or bad, you represent your faith by of America. Among his longest terms of said. “I think as more people read about your own action.” service are his 30 years on the Board of those people and what they are doing, it can These words have guided Charles’ life Trustees of Chowan University and 17 years have a great impact on spreading for almost seven decades. He grew up in on the board of the Baptist Theological Christianity.” Suffolk, Va., and attended Chowan College Seminary at Richmond (BTSR). Charles has assured his wife that he is (now Chowan University) for two years. After first joining the BTSR board in going to slow down from all of his board After completing his bachelor’s degree at the the early 1990s, Charles decided to pursue and community activities so they can enjoy University of North Carolina, Charles went his longtime interest in the Bible as a stu - seeing more of the country in their motor to work for the highway system, but soon dent and enrolled in the master of divinity home. left when his father became ill and needed program. “I had always had a strong desire “She has always been very supportive, help managing his business, Nansemond to become more educated in religious but we would like to travel more,” he said. Cold Storage. work,” he explains. While he left just short “But I do have a heart for doing things for Charles continued successfully of completing his degree, his biblical studies the Lord.” BT

One of the reasons Charles enjoys reading Baptists Today is learning about people who are promoting Christianity and the Baptist principles he has followed throughout his life.

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 31 INFORMATION BY TIM TOWNSEND , St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Sex, violence warnings come to Christian movies

ST. LOUIS — To get to the movie By contrast, general market stores’ sales doesn’t help him make that determination.” of all music decreased by more than 10 per - The Dove Foundation’s new gold “Faith- section at Lifeway Christian Store cent, and video sales decreased by 23 percent. Friendly” seal will alert consumers that a in Bridgeton, Mo., customers The growth of the Christian DVD market movie is not only family-friendly, but that it pass by shelves of books, CDs means retailers need guidance for their contains a Christian message. DVDs of customers. movies such as The Blind Sid e and The and greeting cards. The rack of “A consumer looks to Christian retail to Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Christian DVDs isn’t huge, but it’s find family-friendly entertainment,” Riskey Treader will receive the foundation’s gold seal said. “The ratings system helps identify for on their packaging. twice as big as it was a year ago the Christian consumer the kinds of things While the foundation’s purple “Faith- and “growing all the time,” said they can expect in a movie.” Based” seal will register as a caution for To caution parents that some Christian parents, those in the film industry say they’re manager Francine Evans. films can also contain un-Christian behavior not worried it will have a chilling effect on or situations, the Dove Foundation’s new ome of the Christian titles these days, Christian writers and directors concerned “Faith-Based” seal will carry letters indicating she said, tackle “touchy subjects” about DVD sales. the offending content: “V” for violence, “D” S such as drugs, domestic violence or Dave Austin, vice president of sales and for drugs and alcohol, “S” for sex, etc. abortion. marketing for the Bridgestone Group, which Many movies don’t make Dove’s original “These are movies that deal with issues distributes Christian films, said the “Faith- “Family-Approved” cut at all. The group’s real people deal with,” Evans said. Based” seal is actually “a positive step for “Sometimes that’s what’s necessary to filmmakers.” reach people for God. But the seals are “As a distributor, if we look at a film needed. They’re a good idea.” that’s not approved by Dove at all, we The seals are part of a new system might ask for it to be edited slightly to get developed by the Grand Rapids, Mich.- that Dove approval,” he said. based Dove Foundation to gauge the Christian filmmaking has flourished Christian values in films that contain sex, since Trinity Broadcasting Network’s 1999 violence and drugs. ode to apocalyptic cheesiness, The Omega For 20 years, the Dove Foundation Code . In 2004, the $371 million made by has placed a blue “dove” seal on any DVD Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ it considered family-friendly, from Star opened Hollywood’s eyes to the financial Wars to Toy Story 3 . A new purple “Faith- potential in Christian movies. Based” seal warns of raw images or The success of Christian films language in otherwise Christian-themed inspired a new generation of Christian movies, and a new gold “Faith-Friendly” auteurs who have since introduced variety seal indicates a Christian-themed movie into the Christian film market. Fans of that’s safe for a family audience. Christian movies can now choose between The launch of the new seals was part squeaky-clean evangelistic efforts like of the International Christian Retailers Show review of the recent comedy MacGruber , Sherwood Films’ Fireproof , about a fire - held here in June. says: “Unfortunately, despite some good fighter’s marriage, and Facing the Giants , Book and music purchases represent a acting and fighting sequences, the violence about a football coach’s trust in God, and significant portion of the Christian stores’ level, not to mention the strong language and grittier fare, like this year’s To Save a Life , annual $4.6 billion market. As music sales sexual content, clearly prevents us from about teen depression, suicide and bullying; increasingly go digital, retailers are expanding awarding this film our Dove ‘Family- and Preacher’s Kid , about domestic violence. their DVD offerings to recapture those sales, Approved’ Seal.” The latter two films “have some rather said Curtis Riskey, executive director of the “It’s the retailers that really want there to graphic scenes in them of inappropriate sexual CBA (the former Christian Booksellers be a rating system to help them serve their behavior, drug and alcohol use, and violence,” Association). customers,” said Bobby Downes, a Christian Rolfe said in an interview. “However, they In 2009, Christian retail sales of music producer, whose latest movie, Like Dandelion also have very powerful stories of redemption declined by 1 percent from 2008, but Dust , with Mira Sorvino, will be in theaters through Christian faith.” BT Christian retail sales of videos increased by 26 this fall. percent, according to the Christian Music “If a pastor walks into a Christian book - — Tim Townsend writes for The St. Louis Post- Trade Association and Nielsen Christian store and wants a movie he can show to his Dispatch. This article was distributed through SoundScan. entire church, the current rating system Religion News Service.

32 | Baptists Today • August 2010 BY ANGELA ALEISS , Religion News Service MEDIA SHELF

Mormon influence runs deep through ‘Twilight’

LOS ANGELES — Ever since Bram quick pregnancy, underscore the Mormon emphasis on the family. But Bella’s half Stoker’s “Dracula” began haunting human/vampire fetus nearly destroys her, the imagination in 1897, popular cul - so her distraught husband suggests an ture has identified Christian symbols abortion and artificial insemination. Mormons permit abortions if the mother’s — crucifixes, Communion wafers, life is in danger, and artificial insemination holy water — as weapons to ward is an option for married couples. Bella quickly vetoes both abortion and off a blood-thirsty vampire. artificial insemination, reinforcing the essen - he “Twilight” novels and film fran - tial Mormon teaching of individual choice, chise have religious associations, too or “agency.” T — but most of them come from the Meyer has said that the apple on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cover of the first “Twilight” novel represents (the Mormons). Eve’s choice in the Garden of Eden. The As the film’s “Twi-hard” fans watched poster for Eclipse includes the line: “It all the third “Twilight” installment, Eclipse , begins ... with a choice.” that opened in theaters on June 30, few The patriarch of the vampire family, likely recognized the religious references in Carlisle Cullen, supports Bella when he the film based on the novels by Stephenie series, the Cullen family of vampires was explains, “It wouldn’t be right to make such Meyer, herself a Mormon. once human but now lives without death a choice for her, to force her.” “I think people make up all these in a resurrected condition. Their immor - • By the conclusion of the “Twilight” series, Mormon references just so they can publish tality is a kind of probationary period for Bella’s Quileute Indian friend, Jacob, ‘Twilight’ articles in eternal life. Meyer describes the Cullens, “imprints” on her daughter, meaning he respectable publications particularly Edward, as “godlike” and will marry the girl when she’s older and like The New York “inhumanly beautiful.” establish a genetic link to her vampire Times ,” actor Robert • Mormons believe angels are resurrected family. Mormons believe they share a com - Pattinson (Edward, the beings of flesh and bone. The most famil - mon heritage with Native Americans film’s central vampire iar is Moroni, who stands high atop through ancient Israel. character), told Mormon temples, trumpet in hand. • The Book of Mormon teaches that a rem - Entertainment Weekly . The Book of Mormon says Moroni was nant of these ancient people came to “Even Stephenie said it a fifth-century prophet who visited founder America around 600 B.C.; their descen - doesn’t mean any of Robert Pattinson Joseph Smith in 1823. Smith described dents, the Lamanites, are among the that.” Moroni as radiating light and “glorious ancestors of the Native Americans. It’s possible that Meyer never set out beyond description.” Quileute names to weave Mormon imagery into the Bella describes in the series are decid - Twilight’ background. Yet intentional or her vampire edly Hebrew: Jacob, otherwise, it’s hard to ignore: boyfriend Edward Paul, Sam, Ephraim, • The story’s teenage heroine, Bella, avoids as an angel whom Jared, Seth, Joshua, coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco — not she can’t imagine Levi, Rebecca and unlike the Mormons’ “Word of Wisdom” “any more glorious.” Edward’s skin sparkles Rachel. Jacob’s last name is Black, a health code. Bella also advises her father in the sunlight, and he visits Bella’s bedroom reference to the Lamanites’ “skin of black - to “cut back on steak,” much like the at night. ness” (metaphorically, a religious rather than Mormon teaching to eat meat and poultry But Mormon angels don’t have wings; an ethnic distinction). “sparingly.” in the “Twilight” film, Edward sits in the Bram Stoker probably never imagined • Feminists have questioned Bella’s frequent science lab, the outstretched wings of a that vampires would actually represent a cooking and cleaning — household chores stuffed white owl just over his shoulders. religious doctrine. But more than a century that reflect a strong Mormon work ethic • A unique Mormon teaching is that mar - later, “Twilight” shows that these nocturnal and traditional roles for women. The offi - riages are “sealed” for eternity; spouses are creatures can accommodate just about any - cial motto for heavily Mormon Utah is referred to as eternal companions and eter - thing. BT “Industry,” and its symbol is the beehive. nal partners. Bella describes her relation- • A crucial Mormon belief is that humans ship with Edward as “forever.” — Angela Aleiss teaches film and religion at the can become divine. In the “Twilight” • Bella and Edward’s marriage, and her University of California, Los Angeles.

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 33 FEATURE STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN PIERCE Huddle up! Coach Bill Curry talks about race, faith, forgiveness

At a stage in life when many live it so well. I’ve been guilty of that. I pray coaches throw in the towel, Bill about that every day and ask for forgiveness. But Willie David didn’t have to say any - Curry is launching a new college thing about the basis of what he was doing football program in Atlanta. Georgia because his actions spoke so loudly. State University’s first-ever football In 1965 I was the [Packers’] 20th round draft choice — which was the last round — game will be played Sept. 2 when and was an undersized offensive center. I was the Panthers host Baptist-related a white kid with a Southern accent from Shorter University in the Georgia College Park, Ga. We were in the middle of the civil rights movement — and I had never Dome — a home field shared by the been in a huddle with an African-American Willie walked up to me one night after NFL Atlanta Falcons. teammate in my life. the [team] meeting and said, “I’d like to I was not scared to run into those guys. speak to you.” I thought, “Oh, no. This is it. t’s not like Curry needs to pad his If you won’t hit, then you won’t be there the He’s going to tell me to get lost.” résumé. At Georgia Tech and in profes - second day. I tried hard on the field. I wanted He said, “I’ve been watching you at sional football he played for legendary to make the team desperately. But mostly I practice and I think you’ve got a chance to I coaches Bobby Dodd, Vince Lombardi was concerned about being rejected. make our team. And I’m going to help you.” and Don Shula. As an NFL center he [Coach] Vince Lombardi won more titles I said: “What? You are going to help me, snapped the ball to quarterbacks Bart Starr of than anybody else in part because he was not really?” He said yes and told me about his big the Green Bay Packers and Johnny Unitas of a racist. There was a quota system in the disappointment early in his career. the Baltimore Colts. NFL in those days. Most teams had one or He said, “We went to play in the cham - During his college coaching career he led two African-American players. He despised pionship game against the Eagles and got the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Alabama discrimination. beat. I didn’t play well, and I realize I left Crimson Tide and the Kentucky Wildcats. If you said one of the regrets on that football field. I made up my Off the field he has served as a televi - wrong kinds of words, mind that will never happen to Willie Davis sion analyst for ESPN and built a you were gone — again. So you watch me practice, Bill. You leadership program for the Baylor because he had come out there and practice like I practice, School in Chattanooga, Tenn. experienced it and you’ll leave no regrets on the field. You’ll But this fall, Coach Curry will being an Italian- have a chance to make our team. be on the sidelines again with a brand American. He “And when you don’t think you can take new, untested team — that will be well couldn’t get a it another minute; when Vince Lombardi is tested up to the end. Georgia State’s final head job because screaming in your face and Ray Nitschke is game on the 2010 schedule is set for Nov. of his last name for breaking your nose, you come find me and 18 in Tuscaloosa against the reigning the longest time. I’ll get you through it.” national champions. On that 40-man roster he had 10 That’s what I did. We called him Baptists Today editor John Pierce and African-Americans. He would have had 25 — “Doctor Feelgood.” Coach Curry got together at the Georgia he didn’t care. On there were Herb Adderley, Sure enough Nitschke would be killing Sports Hall of Fame in Macon, Ga., for this Willie Wood, Dave Robinson, Elijah Pitts, me and Lombardi would be screaming at me conversation. Lionel Aldridge, Marv Fleming and then the and I wanted to quit — I was just a baby. I’d most dominant one of all was Willie Davis, go find number 87 and ask him: “How do BT: The great Willie Davis was your team - the defensive captain from Grambling State you feel, old man?” He’d say: “Feel good; you mate with the Packers when you were University. He got his masters degree in busi - can do it.” drafted. What influence did he have on you ness while being captain of the greatest Many years later I asked him why he did as a rookie? football team of all time. that. First, he said, “I don’t know.” I just thought these guys were going to So, many years after that, recently, I BC: There are a lot of us in the public eye who reject me and run me out of there as soon as asked him again: “Where did that come sincerely talk about our faith and then don’t they heard my Southern accent. from, seriously?”

34 | Baptists Today • August 2010 FEATURE

“It came from my faith,” he said. But, being back in the college ranks, my role BT: Why did you take the job at Georgia “I grew up in the church, and we were model is Bobby Dodd. State? instructed that Christ said we were to love everybody — especially if they are different. BT: I’ve heard you say before that going from BC: A lot my friends called me up and said: I took that to heart.” having Bobby Dodd as your coach to Vince “Are you nuts? Are you crazy?” I said: “Yes, So while he was not standing up pound - Lombardi was quite a contrast. but we established that a long time ago.” ing on a Bible, he didn’t have to. In my heart When I was 15, my high school coach of hearts I knew where it came from. But it BC: I hated Coach Lombardi because he was asked me if I wanted to be a day-camp coun - was really interesting to hear him say that. not Bobby Dodd. I couldn’t forgive him for selor. I had my little group of guys and in not being 6-foot-2 with a Southern accent. two weeks I knew what I was supposed to do BT: How did your college coach, Bobby That was infantile. It was discrimination with my life. Dodd, shape you as a person and a coach? on my part. Stupid. Immature. I’m a youth worker; that’s what I do. Later I went to his hospital room to Even when I was working for ESPN, I’d end BC: Utterly. apologize to him when he was in his last few up sitting down counseling young people. His speech was something like: “Men, if months. I’m ashamed that I had to do that. I When I say “young people,” I’m talking you are not a good football player, that’s not was pushed into it by a teammate — and by about anybody younger than me and I’m 67. your fault; that’s my fault because I’m the one a greater force. So that is just about everybody. who invited you here. I’m going to be good Coach changed my life in that moment. To be back in an educational environ - to you, and I’m going to love you. We’re not I went in there and stammered around ment with a group of young men — and going to have many rules, but the ones we because I had said some ugly things about women who work in our program and are have we are real serious about … We want him publicly. I’m ashamed of that, but I did. more and more involved — my responsibility you to graduate. My only two rules are you’ve I said, “I came to tell you, Coach, that is for the education and emotional and spiri - got to go to Sunday school and you can’t cut I’m sorry and that you meant a lot to my life.” tual welfare of all those young people. It’s class.” He squeezed my hand and said: “Well, what I love to do. Well, I didn’t believe him so I cut class. you can mean a lot to mine if you will pray I also love football. And I think the hud - And they got me up and ran me up and for me.” dle is the place in which every teammate down the west stands ’til I could not stand Whew. What had he done? He forgave learns that he needs every teammate to up. Somewhere about the 50th time of run - me when I least deserved it. If I’m not mis - survive on every play. ning through my own vomit I decided that taken, that’s what our faith is all about. It doesn’t matter what color somebody’s chemistry class at 8 in the morning was a real So Willie Davis had forgiven me for skin is, or what his religion is, or what his good thing. whatever racist tendencies had arrived with politics are. That’s your teammate. You love People chuckle when I tell that story, but me. Coach Lombardi had forgiven me for him regardless. here’s what matters. I didn’t cut another class being ridiculous and immature. It’s supposed to happen in the church, because my football coach loved me too and sometimes it does. It always happens in much to let me self-destruct when I could BT: Where are you currently involved in the huddle. You never see a good football not see my own potential God had given me. church in Atlanta? team unless the people learn to accept each So I graduated from a school where I other. BT didn’t belong academically; I wasn’t prepared BC: Peachtree Road United Methodist. We for Georgia Tech. I graduated because I love that church. It’s active in the community respected my coach — and, frankly, feared and out in the streets. him. I found out if you go to class and sit on My wife Carolyn and I are particularly the front row and take notes and pay atten - engaged with Actions Ministries — a min - tion, that school is not such a bad thing. istry to mothers who are alone without That became not only a part of my life housing. It is just mind-boggling what hap - as a student athlete, it became my career. It’s pens when those ladies have an opportunity what I love to do to this day. Every day I get to get into spiritual counseling, rehab pro - to do that. grams when necessary, interim housing and food, tutoring for the children — and to BT: Are there moments when you’re coach - watch them come out on the other side. ing now and see evidence of Coach Dodd in We also provide occupational training. what you are saying or doing? To see moms come out of these horror stories with new lives — the kind of transformation BC: Oh, yes. You know, my father was a great we’re charged with — has meant a great deal. coach and I had a great high school coach. Two of the children of these moms have And I played for Lombardi and Don Shula become valedictorians of their high school and a whole lot of other great coaches. You classes. When they were 9 years old, they hopefully learn something from all of them. were homeless.

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 35 Ardmore Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. • Bayshore Baptist Church, Tampa, Fla. • • First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. • Forest Hills Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. Boulevard Baptist Church, Anderson, S.C. • Broadmoor Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La. • • Franklin Baptist Church, Franklin, Va. • Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, Meridian, Brunswick Islands Baptist Church, Supply, N.C. • Chadbourn Baptist Church, Chadbourn, N.C. Miss. • Haddock Baptist Church, Haddock, Ga. • Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, • Church in the Meadows, Lakeland, Fla. • College Park Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla. • Jacksonville, Fla. • Highland Hills Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. • Highland Park Baptist Covenant Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C. • Crozet Baptist Church, Crozet, Va. • Cullowhee Church, Austin, Texas • Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo. • HomeStar Baptist Church, Cullowhee, N.C. • Druid Hills Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. • Emerywood Fellowship, Raleigh, N.C. • Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Ga. • Kathwood Baptist Church, High Point, N.C. • Fellowship Baptist Church, Fitzgerald, Ga. • Fernwood Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C. • Knollwood Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. • Baptist Church, Spartanburg, S.C. • First Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas • First Baptist Lakeside Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, N.C. • Lakeview Baptist Church, Camden, S.C. • Church, Ahoskie, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Anderson, S.C. • First Baptist Church, Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, Danville, Ky. • Lystra Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, N.C. Asheville, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga. • First Baptist Church, Bladenboro, • Millbrook Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. • Mount Zion Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. • N.C. • First Baptist Church, Cape Girardeau, Mo. • First Baptist Church, Carolina Beach, National Heights Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga. • Northminster Baptist Church, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tenn. • First Baptist Church, Clemson, S.C. • Jackson, Miss. • North Stuart Baptist Church, Stuart, Fla. • Oakmont Baptist First Baptist Church, Columbus, Ga. • First Baptist Church, Commerce, Ga. • First Church, Greenville, N.C. • Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C. • Providence Baptist Church, Conway, S.C. • First Baptist Church, Dalton, Ga. • First Baptist Baptist Church, Hendersonville, N.C. • Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, Church, Forest City, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Fort Myers, Fla. • First Baptist N.C. • Reynoldson Baptist Church, Gates, N.C. • Rock Falls Baptist Church, Church, Frankfort, Ky. • First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Fla. • First Baptist Orrick, Mo. • Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ark. • Rolesville Church, Gainesville, Ga. • First Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C. • First Baptist Baptist Church, Rolesville, N.C. • Second Baptist Church, Liberty, Mo. • Church, Greenville, S.C. • First Baptist Church, Greenwood, S.C. • First Second Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn. • Second Baptist Church, Baptist Church, Griffin, Ga. • First Baptist Church, Hawkinsville, Ga. • Richmond, Va. • Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. • First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala. • First Baptist Church, Jasper, Ga. • Shades Crest Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. • Smoke Rise Baptist First Baptist Church, Lexington, N.C. • First Baptist Church, London, Ky. • Church, Stone Mountain, Ga. • South Main Baptist Church, Houston, First Baptist Church, Lumberton, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. • Texas • St. Matthews Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. • Tabernacle First Baptist Church, Madison, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Marietta, Ga. • Baptist Church, Carrollton, Ga. • Trinity Baptist Church, Cordova, First Baptist Church, Marion, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Mocksville, N.C. • Tenn. • Trinity Baptist Church, Moultrie, Ga. • University Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Morganton, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Morrow, Ga. • Baton Rouge, La. • Vineville Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. • Watts Street First Baptist Church, Mount Olive, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. • Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, Tenn. • First Baptist Church, Orangeburg, S.C. • First Baptist Church, Ga. • Wingate Baptist Church, Wingate, N.C. • Winter Park Baptist Pensacola, Fla. • First Baptist Church, Rome, Ga. • First Baptist Church, Church, Wilmington, N.C. • Woodmont Baptist Church, Nashville, Rutherfordton, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Sanford, N.C. • First Baptist Tenn. • Yates Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. • Youngsville Church, Savannah, Ga. • First Baptist Church, Spruce Pine, N.C. • Baptist Church, Youngsville, N.C. • Zebulon Baptist First Baptist Church, Tifton, Ga. • First Baptist Church, Church, Zebulon, N.C. Wilmington, N.C. • First Baptist Church, Wilson, N.C. INFORMATION Ammerman: Story is in church attendance stability By Alfredo Garcia y suggesting that there has in fact been an e l k a

Religion News Service e uptick in religious service participation in the t S 1 s /2 e real world over the last 2 years.” m a J

WASHINGTON — A new Gallup Poll Others are more skeptical. y b

o

found that Americans’ self-reported church t “Frankly, I wouldn’t put much store in a o h attendance has increased slightly since 2008. P 1 percent increase in the attendance rates,” When asked “How often do you attend said Nancy Ammerman, a Baptist who church, synagogue, or mosque?” 43.1 percent teaches sociology of religion at Boston of Americans in 2010 said they attended University. “It’s just too small to make a very church “at least once a week” or “almost big story of. That number, the 42-44 percent every week.” That’s up from 42.8 percent in range, has been so stable for so long that that 2009 and 42.1 percent in 2008. in itself is a story.” “There has been well-publicized specula - Ammerman added that these figures tion about the possibility that church are not demonstrative of actual American attendance has risen over the past two years religious participation. as Americans became more despondent and “If you go into any church on any “If you go into any church on any given worried as a result of the economic reces - weekend, you will find less than 43 percent in given weekend, you will find less than sion,” Frank Newport of Gallup writes. the pews,” she said, citing a more realistic fig - “However, trends ... reflect just the opposite 43 percent [of the U.S. population] ure of 20-25 percent. “But that in and of itself pattern, with both church attendance and in the pews.” is quite striking, that a quarter of the popula - economic confidence increasing from 2008 to tion of any given country will be found in a 2009, and now into 2010.” and young adults (18 to 29) rounded out the religious service on any given week.” Conservatives, non-Hispanic blacks and bottom, with 27 and 35 percent respectively. The poll is based on more than 800,000 Republicans demonstrated the highest partici - In its report, Gallup says “the small interviews since February 2008, and has a pation, with 55 percent of each group increase in attendance between 2008 and margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage reporting frequent church attendance. Liberals so far in 2010 is statistically significant, point. BT FIVE GOOD WAYS to support Baptists Today

Subscribe for a friend or two, and we’ll get the subscriptions Make a three-year pledge to the 1 going right away. 2 Keystone Fund to support the ongoing ministry of Baptists Today , a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make a gift of $450 or more to create a group subscription Encourage your church to include 3 for your church or another the First Freedoms Project that congregation. 4 equally supports three First Amendment-focused national min - Consider making Baptists Today a part of istries — Associated Baptist Press, the your estate planning to ensure an Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty 5 autonomous and unrestricted news voice and Baptists Today news journal — in the continues into the future. annual budget.

FOR INFORMATION on doing any or all of the above, contact Keithen Tucker at 478-301-5655 or [email protected].

August 2010 • Baptists Today | 37 INFORMATION BY GREG GARRISON , Religion News Service Megachurches on a building boom

. steel cross — spotlighted to make it visible BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mega- s r e n t

r for miles — that will be a dominant feature a P churches here in the heart of the

H of its new campus. D C

f At its current campus, Gardendale First o

Bible Belt are thriving enough to y s e

t Baptist has average attendance of 3,300 to r u

support a major building boom o c

3,500 across three Sunday services. In 2008, g n i r the church scaled back its budget because it despite a sluggish economy. e d n

e foresaw tougher economic times, pastor R irst Baptist Church of Gardendale has Kevin Hamm said. built a $19.7 million, 2,700-seat sanc - That has helped keep the budget bal - F tuary about 15 miles north of anced, while the church continued to fund its Birmingham. After a small arson fire in April break ground on a $9 million children’s building project from its regular budget, he delayed the opening, the first service in the building. said. There was never an appeal for funding new building is now set for Aug. 8. “It’s certainly a difficult time in the above and beyond regular tithes and offer - First Baptist Church of Trussville is in economy, but it appears we’re staying on ings, Hamm said. the midst of a $7.5 million expansion that track with our budget,” said Chris Byrd, By waiting a few years to start construc - will include a new, larger home for its pre - chairman of the building committee at tion, saving the money designated for the school, expected to be ready in January. Dawson. project and then getting bids during a tough A new $4 million, 1,000-seat youth Churches are finding that with housing economy for construction, the total cost sav - sanctuary is under construction and expected construction in a downturn, they can save ings was about $1.8 million cheaper than to open this fall at the Church of the money when they invite bids on their build - previous estimates, said church administrator Highlands, and Dawson Memorial Baptist ing projects. De Allen. Church in Homewood is getting ready to “It’s a tough time to build a new build - At Church of the Highlands in Irondale, ing, but on the flip side it’s a good time to go the auditorium for students in junior high out and get bids,” Byrd said. “We expect to and high school will become home to the I want to get better prices.” Wednesday night youth ministry service, said Even in a down economy, megachurches associate pastor Layne Schranz. subscribe today are growing as families look for programs “We are on budget and on schedule to that serve children and young adults. The open in September,” Schranz said. “The Please fill out this form and return it to Baptists youth ministry is going to really benefit.” Today , P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208- new children’s education building at Dawson 6318, or call 1-877-752-5658. Baptist is needed to accommodate new On Sundays, it will serve as an auxiliary growth, Byrd said. auditorium with its own worship team that I have enclosed a check in the amount “Our church is really growing as far as will watch pastor Chris Hodges’ sermons on of $ ______young families with school-aged children,” video screens. The youth have been crammed Byrd said. “That’s our motivation behind this into an undersized room, Schranz said. Name ______completely. It’s because of the church In 2007, Church of the Highlands Address ______growth.” opened its $15 million campus with a 2,400- ______While the slower economy has meant seat sanctuary. Four satellite campuses and a fifth expected to open in August feature on- City ______State _____ cheaper construction costs, many mega- churches have held steady in their budgets. site worship teams with a satellite feed of Zip ______“We’re still on track with our giving,” Hodges’ sermon. The church draws weekly Phone (______) ______said Lance Pate, associate pastor of First attendance of more than 10,000, making it Email ______Baptist Church of Trussville. “We’re doing one of the largest churches in the South. BT very well in spite of the economy.” Church ______In March, First Baptist Church of — Greg Garrison writes for The Birmingham Gardendale erected a 125-foot-tall stainless News in Birmingham, Ala. print subscription ❏ 1 year $20; ❏ 2 years $35 By waiting a few years to start construction, online subscription ❏ 1 year $15; ❏ 2 years $25 saving the money designated for the project and then getting bids during a tough economy for construction, the total cost savings was about $1.8 million cheaper than previous estimates.

38 | Baptists Today • August 2010

P.O. Box 6318 Macon, GA 31208-6318