$2.95

March 2006 Vol. 24, No. 3

Staying in Homestead LLoonngg--tteerrmm mmiinniissttrryy ggrroowwss oouutt ooff ssttoorrmm rreelliieeff PPaaggee 22 www.baptiststoday.org F E A T U R E

Win Gover helps a stu- dent with homework. Gover and his wife Janell are members of Southside Baptist Church in Covington, Ky., and spend winter months near Miami.

Staying in Homestead

Food, fun and Long-term ministry grows homework help are part of after- school activities out of storm relief at Open House Ministries. OMESTEAD, Fla. — Hurricane Andrew made a quick visit to south Florida in 1992, devastating the communities of H Homestead and Florida City. Baptist volunteers came in droves to help rebuild homes and lives. In the process they discovered a place where they could invest in long-term ministry. Some 13 years later, Open House Ministries (OHM) is a vital part of a community still seeking to recover. “They just need to know that somebody somewhere cares about them,” said Wanda Ashworth, as children gathered for after-school activ- ities that include refreshments, recreation and help with homework. Ashworth directs Open House Ministries, sponsored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida, CBF National and partnering churches. She first visited the ministry center with a mission team from First Baptist Church of York, S.C., where she was minister of music.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN PIERCE 2 Baptists Today • March 2006 F E A T U R E

Her associate director, Leah Crowley, donated clothing for 25 cents apiece twice came from York as well. A former teacher, weekly. The income provides jobs for those COME TO HOMESTEAD Crowley directs the children’s and youth wanting to work in the store. Volunteers and mission teams are a big programs at Open House. A food distribution program helps fam- help with the varied programs of Open “Giving [the children] just a little goes ilies meet basic needs. OHM shares space House Ministries including summer day a long way,” said Crowley. “It’s not that and partners with a free health clinic and camps. For information on scheduling a their parents don’t love them; they are just organizes support groups for diabetics. trip to Homestead, contact: overwhelmed. It may be that they just spent Another partner addresses employment, 15 hours in a squash field.” education and housing issues. Wanda Ashworth, director Carolyn Anderson, coordinator for Ashworth and Crowley are helping start Open House Ministries CBF of Florida, remembers how Homestead a new ministry with young offenders at 1350 SW 4th St. got on their radar following Hurricane Everglades Youth Development Center Homestead, FL 33030 Andrew. where no chaplain is assigned. (305) 242-1418 “Hundreds of volunteers from across But it is the ministry with younger [email protected] the country came to assist in cleanup, members of the community that brings so repairs and rebuilding in the migrant com- much energy to the OHM center. Even munities,” she recalled. “[We] were prepared when no formal activities are planned, the to deliver food, water, diapers, etc.” kids often make their way over. David Wideman, associate pastor at “We only meet with the homework University Baptist Church in Coral Gables, club on Tuesday and Wednesday,” said coordinated the early relief efforts, said Crowley. “But pretty much every afternoon Anderson. Then David and Tracy Bengtson there are kids here.” were appointed as CBF missionaries to Sometimes they come over just to talk Homestead. Long-term volunteers John and and cut paper, she said. Christine Smith helped develop OHM as well. “So many of them don’t have crayons, The teens who come to OHM today glue and scissors at home,” said Crowley. for Bible study and worship were just tod- “They don’t have books. We like for them to dlers when the big hurricane came through fill their homes with books.” in 1992. But they pick up on the tension of Perhaps the greatest gift provided to their parents when another one is forecast, these children is a safe place to run and play, said Crowley. and staff and volunteers that give them love OHM administrative assistant and guidance. Apparently, this is much of Esperanza Perez, whose husband Cormé is a the appeal for the children and their parents. faithful volunteer, said the community “We’ve been blessed to be seen by the “wasn’t prepared at all” for the overwhelm- community as common ground, holy ing destruction brought on by Hurricane ground,” said Ashworth of the ongoing Andrew. Fear of a similar tragedy rises each ministry that grew out of a tragedy. BT season, she said. Natural disasters are not the only con- cerns in this community outside Miami. The closest school to the OHM center is struggling, and nearly a third of the neigh- bors live below the national poverty level. Ashworth, who has a social work degree from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina, describes the ministry setting as diverse with a variety of challenges and opportunities. Sixteen distinct ethnic groups live closely, but somewhat segregated. “They don’t want us to refer to them as Hispanics,” said Ashworth of the many Spanish-speaking neighbors. “They want us to know where they are from — Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala.” Programs for children and youth (cre- atively called “Salteens”) are just part of the OHM effort to help build better communi- Each noonday, OHM staff and volunteers share prayer requests submitted by Homestead residents ties in South Florida. A thrift store sells throughout the week.

Baptists Today • March 2006 3

Volume 24 • Number 3 • March 2006 John D. Pierce Baptists Today serves churches by providing a reliable Executive Editor source of unrestricted news coverage, thoughtful [email protected] analysis and inspiring features focusing on issues Jackie B. Riley of importance to Baptist Christians. An autonomous national Managing Editor [email protected] Baptist news journal Keithen M. Tucker Development & Marketing [email protected] I N E V E R Y I S S U E Gail Hardison P E R S P E C T I V E Circulation Manager 6 Quotation Remarks [email protected] 7 In search of ‘biblical manhood’ 7 Editorial Jannie Lister John Pierce Office Assistant 8 Readers’ Responses Bruce T. Gourley I N T H E N E W S Online Editor 9 Baptist News [email protected] 9 Baptists Today to honor Sherman 18 Resource Page Walker Knight Jack U. Harwell 10 N.C. newspaper to pick directors Publisher Emeritus Editor Emeritus 19 Formations Commentary 11 Retirement homes leave NC convention Board of Directors 23 Classifieds Jimmy R. Allen, Big Canoe, Ga. (chair) 12 Ron Phillips: Charismatic-leaning Z. Allen Abbot, Lebanon, N.H. 24 Religion News Nannette Avery, Signal Mountain, Tenn. Baptists betrayed by SBC (vice chair) leaders 32 Back-row Birdie Ann T. Beane, Richmond, Va. Jack C. Bishop Jr., Lake Junaluska, N.C. 14 Mercer leaders want more 33 Faith Experience Thomas E. Boland, Alpharetta, Ga. ‘Baptistness’ despite loss of (ex officio) 34 In the Know Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. GBC affiliation Wilma B. Cosper, Cullowhee, N.C. 35 The Lighter Side James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. 15 Shurden: History shows challenges to James L. Evans, Auburn, Ala. sustaining national Baptist university 37 The Media Shelf W.M. Gilbert Jr., Lavonia, Ga. William B. Greenhaw Jr., Macon, Ga. 16 Underwood decries ‘spiritual masters’ Kate J. Harvey, Valley Forge, Pa. who limit freedom Jimmy Little, Hartselle, Ala. Tom McAfee, Seabrook Island, S.C. 17 Baptist scholars say community role William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. misinterpreted Ella Wall Prichard, Corpus Christi, Texas Mary Etta Sanders, Dalton, Ga. 24 Evangelicals quiet on immigration Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. E.C. Watson, Elgin, S.C. 25 Study finds megachurch diversity Clement H. White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Winnie V. Williams, Seneca, S.C. 25 Survey: Churchgoers have fewer divorces Advocates Mary Jayne Allen, Chattanooga, Tenn. Randy L. Hyde, Little Rock, Ark. 26 Air Force revises religion Sherry McGlaughlin, Liberty, Mo. guidelines David Woody, Daniel Island, S.C. Baptists Today (ISSN 1072-7787) is published monthly by: 27 Abstinence pledgers outlast non-pledgers Cover photo by John Pierce. Baptists Today P.O. Box 6318 36 Vatican rejects science behind I.D. Open House Ministries staff and volun- Macon, GA 31208-6318 teers (left to right) Wanda Ashworth, 36 Conservative groups praise Bush’s call to To subscribe or place Leah Crowley and Cosmé and an advertisement, ban cloning Esperanza Perez continue a ministry in call 478-301-5655 or Homestead, Fla., that began as toll-free 1-877-752-5658. hurricane relief in 1992. Subscription rates: 1 year, $18; 2 years, $32 1 year groups of 25 or more, $15 WELCOME NEW GROUP SUBSCRIBERS 1 year Canada, $35 1 year foreign air mail, $50 Periodical postage paid BALL CAMP BAPTIST CHURCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH at Macon, Ga. 31208 Knoxville, Tenn. • Ed Sunday-Winters, Pastor Georgetown, Ky. • Frank W. Houston, Pastor POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Baptists Today Conway, S.C. • Alan Redditt, Interim Pastor Jefferson City, Mo. • Doyle Sager, Pastor P.O. Box 6318 Macon, GA 31208-6318 Thanks for keeping your church leaders well informed through . © 2006 Baptists Today. For information on discounted group subscriptions, please call 1-877-752-5658. All rights reserved. Baptists Today • March 2006 5 P E R S P E C T I V E quo a ion t t r e m a r k s

“The vast, vast majority of Americans “You can’t be untouchable and then “Our affirmation lies in submission to and the vast majority of American call other people infidel.” Christ, not in forcing others to submit to Christians know virtually nothing —Imam Mohamed Magid, executive director of our ideology as does fundamentalism.” about Palestinian Christians.” the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Northern —Denton Lotz, general secretary of the —Martin E. Marty (Sightings) Virginia, saying Muslims should protest Baptist World Alliance defamations against the faith perpetrated by their co-religionists (RNS) “We used to think it was done. But a “Once again the odor of money “ surrounds the clergy.” ” lot of the areas that are still develop- “Baptists function best in sunshine ing have to do with making judgment —Papal biographer Vittorio Messori on the Vatican when the doors and windows are calls.” charging a publisher $18,000 to reprint 30 lines of wide open. Dissident voices, whether Pope Benedict XVI’s speeches (RNS) —University of Missouri-Columbia researcher their opinions are right or wrong, Denis McCarthy on evidence that the brain must be heard.” continues to develop after age 18, when most “For fear of dissension and dishar- —Charlie Warren, editor of become college freshmen (USA TODAY) mony in the church, members have Arkansas Baptist News sold their Baptist legacy for a mess “It’s definitely something in the grape of porridge and today we have ill- “Most of you are so young you juice that has no business being informed, passionate provincial don’t know who I am, and that’s there.” statements … passing for main- good.” stream Baptist thought.” —Police Capt. Fred Komm on the poisoning of Welch’s grape juice served last month during —Former PTL host Jim Bakker, speaking to a —Stephen Fox of Collinsville, Ala., communion at Calvary Baptist Church in Darien, church in Fort Mill, S.C., site of his former in an op-ed piece in The Post Conn., sickening about 40 parishioners scandal-ridden ministry (RNS quoting The Herald in Rock Hill, S.C.) (Stamford Advocate) “… As for me and my house, we’re going to support him.” “We are in danger of choking the life “Christians across the state have an —Bluegrass picker Ricky Skaggs calling President out of the future of the SBC by dab- obligation to turn out on something Bush, with whom he shared the Grand Ole Opry as important as this.” bling in peripheral matters and stage Feb. 1, “God’s man for this time” (BP) neglecting the heart of our convention, —Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore urging which have always been missions, voters to support a constitutional amendment ban- “[Being a worship leader must be] evangelism and cooperation.” ning same-sex marriages as well as vote for him for the highest of all art forms, to governor in the Republican primary June 6 (AP) —Jimmy Draper, in his last column before worship and call people into the retiring Jan. 31 as president of presence of God.” LifeWay Christian Resources (BP) “Denominational entities ought to —Irish rock star Bono, talking with reporters after trust the people in whose name they speaking to the National Prayer Breakfast Feb. 2 serve to the point of providing fair “Unless the church advocates for (Religion & Ethics Newsweekly) and balanced accounts of issues [the elderly], they are left between a raised in meetings as well as the rock and hard place.” “White supremacists these days meetings themselves.” —Bobby Joe Saucer, former dean of Morehouse are nut cases. They used to be —Editor Bob Terry of The Alabama Baptist, School of Religion and author of Our Help in governors and senators.” Ages Past: The Black Church’s Ministry opposing a new policy that requires the trustee —Cynthia Tucker, editorial page editor for The Among the Elderly from Judson Press chairman’s approval of all releases from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, paying tribute to (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) SBC International Mission Board Coretta Scott King and other civil rights pioneers 6 Baptists Today • March 2006 P E R S P E C T I V E e d i t o r i a l In search of ‘biblical manhood’ By John Pierce

y father was a member of all-male ways once restricted. (which is called for in Ephesians 5:21) and civic organizations and “the men’s” Not all aspects of the feminist movement consensus! MSunday school class at our church. — or “women’s liberation” as it was once In the winter issue of the seminary’s mag- That appeal was not passed on to me. I have called — have been positive. Many women azine, The Tie, Stinson presents his view of not belonged to an exclusively male group will tell you they have burned out from trying “biblical manhood” and urges males to “do since Boy Scouts. to be and do too much at the same time. something that is a challenge to you. It may When college football coach Bill Overall, however, both women and men have be to kill a bear or a lion …” McCartney launched “Promise Keepers” in much to celebrate about these cultural He also warns that messiness is “evidence 1990, he drew masses of men to high-energy changes. of passivity,” a characteristic not appropriate to rallies. As a journalist, I attended several of Most of my theological wrangling over biblical manhood apparently. these events including the massive “Stand in the years has focused on what is means to be a “Your home, dorm room, garage, office the Gap” rally on the National Mall in Christian person rather than a “biblical male.” and car should bear the mark of your mas- Washington, D.C., in 1997. While never denying the differences in gen- culinity as you subdue it and keep it in order,” While I never felt drawn into the move- ders, the Bible seems to focus more on what it adds Stinson. ment personally, it seemed to meet a need means to be a follower of Jesus rather than a Somehow I hear the Village People within a lot of men. The messages, primarily, male or female disciple. singing “Macho Man,” more than the teach- were positive and needed ones about taking So I am intrigued by the effort of some ings of Scripture. responsibility and making family life a priority. Baptists today to advocate My hope is that these young ministers — Of course there was enough masculine for an understanding of and husbands or husbands-to-be — will listen stuff to keep the guys’ interest. Coming out of “biblical manhood” that to other voices about what it means to be a the emotional events, busloads of men would emphasizes male headship Christian person — and a man. Or, perhaps, journey home with newfound energy and and dominion. The most they will just read the broader biblical message commitments. obvious example in Baptist and see how Jesus related to women at a time Back home, one young man told me he life is at Southern Baptist when the larger culture considered them of had helped form an all-male “accountability Theological Seminary in little value. BT group” that met on Saturday mornings to Louisville, Ky. The campus encourage each other in their family responsi- houses an organization known as the Council bilities. He invited me to join. on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Its Subscribe today! I graciously declined, noting that I like to director, Randy Stinson, is also assistant pro- Please fill out this form and return it to Baptists spend Saturday morning making pancakes for fessor of gender and family studies. Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208- Stinson and others at the seminary 6318, or call 1-877-752-5658. my kids. A couple of drops of batter to each subscription side of the pancake will look like ears. Just add denounce “egalitarian” marriage in which hus- I have enclosed a check J band and wife share equal responsibilities for 1 year $18 chocolate chips for eyes, the end of a straw- in the amount of $ ______J 2 years $32 berry for the nose and a banana slice for the decision making. Southern Seminary Dean Name ______mouth — and, wah-lah, you have an appreci- Russell Moore told the Evangelical Theological ated work of art. Society last November that “egalitarians” are Address ______Growing up in a culture that valued winning the day even in the homes of evangel- ______ical Christians — and he doesn’t like it. machismo, I understood that men were to be City ______State _____ tough, hardworking and unemotional. “Egalitarians are winning the gender Occasionally some tenderness would break debate because evangelical complementarian Zip ______through — usually during the invitation or men have largely abdicated their biblically Phone (______) ______ordained roles as head of the home,” said testimony time at church — and I always Church ______found that refreshing and even desirable. Moore according to Baptist Press. He lamented ______During my nearly half-century of life the that “practical decisions are made in most roles of women in society — and much more evangelical homes through a process of negoti- slowly in church — have changed dramati- ation, mutual submission and consensus.” cally. It has been encouraging to see Now that’s something to fear in a rela- opportunities for women to use their gifts in tionship — negotiation, mutual submission Baptists Today • March 2006 7 P E R S P E C T I V E r e a d e r s ’ r e s p o n s e s

Freedom, not just tolerance apparently not coming across. at work in the Creationist movement. EDITOR: The guest column (“What Roger Creationism and Intelligent Design fail Intelligent Design is insidious. It is a Williams can still teach us” by Nick as science for a fundamental reason: Both siren song. It sounds good, but is not what Gillespie, January 2006, page 9) was splen- require miraculous or magical events to it purports to be. Thoughtful Christians did. Thank God for Rogers Williams and explain the existence of things in our natural cannot ignore this threat to our freedom. Virgil H. Soule, Frederick, Md. thank you for publishing it. universe. The scientist’s role is to understand One small quibble: Roger Williams the natural world and explain how it works. Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Info needed on Baptist despised the word “toleration.” He called it women ministers a “weasel word.” describes physical mechanisms and processes The concept establishes a “tolerator” and by which living organisms most likely devel- EDITOR: Baptist Women in Ministry has a “toleratee.” Liberty then becomes a conces- oped in our world. Creationism and commissioned a report to be titled “The sion — a gift from a superior to an inferior. Intelligent Design have not and indeed State of Women in Baptist Life.” Included Freedom, however, is a gift from God, cannot do this. in the report will be statistics about the irrevocable. The ideal is full-throated free- The Creationists’ ultimate aim is to dis- number of Baptist women who have been dom, not toleration. credit not just Darwinian Evolution, but all ordained. James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. of science. Their goal is to replace critical In order to secure the most up-to-date objective thinking with subjective belief and accurate information, we are asking for Intelligent Design fails ordained by some ecclesiastical or political your assistance. Please send the names of as science authority. women ordained in 2005, along with the Editor: I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at This is precisely what is happening in name of the ordaining church and the date the appearance of Intelligent Design “science the Southern Baptist Convention today. on which they were ordained, to Eileen clubs” on some of our university campuses Individual thought is being suppressed in Campbell-Reed at [email protected] (“Intelligent Design gains momentum,” favor of subjective group-think imposed by or Pam Durso at [email protected]. February 2006, page 27), but I am. Colleges the SBC Executive Committee. The ques- Pam Durso, associate director should be teaching their students to criti- tioning, searching spirit is being drowned by Baptist History and Heritage Society cally examine ideas. The lessons are dogma. The same kinds of people are hard P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024-0728

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8 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N Baptists Today to honor Cecil Sherman at April 21 dinner in Asheville, N.C.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Cecil E. Sherman, the commitment to the evangelization of the first national coordinator for the Cooperative world, and most particularly recognized as the Baptist Fellowship, will receive the sixth annual protector of our most cherished Baptist princi- Judson-Rice Award at an April 21 dinner at the ples and heritage.” First Baptist Church of Asheville, N.C. Sherman will give an address following The event is sponsored by the board of dinner and a tribute by James H. Slatton, directors of the independent, national news pastor emeritus of River Road Church, Baptist journal Baptists Today, and is open to the in Richmond. public. “Dr. Sherman is a courageous and pas- Sherman is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, sionate defender of Baptist freedom and and a graduate of Baylor University, South- responsibility, who always has a fresh and western Baptist Theological Seminary and insightful word,” said John Pierce, executive Princeton Theological Seminary. His pas- editor of Baptists Today. “We look forward to torates included the First Baptist Church of hearing whatever challenge he brings.” Chamblee, Ga., the First Baptist Church of In retirement, Sherman has served as an Asheville, N.C., and Broadway Baptist interim pastor and as visiting professor of Church in Fort Worth. pastoral ministries at Baptist Theological Sherman was a key leader in efforts to Seminary in Richmond. His writings include Previous recipients are communications resist the fundamentalist takeover of the the Adult Formations Commentary (Smyth & pioneer Jimmy Allen, author and speaker Southern Baptist Convention that was formal- Helwys) used weekly by many Sunday school Tony Campolo, former seminary president ized in the 1980s, and helped to build teachers. Russell Dilday, missions advocate Alma Hunt alternative forms of cooperation after the The Judson-Rice Award was created in and church historian Walter Shurden. convention was radically reshaped. 2001 to commemorate the contributions of Reservations for the dinner may be made “Cecil epitomizes not only the vision of early Baptist mission leaders Adoniram by calling the Baptists Today office toll-free at Baptists Today, but that which all good Baptists Judson, Ann Hasseltine Judson and Luther 1-877-752-5658. Cost is $20 per person are called to do,” said Tommy Boland of Rice, and to recognize a current Baptist leader payable by credit card or advance check. The Atlanta, past chairman of the news journal who has demonstrated important leadership First Baptist Church is located at Five Oak board. “He is most remembered for his deep while maintaining the highest integrity. Street in downtown Asheville, N.C. BT

THE ALLIANCE OF BAPTISTS 20th Annual Convocation

April 21-23, 2006 Southside Baptist Church RACE Birmingham, Ala. SPEAKERS: James Abbington — professor, Candler School of Theology Chris Hamlin — pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church; director, HIV/AIDS African-American Initiative, UAB Joyce Hollyday — co-pastor, Circle of Mercy, Asheville, N.C. We haWvilelie tJehnnisin gms —in priosfetsrsoyr, Duke Divinity School Sarah Shelton — pastor, B2ap tCisto Crh.u r5ch: 1o8f the Covenant, Birmingham, Ala. — reconciliation — Youth and children’s events include a visit to the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham. For more information, visit www.allianceofbaptists.org. Baptists Today • March 2006 9 I N F O R M A T I O N N.C. Baptist newspaper will pick some directors to ‘protect freedom’

By Greg Warner directors. In return, the entity gives up a any rationale for doing so.” similar percentage of its funding from the “As for why these good people were CARY, N.C. (ABP) — The Biblical convention during the time those directors excluded, all we have to go on is the chair- Recorder, newspaper of North Carolina serve — four years in the Recorder’s case. man’s statement to Conservative Carolina Baptists, will choose some of its own direc- The newspaper is the first North Baptists [Oct. 20] that the committee tors in a move to preserve its journalistic Carolina agency to exercise the option. But wanted to put more conservatives on the freedom, say the newspapers leaders. in a similar action, the Baptist Retirement Biblical Recorder board,” Cartledge said. Beginning this fall, the 172-year-old Homes of North Carolina recently voted to Several other agency presidents were newspaper will nominate four people to start naming its own trustees. Meanwhile, a surprised when the committee rejected some open seats on its 16-member board, bypass- convention committee is of their nominees as well. The committee ing a convention nominating committee the studying its relation- said some were excluded because they leaders fear is stacking the board with ships with five affiliated belonged to churches affiliated with the “agenda-bearing conservatives.” colleges. Alliance of Baptists, which has an open The cost will be significant, however. “We exercise this policy toward homosexuals, but none of the The Recorder, with an annual budget of option with deep Recorder’s excluded nominees were members about $900,000, will likely lose a total of regret,” said Joe Babb, of Alliance churches. $400,000 in funding from the Baptist State chairman of the Biblical If the North Carolina Baptists vote this Convention of North Carolina over the next Recorder board, “not fall to reject the Recorder’s nominees, he said, four years. only for the loss of Tony Cartledge convention bylaws require their replace- The move — invoking an unusual funding but for the ments come from the newspaper’s list of option in the convention’s bylaws — will increasing polarization in BSC life that has other recommended directors. not negate the newspaper’s relationship with led us to believe that, for the time being, Cartledge said having conservative the Baptist State Convention of North this decision is necessary in order to safe- directors for the newspaper is not the issue. Carolina, which still can elect or reject the guard and preserve the charter principles of “I have recommended a number of newspaper’s nominees. But it will give the a free press for the future. We have no conservative candidates in past requests, and Recorder some insulation against censorship agenda for changing our relationship to the they have served well,” he said. “But when in the theologically diverse but deeply BSC.” presenting potential candidates, I have divided convention, its leaders said. Mike Cummings, the convention’s act- always told the nominating committee that “In most other state conventions where ing executive director, said he is not whether a board member favors conservative agenda-bearing conservatives have gained troubled by the Recorder’s decision. “I hope or moderate theological positions is not an control of the state paper’s board, they have it doesn’t give the impression that the issue to me. What is important is that the either muzzled the editor through censor- Recorder doesn’t need the money because I person appreciates traditional Baptist dis- ship, or replaced him with someone who know it does and deserves Cooperative tinctives and is committed to the mission of could be counted on to promote the party Program support,” he said. the Biblical Recorder.” line,” said Editor-President Tony Cartledge. Cummings said he would rather the According to the Recorder’s charter, the “A free Baptist press was lost in those Recorder invoke the trustee-nomination pro- publication is “to maintain and safeguard conventions.” vision than face more difficult issues the the inalienable rights and privileges of a free Baptist newspapers and news services other agencies could face. press, these rights and privileges being con- have been a frequent battleground in the Typically, each president of a North sistent with the traditional Baptist emphasis Southern Baptist Convention’s 27-year-old Carolina Baptist entity gives the nominating upon the freedom, under Christ, of both the controversy between conservatives and mod- committee a list of potential trustees — gen- human spirit and Baptist churches.” erates, which now has migrated to the state erally twice as many as the number of “One cannot overestimate the impor- conventions. vacancies — and the committee usually tance of a free press that covers the news Cartledge informed the Committee on nominates people from that list. objectively rather than serving as a control- Nominations in late January of the Last year, however, the committee nom- ling body’s public relations tool,” Babb said. Recorder’s December decision. The newspa- inated people from those lists for every “Often in the face of unwarranted criticism, per’s directors took advantage of a 1992 entity except the Recorder, Cartledge said. the Biblical Recorder has provided that amendment to the convention’s governing “The committee accepted only two of the valuable service to North Carolina Baptists documents which allow its 12 affiliated eight names submitted by the Recorder and since 1833, and we hope to continue that agencies to nominate up to 50 percent of its excluded the other six without providing tradition for many years to come.” BT

10 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N

N.C. Retirement Homes trustees vote to leave convention control By Tony Cartledge learned about the decision Jan. 18. “We The convention did not contribute Biblical Recorder will need to get our legal counsel to look at funds or participate in choosing trustees the legality of what they want to do,” he until 1957, Stillerman said. The corpora- WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — The said, noting that the matter would be dis- tion has always raised its own funds and Baptist Retirement Homes of North cussed. borrowed money in its own name, he said. Carolina have adopted bylaw amendments “I don’t think North Carolina Baptists And, Stillerman said, trustees do not that allow the corporation’s trustees to elect are going to let them just break away in consider the action to constitute a break their own successors. this particular way after having invested so from the convention. In a Jan. 18 press Previously the bylaws called for much in them over so many years,” Welch release, Stillerman insisted, “The changes trustees to be elected by the Baptist State said. made to our organization’s bylaws docu- Convention of North Carolina, which also But Stillerman told the Biblical ment have no theological overtones but are had the power to remove trustees. Recorder of North Carolina that the Baptist related strictly to matters of governance and A letter informing the North Carolina Retirement Homes has always used the finance.” convention of the changes was delivered to funds received from the convention for “We have every intention to continue acting executive director-treasurer Mike benevolent care only. to maintain significant ties with the Baptist Cummings Jan. 18. Baptist Retirement Homes, founded in State Convention of North Carolina,” “I deeply regret to see this action 1951, operates retirement communities in Stillerman said, “and our long-standing tra- taken, and I hope there will be opportunity Albemarle, Asheville, Concord, Hamilton, dition of offering long-term care services to for us to have some important dialogue and Winston-Salem. When founder Jimmy North Carolina Baptist older adults.” with [BRH president] Bill [Stillerman] and Hayes petitioned the convention in 1950 “An autonomous, stable governing his board in regard to this decision,” for aid in beginning a ministry to the eld- board is essential” to ensure the financial Cummings said. erly, he was given encouragement but no viability of the organization in the future, Convention president Stan Welch also money, Stillerman said. he said. BT

Joinus foraspecial dinner honoring Cecil E. Sherman with the 2006 Judson-Rice Award

Friday, April 21 Tribute by James H. Slatton 6:30 p.m. on behalf of the First Baptist Church Baptists Today directors Five Oak Street Asheville, N.C. Address by Cecil Sherman Baptists Today is an autonomous, national Tickets $20; For reservations, call (877) 752-5658 or (478) 301-5655 news journal founded in 1983.

Baptists Today • March 2006 11 I N F O R M A T I O N Phillips: Charismatic-leaning Baptists betrayed

By John Pierce “We thought it was a commit- Phillips, however, reads such a promise Baptists Today from page 158 of Judge Pressler’s book, ment to a higher view of scripture A Hill On Which To Die, released in 1999 CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — When Judge by the Southern Baptist publishing house, Paul Pressler and Paige Patterson launched a rather than a narrowing view of Broadman & Holman. In his personal revolution within the Southern Baptist recounting of the rightward shift in the Convention they found an eager soldier in fundamentalism.” SBC, Pressler writes: Ron Phillips, who served as chair of the “The liberals had said that after the Home Mission Board (now North American theological and historical perspectives as a conservatives finished with those who held Mission Board) in the early 1990s. “Spirit-filled” Baptist. different views of the nature of the Bible, Phillips, 58, has been pastor of Central Phillips said his passion for evangelism they would begin attacking the charismatics Baptist Church of Hixson, near Chat- and missions remains high but he is finding (neo-Pentecostals). They also alleged conser- tanooga, Tenn., since 1979 — the year it harder to support the work of Southern vatives would later attack various other when what proponents call “the conserva- Baptists. He said convention policies — groups until they ‘purify’ every aspect of tive resurgence” and opponents call “the including the one recently adopted by the convention life. fundamentalist takeover” began within the SBC International Mission Board that “They said conservatives wanted to SBC. excludes missionary candidates who use a make everybody think just as they do. Such Today, Phillips — who had “an experi- private prayer language a charge is ludicrous, but it did worry some ence with the Holy Spirit” in 1989 that — are pushing more people such as my friend Wally Henley changed his life and ministry significantly good Baptists away. [pastor of Encourager Church in Houston — sees himself on the excluded side of SBC “We’re shocked and former president of the Alabama life. and betrayed by what Baptist Convention], who had charismatic “I do believe Paige [Patterson] and oth- has happened at the leanings. ers have betrayed every one of us,” said International Mission “I assured him the issue was not the Phillips, whose ministry is now known as Board,” said Phillips. “I charismatic movement. Although I am not Abba’s House and draws about 3,000 feel like it is a precursor a charismatic, I have referred people with Ron Phillips worshippers each Sunday. to a total booting out of charismatic convictions to his church, The congregation identifies itself as Baptists with charismatic leanings.” which leans charismatic. “a Spirit-filled Southern Baptist Church” In response, Patterson said neither he “I assured him that Paige, our friends, that “operates in the gifts of the Spirit while nor anyone else to his knowledge ever made and I would not turn on charismatics after holding to the Word of God.” Phillips said a promise to include charismatic persons in the battle over biblical authority was won. his congregation affirms biblical authority all aspects of SBC life. And his position on He trusted us, and he and others have now — what he thought was the sole issue in the gifts of the Spirit, he said, has been public seen that this issue will not be a test of SBC controversy. for years and is documented in a commen- fellowship. “We thought it was a commitment to a tary he wrote on 1 Corinthians. “Charismatic worship and understand- higher view of scripture rather than a nar- “The Bible says not to forbid speaking ing of spiritual gifts is an interpretation of rowing view of fundamentalism,” said in tongues since the miracle of Acts 2, for Scripture that was not our concern. Our Phillips, who helped carry out the radical example, was a miracle of God,” said concern was the nature of Scripture… All reshaping of the convention as HMB chair. Patterson. “However, Paul builds in so we wanted was for people to base what they Any criticism that he is now on the many restrictions in 1 Corinthians 14 as to believe on an intelligent study of what the receiving end of what he helped create is make the practice of mere utterance, what is Bible says.” certainly “fair,” Phillips confessed. He said practiced mostly today, virtually of little Phillips said he and Pressler serve he has apologized to many who were value.” together on the National Religious excluded from SBC life in recent years. Patterson said, as a Baptist, he would Broadcasters (NRB) board. He believes “I was much younger,” he said. “But I not forbid anyone from speaking in Pressler was sincere in his statement. was very serious and sincere.” tongues, but would not call such a person That assurance, however, is not being Phillips was elected president of the to be his pastor or appoint someone with kept by SBC leaders, said Phillips. And the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 1991 — such leanings as a seminary professor. growing restrictions within SBC agencies after his “experience with the Holy Spirit.” “I cannot imagine why anyone could make it harder for him and others to stay There were no problems, said Phillips, feel betrayed,” said Patterson, now president connected. because “I didn’t get up and talk about it.” of Southwestern Baptist Theological “I think this is an effort to exclude In his book, Awakened by the Spirit, Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. “Most of us ‘Word and Spirit’ people” from the SBC, he released by Thomas Nelson Publishers in don’t make deals; we try to understand said. 2000, Phillips shares his emerging scripture and faithfully preach it.” Like others, such as Oklahoma pastor

12 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N

Wade Burleson, whose removal as an IMB that are Southern Baptist operate with the said Phillips. “I think there is a greater trustee is being sought by the agency’s leadership of the Holy Spirit,” said Phillips. hunger in moderate churches for the Holy board, Phillips sees the new restrictions on “That’s got to be an issue.” Spirit.” overseas missionaries as an assault on IMB Phillips also claimed that members of Just admitting that, said Phillips, President Jerry Rankin who admitted to his congregation are no longer able to serve would probably cause some Southern having a private prayer language. as missionaries — even as volunteers — of Baptist leaders to call him a liberal. Phillips said if the trustees think such the SBC agency whose trustees he once led. Knowing so many good people on both practices are biblically wrong, they should NAMB spokesman Marty King, how- sides of the Southern Baptist divide that he make the new restrictions retroactive to cur- ever, said the agency does not screen helped create grieves him, he added. rent missionaries and staff — rather than volunteers for possible Charismatic lean- So does Phillips still consider himself a applicable to future candidates only. ings. The board does have a policy, King Southern Baptist? Otherwise, he said, it is a moot point. said, that prohibits appointed missionaries “I do,” he said. “I think I’m the real “It [private prayer] should be nobody’s and endorsed chaplains from practicing deal.” business,” said Phillips, calling the latest glossalalia (speaking in tongues), including a Phillips said he is not mad at those he restrictions on missionaries “horrible.” private prayer language. helped to gain power in the SBC, just con- Phillips said he doesn’t know Rankin Phillips said he and his congregation cerned that they have “embraced what I call personally but has heard wonderful reports are relating to a wider group of Christians McCarthyism.” Their philosophy, he said, about his leadership from missionaries he than before. Independent Baptists, and even seems to be “us four and no more.” has encountered around the world. He so-called moderate Baptists within and out- So Phillips said he and his congregation predicated the new restrictions on mission- side the SBC, are more open to him than are partnering for missions and evangelism aries would hurt Southern Baptist efforts to current Southern Baptist leaders, he said. wherever they find acceptance and support. become more ethnically diverse also. “I have spoken in some moderate “We want to go where we are cele- “Many African-American congregations churches and have had some great revivals,” brated, not just tolerated,” said Phillips. BT Conflict over speaking in tongues speeds departure of Criswell dean

DALLAS (ABP) — Doctrinal differences role, according to the Dallas Morning News. Camp hired Harvard educated Carl among Southern Baptist conservatives Criswell College, with 400 students, Raschke as theologian in residence at apparently have claimed another victim — was founded by First Baptist Church of Fellowship of Joy, preaching monthly. Scott Camp, dean of students at Criswell Dallas and is named for its legendary Raschke, author of The Next Reformation, College in Dallas. pastor, W.A. Criswell. has called inerrancy “pseudoscientific” and a Camp’s contract as dean, which ran “Southern Baptist churches are not “weak” view of Scripture. through Jan. 31, was not renewed, in part charismatic churches,” Johnson told the “Inerrancy is a big issue for this college because Camp supports speaking in Morning News. While Criswell enrolls stu- and always has been,” Johnson said. tongues. dents from charismatic backgrounds, he Raschke met with Criswell faculty and Conservatives have long tolerated the said, the faculty and top staff are expected students in November to clarify his position presence of charismatics within the Southern to reflect consensus Baptist beliefs. on the Bible, which he said is “a stronger Baptist Convention — largely because they Although Criswell College is not an view of Scripture” than inerrancy, “not a tend to agree on inerrancy and other key SBC-owned school, its students often seek weaker view.” He told the Morning News beliefs — but doctrinal purists have argued missionary appointment by the Inter- the students seemed to understand but not more recently for stricter enforcement of the national Mission Board. It’s important not top administrators. BT SBC’s conservative theology. to contradict the IMB’s position on speak- The SBC International Mission Board, ing in tongues, Johnson told the Morning which already prevented missionaries from News. Looking for teaching charismatic practices, recently Camp’s involvement in a local congre- servants this tightened their policy to exclude missionary gation also apparently factored into his candidates who use a “private prayer lan- departure. summer! guage,” a form of tongues. That action and Camp is pastor of a new and growing 2006 Student Missions others prompted objections from some Southern Baptist congregation in Arlington Opportunities younger SBC leaders, who worry the 16 called Fellowship of Joy Church, taking Gulf Coast — home rebuilds — weeks of million-member denomination is drawing time away from his Criswell job. “A deci- June 11, July 2, July 23 the circle of fellowship too small. sion needed to be made, and the president New York City — inner-city ministries — each week in July Criswell President Jerry Johnson called and I had been in dialogue about my will- Myrtle Beach, S.C. — construction, sports Camp “a great friend” and said the depar- ingness to leave the church,” he told the camps, day camps — week of June 25 ture of his former Criswell classmate was Morning News. not bitter but necessary. Both men But the church’s theological leanings For pricing and contact information, acknowledged doctrinal differences played a also were an issue, according to Johnson. visit www.missionsconnect.com.

Baptists Today • March 2006 13 I N F O R M A T I O N Mercer leaders want more ‘Baptistness’ — despite loss of convention affiliation

By John Pierce from the Internet and Will and Grace. The Convention funding for Baptist student stated purpose of the symposium, he added, scholarships. Godsey said the convention MACON, Ga. (ABP) — In the first major was “to provide an open forum for issues provides $3.5 million of the $11.5 million event since the Georgia Baptist Convention related to sexuality.” in aid to Baptist students, who make up unilaterally voted to break a 173-year-old “Mercer will not be an advocate for more than half of the student population. relationship with its flagship university, alternative lifestyles,” said Godsey. “We will “The students entering Mercer this fall Mercer University officials welcomed more be an educational institution.” will receive no Baptist money unless it than 150 church leaders to the campus Jan. While the university has a different role comes from you and your churches,” 19-20 to explore ways to sustain and than the church, Godsey said, Mercer is Godsey told the gathering. enhance the school’s Baptist identity. “keenly aware of our church constituency.” Godsey said he is very grateful for what “We reaffirm that Mercer is a Baptist However, said Godsey, “our students will be Georgia Baptists have done in creating and university,” said Mercer president Kirby permitted to discuss sex- supporting Mercer, but described current Godsey, “That reality, of course, can never uality. We’re more leaders as “walking around in three days of be changed by a state convention.” freeing than some darkness.” Godsey, who will retire in June after 27 churches.” Church historian Walter Shurden of years as Mercer’s president, said the univer- The university, he Mercer, who also addressed the summit, sity faces the dual challenges of evaluating added, will act with called for formal action to ensure that at “how the Baptist identity informs the respect and civility least half of the board of trustees and all Mercer experience” and how to “sustain rela- toward all persons. He future presidents be active Baptists. He sug- tionships with Baptist people.” suggested that Mercer gested that at least 10 percent of the trustees Godsey called the Georgia Baptist has “about the same per- Kirby Godsey be Baptist ministers from across the nation Convention’s decision in November — to centage of gay students in order to keep the university connected sever ties with the university by pulling as you have as members of your congrega- with congregations. scholarship funds for Baptist students — an tions.” Shurden urged Mercer to establish ties action based on frustration over a lack of Godsey said Mercer is exploring ways to with Baptist organizations like the control, rather than the publicized issue of move ahead as a Baptist university free of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Baptist homosexuality. Unlike three other Georgia formal ties with the GBC. “Our challenge is World Alliance, Progressive National Baptist Baptist colleges, Mercer trustees are not that we can’t ultimately live out our Baptist Convention and American Baptist selected by the convention. identity in isolation,” said Godsey. “How Churches, USA. But he advised those “The abuse of the university in The do we join hands with Baptist people?” should be “dotted-line” connections rather Christian Index was unwarranted and The university serves churches through than “hard-wired” as in the past with the uncivil, and our critics know it,” said many functions, Godsey said, including GBC. Godsey, referring to a cover story in the ministry preparation through the undergrad- Reports from discussion groups showed GBC-owned newspaper just prior to the uate program in Christianity and graduate various opinions about the degree to which November meeting. studies at McAfee School of Theology, the the university should connect with other The story focused on a meeting of the resources of the Center for Baptist Studies Baptist groups, the potential for including Mercer Triangle Symposium held on what is and Mercer University Press, and the expan- direct funding to Mercer in church budgets, nationally promoted by homosexual sive Baptist archives collection. and which resources would be most useful. advocates as “Coming Out Day.” Godsey tossed out a few ideas for Overwhelmingly, participants called for “Did Mercer have a “coming-out day?” expanding Mercer’s role as a Baptist a more aggressive effort to get Mercer fac- asked Godsey. “The answer is no. This resource, such as producing a new hymnal ulty and staff visible in churches and to get nation has a ‘coming-out day.’” or Bible study curriculum. And he suggested Baptists — especially potential students — Godsey said some Mercer students held Mercer affiliate with other like-minded to visit the campuses. a forum — “not a novel idea at a university” Baptist groups. Some voiced support for retaining an — to discuss sexual orientation. “What bet- Godsey asked participants to meet in active campus ministry program. Currently, ter place to discuss such issues?” Godsey groups to consider new ways the university the Baptist campus ministry program is asked. “Otherwise, we leave such conversa- might assist Baptist congregations. “We directed by convention employee Chris tions to the backrooms and hallways.” need your best thinking, insights and high- Fuller. Godsey said the future of that Godsey said he would rather students est wisdom,” he said. position is not clear but that the university dialogue about gay and lesbian issues in a Mercer is appealing to churches for will continue to have a Baptist Student university forum than get their information financial support to replace Georgia Baptist Union. BT

14 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N Shurden: History shows challenges to sustaining a national Baptist university

By John Pierce and Greg Warner sustaining and improving the university’s Shurden called on Mercer administra- ‘Baptistness.’” tors to hire faculty that support the MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Can Baptists build The Baptist summit came on the heels university’s Baptist identity and mission. “If and sustain a national Baptist university? It of the Georgia Baptist Convention voting in Mercer is to become a national Baptist uni- hasn’t been done yet, said top leaders at November to sever its 173-year tie to the versity, it will require more Baptist faculty Mercer University, but Mercer has as good a university, prompting Mercer leaders to rally and non-Baptist faculty who care about this chance as anyone. supporters to make up the loss of funding Baptist identity.” “Mercer may be the best hope for pre- and strengthen its Baptist identity. Shurden said that an effort among serving the principles that have defined “Mercer can be the single greatest some Southern Baptists in the 1920s to des- Baptists,” Mercer president-elect Bill resource in Baptist life, if Baptists will ignate Mercer and Baylor University in Underwood told school supporters Jan. 20. embrace us,” said Underwood, a law profes- Texas as national universities of the east and “Today there remain relatively few Baptist sor at Baylor. The Texas Baptist school also west failed. The situation would have resem- universities that have not been lost to either has flirted with national status, invoking the bled what United Methodists have done the threat of fundamentalism or the threat model of Catholic Notre Dame. with Emory University in Atlanta and of secularization. Among those that remain, Walter Shurden, former chair of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, he fewer than five have the strength and Mercer’s Christianity department and cur- said. resources to emerge as great national univer- rent director of the university’s Center for “We were left with good schools but all sities. Mercer is one of the very few. Baptist Studies, said he would like to see regional or state schools,” said Shurden. Together, we can do it here.” Mercer become a national university that is Shurden noted that other religious tra- “The fact that no one else has done it fully integrated into Baptist life, but he ditions have done what Baptists have failed should not be discouraging,” Underwood acknowledged history is against any Baptist to do. He cited Brandeis, Brigham Young said. “To the contrary, that’s what provides university attaining elite status. and Notre Dame as national universities us with the opportunity to do something He pointed to two now secular univer- that have not shied away from their respec- truly special. Mercer can be the intellectual sities with deep Baptist roots. Baptists tive Jewish, Mormon and Catholic engine of a dynamic worldwide free Baptist founded Rhode Island College in 1764. identities. movement.” Today it is Brown University, an Ivy League “Mercer is a Baptist name in the same Underwood addressed a Jan. 19-20 school in Providence, R.I. way Brigham Young is a Mormon name,” gathering of Baptist supporters of Mercer — Early Baptist leader Luther Rice started said Shurden. He said Baptists have an his first major speech since being elected Columbian College in 1821. Today it has image problem that could hinder its educa- president Dec. 2. evolved into the respected George tional efforts, but so do Catholics. Kirby Godsey, who will retire in June Washington University. “We lost it!” said Shurden called on trustees to act after 27 years as Mercer’s president, asked Shurden of the Washington, D.C., school quickly in assuring that the board maintains participants, mostly Georgians, to help formed to educate Baptist ministers. a Baptist majority and selects only active “chart a course toward being the model of a Shurden noted Mercer’s similar begin- Baptists as future presidents. premiere Baptist university.” ning, but said he hopes for a better “I hope future presidents are cut from Godsey said the two-day forum was outcome. Prominent Baptist leader Jesse the mold of Underwood, Godsey and “the first step in a long journey toward Mercer founded the school in 1833. [Rufus] Harris,” who preceded Godsey. BT

Baptists Today • March 2006 15 I N F O R M A T I O N Mercer president-elect Underwood decries ‘spiritual masters’ who limit Baptist freedom

By Greg Warner seen in the “Baptist Manifesto,” a theologi- our spiritual masters?” Underwood asked. cal statement, drafted and supported by “The truth is that we are responsible for our MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Baptists need no some prominent moderate and progressive souls. We will be judged as individuals, not “spiritual masters” — either from the right Baptists, that emphasizes the role of com- as communities.” or the left — to tell them what to believe in munity as a balance to individual freedom. Underwood likewise defended the lib- their churches or universities, said Bill Underwood said the “Manifesto” “hinted at erty of conscience in academia, saying Underwood, incoming president of Mercer the need for spiritual masters to tell us how Mercer must be willing to challenge the University. to interpret the Scriptures.” “prevailing orthodoxy.” Any attempt to impose orthodoxy on According to the “Manifesto”: “Scripture “If we are to be a great Christian uni- believers threatens the individual freedom wisely forbids and we reject every form versity, we cannot be afraid to pursue the of conscience, Underwood said Jan. 20 in of private interpretation course of truth, wherever that course might his first major speech to supporters of the that makes Bible read- lead,” he said. “Indeed, if our pursuit of Baptist university. ing a practice which can truth leads us to question our existing view “This is what Baptists have believed be carried out according of God, it may just be that God is trying to from the beginning,” the Baylor University to the dictates of indi- tell us something.” law professor said. “It is a part of our earliest vidual conscience. We In the past, he said, prevailing Christian heritage: Freedom of individual conscience, therefore cannot com- orthodoxy defended both a flat earth and respect for the freedom of others who dis- mend Bible study that slavery using the Bible. agree, and individual responsibility. These is insulated from the “How many other beliefs, at one time Bill Underwood have been bedrock Baptist principles. These community of believers firmly held as true, have been proven false principles are at stake at this moment in or guarantees individual readers an with the passage of time? What so-called Baptist history.” unchecked privilege of interpretation.” ‘truths’ that we hold dear today will the pas- Individual freedom — and academic Such thinking is dangerous and un- sage of time prove false? And how will we freedom in Baptist universities — is under Baptistic, Underwood said. know if we accept what others have declared threat from those who would restrict the “How would the check work?” he asked as orthodox without question? What this open pursuit of truth, said Underwood. the Mercer audience. “Would the commu- means is that our faculty and students must Sometimes that threat comes from fun- nity take a vote? Would a simple majority be free to discuss, advocate and debate ideas damentalists, who “advocate restrictions on be sufficient to declare one believer’s inter- that are controversial, even ideas that chal- freedom of inquiry that would stifle the pretation of the Scriptures heresy? What lenge prevailing viewpoints.” robust exchange of ideas necessary to seek then would we do with the heretic?” Underwood, who served as Baylor’s the truth,” he said. But even some Underwood said “politicians in the interim president, said he disagreed with his Christians on the other end of the spectrum Southern Baptist Convention” already “have predecessor’s decision threatening to expel are afraid to trust individual believers to find declared themselves our spiritual masters” in students who wrote an editorial arguing a the truth. the 2000 “Baptist Faith and Message” state- ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. Underwood quoted Duke Divinity ment. That Southern Baptist statement calls “I too disagreed with the students’ School theologian Stanley Hauerwas, who itself an “instrument of accountability,” a viewpoint, but I disagreed even more with wrote in a 1993 book: “No task is more claim Underwood said “has never before the reaction of our president,” he said. “The important than for the church to take the appeared in a Baptist confessional statement, president’s reaction ended any further dis- Bible out of the hands of individual at least not to my knowledge.” cussion. And our academic community lost Christians in North America.” “Accountability to who?” he continued. a valuable opportunity to gain new insights “I certainly believe that God uses the “Surely a human confessional statement isn’t through an intellectually rigorous examina- Scripture to help keep the Church faithful,” required in order for God to hold us tion of the issue.” Hauerwas wrote in Unleashing the Scripture, accountable.” A similar controversy over homosexual- “but I do not believe that each person in the Jesus warned his followers not to submit ity at Mercer prompted the divorce with the Church is thereby given the right to inter- to the scribes and Pharisees, Jewish religious Georgia Baptist Convention. pret the Scripture. The [Church] knows that leaders who “set themselves up as spiritual “What better place for such discussion the right reading of the Scripture depends masters for others,” Underwood said. to occur than on the campus of a Baptist on having spiritual masters who can help “Indeed, when we stand before God on university, where Christian perspectives on the whole Church stand under the authority judgment day, how many of us believe that the issue are welcome — perspectives that of God’s Word.” it would be a defense to God’s judgment to simply would not be a part of the dialogue Underwood said Hauerwas’ view is also say that we just did what we were told by on many campuses,” Underwood said. BT

16 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N ‘Manifesto’ supporters say community role misinterpreted

By Greg Warner portions of the “Manifesto” he said “hinted “Each one if us is ultimately directly at the need for spiritual masters to tell us accountable to God, but we are helped BUIES CREEK, N.C. (ABP) — The 1997 how to interpret the Scriptures.” toward being accountable to God by the “Baptist Manifesto,” a theological statement One passage in particular: “We there- community that forms us as individuals,” that emphasizes the role of community to fore cannot commend Bible study that is said Harmon, associate professor at counterbalance individual freedom, has been insulated from the community of believers Campbell University Divinity School, a misinterpreted by critics as opposing free- or guarantees individual readers an Baptist school in Buies Creek, N.C. dom of conscience, say seven Baptist unchecked privilege of interpretation.” Harmon said Christianity is “a way of theologians. But the seven theologians said the life that is inescapably communal; it can’t be “We believe with early Baptists and the “Manifesto” does not intend that “the indi- done in isolation.” mainstream Christian tradition that an indi- vidual Christian should unthinkingly He said Baptists have not always vidual’s conscience is inviolable, but not kowtow to the majority perspective in the overemphasized the individual. “If you dig infallible, and therefore we are always under community.” back into the 17th century, you find more the obligation to see to it that our con- Instead, they said, the “spiritual mas- balance of the individual in community, sciences have been formed by the faithful ters” of interpretation are, in a sense, those whereas the emphasis we’ve derived from practices of the church,” the theologians said believers of the past whose “wisdom and our culture, particularly in the 20th century, in a statement to Associated Baptist Press. charity” has been proven over time — such is more of a radical autonomy.” The statement was prompted by a Jan. as Abraham and Sarah, Martin Luther and Curtis Freeman, director of the Baptist 20 speech by Bill Underwood, president- Menno Simons, William Carey and Lottie House of Studies at Duke Divinity School elect of Mercer University, to Baptist Moon. in Durham, N.C., agreed community was supporters of the Macon, Ga., school. “We believe that competency in the more prominent in Baptist thought “until Freedom of individual conscience “is interpretation of the Scriptures is not some- very recently.” what Baptists have believed from the begin- thing that is injected into our brains at birth “It’s not just me and Jesus,” said ning,” said Underwood. “It is a part of our — it is not ‘common sense’ — nor is it Freeman. “The church is more than an earliest heritage: Freedom of individual con- something that we acquire in a moment of aggregate of individuals, — like a bunch of science, respect for the freedom of others conversion, and it is never unaided,” the marbles in a bag — you just pour them in who disagree, and individual responsibility. theologians said. “Rather, one learns it over and pour them out again.” These have been bedrock Baptist princi- time, and always in conversation with saints “The conviction that drives me in this,” ples.” past and present, famous and anonymous, said Freeman, “is the promise that Jesus “These principles are at stake at this who constitute the one body of Christ gives: Where two or three are gathered, Jesus moment in Baptist history,” Underwood guided by the Holy Spirit.” is there with them. It doesn’t say ‘where I said. He cited both the “Manifesto,” drafted They added: “If our consciences are not gather with my hat’ or ‘where I sit down by moderate and progressive Baptists, and accountable to others who have sought to with my Bible.’ That’s what we have to wres- the “Baptist Faith and Message,” used by the understand and embody the Scriptures in tle with. That kind of individualism makes fundamentalist leaders of the Southern contexts other than our own, then we have ecclessiology very hard to conceive of.” Baptist Convention. no need to have millions of hungry, home- On one point at least, all three agreed But the seven theologians, five of whom less mouths telling us that we may be — there’s no place for coercion in authentic were authors of the “Manifesto,” say skipping over some of the most important faith. When the individual submits to the Baptists in America have placed too much parts of the Bible.” community’s correction, it has to be emphasis on individual interpretation in the Underwood told ABP he can agree with voluntary. last two centuries and weakened or aban- the “Manifesto” theologians that individual “If that’s the bottom line,” Underwood doned their earlier commitment to the role conscience is “inviolable but not infallible” said, “then we probably don’t disagree.” of faith communities, particularly the local and that the community of faith is essential. In addition to Freeman and Harmon, church. “It would be arrogant not to take into the theologians drafting the Jan. 31 state- “We do not wish to silence others or account what other Christians have said,” he ment are: Mikael Broadway of Shaw deny them the freedom that is their noted Feb. 1. “But each of us ultimately has University Divinity School in Raleigh, N.C.; birthright in Christ,” the seven wrote. “But to come to his or her own conclusions.” Barry Harvey of Baylor University in Waco, we have come to believe that while “I think we are answerable to God for Texas; Elizabeth Newman of Baptist autonomous individualism may seem to what we believe; I do not think we are Theological Seminary at Richmond, Va.; offer some protection from authoritarian answerable to other human beings.” Mark Medley of Campbellsville University coercion, in reality it creates a lonely society Theology professor Steve Harmon, who in Campbellsville, Ky; and Philip of moral strangers.” drafted the theologians’ response to Thompson of North American Baptist In his speech Jan. 20, Underwood cited Underwood, agreed to a point. Seminary in Sioux Falls, S.D. BT

Baptists Today • March 2006 17 R E S O U R C E S

Brought to you this month 2006 by Phillip Bennett The Resource Page ... creative and practical ideas The emerging church conversation

n October 2005, my wife, Irene, and I God, not personal salvation; on converting used part of my four-week sabbatical people to become followers of Jesus who Recommended Reading Iafter 20 years of ministry to learn more are “partners” in mission and ministry, not Gibbs, Eddie and Ryan K. Bolger. Emerging about the emerging church, a concept that on helping them become “members” of a Churches: Creating Christian Community in began in the late 1990s among some younger church. Instead of preoccupation with the Postmodern Cultures. Baker Academic, 2005. church leaders and is now taking place glob- soul after death, people are invited into a Kimball, Dan. The Emerging Church: Vintage ally. While some outsiders call it a personal relationship with God that will Christianity for New Generations. Zondervan, “movement,” insiders call it a “conversation.” not be private. 2003. Irene and I visited three emerging • The local community is to be a missional McLaren, Brian D. A New Kind of Christian. churches in Virginia, Maryland and community. Mission-mindedness, an ecu- Jossey-Bass, 2001. Minnesota. We also attended a three-day menical commitment and a high value for McLaren, Brian D. The Story We Find Ourselves conference, “A Generous Orthodoxy.” In social justice are present. In. Jossey-Bass, 2003. each place we were two of the oldest, if not • On the surface the conversation appears to McLaren, Brian D. The Last Word and the Word the oldest, persons present. (Usually we were be one of style. Underneath it, however, is After That. Jossey-Bass, 2005. 25 years older than most participants.) We a crucial theological and ethical paradigm McLaren, Brian D. A Generous Orthodoxy. also read a number of books written by lead- shift. Zondervan, 2004. ers in this conversation. I want to share with Miller, Donald. Blue Like Jazz. Thomas Nelson, you what we learned about the emerging Worship experiences 2003. church from our study and visits. • Gatherings usually occur on Sunday Wallis, Jim. God’s Politics. HarperSanFrancisco, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 2005. Characteristics • Worship is holistic or eclectic in expression. • There is no particular model. It is more a • Experiences last more than 60 minutes, On the Web mindset having different and creative with most 90 minutes or more. http://www.off-the-map.org/ expressions varying according to cultural • The music is new, sometimes written by http://www.emergentvillage.com/ context, local tradition and the thinking of local musicians. Some old hymn texts with http://www.vintagefaith.com/ a particular church’s leader. new tunes are used, but mostly newer texts http://www.theooze.com/ • Semantics matter, such as the preference dominate. for worship “gathering” rather than wor- • All kinds of media — computerized visuals ship “service.” Service refers to music and of text, art, pictures, videos — are used boxes” and information on direct deposits preaching offered to attendees rather than throughout the worship time. are available at the front or rear of the what the people bring to God. “Gathering” • Everyone dresses informally. building. emphasizes that when the church gathers it • Worshipers have many opportunities to • Pastors lead the “teaching-preaching” is to worship God. connect. segments, and associate ministers or layper- • Leadership is more decentralized and entre- • Many announcements are made about sons conduct the other parts of the worship preneurial with less congregational control. doing ministry or mission in the commu- experiences, including communion. A real leveling of the field between clergy nity and around the world, but almost • Worship leaders demonstrate real sensitivity and laypersons exists. none are about meetings. to post-modernity by giving clear instruc- • Organizational simplicity is held dear. A • Communion is a part of every worship tions and regular explanations (for common expression is “not buildings, gathering. Attendees serve themselves or example, about religious symbols, liturgy, budgets and bodies, but conversation, laypersons serve them at small tables placed prayer times, use of Scripture and readings) connection and collaboration.” around the room. to help seekers and guests understand what • Emphasis is on building the Kingdom of • No offerings are taken. However, “offering is taking place and why. BT

THE RESOURCE PAGE 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 Phillip Bennett, minister of education at First Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga. 18 Baptists Today • March 2006 2006 Formations Commentary Bible Study resources for the adult Formations lessons available from Smyth & Helwys Publishing (www.helwys.com)

done to corpses to prepare them for burial. might keep it for the day of his burial. She is LESSONS FOR: Sunday, April 2-30, We want to ask Mary if she has knowledge apparently planning to give a lavish gift of 2006 Written by Robert of something we do not: “Mary, did you perfume for anointing his body when he Mulkey, retired pastor of know that Jesus was soon to die?” dies, but she cannot wait. She uses the per- First Baptist Church of The answer to this question is provided fume to honor Jesus while he is alive. DeLand, Fla., and cur- in the way John presents the incident. In Jesus then commends her for what she rently pastor of the Baptist John’s story, Mary’s act is prophetic. The has done, teaching his followers to do good Fellowship at The Villages, Fla. message of the anointing is clear. John has to others in Jesus’ name while there is still warned us that Jesus is in danger of dying at time: “Leave her alone. The poor you always the hands of his enemies. We know it will have with you, but you do not always have April 2, 2006 happen soon. Mary lovingly gives Jesus a me.” foot massage. It shows more than affection Discuss: Have you ever held back on an Jesus is anointed and devotion. It foretells his death on the impulse to serve someone (ex: make a visit or John 12:1-16 cross. call, write a note, take a meal or a gift)? What Discuss: How would you have responded opportunities have you missed to honor someone Just over the Mount of Olives from to Jesus if you had been in Mary’s place? How you love? What can you do today to prevent Jerusalem was a small town that was impor- are you responding in today’s world to followers other missed opportunities? tant to Jesus. Bethany was the home of his of Jesus who are persecuted for their faith? friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. It was the What can you do to help Christians living in April 9, 2006 scene of the raising of Lazarus after four days nations such as China, Sudan and Indonesia in the grave. This miracle led to deadly hos- where their freedom is limited? tility, however. Judas Iscariot is at the dinner party. His Jesus is betrayed In response to the miracle, the Pharisees reaction to Mary’s loving gift to Jesus gives John 18:1-11 and the chief priests met in a panic. They evidence of the darkness of his heart. He John saw Judas as completely under the con- said to each other, “If Jesus keeps on doing asks, “Why was this perfume not sold for trol of the Evil One. Satan had entered into this sort of thing, he will have everybody fol- three hundred denarii and the money given Judas. He is the thief who would steal from lowing him and the Romans will come down to the poor?” (This would be a large sum of the disciples’ money box, the deceitful one on us. He is a threat to our holy place and money, a year’s wages for a laborer.) What is pretending to care about the poor, the traitor our nation.” Caiaphas made his speech: “It is Judas thinking? who went out into the darkness to betray his better for one man to die than for the whole John tells his readers that Judas is the friend. Judas is the snake in the garden. nation to be destroyed.” They were planning one who will betray Jesus — and the very Judas fascinates us. He was one of the to kill him, so they started looking for him. one who kept the common purse and stole chosen twelve. How could he follow Jesus With that dark threat in the back- from it. Why would Judas turn against Jesus? for three years, listen to his teachings, have ground, we are brought to a party in Luke’s gospel reports that just prior to Jesus wash his feet, eat the last supper with Bethany given in Jesus’ honor. Martha, this event in Bethany, Jesus has gone to the Jesus, and then go to the high priest and sell Lazarus and Mary were there. We know home of a chief tax collector in Jericho Jesus for 30 pieces of silver? hard-working Martha. She is the one serving named Zacchaeus. Everyone is upset by Discuss: What does Judas’ act of betrayal the food and drink. Lazarus, celebrating life, Jesus’ choice to have dinner with this notori- say about human depravity? Are we capable of is at Jesus’ side. And we know Mary’s devo- ous “sinner.” Perhaps Judas decides to turn turning our backs on Jesus as Judas did? tion to Jesus as her teacher. She brings against Jesus at this point. Jesus shows that Have you ever wondered why a friend expensive perfume to anoint his feet. his ministry is going in a direction that does deserted you? The friend never talked with Mary’s act of devotion inspires us. We not connect with the goals Judas wants to you about a wrong you had done. He or she are touched by her love for Jesus. We may pursue. And now he accepts this wasteful simply went away. You heard later what your even resolve to be more extravagant in our display! Judas is disappointed in Jesus. Judas’ friend said to someone else about you. If a giving. But her gift and the timing of it also agenda does not agree with that of Jesus. friend has ever forsaken you, you know intrigue us. Anointing the feet of a living In response to Judas’ concern, Jesus says something of what Jesus experienced when person was extraordinary because this was Mary has bought the perfume so that she Judas betrayed him and the other disciples

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. Baptists Today • March 2006 19 F O R M A T I O N S C O M M E N T A R Y abandoned him. the ground.” novel, The Da Vinci Code. But when John tells the story of the A few Pentecostal Christians have John’s account provides no evidence of a arrest of Jesus in the garden, his attention is pointed to this event as a biblical example of romantic relationship between Mary and on Jesus, not Judas. John does not mention being “slain in the Spirit.” For them, being Jesus. Rather, she had a deep devotion to Judas’ use of a kiss to identify Jesus to the slain in the Spirit is being overpowered by Jesus as her “Lord” and her teacher. She was temple guards. Instead, he makes it clear that the Spirit and losing control of one’s body also the first person to discover the empty Jesus is in charge. He knows what is about to and falling backward. tomb and the first bearer of the good news of happen and goes out to meet those who have Discuss: Why do you think the soldiers fell the resurrection. come for him. back, apparently unable to carry out their Mary came to the tomb “before dawn” Throughout his gospel John tells us that intention to arrest Jesus? Were they overpowered (3-6 a.m.). Archaeologists have shown that Jesus knows who he is, where he has come by the Spirit, or were they simply reacting to the the tomb would have had a stone disk sitting from, where he is going and what will hap- power of Jesus? Why did John want to show in a sloping groove to cover the entrance. It pen to him. John’s Jesus is always in control. how powerful Jesus was at the moment he was would have been easy to roll it closed, but dif- He knows what he has come to accomplish. deciding not to use that power to save himself? ficult to roll it open. When Mary saw that the John poses for his readers the question, How Robin Griffith-Jones comments in his stone had been rolled back, she was alarmed do I react to Jesus when I see his power and book, The Four Witnesses, “Far from being at the possible implications. Could the grave miraculous signs? overpowered, he [Jesus] must rein in his have been robbed? Had the authorities taken John tells us Jesus asked, “Who is it that power before the soldiers can lay a hand the body somewhere to add further insult to you want?” They answered him, “Jesus of upon him. One sentence from Jesus is the crucifixion? Mary ran for help. Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he” enough to drive them back.” Peter and “the other disciple” whom we (18:4-5). There is another indication of Jesus’ presume to be John ran to the tomb. John “I Am” or “I am he” is the great name power and authority in John’s story of the arrived first, but with his more reflective and Jesus uses a number of times in the Gospel of arrest in the garden. Peter draws his sword perhaps cautious personality he looked John to indicate he came from the Father. and cuts off the right ear of the high priest’s around the outside of the tomb. Peter upon Three times in one dispute with religious slave, Malchus. Jesus tells Peter to put away arriving ran straight into the tomb, however. authorities Jesus sounds this theme. The first his sword and then says, “Am I not to drink John wants his readers to know that the is to affirm that he brings the presence and the cup the Father has given me?” For John, grave clothes were arranged in a way that power of God. “Therefore I said to you that Jesus’ words to Peter indicate that his indicated something of the resurrection. Peter you will die in your sins; for if you do not betrayal, arrest and crucifixion are not fate saw them “lying there” with the head cover- believe that I am he, you will die in your overtaking him. As Raymond Brown notes in ing separated from the rest of the cloth and sins” (John 8:24). his commentary, The Gospel of John, “Jesus is carefully folded. The second seems to be a less intense the master of his fate.” Something other than robbery had hap- claim to be the obedient Son of Man. “When According to John, Jesus gives Judas per- pened. Why would a grave robber take the you lift up the Son of Man, then you shall mission to leave the last supper (13:27) and time to carefully arrange the cloth that had know that I am he; and of myself I do noth- allows the Temple forces to arrest him. We wrapped the body? Why would a robber ing, but as the father has taught me, that is feel the impact of his words, “No one takes remove the grave clothes if he were stealing what I say” (8:28). my life from me. I lay it down of my own the body? Or could it be, as Bruce Milne The third use of that strange term comes accord” (10:19). suggests in his commentary, The Message of within a climactic exchange and takes us back What a powerful figure Jesus is in John’s John, that the grave clothes were still swirled to John’s prologue: “He was in the beginning Gospel! He is one with the Father, the great like a wrapping because Jesus’ body had sim- with God” (1:2). “I Am.” ply passed through them like a chrysalis a Jesus’ meaning is quite clear in John Discuss: In what ways do you experience butterfly has left behind. 8:56-58 when he says, “Abraham your father the power of Jesus being available to you? Down When the other disciple came into the was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it what new path will you follow him? tomb, “he saw and believed.” Does this mean and was glad.” The authorities respond, “You he believed Jesus had been raised from the are not yet fifty years old, “and you have seen dead? There seems to be no other way to April 16 Abraham?” Jesus then says, “In God’s truth I interpret “believed.” But John implies this tell you, before Abraham came to be, I am belief was only the beginning. They were he.” Jesus conquers death soon to understand that the scriptures The next time we hear these words is John 20:1-18 pointed to his rising from the dead. when Judas brings the posse to arrest Jesus John tells the good news of the resurrection After these two disciples saw the empty (18:4-6). “Then Jesus, knowing all that of Jesus in the beautiful light of his bond tomb and one of them believed in the resur- would happen to him, came forward and said with Mary Magdalene. Their relationship has rection, John says simply, “the disciples to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ They fascinated many people. A nonbiblical legend returned to their homes.” They saw the answered him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said says they were lovers. This legend has found empty tomb and the discarded clothes. The to them, ‘I am he.’ Judas, who betrayed him, life in American culture in the movie, The beloved disciple believed. But why not shout was standing with them. When Jesus said to Last Temptation of Christ; in the musical, Jesus it from the rooftops? them, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to Christ Superstar; and in the recent best-selling Mary is the focus of the story now. She 20 Baptists Today • March 2006 F O R M A T I O N S C O M M E N T A R Y stood weeping. Somewhere I saw a church death.” Rejection, betrayal and murder could sign that read: “Weeping Mary Baptist not stop the power of God to bring Jesus April 23 Church.” I wish I had found the pastor or a back from death. member and asked about the origin of the Peter’s ungrammatical statement empha- church’s name. Perhaps a minister once Easter and Peter sizes the role of faith. “And his name, preached so powerful a sermon on the story Acts 3:12-19 through faith in his name, has made this man of Mary’s weeping outside the tomb that the Peter and John were about to enter the tem- strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the people were in awe of her deep love for the ple. A man who was lame from birth was faith which comes through him has given him Lord and wanted to name their church after being carried to his begging station beside the this perfect soundness in the presence of you such devotion. door. He looked up and asked them for all” (3:16 NKJV). By faith, the life-giving While she was weeping, Mary looked money. To his surprise, he received what he power of Jesus’ name healed the lame man inside the tomb and saw two angels in white did not ask for. He asked for money and and set him to walking and dancing. sitting where Jesus’ body had been. They received healing. It was Peter who reached Discuss: Whose faith did Peter mean? Did asked why she was weeping. As she was down, told him to walk in the name of Jesus he leave that unclear in order to make us think answering, Mary became aware that someone Christ of Nazareth, and pulled him to his about the combination of the man’s faith and was standing behind her. She turned to see feet. the faith he and John had in the name of Jesus? Jesus, but mistook him for the garden keeper. Luke describes a dramatic scene. The What other stories of Jesus’ power to heal Was she so overcome by grief that her percep- man who had never been able to walk with- involved the faith of the people around the one tion was distorted? Or is John reporting an out help was now “walking and leaping and who was suffering? experience similar to that of the two disciples praising God.” When the people in the tem- Peter and John asked no questions about who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus and ple saw him and recognized him as the man the lame man’s past. They placed no condi- did not recognize him until he broke bread they had seen there for years asking for alms, tions on his healing. They gave him the with them in their home (Luke 24:30-31)? they were amazed. Naturally they wanted to healing in Jesus’ name as a free act of God’s In his resurrection appearances Jesus know how this miracle had happened. mercy. The way the healing took place seems to be the same as before the crucifixion When the people gathered around Peter reminds us that Jesus never tried to explain and yet strangely changed. The resurrection in astonishment, he was quick to tell them it anyone’s suffering. He labeled the power of body is like the physical body, but it is not was not his and John’s power or goodness physical infirmity as Satan’s power and the same. (Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians that brought about the healing. He made the delighted in breaking that power’s grip on a 15:42-44) that the resurrection body is not a people of Jerusalem aware of a whole new human life. physical body but a spiritual body). As John dimension of power: the resurrection power Discuss: How does the healing of this lame will show in the remainder of his gospel, of Jesus was now loose in their world. That man in Acts 3 compare with the gospel accounts Jesus can appear suddenly. His body is not power was present because, as Peter said, of the way Jesus healed people? limited by time and space. “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob In Peter’s proclamation of the resurrec- When Jesus called her name, Mary raised Jesus from the dead.” tion of Jesus is the good news that Jesus’ turned and said to him, “Rabbouni!” And It is significant that Peter spoke the power and authority are now available both apparently she embraced him. His reply was, names of those patriarchs. Luke reported in to heal us and to give us strength. “Don’t hold on to me, because I have not yet his gospel (20:37-38) that Moses spoke of the I liked the WWJD (“What would Jesus ascended to the Father.” His words were not resurrection when, in the story of the burn- do?”) fad that was around a few years back. It a rebuff. They were a revelation of the fact ing bush, he spoke of “their Lord as the God would indeed do us good to ask ourselves that he would be entering into a new rela- of Abraham, Isaac, and the God of Jacob. before making a decision, “What would Jesus tionship with the disciples when he had Now he is God not of the dead, but of the do?” But the answer to that question is often ascended “to my Father and your Father, to living; for to him all of them are alive.” The only the beginning of what we need from my God and your God” (20:17). God of the Jewish nation is the God of the God. We can have confidence in our relation- resurrection. His power is a living power I find that I need more than knowing the ship with our Father because Jesus has been available in the Jesus whom they killed and answer. I am often not able to do what Jesus “glorified” in his crucifixion and has been God raised from death. would do even though I know what he would raised from the dead to give us his commis- Peter’s accusations in Acts 3 against the do. I need more help than his example. I need sion and his spirit. “Jesus said, ‘As the Father people of Jerusalem sound harsh. He began his presence and his power. When I dare to has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had each statement with an accusative “you.” ask him earnestly and directly, sometimes out said this, he breathed on them and said to “You handed Jesus over and rejected him in loud, I can often see and feel his power at them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (20:21-22). the presence of Pilate. You rejected the Holy work in my life. “And his name, through faith Discuss: How will we live out Jesus’ charge and Righteous One and asked to have a mur- in his name” I am made stronger. to his disciples as our commission today? How derer given to you. You killed the Author of The message of the resurrection must can we keep ourselves available and open to Life.” have been good news to those who heard receive his Spirit? How can we be the living Each accusation is worse than the one Peter’s sermon and knew they were guilty of presence of Christ in our time and place? before. Peter builds their guilt list to a killing “The Author of Life.” They needed crescendo and then states the power of God forgiveness and a second chance to let Jesus’ over their evil. “But God raised him from power work in their lives. That is exactly what Baptists Today • March 2006 21 F O R M A T I O N S C O M M E N T A R Y his resurrection means for guilty people like and you have the message in you. What more someone whose life experience is very differ- the residents of Jerusalem and you and me. evidence of the Spirit’s leading do you need? ent from ours due to cultural background or John Claypool used to say of the resur- John Polhill in The New American sexual orientation. As we quietly listen, the rection, “A clear indication of the love of Commentary on Acts writes that the Ethiopia Spirit of the resurrected Jesus may send us to God for sinners is the fact that he raised up referred to in this story is not to be confused someone on whom he wants to shower his his son and sent him back to the very people with modern Ethiopia. It is the ancient grace. We may be privileged, like Philip, to who killed him.” Peter is certain that their Nubian empire, referred to in the Old welcome that person into the family of God. repentance and faith will bring into their Testament as the Kingdom of Cush whose We don’t know what other scriptures lives the gift of God’s forgiveness and the inhabitants were black. Philip chose to share with the Ethiopian, but power of the resurrected Jesus Christ. In modern terminology the Ethiopian we do know that he was soon ready for would be called the Minister of Finance of Philip to baptize him. What a powerful pic- “the Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians” April 30 ture of authentic response to the good news (v. 27). As a God-fearing Gentile, he was that God loves the world enough to give his Easter and Philip interested in the God of Israel. However, as a only Son! eunuch, he would not have been allowed into Acts 8:26-40 Who knows what body of water the man the Temple because of his physical imperfec- saw that caused him to say to Philip: “Look, Luke reports that the Spirit led Philip to tell tion. Deuteronomy 23:1 makes it clear that a here is water! What is to prevent me from Samaritans and Gentiles the good news about man who had been emasculated could not being baptized?” The most important thing Jesus. The Spirit of the resurrected Jesus enter “the assembly.” to notice about his words, as Frank Stagg directed him and made him a witness for The Bible contains many evidences of pointed out in his Book of Acts, is that they Jesus beyond Jerusalem and Judea. God’s amazing kindness. In the very book the echo Luke’s persistent theme: “the unhin- Ethiopian was reading he would have been Luke does not explicitly say, “The Holy dered gospel.” able to find this message of hope: “… do not Spirit sent Philip to the Samaritans.” The resurrected Jesus has removed barri- let the eunuch say, ‘I am just a dry tree.’ For However, he reports that when Philip pro- ers. There are now no hindrances to the thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep claimed Christ in “the city of the spread of the Good News to all people. The my sabbaths, who choose the things that Samaritans,” the Spirit’s presence was evident. Spirit led Philip to show the Ethiopian As he spoke, there were “miraculous signs” please me and hold fast my covenant, I will eunuch that Jesus has broken down those (v. 6). And, just as in the ministry of Jesus, give, in my house and within my walls, a barriers based on how a person’s body works “unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, monument and a name better than sons and and his skin color. came out of many who were possessed; and daughters; I will give them an everlasting They went down into the water together, many others who were paralyzed or lame name … that shall not be cut off” (Isa 56:3- and Philip baptized this seeking Gentile. were cured. So there was great joy in that 8 NRSV). As he read from the scroll of “When they came up out of the water, the city” (vv. 7-8 NRSV). Isaiah, the eunuch did not know that this Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the After his joyful experience of the pres- promise was about to be fulfilled for him. eunuch saw him no more, and went on his ence of the Spirit in Samaria, Philip was told Philip ran to the slow-moving wagon way rejoicing” (Acts 8:38-39). How are we to by “an angel of the Lord” to go south to the and began to trot alongside. He heard the understand Philip being suddenly taken away desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. When he Ethiopian reading from the text of Isaiah. by the Spirit of the Lord? arrived in the area, it soon became clear to John Polhill points out a basic theme running him why he had been sent there. An throughout Luke-Acts: Old Testament texts Luke tells us this detail to make it clear Ethiopian eunuch was riding along that road need a Christian interpreter. Just as Jesus that the Spirit of the living Lord was in in his chariot. Philip still needed some prod- “opened … the Scriptures” for the disciples, charge all along to way. He brought him to ding from the Spirit. He was not sure what the resurrected Jesus opened the Scriptures this road so that he could tell the Good News he should do, but the message came through for this Gentile through Philip. to the Ethiopian eunuch, and then he trans- to him from the resurrected Jesus: “Go to The text was Isaiah 53:7-8. The images ported him somewhere else to continue being that chariot and stay near it” (v. 29). are of a lamb about to be slaughtered and a a witness in coastal cities. When you have an opportunity to talk lamb silent as he is about to be sheared. No This story of the working of the Spirit in about your faith, you may be tempted to dis- doubt these images evoked for Philip the suf- Philip’s life tells us the living Lord wants to miss it as mere coincidence. Sitting beside a fering, crucifixion and humiliation of Jesus. work through us to show his incredible kind- stranger on a plane who wants to hear your The Ethiopian asked an informed question ness to those who are facing hindrances to faith story, running into a neighbor in the and gave Philip a perfect opening to talk with their participation in the church and to peo- doctor’s waiting room who needs your him about Jesus and how he could accept the ple who want help in understanding the encouragement, encountering a coworker Good News for himself. This was no acci- Bible. Our responsibility is to listen quietly who wants to talk about spiritual matters … dent. The Spirit was using the circumstances to what the Spirit is saying to us and then in such events as these the Spirit is leading to bring this man into a relationship with follow the Spirit’s urgings to go and speak on you to tell the good news about Jesus. An Jesus through Philip. behalf of Jesus who is living and active angel may not have told you what route to We, too, might serve as a Philip to an among us, bringing down all hindrances to take, but circumstances have put you there outcast like the eunuch. We may know the spread of the Good News. BT

22 Baptists Today • March 2006 C L A S S I F I E D S

The Lakeland Fellowship, a newly First Baptist Church of Thomson, Ga., is to: [email protected] or Search Baptist Theological Seminary at established CBF congregation in central seeking a full-time minister of music. Committee, 425 W. University Ave. Richmond seeks to fill a tenure-track Florida, is seeking a pastor to partner For job description, see www.first Gainesville, FL 32601. or tenured faculty position in in developing a church (www.lakeland baptistthomson.org/mminister.html. homiletics, rank commensurate with fellowship.org ). Send résumé to: Richard Send résumé to: Personnel Committee, experience. Candidates must be Baptist, Phillips at [email protected]. c/o Dr. Jim Ramsey, Pastor, P.O. Box First Baptist Church, San Angelo, hold the M.Div. and Ph.D., and have at 1205, Thomson, GA 30824. Texas, seeks a full-time minister with least six years experience as a senior young families. For more information pastor and in teaching homiletics. The First Baptist Church of Inman, S.C., or to submit a résumé, contact: Ronnie Women and minorities are encouraged is seeking to fill the position of senior Hominy Baptist Church, a CBF congre- Laughlin, First Baptist Church, 37 E. to apply. The search will continue until pastor. The church has approximately gation in Candler, N.C., is seeking a Harris, San Angelo, TX 76903 or (325) the position is filled. BTSR is a member 680 active resident members and aver- minister of administration and out- 655-4101 or laughlin@fbcsan of the ecumenical Richmond ages 350 in worship attendance. The reach. Job description is available at angelotx.org. Deadline for submission Theological Consortium and is sup- church is dually aligned with the www.hominybaptist.com. Application is March 31. ported by the Cooperative Baptist Southern Baptist Convention and the deadline is March 15. Please submit Fellowship and the Baptist General Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, permit- résumés to: Hominy Baptist Church, Association of Virginia. Mail letter of ting members to select where their 135 Candler School Rd., Candler, NC Large, downtown, moderate church application, résumé and three letters of mission offerings are directed. IFBC has 28715 or [email protected]. seeks a minister to children who will recommendation to: Homiletics Search a blended worship service and has provide creative leadership that will Committee, Baptist Theological women deacons. The church seeks focus and shape our ministry to chil- Associate Pastor of College Seminary at Richmond, 3400 Brook someone with strong preaching skills dren and their families. Candidates Rd., Richmond, VA 23227. who can provide leadership and vision Students: Minister to students from should have an advanced degree from for the church. Inman is a small commu- Triangle area colleges and universities, an accredited seminary or equivalent, nity in northern Spartanburg County, a including N.C. State University, effective communication and organiza- Alabama CBF Coordinator: Résumés rapidly growing county in the Piedmont Meredith College, Peace College, Wake tional skills, a commitment to assist and recommendations will be received area of South Carolina. Submit résumés Technical Community College and oth- children and families in their spiritual until March 31. Email or fax cover let- to: Pastor Search Committee, Inman ers (40,000+ students in the area). journey, and a demonstrated love for ter (labeled Alabama CBF Coordinator First Baptist Church, 14 N. Howard St., Job responsibilities include, but are not children from all backgrounds. The can- Search), résumé and related informa- Inman, SC 29349 or [email protected]. limited to: outreach to college commu- didate must be a self-starter and have tion to: [email protected] or nity, ministry and program planning, positive, innovative and creative leader- (205) 424-5651. Address any other counseling of college students and ship skills. Please send résumés to: correspondence to: Alabama CBF, 2539 First Baptist Church of Vienna, Ga., is coordination of activities and content Heather Newton, c/o First Baptist John Hawkins Pkwy., Ste.101-113, seeking a full-time pastor. The church related to Sunday school, Bible study, Church, 5 Oak St., Asheville, NC 28801 Birmingham, AL 35244. has a membership of 470. First Baptist fellowship, retreats and mission trips. or [email protected] or is a traditional, moderate church with Four-year degree required with semi- [email protected]. For further informa- strong community and family ties. The nary degree and experience preferred. tion, including position description, visit Dealer representative needed in applicant should have prior pastoral Applicants must have a passion for www.fbca.net. selected geographical areas to handle experience and hold a Master of outreach, the ability to relate to col- product sales to church and community Divinity degree from an accredited lege-age students, relationship building groups. Music ministry background institution. Please mail résumés to: and counseling skills, experience with An historic church in Beaufort, S.C., is helpful. Excellent earning potential with Pastor Search Committee, First Baptist team ministries involving church staff seeking an individual who is called to flexible hours. Email résumé to Church, P.O. Box 351, Vienna, GA and lay leaders, and excellent organiza- be a minister to children. The individ- [email protected] or fax to 31092. Deadline for receiving résumés tional skills. Submit résumé and letter ual who fills this position will be (727) 526-3528. is March 31. of intent to: Dr. Larry Harper, Senior responsible for ministry with children Pastor, Forest Hills Baptist Church, birth to sixth grade. A college degree 201 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607 or Pastor with a master’s level equivalent is pre- [email protected]. ferred, along with some experience in Church serving 270 families in a childhood education and/or children’s Baptist News small university city ministry. Further information is available First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Fla., Baptist Views at www.bcob.org. Send résumé includ- Submit résumés to: is seeking an associate minister for ing philosophy of ministry and a recent Pastor Search Committee children, youth and families. This BAPTISTS photograph to: [email protected] or Mr. First Baptist Church full-time minister will be responsible for Donald Gruel, Chairperson, Minister to 623 Pine St. leading/coordinating the current pro- TODAY Children Search Committee, P.O. Box Arkadelphia, AR 71923 grams to new levels of content and 879, Beaufort, SC 29901. [email protected] involvement. M.Div. and/or previous experience preferred. Send résumés 1-877-752-5658

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Baptists Today • March 2006 23 I N F O R M A T I O N SBC, other evangelical groups remain conspicuously mum on immigration

(RNS) — Advocates at World Relief, the Commission, which articulates public policy (advocating) has been particularly important humanitarian arm of the National positions for the 16 million-member to this administration, which listens to Association of Evangelicals, can usually Southern Baptist Convention. Southern them,” says C. Richard Parkins, director of expect a warm greeting from large evangeli- Baptists “see a basic distinction between Episcopal Migration Ministries for the cal groups wielding clout in the halls of people who are refugees, who are in fear of Episcopal Church U.S.A., a mainline Congress. losing their life and home ... and those who Protestant denomination with a liberal bent. But this year, they’re getting a down- are coming over primarily for economic rea- “They have access to leadership that we’ve right chilly reception to one of their priority sons and are not abiding by the immigration not had access to.” agenda items: immigration reform. laws.” Because mass deportation “isn’t realis- Yet despite appeals for help from evan- As Congress grapples with legislation tic,” Land says, the denomination needs to gelicals at Baltimore-based World Relief and regarding an estimated 11 million undocu- wrestle longer with what to do. Arlington, Va.-based Jubilee Campaign, the mented immigrants, the nation’s most Evangelicals on the immigration front faith’s political heavy hitters have kept mum powerful conservative Christian organiza- lines say time is running out. on immigration. tions have been watching from the sidelines. Near Tucson, Ariz., Maryada Vallet Amber Hildebrand, a spokesperson for This occurs despite decades of evangelical travels the desert in a pickup truck, stopping the Washington-based Family Research initiative to make America a hospitable to not only feed undocumented border Council, explains: “It’s not that we don’t haven for religious and political refugees. crossers, but wash their blistered feet. It’s a think (immigration policy) is important. The search to explain the silence leads gesture from biblical accounts of what Jesus There have just been other issues the FRC through several layers of reasoning. did for his disciples at the Last Supper. has chosen to focus on.” Colorado-based For starters, the Christian right says it Such inspired volunteer work, warns Focus on the Family spokesperson Gwen has other issues at the moment, such as the World Relief staff attorney Amy Bliss, could Stein gives the same reason for her group’s confirmation of conservative judges and the lead to federal prosecution if a bill passed in reticence to take a stand. battle against same-sex marriage. Beyond December by the U.S. House of The National Association of that, some suspect evangelicals don’t want to Representatives becomes law. Evangelicals hasn’t taken a position on appear soft on lawbreakers of any kind. And “Anyone who believes” in the biblical immigration since 1985. At that time, as on a level that plumbs the depths of what it story of the gentile who stopped to help a President Reagan was ushering in what was means to bear Christian witness, evangelicals wounded man, Vallet says, “should be out- in effect an amnesty program for illegal confide they’re still struggling as a commu- raged that ... the government is making it a aliens, the NAE pledged “to eliminate the nity to determine the right thing to do. crime to be a Good Samaritan.” spirit of racism in any of our responses” and Among Southern Baptists, for instance, Soon the U.S. Senate is expected to “show personal and corporate hospitality to “there’s no consensus about what to do start reviewing the House-passed bill in those who seek a new life in our nation.” about the (illegal immigrants) who are committee. Liberal religious activists say Led by evangelical organizers at World already here or about how we would allow evangelical participation could make the Relief, 42 national religious groups and 69 legal immigration,” says Richard Land, pres- difference between success and failure. local ones signed a statement in October ident of the Ethics and Religious Liberty “To have the evangelical voice there calling for a process to let undocumented immigrants apply for legal status. Signatories Looking for ranged from the Union for Reform Judaism servants this to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. summer! In Congress, debate hinges largely on 2006 Student Missions whether immigrants who pay a fine and Opportunities other penalties should be able to then seek Gulfport, Miss. home rebuilds — weeks of legal status. A bill proposed by Sens. John June 11, July 2, July 23 McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D- New York City inner-city ministries — each week in July Mass., would allow for such a process, while Myrtle Beach, S.C. construction, sports President Bush’s guest worker proposal camps, day camps — week of June 25 would require the undocumented to leave after a designated period. Whether family For pricing and contact information, visit www.missionsconnect.com. members should be separated or kept together also looms large as an issue up for MissionsConnect is a faith-based, BT non-profit, missions-sending organization. grabs. 24 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N Megachurches more diverse, new study finds (RNS) — When you think of megachurches, “There’s a good bit of diversity going on.” four or more services over the course of a do you think of them as congregations that Thumma was the principal investigator weekend. are homogeneous gatherings in huge for the study, which was done in conjunction The findings were based on surveys complexes? with the Leadership Network, a Dallas-based completed by 382 churches with weekly Scholars who have just completed a nonprofit that aims to foster innovation attendance of 2,000 or more, and 24 with study of congregations with weekly atten- among Christian leaders. attendance of 1,800 or more, supplemented dance of 2,000 or more say you may need to Researchers found that the number of by research to learn the latest totals of think again. megachurches totals more than 1,200. megachurches. Thirty-six percent of 406 churches sur- Thumma said his database of megachurches Researchers reviewing the total number veyed said that minorities make up 20 included 600 five years ago and 850 in early of megachurches found that the states with percent or more of their congregation. And a 2005. the most megachurches are California (178), higher percentage — 56 percent — said they “They’re not so much an anomaly as Texas (157), Florida (85) and Georgia (73). are making efforts to become multiethnic. they were a decade or two ago,” said The largest portion of megachurches — “I find that just amazing, given that we Thumma. 34 percent — were nondenominational, fol- always talk about Sunday being the most Investigators found that few lowed by Southern Baptist (16 percent), segregated hour of the week,” said Scott megachurches have colossal sanctuaries. Just 5 unspecified Baptist (10 percent), Assemblies Thumma, professor of the sociology of reli- percent have sanctuaries that seat 3,000 or of God (6 percent) and United Methodist gion at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. more. More than half — 53 percent — have (5 percent). BT Survey: churchgoers Civil rights leader expelled from have fewer divorces ANN ARBOR, Mich. (RNS) — Husbands Vanderbilt to return as professor and wives who attend religious services (RNS) — A retired Methodist pastor and unexpected, even momentous personal together are less likely to divorce, whether civil rights leader whose expulsion from instant in my journey.” they are black or white, new research from Vanderbilt University caused a national Dubbed by Martin Luther King Jr. the University of Michigan shows. furor 46 years ago will return to the uni- “the leading nonviolence theorist in the The study, conducted by researchers versity as a distinguished professor. world,” Lawson helped organize sit-ins by connected to the Institute for Social The Nashville, Tenn., university black students that led to the desegrega- Research, examined how religion affected announced the one-year appointment Jan. tion of lunch counters in downtown the risk of divorce for both black and white 18 as James Lawson was named Nashville. He also was active in civil rights couples in the first seven years of marriage. Vanderbilt’s 2005 Distinguished Alumnus. struggles in Alabama and Mississippi. Data came from 373 couples initially inter- “It’s not often that either persons or His expulsion from Vanderbilt for his viewed in 1986, their first year of marriage, institutions have an opportunity to redress role in the movement and the resulting as part of the Early Years of Marriage a grievous wrong,” said Lucius Outlaw, resignations of faculty members in protest project at the university. Vanderbilt’s associate provost for under- embroiled the campus and the Nashville “The findings suggest that the most effective intervention strategies for dealing graduate education. “The expulsion of community in a nationally reported con- with marital instability and divorce are James Lawson was a significant moment troversy for months in the spring of 1960. those that consider gender and race,” said in the history of Vanderbilt that set it Eventually, a compromise was forged to Edna Brown, the paper’s lead author, in a back decades. stop most of the resignations and allow press release. “Bringing him here isn’t about mak- Lawson to complete his degree in Black couples are at higher risk of ing apologies, because that happened Nashville. But Lawson instead chose to divorce than whites, the study found. But it many years ago,” Outlaw added. “It’s transfer to Boston University. also found education a protective factor about a new point in our relationship with “No other alumnus has contributed against divorce for wives, and income a him, and continuing the process of work- so much to issues of national and interna- protective factor for husbands. Regardless ing our way past the perception of tional justice and peace, and the of race, however, couples who attended reli- Vanderbilt as a white, segregated, arrogant promotion of a non-violent worldview,” gious services together were less likely to institution.” Vanderbilt Chancellor Gordon Gee said. divorce. Lawson, pastor emeritus of Holman “James Lawson — and the faculty and Other aspects of faith, such as fre- United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, students who supported him in 1960 — quency of attendance or importance of where he served for 25 years before retir- knew Vanderbilt’s true mission even before faith, didn’t influence the risk of divorce. BT ing in 1999, said: “This is for me an Vanderbilt understood it entirely.” BT

Baptists Today • March 2006 25 I N F O R M A T I O N Air Force revises religion guidelines

By Robert Marus prayer “should not usually be a part of routine official business.” WASHINGTON (ABP) — Pentagon officials And, Lynn noted, the old guidelines have revised a set of guidelines on religious included a separate list of events that, “consis- freedom in the Air Force after complaints tent with long-standing military tradition,” from members of Congress and some religious could be solemnized with “a brief non- groups. sectarian prayer.” But the revisions met with mixed reviews “Because they took out all that specific from groups with interests in the struggle over language, I feel like more and more activities religion in the armed services. will be included,” he said. “They seem to want “This interim guidance outlines the basic to hedge all their bets and to be able to have a principles we expect all military and civilian complaining about the new guidelines. Jones person in authority pray at many different airmen to follow as we solidify formal policy,” and his colleagues claimed that the document’s events and say that, ‘Well, this is an exemption said Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, Air Force deputy proposed solution — that only “non-sectarian” to the general principle.’” chief of staff for personnel, according to a public prayers were appropriate at events Lynn also faulted the revision for shorten- Pentagon news release Feb. 9. where airmen of many faiths would be present ing the guidelines cautioning officers and But Barry Lynn, executive director of — limited the religious freedom of Christian upperclassmen against proselytizing their infe- Americans United for Separation of Church chaplains who wanted to pray in Jesus’ name. riors in the Air Force chain of command. and State, said the revisions look like “an “The current demand in the guidelines “This doesn’t have all that language about effort to water down” the original draft for so-called ‘no-sectarian’ [sic] prayers is the significance of a superior officer and a per- because of pressure from Religious Right merely a euphemism declaring that prayers son of lower rank and all those sensitivities,” leaders. will be acceptable only so long as they censor he said. “It just doesn’t recognize the power The earlier draft, released in August, was Christian beliefs,” Jones wrote. differential that caused so many of the prob- intended to address a controversy centered on However, the old guidelines did nothing lems at the Air Force Academy itself.” the religious climate at the Air Force Academy to prevent Air Force chaplains from giving sec- But the Air Force’s Brady said most of the in Colorado Springs, Colo. tarian prayers at voluntary events where only changes simply were to streamline the docu- In April, Lynn wrote Pentagon officials a members of their faith would be present — ment. letter complaining that there was a pervasive such as on-base worship services or Bible “We found that we could more effectively and systematic bias in favor of evangelical studies. express them with leaner, broader verbiage,” Christians at the government-run school. The In a nod to Jones’ complaint, the revision he said. “These guidelines help clarify religious letter detailed incidents in which administra- inserts a line noting that chaplains “will not be respect issues and provide a simple document tors, faculty and upper-class cadets at the required to participate in religious activities, that is easy for all airmen to comprehend.” academy allegedly promoted evangelical forms including public prayer, inconsistent with Lynn didn’t accept that assertion. “I don’t of Christianity or harassed cadets of minority their faiths.” think this is a shorter document just because faiths. Lynn noted that the revised document people thought it was too wordy. I think it’s a An outspoken parent of two Jewish contains no similarly explicit protection for shorter document because people didn’t want cadets and a Lutheran chaplain at the school regular military personnel. “This reads like the so much emphasis on the rights of adherents of soon echoed AU’s complaints. big problem is that somehow chaplains were minority religions in the Air Force,” he said. Among the allegations were several inci- losing their right to be religious,” he said. “But At least one group that had criticized the dents in which faculty or administrators these regulations and guidelines came out of earlier guidelines expressed approval of the promoted evangelical groups or beliefs in ways specific abuses and practices at the Air Force new ones. the complainants found inappropriate or coer- Academy. This is what they were supposed to “The guidelines appropriately caution cive — such as repeated attempts to convert remedy, and I think that this draft is a real superiors against making comments that could non-evangelical cadets and prayers or religious serious retreat from the sensitivity expressed in appear to subordinates to be official policy. promotions at events with cadets of differing earlier drafts from minority religious view- With that in mind, they properly state that faiths. The charges also included several inci- points.” ‘superiors enjoy the same free-exercise rights as dents in which cadets of minority faiths were Lynn also faulted the revised guidelines all other airmen,’” said Tom Minnery, senior harassed or humiliated by fellow cadets. for deleting a list of specific routine military vice president of Focus on the Family, in a The Air Force issued a report on the events in which public prayer would typically Feb. 9 statement. “Just as important, we hope academy and the guidelines to deal with the not be appropriate. In the original guidelines, these guidelines will bring an end to the controversy. examples included “staff meetings, office meet- frontal assault on the Air Force by secularists But in October, a group of conservative ings, classes, or officially sanctioned activities who would make the military a wasteland of congressmen — led by Rep. Walter Jones (R- such as sports events or practice sessions.” relativism, where robust discussion of faith is N.C.) — wrote a letter to President Bush But the new document simply says public impossible.” BT 26 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N Christians who pledge abstinence outlast non-pledgers

By Ken Camp lifestyle, Weathersbee said. conclude many American teens are substitut- Baptist Standard The overall sexual abstinence movement ing other sexual behaviors for intercourse. For — both faith-based and secular — clearly instance, a report released by the National WACO, Texas (ABP) — A new survey of has reaped positive benefits, said Richard Center for Health Statistics last September Baptist newlyweds suggests that, though true Ross, who pioneered the True Love Waits found more than half of American teens ages love does not always wait, it waits more program in 1993. 15 to 19 engaged in oral sex. often if it starts with a formal pledge of “The fact is rates of teenage sexual activ- Weathersbee’s research also revealed purity. ity rose for 20 unbroken years. Then came “only 27 percent of the young people entered While a majority of church-going young True Love Waits and, from that, the broader the marriage bed chaste,” having refrained couples in the Texas survey acknowledged abstinence movement. From that moment not only from intercourse but also from having sexual intercourse before marriage, on, rates of teenage sex have dropped every other sexual practices. the study suggested Baptist couples were year for 12 unbroken years,” he said. But Ross insists teens who take faith- much more likely to wait until their wedding Ross pointed to a study published three based abstinence pledges understand their night if they took a formal abstinence years ago in the journal Adolescent Family promise to mean refraining from any sexual pledge, such as Southern Baptists’ True Love Health that credited the decline in adolescent behavior. Waits program. pregnancy in the United States primarily to Teens who take the True Love Waits The program gained popularity in the the increasing number of sexually abstinent pledge promise to enter “a lifetime of purity” 1990s. Many of the earliest generations of teenagers. that includes, but is not limited to, refrain- youths to take the pledges have since entered “It clearly shows that increased ing from sexual intercourse until marriage, into their first marriages. abstinence accounted for 67 percent of the he noted. Byron Weathersbee, interim chaplain at decrease in pregnancy for girls ages 15 to “Every teaching book for True Love Baylor University in Waco, Texas, analyzed 19,” said Ross, professor of student ministry Waits carefully makes the point that teenagers such sexual-purity pledges and sex education at Southwestern Baptist Theological are pledging lifetime purity in thought, look in a Christian context as the focus of his Seminary. and touch,” Ross said. “We also teach: if it doctoral dissertation. He surveyed young Some research has led analysts to involves a sexual organ, it is sex.” BT married couples in Texas Baptist churches to examine how — and how much — churches made an impact on their sexual behavior. Of the young Christians surveyed, six out of 10 who made sexual purity pledges abstained from sexual intercourse until mar- riage. But only three of 10 who didn’t take a formal pledge remained chaste. All of the surveyed individuals — who had been married less than five years — pro- fessed faith in Christ. Of that figure, 99 percent attended church, 84 percent said they grew up in church and 87 percent grew up in a two-parent home. Even so, 62 percent of the males and 65 percent of the females engaged in sexual intercourse before marriage, Weathersbee dis- covered. Nine out of 10 who acknowledged sexual activity prior to marriage never took a True Love Waits purity pledge. “To a large degree, we’re missing it,” Weathersbee said. “The young people are receiving the data, but they’re not translating it into values that result in a lifestyle of purity and holiness.” The strength of the True Love Waits emphasis lies in the way it involves parents, a supportive network of peers, the church as a whole and the community at-large in emphasizing the importance of a pure Baptists Today • March 2006 27 I N F O R M A T I O N Thanks to our many friends whose generosity in 2005 supported the communications ministry of Baptists Today

Abbott, A. Louis, Waynesboro, Ga. Blackstock, R.T./ Nita, Penney Farms, Fla. Campolo, Margaret D./Anthony, St. Davids, Pa. Ackerman, Raymond/Maxine, Orangeburg, S.C. Blackstone, Billy B., Chandler, Texas Canipe, Chris/Sandra, Greensboro, N.C. Adams, Clarence/Bonnie, Charlotte, N.C. Blanchard, Linda, Fayetteville, Ga. Cantrell, C.C./Sachiko, Mountain View, Mo. Adams, Ernestine, Thomaston, Ga. Bland, Thomas A./Eunice, Wake Forest, N.C. Cantwell, E.H., Baton Rouge, La. Adams, Juanita K., Gainesville, Ga. Blanton, Bill, Stone Mountain, Ga. Caraway, Michael/Claudia, San Angelo, Texas Alexander, Max, Jonesboro, Ark. Blanton, Novella, Gaffney, S.C. Cardwell, Mary Jane, Waycross, Ga. Allen, Bill/Mary Jayne, Chattanooga, Tenn. Blevins, F. Zane, Hopewell, Va. Carpentar, Dorothy, Dahlonega, Ga. Allen, Jimmy R., Big Canoe, Ga. Blount, Mr./Mrs. Perry, Soperton, Ga. Carpenter, Anne/Bill, Greenville, S.C. Allen, S.D., Savannah, Ga. Boatright, Vetta A., Louisville, Ga. Carpenter, Florence, Irving, Texas Allford, William, McAlester, Okla. Boland, Tommy, Alpharetta, Ga. Carson, Jack, Henderson, Ky. Allport, Dorothy, Alexandria, Va. Bolton, Mrs. V.M., Mobile, Ala. Carter, Charles, Madison, Miss. Allums, Gwinelle, Mobile, Ala. Boss, J. Larry, Villa Rica, Ga. Carter, James E./Ann D., Jacksonville, Fla. Ames, Viva, Grand Rapids, Mich. Bowen, Irene/Charles, Dalton, Ga. Carter, Jimmy/Rosalyn, Plains, Ga. Ammons, Justus, Raleigh, N.C. Bowen, Mrs. Thomas, Woodland, Ga. Case, J.V., Bowling Green, Ky. Anders, Sarah Frances, Pineville, La. Bowen, W.I., Tifton, Ga. Casey, Evelyn, Gainesville, Fla. Anderson, Billy/Carolyn, Macon, Ga. Bowie, John, Birmingham, Ala. Cassidy, Donald, Premium, Ky. Anderson, Douglas/Ann, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Box, Mr./Mrs. Benton H., Clemson, S.C. Cataldo, K.M., Stuart, Fla. Anderson, Thomas/Norma, Austin, Texas Boyd, Kirk/Hazel, Moultire, Ga. Cates, J.H., Fredericksburg, Va. Andrews, David B., Pensacola, Fla. Bradley, Ruth S., Nashville, Tenn. Cato, Sue, Little Rock, Ark. Andrews, Mr./Mrs. E.C., Anderson, S.C. Bragg, Joel, Birmingham, Ala. Chaddick, RoGene, Clovis, N.M. Annis, Carl R., Clarkston, Ga. Bramblett, Marian, Greeneville, S.C. Chafin, Barbara B., Bellaire, Texas Anthony, Sybil A., Pensacola, Fla. Bramlett, W.C., Kennesaw, Ga. Chamberlain, Eugene, Nashville, Tenn. Appleton, Jon/Virginia, Athens, Ga. Brannan, B.J., Chickaasha, Okla. Chambers, Fay, Bowden, Ga. Ashworth, Harold/Judy, Ringgold, Ga. Brannon, John/Bette, Kirkwood, Mo. Chance, Jane, Dalton, Ga. Austell, Patricia, Greenville, S.C. Branstetter, Paul D., California, Mo. Chandler, Lita, Lilburn, Ga. Averett, Ida, Lakeland, Fla. Brantley, Maruice/Edna, Tucson, Ariz. Chaney, H.W., Sedalia, Mo. Avery, Joel/Nannette, Signal Mountain, Tenn. Brewer, Donald/Joey, Gainesville, Ga. Chapman, Robert R., Mars Hill, N.C. Aycock, Don, Palatka, Fla. Brewer, Paul D., Jefferson City, Tenn. Chappell, Bonnie, San Angelo, Texas Ayers, Patricia Shield, Austin, Texas Brewer, Ralph/Peggy, Largo, Fla. Chiles, Henry/Bobbie, Knoxville, Tenn. Babb, Jack, Ringgold, Ga. Bridges, Ray F., Covington, Ga. Chisolm, Ivan, Jasper, Ala. Bagby, Mr./Mrs. Daniel G., Richmond, Va. Bridgman, Huey A./Charlotte V., Columbia, Ga. Christenberry, George A., Augusta, Ga. Bagley-McGaugh, Helen S., Montgomery, Ala. Brinkley, Dot W., Hartselle, Ala. Christensen, Mr./Mrs., Ponca City, Okla. Bailey, Doyce R., Huntsville, Ala. Britt, Tim, Barnwell, S.C. Clark, Bobbye S., Memphis, Tenn. Bailey, Edwin E., Villa Rica, Ga. Britton, Vera M., Seneca, S.C. Clark, David L., Snellville, Ga. Baird, Ancil/Nancy, Commerce, Ga. Brown, Allen/Gayle, St. Simons Island, Ga. Clark, Roy N., Rome, Ga. Banks, Norma, Macon, Ga. Brown, Ann, Rome, Ga. Clark, Sarah D., Cocoa, Fla. Barber, Joyce P., Moultrie, Ga. Brown, Dale/Jane, Hephzibah, Ga. Clarke, James A., Brimingham, Ala. Bare, Anita J., Garner, S.C. Brown, Harold, Port Neches, Texas Clemons, Hardy, San Antonio, Texas Barker, Russ, Clarkesville, Ga. Brown, Kelly, Fitzgerald, Ga. Cloar Jr, Ralph M., Little Rock, Ark. Barnes, Charles D., Lousiville, Ky. Brown, Kent, Gretna, Va. Clontz, Marie, Asheville, N.C. Barnes, Walter G., Birmingham, Ala. Brown, Lavonn D., Norman, Okla. Cluff, Dorothy, Orange, Va. Barnett, Mr./Mrs. Richard C., Winston-Salem, N.C. Brown, Mr./Mrs. Harry B., Charlotte, N.C. Cockrum, Howard B., Knoxville, Tenn. Barnett, Pam, Oklahoma City, Okla. Brown, Ron/Maryan, Phoenix, Md. Cole, Robert, Plattsmouth, Neb. Barnett, Stan, Jasper, Ga. Brown,Tom, Murfreesboro, Tenn. Cole, Paul/Sarah, Houston, Texas Basler, Eddie/Ruby, Stillwater, Okla. Browning, Edwin/Faye, Madison, Fla. Coleman, Darrel, Little Rock, Ark. Batchelor, Gary/Rosalind, Rome, Ga. Browning, Robert/Jackie, Lilburn, Ga. Collins, Charles E., Signal Mountain, Tenn. Batts,Gregg/Paula, Dalton, Ga. Brummett, Catherine, Birmingham, Ala. Coltharp, Art/LaNell, Austin, Texas Baugh, Babs, San Antonio, Texas Bruner, James, Macon, Ga. Compton, Joyce, Beverly Hills, Fla. Baugh, John F., Houston, Texas Brunson, Mr./Mrs. Nolen, Greenville, S.C. Conn, Walton, Franklin, Tenn. Baughn, Dean, Rutherfordton, N.C. Bryan, Sigurd F., Birmingham, Ala. Connally, Virginia Boyd, Abilene, Texas Beall, Vernon D, Pineville, La. Bryant, Gladys, Nashville, Tenn. Conner, Mr./Mrs. Carmen L., Leesburg, Fla. Beane, Ann T., Richmond, Va. Bryant, James W., Chesapeake, Va. Cook, David, Smyrna, Ga. Beard, Robert, Prattville, Ala. Bryant, Jim, Harrison, Ark. Cooley, Ray N., Wallingford, Conn. Beck, Eleanor N., Athens, Ga. Bryant, Thomas B./Linda M., Columbia, S.C. Coon, David, North Kingstown, R.I. Beck, Geneva, Sikeston, Mo. Bryson, J.G./Earlene, Carrollton, Ga. Cooper, W.F., Waco, Texas Belcher, Robert/Mary, Washington, N.C. Bugg, Charles/Diane, Shelby, N.C. Cornell, Lionel, Citra, Fla. Bell, Scott J., Pensacola, Fla. Bullard, C. Michael/Lisa G., Garner, N.C. Cosper, Wilma, Cullowhee, N.C. Bellis, Gerald/Mary, Bullard, Texas Bunch, Lynette, Murfreesboro, N.C. Cotney, Bernece W., Wadley, Ala. Bennett, Eddie, Avoldale Estates, Ga. Burge, W. Lee, Atlanta, Ga. Couch, Rex G., San Marcos, Texas Bensinger, Brad, Troy, Ala. Burgess Jr., Mr./Mrs. C.S., Decatur, Ga. Covington, Mr./Mrs. R.W., Waco, Texas Benson, Sara, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Burlington, Hugh A./Vickie T., Greenville, N.C. Coward, Roderick W., Charlotte, N.C. Bercegeay, E.W., Atlanta, Ga. Burt, Bruce S., Manchester, Ga. Cowart, Jim, Roswell, Ga. Berry, Charline, Rockville, Md. Burton, Gary, Hope Hull, Ala. Cox, Mary Frances, Simposonville, S.C. Bewley, Ray/Ann, Bradenton, Fla. Burton, Larry M., Montgomery, Ala. Creamer, W. Roy, Salisbury, N.C. Bigelow, Dennis, Palmyra, Va. Bush, Jean, Albany, Ga. Crenshaw, Mrs. B.M., Kennessaw, Ga. Biggs, Katherine, Muskogee, Okla. Butler, Ben J., Bristol, Va. Croom, R.B., Wilmington, N.C. Binns, Mary Arnold, Atlanta, Ga. Byrd, Mr./Mrs. Robert, Nashville, Tenn. Cropper, William E., Lilburn, Ga. Bishop, Amelia, Austin, Texas Byrd, Frieda, Macon, Ga. Cross III, G. Lee, Atlanta, Ga. Bishop, Jack/Eve, Waynesville, N.C. Byrum, George, Asheboro, N.C. Crouch, Henry, Asheville, N.C. Bissett, Ruby, Sarasota, Fla. Calaway, Bernie L., Cullowhee, N.C. Crouch Jr., W.H., Georgetown, Ky. Bittick, Lindel, New Braunfels, Texas Calcote, Ralph, Wesson, Miss. Crow, Joyce, Waco, Texas Bittinger, Herman/Maxine, Boaz, Ala. Calhoun, Tommie, Durham, N.C. Crowe, Kathy/David, Cornelia, Ga. Black, Tom/Doris, Columbus, Ga. Callaway, James/Beverly, Ringgold, Ga. Cruce, Dean, Chattanooga, Tenn. Black, Rebecca J., Atlanta, Ga. Callaway, Nancy, Ringgold, Ga. Crump, Kenny/Shirley, Ruston, La. Blackberry, Jeffries L./Elizabeth B., Bowling Green, Ky. Calvert, Sim, Vinemont, Ala. Crumpler, James/Susan, Mason, Ohio Blackburn, Mr./Mrs. David M., Athens, Ala. Campbell, Cecil A., Knoxville, Tenn. Culberson, Sarah B., Gasden, Ala. 28 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N

Culpepper, Alan, Stone Mountain, Ga. Freisinger, Jacqueline, Molino, Fla. Harvey, Carroll E., Clermont, Fla. Cunningham, Dorothy, Chesterfield, Mo. Fuller, Betty B., Matthews, N.C. Hastings, Sr., Mrs. C.L., Laurel, Miss. Currie, David, San Angelo, Texas Fuller, Doug/Cindy, Manchester, Ga. Hasty, Margaret L., Hiawasee, Ga. Curry, Bradford, Standford, Ky. Fuller, Jean S., Bowdon, Ga. Hatcher, Jimmy, Ringgold, Ga. Cuttino, Thomas E., Columbia, S.C. Fussell, Mrs. Homer J., McRae, Ga. Hause, Martha, Bradenton, Fla. Dale, Robert, Richmond, Va. Gage, Keri R., Miami, Fla. Hawes, Betty B., Buena Vista, Va. Daniel, T.R., Evans, Ga. Gail, Harriett J., Independence, Mo. Hawes, William, Burke, Va. Dant, Jim, Macon, Ga. Galloway, Mr./Mrs. W.H., Stone Mountain, Ga. Hawkins, Theron, Comfort, Texas Dantzler, Debbie, Conway, S.C. Galloway, William/Caroline, Greensboro, Ga. Haynes, Henry/Betty, Vinita, Okla. Daughtery, John/Phyllis, Pineville, LA Gandy, Lillian S., Fort Worth, Texas Hays, George H., Liberty, Mo. Davis Jr., Mr./Mrs. Luther J., Washington, N.C. Gannon, Truett/Margaret, Stone Mountain, Ga. Hays, James, Norman, Okla. Davis, Phil/Joyce S., College Station, Texas Gardner, Jess/Davis L., Lexington, Ky. Hays, Wilma, Camilla, Ga. Davis, Ruth, Lavonia, Ga. Gardner, Jimmy L./Annie Faye, Alpharetta, Ga. Heath, Neil/Anne, Macon, Ga. Davis, Wayne/Betty, Clemson, S.C. Gardner, Robert/Anne, Macon, Ga. Heaton, Joy, Waverly, Va. Dawson, Irvin/Elinor, Stockbridge, Ga. Garner, Evelyn, Waycross, Ga. Hebert, Mary, Baton Rouge, La. Day, J. Daniel/Mary Carol, Raleigh, N.C. Garner, Marvin E., York Springs, Pa. Hedrick Jr., Norman, Richmond, Va. Day Jr., Shirley R./William O., Waynesboro, Va. Garrard, Deborah C., Atlanta, Ga. Hege, Charles W., Winston-Salem, N.C. Day, Sande Wilson, Macon, Ga. Gaustad, E.S., Santa Fe, N.M. Heldebrand, James O., Tulsa, Okla. De Hanas, Everett M., Venice, Fla. Gaventa, Alice P., Richmond, Va. Henderson, Bill/Rena, Ridgecrest, N.C. De Priest, Marjorie, Nashville, Tenn. Gentry, Joe/Pat, Rock Hill, S.C. Hendrix, John, Clinton, Miss. Dellinger, J. Bruce/Melna, Pontotoc, Miss. George, Virginia, Nashville, Tenn. Henson Jr., Paul E., Dalton, Ga. Denham, Allen, Columbus, Ga. Gibbs, Lois, Athens, Ga. Hester, H.O., Montgomery, Ala. Devenny, Mr./Mrs. T.A., Piedmont, S.C. Gideon, Joe, Albuquerque, N.M. Hester, Versie, Huntsville, Ala. Dickerson, Art/Sally, Signal Mountain, Tenn. Gilbert Jr., Wyatt M., Lavonia, Ga. Hill, Les/Jan, Lexington, Ky. Dietz, Robert/Laura, Orlando, Fla. Giles, Joseph/Alice, Baltimore, Md. Hill, Mr./Mrs. Leonard E., Nashville, Tenn. Dilday, Russell, Dallas, Texas Gillespie, Sue, College Station, Texas Hill, Mrs. Davis C., Nashville, Tenn. Dill, Dorothy, Greenville, S.C. Gillis, Pat, Statesboro, Ga. Hill, Tom/Joan, Canton, Ga. Dillard, Kyle, Austin, Texas Gillum, James N., Richmond, Va. Hills, Hannah B., Raleigh, N.C. Dilworth, Robert H., Knoxville, Tenn. Ginn, Perry/Betty, Decatur, Ga. Hillyer, Billy/Marilyn, Tyler, Texas Dixon, Virginia, Atlanta, Ga. Girod, Glenn, Baton Rouge, La. Hines, Mary L., Birmingham, Ala. Doggett, Mary Ann, Houston, Texas Glass, Bryan/Carolyn, Stillwater, Okla. Hinson, Charles/Shirley, Valdese, N.C. Dorriety, James O., Hampton Cove, Ga. Glaze, Mr./Mrs. R.E., Cullman, Ala. Hobbs, Dan, Norman, Okla. Dudney, Thomas E., Kingsport, Tenn. Glover, Ann O., Orangeburg, S.C. Hobbs, Timothy W., Henderson, Ky. Duke, Tommy/Gail, Dalton, Ga. Godsey, Kirby/Joan, Macon, Ga. Hoffman, Edith B., Shelby, N.C. Dukes, David, Jesup, Ga. Goepfert, Robert, Carbondale, Ill. Hoffman, Henry H., Birmingham, Ala. Duncan, Ann, Marietta, Ga. Good, Ed/Peggy, Greer, S.C. Hogan, Jane H., Athens, Ga. Goodwin, Arthur P., Little Rock, Ark. Holcomb, Henrietta K., Fayetteville, Ark. Duncan, Margaret F., Statesboro, Ga. Gorman, June, West Columbia, S.C. Hollman, K. Hollyn, Falls Church, Va. Dunn, Ray T., Fort Myer, Fla. Goss, Betty V. (Betsy), San Angelo, Texas Holmes, Cynthia, St. Louis, Mo. Durham, Patricia, Savannah, Ga. Gragg, Alan/Jessie, Asheville, N.C. Holt, Delbert/Oma Gean, Blair, Okla. Duvall, Pearl, Cordele, Ga. Granade, Napp/Sarah, Kathleen, Ga. Honeycutt, Betty, Rutherfordton, N.C. Duyck, Sally, Asheville, N.C. Grand Sr, T. Spencer, Greenville, S.C. Hooper, Mr./Mrs. W.L., Bolivar, Mo. Early Jr., Mr./Mrs. William E., Fort Worth, Texas Graves, Clinton/Ima Mae, Blacksburg, Va. Hopper, Richard T., Norman, Okla. Eckert, Juanita, Belleville, Ill. Graves, Thomas/Wendy, Midlothian, Va. Houston, Douglas W., Starkville, Miss. Eden, Julia S., Jesup, Ga. Gray, Joyce K., Johnson City, Tenn. Howell, Crawford, Dothan, Ala. Edgington, Owen W., Flat Rock, Ill. Gray, Mrs. Paul, Pensacola, Fla. Howell, J. Hayden, Columbia, S.C. Edmondson, Dorothy, Austin, Texas Green, Herman, El Paso, Texas Howell, Mr./Mrs. Joe, Hartselle, Ala. Edwards, J. Don, Athens, Ga. Greene, James, Montgomery, Ala. Howell, Ray, Lexington, N.C. Edwards, M.A., Rock Hill, S.C. Greenhaw, William, Macon, Ga. Howell, Walter L., Columbia, S.C. Edwards, Sue/Jimmy, Brentwood, Tenn. Greer, Juanita, Weaverville, N.C. Howle, David, Plainview, Texas Elkins, Cliff, Raleigh, N.C. Grier III, James C., Rock Hill, S.C. Huddleston, Greg/Denise, Atlanta, Ga. Elliott, Betty Gail, Alexandria, Va. Griffin, David, Carrollton, Ga. Hudson, Robert R., Silver Spring, Md. Ellis, Bill/Charlotte, Richmond, Ky. Griffith, James N., Newnan, Ga. Huff, Henry A., Mars Hill, N.C. Ellis, Bonita, Baton Rouge, La. Grogan, Jane, Columbus, Ga. Huff, James A., Oklahoma City, Okla. Elmore, Tom/Ruby, Winston-Salem, N.C. Grooms Jr., H.H., Birmingham, Ala. Hughes, Estel W., Richland, Va. Emmons, Robert W, Meridian, Miss. Gross, Ben/Helen, Chattanooga, Tenn. Humphrey, Cathy, Flowery Branch, Ga. English, Patti, Fredericksburg, Va. Groves, Barbara, Harvest, Ala. Humphrey, Ophelia, Amarillo, Texas Etheridge, Robert, Lawrenceville, Ga. Guinn, Neva, Alexandria, La. Humphreys Jr., James E, Huntingdon, Tenn. Ethridge Jr., Cecil, Gray, Ga. Gullatt, Tom/Vera, Fairburn, Ga. Hurst, C.R./Jesmarie, Tyler, Texas Eubanks, Gary/Virginia, Marietta, Ga. Gunter, Roy, Shawnee, Ky. Hutchens, Eugene, Tuscumbia, Ala. Fain, Mrs. W. Maurice, Stony Point, N.Y. Gurney, Don, Bartlett, Texas Hutchinson, Elvan E., Raleigh, N.C. Fain, Sarah C., Ridgeway, Va. H.E. Butt, Kerrville, Texas Hyde, Randy, Little Rock, Ark. Faris, Oran, Frankfort, Ky. Hackle, Emma Jeane, Winter Haven, Fla. Iley, Bryce B., Harrisburg, N.C. Farrar, Ruth, Landrem, S.C. Hagan, Danny, Statesboro, Ga. Ingram, Herbert J., Cordele, Ga. Ferguson, Earl J., Stillwater, Okla. Hamm, Horace A., Fuquay-Varina, N.C. Isbell, Steve, Fort Payne, Ala. Ferguson, Jack C., Birmingham, Ala. Hamrick, W.K., Gastonia, N.C. Ivey, Marilyn S., Knoxville, Tenn. Ferrell, E.E., Black Mountain, N.C. Haney, Carl/Elizabeth, Odessa, Mo. Jackson, Jeri B., Huntsville, Ala. Fetzer, Larry, Meeker, Okla. Haney, Don/Debra, Tunnel Hill, Ga. Jackson, Murl/Gwen, Chattanooga, Tenn. Fisher, J.A.S., Shreveport, La. Hannah, J. Perry/Eunice, East Wenatchee, Wash. Jackson, Patisue, Atlanta, Ga. Fitzgerald, Paul, Muncy, Pa. Hanson, Starr/Jim, Dalton, Ga. Jacobs, Walter/Jean, Greenville, S.C. Fitzgerald, Sue, Mars Hill, N.C. Harbin, Betty, West Union, S.C. James Jr, J.W., Richmond, Va. Fleming, Oliver G., Ahoskie, N.C. Hardee, Hoyt/Martha, Loris, S.C. James, Glen W., Cookeville, Tenn. Fletcher, Joel/Jean, Rome, Ga. Hardy Jr., W.M., Elberton, Ga. Janson, Kathryn G., Alexandria, Va. Flinn, James L., Huntsville, Ala. Harley, James/Carolyn, Pueblo, Colo. Jeffcoat, Bob/Elaine, Durham, N.C. Flournouy, Mr./Mrs. E.E., Albany, Ga. Harmon, Royce Jenne, Stephenville, Texas Jenkins, Linda, Yazoo City, Miss. Fogleman, C.W., Lake Charles, La. Harrelson, Walter/Idella, Winston Salem, N.C. Jenkins, Mary Louise, Brandenburg, Ky. Ford, Annie H., Huntsville, Ala. Harris, Colin/Faye, Stone Mountain, Ga. Jenkins, Woody, Goochland, Va. Ford, Carmen H., Beaufort, S.C. Harris, Mr./Mrs. Douglas J., Jefferson City, Tenn. Jennings, Martha, Muskogee, Okla. Forner, Martha F., Shelby, N.C. Harris, J. Hoffman/Norma, Decatur, Ga. Jennings, Roy/Marye, Germantown, Tenn. Fortner, Mr./Mrs. L.L., Columbus, Ga. Harris, Robert, Marietta, Ga. Jennings, Theron, Carrollton, Ga. Foster, Billie D., Conroe, Texas Harris, William, Alexandria, Va. Johns, Dorothy, Waycross, Ga. Foster, Carlton/Billie, Conroe, Texas Harrison, Ircel C./Rita F., Murfreesboro, Tenn. Johnson, Carleen I., Sikeston, Mo. Foust, Mr./Mrs. Dennis, Birmingham, Ala. Harston, Jana, Charlotte, N.C. Johnson, Carroll/JoAnne, Brownfield, Texas Fowler, Robert K./Anne H., Houston, Texas Hart Jr., Angus, Jeffersonville, Ga. Johnson, J. Katherine, Scottsdale, Ariz. Frank, Jim, Kansas City, Mo. Hartsell Jr., Fletcher L., Concord, N.C. Johnson, J. Paul, Birmingham, Ala. Free, Dixon, Lincolnton, N.C. Harvey, Betty P., Thomaston, Ga. Johnson, Jan, Dunlap, Tenn. Baptists Today • March 2006 29 I N F O R M A T I O N

Johnson, Jim/Joan, Box Springs, Ga. Lovegren, Norman, New Orleans, La. Moses, Austin, Austin, Texas Johnson, Milton, Ruston, La. Lowe, Nancy, Memphis, Tenn. Moses, Judith, Little Rock, Ark. Johnson, Mr./Mrs. Carrol, Brownfield, Texas Lowery, C. Aubrey, Cullman, Ala. Murney, Donna, Springfield, Mo. Johnson, Paul B., Buies Creek, N.C. Lunceford, Malcolm, Richmond, Ky. Murray, Ralph L., Hendersonville, Tenn. Joiner, Richard/Marilyn, Jackson, Miss. Lunsford, Dan, Mars Hill, N.C. Myers, Emily, Macon, Ga. Jones, Barry W., Athens, Ga. Lyles, Ron, Pasadeana, Texas Naish, Jane, Clayton, Ga. Jones, Cecil, Melbourne Beach, Fla. Lynch Jr., Albert, King George, Va. Neal, William, Stone Mountain, Ga. Jones, J. C., Frankfort, Ky. Madden, M., Slidell, La. Nelson, Bardin H., Bryan, Texas Jones, Joseph M., Huntsville, Ala. Maddox, Gaiser/Kay, Ponca City, Okla. Nelson, Morgan, Roswell, N.M. Jones, Mr./Mrs. William D., Owens Cross Roads, Ala. Magee, Nell, Nashville, Tenn. Nelson, Paul/Virginia, Arlington, Va. Jones, Thomas D., Pamplin, Va. Mallow, Ronald L./Sonia M., Frederick, Md. NeSmith, Mrs. H.G., Oneonta, Ala. Jordan, Monty/Diane, Talbott, Tenn. Maloch, Jim, Little Rock, Ark. Nichols Jr., Mr./Mrs. F.T., Savannah, Ga. Joyce, J. Daniel, Houston, Texas Malone, Bill/Drexel, Shawnee, Okla. Nimmons, Billy, Dalton, Ga. Junker, Patsy/Bill, Brentwood, Tenn. Manley, James/Lillian, Loganville, Ga. Nolan, Paul/Anne, Signal Mountain, Tenn. Kahn, Mr./Mrs. Jack H., Plano, Texas Marchman, Ray, Greensboro, Ga. Noles, Thomas/Shirley, Milledgeville, Ga. Kalmanson, Mary, Swainsboro, Ga. Maret, Mr./Mrs. Randall T., Dalton, Ga. Norman, Onida L., Davis, Calif. Keller, Charles W., Broussard, La. Marler, Parkes, Forest, Miss. Northcutt, Gordon, Longview, Texas Kelley Jr., James F., Birmingham, Ala. Marquez, Grace E., Birmingham, Ala. Northcutt, LeGrande/Cassandra, Longview, Texas Kelly, Earl, Jackson, Miss. Marshall, Bill, Columbia, Mo. Norton, Sidney, Gaffney, S.C. Kendall, Joe F., Covington, Texas Martin Jr., William, Raleigh, N.C. Novak, Rynell S., Denton, Texas Kennedy, Lalah, Claxton, Ga. Martin, Fred, Pensacola, Fla. Nutt, Jackie, Raleigh, N.C. Kenney Jr., Leslie, Desoto, Texas Martin, Jerry/Adell, Henderson, Ky. Nuttall, Bruce W., Fort Collins, Colo. Kerr, Barry W., St. Simons Island, Ga. Martin, Mary, Atlanta, Ga. O'Hare, Jimmie D., Waco, Texas Keuch, Don, Columbia, Md. Mason, Sue, Pinnacle, N.C. O'Leary, Ruth S., South Pittsburgh, Tenn. Kibbons, Jerry R., Campbellsville, Ky. Matthews, Jerry T., North Augusta, S.C. Oliver Jr., John, Richmond, Va. Kidd, Bill/Hester Ann, Washington, N.C. May, Walton/Margaret, Richmond, Va. Orosz, Judy I., Martinez, Ga. Killebrew, Horace, Kennesaw, Ga. Maynard, Pina C., Apex, N.C. Otto, Francis R., Macon, Ga. Killian, W. Harold, Greenville, S.C. Maze, Mary Wells, Boaz, Ala. Outland, W.R., Washington, N.C. Kilpatrick, Allie C., Milledgeville, Ga. McAbee, Harold/Rochelle, Lizella, Ga. Owen, Grant/Irene, Ardmore, Okla. Kilpatrick, Jimmy/Margaret, Cochran, Ga. McAfee, Carolyn, Seabrook, S.C. Paciocco, Robert, Washington, N.C. Kimzey, Elizabeth R., Athens, Ga. McAfee, Tom/Julie, Seabrook, S.C. Pankey, F. Lawson, Richmond, Va. King, Dianne, Marion, Ala. McCain, Charles S., Shreveport, La. Parham, Jo Ann, Gainesville, Fla. King, Mr./Mrs. Ron, Midland, Ga. McCall, Duke, Highlands, N.C. Parkhurst, Ellen, Arlington, Va. King, Florrie C., Lithonia, Ga. McCall Jr., P.L., Society Hill, S.C. Parks, Keith/Helen Jean, Richardson, Texas King, Tom, Tallashassee, Fla. McCall, W. Reaves, Hartsville, S.C. Patterson, Ken/Mary, Richmond, Va. Kington Jr., O.M., Naples, Fla. McCartney, Evelyn, Vero Beach, Fla. Patton, Mr./Mrs. William, College Station, Texas Kirkpatrick, Kathryn S., Waynesville, N.C. McClanahan, Rosalind, Birmingham, Ala. Paulson, Gayle, Commerce, Ga. Kling, Florace, College Station, Texas McConnell, William C., Knoxville, Tenn. Paulson, Mr./Mrs. Marlin, Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Knighton, Neal, Garland, Texas McCormick, Gwenn, Morriston, Fla. Peacock, Julia Deane, Crestview, Fla. Koiner, J. Michael, San Antonio, Texas McCraw, Paul L., Winston-Salem, N.C. Pearson, D.E., Orlando, Fla. Kolb, Margaret, Little Rock, Ark. McDaniel, Randall/Gretchen, Birmingham, Ala. Pearson, Glen, Hattiesburg, Miss. Kong, Dan, Honolulu, Hawaii McDonald, Catherine, Rome, Ga. Peck, Helen D., Atlanta, Ga. Krump, Kenny S., Ruston, La. McDowell, Jim/Sara, Louisville, Ky. Peebles, Kay, Pitts, Ga. Kuhnle, Mary Dan, Slidell, La. McDowell, L.W., Powells Point, N.C. Perkins Jr., Henry H./Summers, Clemson, S.C. LaVance, John, Pensacola, Fla. McElrath, Hugh T., Penney Farms, Fla. Perrin, Tom, Tallahassee, Fla. Lam, Virginia, Tucker, Ga. McGill Jr., Mr./Mrs. Henry C., San Antonio, Texas Peters, Jack/Norma, Tuttle, Okla. Lamb, Bob/Rhea, Shelby, N.C. McIntosh, Ellen Marie, Manchester, Mo. Peters, John E., Columbia, S.C. Lancy, Reid H., Burlington, N.C. McKinney, Elizabeth R., Ft. Worth, Texas Phelan, Mary F., Phoenix, Ariz. Landers, Burnell, Independence, Mo. McKinney, Eugene, San Antonio, Texas Phillips, Harold/Gwen, Liberty, Mo. Landes, R.R., El Dorado, Ark. McKinney, W.H., Athens, Ga. Phipps, Kenneth/Sandra, Miamisburg, Ohio Lane, Geraldine, San Antonio, Texas McKnight, Alan/Barbara, Duluth, Ga. Pierce, John/Teresa, Macon, Ga. Laney, Reid H., Burlington, N.C. McManus, Harold, Macon, Ga. Pipkin, Joseph M., Orlando, Fla. Langdon, Kenneth, Gainesville, Fla. McNeely, Gerald, Louisville, Ky. Pittard, Roger/Elizabeth, Richmond, Va. Langford, Charles/Betty, Dalton, Ga. McPhaul, Mary O., LaFayette, La. Platt, Wilfred, Macon, Ga. Langford, Henry Victor, Richmond, Va. Measles, Sandra, Morton, Miss. Plunkett, L. Richard, Carrollton, Ga. Langston, Eugene/Sara, Pensacola, Fla. Melton, William, Evergreen, Ala. Poole, Chuck/Marcia, Jackson, Miss. Lanham, Bill/Karen, Clemson, S.C. Mendheim, Doyle/Merle, Macon, Ga. Porter, Walter/Mary Lynn, Dadeville, Ala. Lark, H.J., Pickens, S.C. Mercer, Abbie, Owensboro, Ky. Potts, A. Earl, Homewood, Ala. Laughead, Vivian, Raytown, Mo. Merritt, John, Leicester, N.C. Potts, Robert J., Columbus, Ga. Lawrence, Flora, Ringgold, Ga. Miles, Andrew, Lyons, Ga. Powell, Bill/Sara, Hartwell, Ga. Lawrence, John/Anne, Raleigh, N.C. Miles, Paul M., Knoxville, Tenn. Powell, Mary M., Baton Rouge, La. Leach, Barbara M., Rome, Ga. Miller, Fred S., Columbia, S.C. Prager, Ray E., Grand Junction, Colo. Lee, Clyde, White Marsh, Md. Miller, James C., Bristol, R.I. Price, Marshall, Winston-Salem, N.C. Lee, Grace, Pineville, La. Miller, Leon/Kay S., Kerrville, Texas Proctor, Harold, Warrior, Ala. Lee, John D., Spotsylvania, Va. Mills, James F., Augusta, Ga. Proctor, Robert, Louisville, Ky. Lehman, Carl/Melba, Powder Springs, Ga. Milstead, Beth, San Antonio, Texas Proctor, T.G., Clemson, S.C. Lennon, Robert/Anne, Wilmington, N.C. Mims, Chip, Winston-Salem, N.C. Prosser, Mr./Mrs. Bill, Ardmore, Okla. LeVines, Tom/Shirley, Palmyra, Va. Minter, Miriam G., Cairo, Ga. Prouser, Rose, Burbank, Calif. Levy, Jan, Radford, Va. Mitchell, Carlton T., Winston-Salem, N.C. Pryor, Dorothy M., Decatur, Ga. Lewis, David H., Penhook, Va. Mizell, Mr./Mrs. Walter S., Little Rock, Ark. Purcell, Kessee/Patsy, Broad Run, Va. Lewis, Paul/Marsha, Macon, Ga. Moates, Lamon, Americus, Ga. Purifoy, E.D., Corsicana, Texas Lewis, Rhonda, Gonzales, La. Moench, Mr./Mrs. William L., Nashville, Tenn. Puryear, Mr./Mrs. James B., Augusta, Ga. Life, Mary Louise, Baton Rouge, La. Montacute, Paul, Falls Church, Va. Queen, Mike/Bobbie, Wilmington, N.C. Limbaugh, R. Leslie, St. Louis, Mo. Mooney Jr., Mr./Mrs. M.H., Atlanta, Ga. Quillen, Myrl, Matthews, N.C. Lindsey, Paul, Madison, Ga. Moore, Marylu, Paducah, Ky. Quisenberry, Virgil/Judy, Central, S.C. Lingafelt, Charles, Gretna, Va. Moore, Mrs. John A., Brownwood, Texas Raborn, Mr./Mrs. Wiley B., Baton Rouge, La. Little, James/Daisy, Hartselle, Ala. Moorehead, Thelma, Easley, S.C. Ragans, Sherrill, Tallahassee, Fla. Little Jr., W.J., Jackson, N.C. Morehead, Marjorie B, Marietta, Ga. Ragsdale, Mr./Mrs. John G., Little Rock, Ark. Little, Lolete, Birmingham, Ala. Morgan, Bruce/Emma, Gainesville, Ga. Ramsey, Jed/Frances, Beaumont, Texas Loftin, Elliott, Lincolnton, N.C. Morin, Gene, Greenville, S.C. Randles, Jack C., Fallston, Md. Loftin Jr., Mr./Mrs. Robert, Nashville, Tenn. Morris, J. Glenn, Baltimore, Md. Ratliff, Joseph M./Joan C., Greensboro, N.C. Logan, Walter H., Greenwood, S.C. Morrison Jr., Mrs. A.L., Montgomery, Ala. Ratterree, Mack/Laura, Atlanta, Ga. Logue, Tom/Ethel, Little Rock, Ark. Morse, Mr./Mrs. James O., Waco, Texas Rauch, Robert K./Ruth M., Moorsville, N.C. Long, Brad/Joyce, Houston, Texas Morse, Martha, San Antonio, Texas Ray, S.C./Marjorie, Greensboro, N.C. Long, Charlie/Sandy, Hot Springs, Ark. Morton, Jack W./Ann White, Cumming, Ga. Reeder,James L./Mary W., Huntsville, Ala. Lovegren, August, Cedartown, Ga. Morton, Thelma, Charlotte, N.C. Rentz Jr., Ben A., Charlotte, N.C. 30 Baptists Today • March 2006 I N F O R M A T I O N

Reynolds, Jerry D./Rebecca B., Dallas, Texas Smith, Neron, Raymond, Miss. Unger, Brian, Liberty, Mo. Reynolds, Sam A., Atlanta, Ga. Smith, Nina H., Albuquerque, N.M. Upchurch, James/Wilma, Carrollton, Ga. Reynolds, William J., Nashville, Tenn. Smith, Oxford, Eclectic, Ala. Van Hoose, Jim, Sarasota, Fla. Rhodes, Milton L., San Antonio, Texas Smith, R. Cornelius/Jeannette R., Norphlet, Ark. Vanderford, John A., Jacksonville, Ala. Rhodes, V. James/Verna Adwell, Columbia, Mo. Smith, Roy C./Carolyn, Norphlet, Ark. Vaughn, Brian D., Birmingham, Ala. Rhodes, William S., Atlanta, Ga. Smith, Truman, Richmond, Va. Vaughn, Joe F., Richmond, Va. Rich, J.T., Clemson, S.C. Smith, Walter E., Arden, N.C. Vazquez, A.M., Macon, Ga. Richards, Vincent, Richmond, Va. Snell, Carolyn R., Hattiesburg, Miss. Vernon, Steve, Leveland, Texas Rigdon, Sam, Buena Vista, Ga. Snider, Aubrey/Patricia, Bradenton, Fla. Vick, Lucy H., Cincinnati, Ohio Riley, Dan/Jackie, Macon, Ga. Snider, Ted L., Little Rock, Ark. Vinson, Bill/Dotty, Knoxville, Tenn. Rivers, Ernest/Louise, College Station, Texas Snyder, Milton, Milledgeville, Ga. Waddell, Brent, Jensen Beach, Fla. Robbins, DeAlphia B., Washington, D.C. Solomon, Gary/Marsha, Carrollton, Ga. Wade, Phyllis L., Tulsa, Okla. Robbins, Paul/Gladys, Savannah, Ga. Soroka, Alexander, Colonial Hgts, Va. Wainwright, Jack/Carol, Greensboro, Fla. Roberts, Florence, Durham, N.C. Spangler, Harold/Martha, Meadows of Dan, Va. Walker, Brent, Washington, D.C. Roberts, J.W./Mildred, Fayetteville, Ga. Spear Jr., R.D., Dunwoody, Ga. Walker, Charles O., Jasper, Ga. Robertson Sr., E. Moss, Braselton, Ga. Spencer Jr., John M., Smyrna, Ga. Walker, Francine, Morrow, Ga. Robinson, John, Springdale, Ark. Spencer, J.F., Fayetteville, Ark. Wallace, Billy C., Stillwater, Okla. Roddy, James R., Candler, N.C. Sphar, Elizabeth, Lexington, Ky. Ward, Carolyn, Marietta, Ga. Rogers, James/Mary Ann, Memphis, Tenn. Spivey, Bryant, Elgin, S.C. Ward, Hal/Vivian, Deville, La. Rogers, John/Jean, Bainbridge, Ga. Spratt, J. Lee, Columbia, S.C. Ware, Todd, Monroe, Ga. Rogers, Mr./Mrs. Elton E., Colonial Heights, Va. Sprawls, Perry/Charlotte W., Montreat, N.C. Warren, John H., Springfield, Mo. Rogers, Paul/Caroline, Tabor City, N.C. Stallings, David/Grace, Cairo, Ga. Warren, Katharine, Fredericksburg, Va. Rohrer, Robert H., Tucker, Ga. Stancil, D.H., Memphis, Tenn. Wash, Louise H., Pensacola, Fla. Romo, Oscar I., Cumming, Ga. Staton, Christine, Atlanta, Ga. Washburn, Carey B., Kinston, N.C. Ross, Joan L, Dalton, Ga. Stephenson, Mr./Mrs. Henry L., Washington, N.C. Washburn, David, Durham, N.C. Rothell, R.D./Patricia, Piedmont, S.C. Stephenson, Robert L., Norman, Okla. Watson, E.C./Mary Anne, Elgin, S.C. Rotters, Larry, Sweetwater, Tenn. Sterling, Thornton, Waco, Texas Watson, Jane, Monroe, La. Rowell, Edd/Ruth, Macon, Ga. Stevens, Lila, Two Harbors, Minn. Watson, Marion, Conway, S.C. Royal, Mr./Mrs. A. Lee, Charlotte, N.C. Stevens, Velma, Fort Worth, Texas Watson, Mr./Mrs. L.E., Frankfort, Ky. Rudert, Barry/Rosalie, St. Louis, Mo. Stewart, Charles, Meridan, Miss. Watson, Yin, Bolivar, Mo. Russell, Jim, Bentonville, Ark. Stovall, Mary Frances, Decatur, Ga. Watt, Joseph R., Hawkinsville, Ga. Russell, Kenneth, Calhoun, Ga. Stover, Elizabeth, Rutherfordton, N.C. Watts, Philip/Barbara, Birmingham, Ala. Rusty Edwards, Waco, Texas Strange, James F./Carolyn, Tampa, Fla. Webb, Len/Marian, Crestwood, Ky. Rutland, S.F., Charlotte, N.C. Strange, M. Eugene, Stuarts Draft, Va. Weeks, Robert, Bullard, Texas Ryle, Dallas/Nancy, Marietta, Ga. Strawn, Bud, St. Petersburg, Fla. Welch, Carroll B., Madison Heights, Va. Sample, Mr./Mrs. George, Greenville, Tenn. Strawn, Russel W., Independence, Fla. Wells, Frank S./JoAnn F., Enterprise, Ala. Sanders, David/Jennifer, Commerce, Ga. Street, Gail, Columbus, Miss. West, G. Allen, Louisville, Ky. Sanders, Drayton/Mary Etta, Dalton, Ga. Strickland, Ann, Pendleton, S.C. West, Elizabeth, Edison, Ga. Sanderson, Leonard, Pineville, La. Strickland, Clarissa, Lilburn, Ga. Whitaker, Mr./Mrs. Bruce, Raleigh, N.C. Sandford, Rob/Bettina, Norfolk, Va. Stripling, W.S., Norcross, Ga. White, Clement/Carole, St. Petersburg, Fla. Sasser, C.G., Conway, S.C. Strother, J.O., San Angelo, Texas White, Mr./Mrs. Reuben, Marietta, Ga. Savage, Stanley/Andrea, Moultrie, Ga. Summerhill, Bill/Faye, Gainesville, Fla. Whitefield, Sam R./Peggy S, Smyrna, Ga. Savell, Bill/Jan, Maryville, Tenn. Swann, Patricia, Cave Spring, Ga. Whitfield, Bryan J., Macon, Ga. Sayer, Edith, Travelers Rest, S.C. Taira, Aiko, Mililani, Hawaii Whitfield, Sam R., Smyrna, Ga. Scaggs, Robert A., North Augusta, S.C. Tassie, Willis/Roberta, Louisville, Ky. Whitson, C., LaFayette, Ala. Scanlon, Clark/Sarah, Richmond, Va. Tate, Marvin E., Louisville, Ky. Wilbanks, W. Wayne/Nicky, Commerce, Ga. Scarborough, Robert/Glenella, Fort Worth, Texas Tatum, Freddie, Brownfield, Texas Wiley, Paul G., Springfield, Va. Schaaf, Jim/Beverly, Macon, Ga. Taylor, Elred M., Louisville, Ky. Wiley, Pearl R., Tupelo, Miss. Schaible, Charles/Pat, Macon, Ga. Taylor, Gloria J., Fairbanks, Alaska Wilkins, Joe B., Portsmouth, Va. Schlein, L.H., Augusta, Ga. Terry, Thomas R., Blackville, S.C. Wilkins, Ruby, Wadley, Ala. Schmucker, Bob, Brownfield, Texas Thomas, Mary, Gulfport, Miss. Wilkinson, J.A., Seabrook, Texas Schmucker, Mary, Lubbock, Texas Thomas, P. Leon, Southport, N.C. Williams, Beverly L., Hope Hull, Ala. Schrysen, Joan, S. Daytona, Fla. Thomas, Pheroba, Fort Payne, Ala. Williams, Claude, Durham, N.C. Scott, Jim, Phoenix, Ariz. Thomas, William, Lafayette, Ala. Williams, Doris K., Macon, Ga. Scott, Vann/Tracey, Boaz, Ala. Thomason, Ben, Winston-Salem, N.C. Williams, Jackie, Birmingham, Ala. Seat, Leroy, Bolivar, Mo. Thomason, Bob, Clinton, S.C. Williams, James/Susan, Montgomery, Ala. Segars, Don, Lawrenceville, Ga. Thompson, Alec, Forsyth, Ga. Williams, Joe P., Louisville, Ky. Shackelford, Wayne/Anna, Snellville, Ga. Thompson, Ray A., Jackson, Miss. Williams, Pat, Snellville, Ga. Shauf, Al/Becky, Cordele, Ga. Tice, John D., Rocky Face, Ga. Williams, Paul/Mary Ann, Orange Park, Fla. Shaw, Charlotte E., Raleigh, N.C. Tichenor, W.B., Columbia, Mo. Williams, Richard M., Suffolk, Va. Shaw, Jack A., Cocoa, Fla. Tilley, Clyde/Nancy, Seymour, Tenn. Williams, Woodie/Winnie, Seneca, S.C. Shelley, Don/Susan, Greenville, S.C. Tilley, Jim/Claire, Hartselle, Ala. Williamson, James, Macon, Ga. Sherrer, Marcie, Dalton, Ga. Tillman, Earl/Carolyn, Rome, Ga. Willis, Scott/Vickie, Murfreesboro, Tenn. Shields, Emily, Birmingham, Ala. Timmerman, Ed/Sarah, Cairo, Ga. Willis, Tommie/Lucy, Birmingham, Ala. Shipley, Hal/Jean, Murray, Ky. Tobias, Hugh, Jacksonville, Fla. Wilson, Chappell, Marietta, Ga. Shoemyer, Dorothy, Shelbina, Mo. Todd, George/Helen, Vero Beach, Fla. Wilson, Charles E., Leesburg, Va. Shore, Steve/Darlene, Apex, N.C. Torbert, John W., Pineville, La. Wilson, Charles I., Aliceville, Ala. Shriver, George H., Statesboro, Ga. Torrance, Grady/Frances, Milledgeville, Ga. Wilson, David/Ann, Maryville, Tenn. Shurden, Walter/Kay, Macon, Ga. Townley, Mrs. Durelle T., Pensacola, Fla. Wilson, Frances, Statesville, N.C. Simmons, Roy E., Beebe, Ark. Trawick, William/Margaret, Decatur, Ga. Wilson, Hilda C., Dunn, N.C. Simms, Helen, Richmond, Va. Trott, Mildred, Montgomery, Ala. Wilson Jr., Robert K., Pensacola, Fla. Simms, Mary Ann, Greer, S.C. Troy, Laura, Atlanta, Ga. Wilson, Mr./Mrs. Jesse D., Maryville, Tenn. Simpson, Vivian, Buies Creek, N.C. Trull, Joe E., Wimberley, Texas Wilson, O. Chappell, Marietta, Ga. Simpson, Richard/Sarah, Upatoi, Ga. Tuck, Marjorie Gay, Gainesville, Va. Wilson, Robert R./Mary, Shreveport, La. Sisson, Willard/Sue, Flintstone, Ga. Tucker, Julia B., Albany, Ga. Woods, Elnora, Cleveland, Ga. Sledd, Max/Betty, Decatur, Ala. Tucker, Keithen/Sarah, Macon, Ga. Woodson, Robert R./Carolyn B., Stone Mountain, Ga. Small, R. Lephon, Florence, S.C. Tull, Virginia, Richmond, Va. Wright, Lela S., Ravenwood, W.V. Smith, David M., Houston, Texas Tullock, John H., Delano, Tenn. Wright, Randy, Spartanburg, S.C. Smith, Iris H., Cairo, Ga. Turner, Jerry W., Fairfax, Va. Wyatt, Mr./Mrs. Roy, Knoxville, Tenn. Smith, Ivan/Sue, Clanton, Ala. Turner, William/Earlene Rentz, Lancaster, Ky. Yates, James F., Yazoo City, Miss. Smith, Janie W., Richmond, Va. Tuttle, Walter/Beverly, Wake Forest, N.C. York, James A., Bolivar, Mo. Smith, John B., Montross, Va. Tweedy, William F., Baton Rouge, La. Younce, Daisy, Washington, N.C. Smith, Kathryn M., Little Rock, Ark. Twine, H. Edgar, Tampa, Fla. Young, Donald E., Macon, Ga. Smith, L.E., Bowling Green, Ky. Tyler, Ava A., Winchester, Ky. Yount, Diane, Cullowhee, N.C. Smith, Mary Call, Lugoff, S.C. Tyler III, James M., Richmond, Va. Zongker, Rose, Tallahassee, Fla. BT Smith, Royal B., Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Tyndall, Llew/Bob, Washington, N.C. Baptists Today • March 2006 31 P E R S P E C T I V E b a c k - r o w b i r d i e It takes one to know one By Keith D. Herron

t’s true and I can’t deny it: I’m teaching mug plastered to every entrance of the thin, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have my a class in my church this spring on building, WARNING: SINNER ON THE own way of figuring out the tough issues,” I IChristian ethics, and a man named LOOSE! offered weakly. “In fact, I’ve got my meth- Crook is the author of the textbook (groans Nowhere is that notion truer than on ods. and snickers). Thursday nights when the class gathers. It’s First, I think of Jesus’ recommendation Not only that my adoring children two hours of hand-to-hand combat over the that I try to figure out how I want to be would quickly point out, but also there’s no reading material. Most of us have never treated. Then I can know how I need to denying the undeniable: I’m the teacher of a taken a formal course on ethics, so we’re all treat others. class on ethics (more snickers from the struggling just to muster the material. Then, on other occasions, I let old man cheap seats in my family circle). My kids no I walked in on the first night and Birdie Sheldon coach me by imagining what Jesus longer qualify as kids and are sassy enough was already there. She looked like an eager would do. I read In His Steps when I was a to know me for all my faults hidden or oth- first grader on the first day of school. She teenager, and it seems to be adequate erwise. To them, I’m not their pastor … I’m had two pens and a freshly sharpened pencil enough for those times when I might be their dad. In spite of it all, they say they still arranged neatly next to her notepad. Her confused about how to act. love me. That they have any faith at all can textbook was opened flat to the first page of “The last piece of advice I’ve adopted is be attributed to their mother. the first chapter, and she had a fresh, bright of my own thinking: ‘How a thing is done is But there’s no getting around it. The look. as important as the thing itself.’ That keeps preacher preaches about God and goodness, “Glad you worked through all that anx- me from trying to over-rationalize how I go about sin and forgiveness and redemption, iety I know you faced in teaching this about getting things done. What do you and to do that is one of God’s gracious mir- course. The staff all told me you were think?” acles. Sometimes I say more than I know. shamed into teaching it. Even they thought “Gosh, Brother Pastor, that’s more than (Yikes! … Sometimes?) That’s a limitation it was appropriate you would be the logical I expected from you. I took you too lightly better understood (and forgiven) by my con- one to teach a course on ethics.” She smiled it seems.” (There are times when I believe gregation than I can imagine. More than and winked knowingly. Birdie had a former life as Muhammad Ali’s that, there are times I’m guilty of professing “My formal study of ethics is admittedly sparring partner.) “I’ve always been amazed to have it more together than I do. Most at the number of folks who think they often, when I suggest to my church that have the right thing figured out on any faith is a struggle, it’s my sideways effort to given topic. They’ll quickly position them- admit it is my own struggle I’m confessing. selves as the expert who has the whole Every preacher has to cut a deal with thing figured out so that any position you God in order to have the nerve to get up might take is on the wrong side of the and “say words.” Where did we talk about truth.” this undeniable truth in seminary? Where “Birdie, I agree. You should be the pas- in the ordination service did we have a tor of a Baptist church and try to stand at chance to confess our sins? Don’t you think the crossroads of the differing opinions of we should? your congregation. No matter where you I’ve always held to the notion that take your stand, it’s wrong with at least a maybe it takes a sinner to talk about sin. handful of your own members.” Alcoholics Anonymous is built on such a “Well, Rev … I have some advice for notion. Maybe the church is just one big you: Stay alert!” She laughed so loud she operation called Sinners Anonymous, and actually snorted, but she didn’t care. at the bottom of everything we say and do Somehow laughter so full and so honest there’s an unspoken covenant we’ll admit that it’s accompanied by a snort is a good that “everybody’s got something to hide” gift from God for those of us needing a and the leader of the pack is the pastor double-shot of God’s grace. BT who’s got as much or more to hide than the average person in the pew. There —Keith D. Herron is pastor of Holmeswood should be a wanted poster with the pastor’s Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. Illustration by Scott Brooks 32 Baptists Today • March 2006 P E R S P E C T I V E f a i t h e x p e r i e n c e The grace of good books By Perry C. Bramlett

he Oxford English Dictionary uses a entertain the children at their home in the we are accepting the book or story without bouquet of words to describe grace, snowy wood. When Lucy asks about Aslan prejudging it. T among them divine favor, influ- and if he is “safe,” Mr. Beaver’s reply is at Lewis states further that when we read ence, inspiration, virtue, wholesome once classic and full of grace and insight: well, we should not be so concerned if a book (quality) and impart (strength), most having “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course or story is “right” or “wrong” — whether we to do with something positive, inspirational he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I agree or disagree with the author — but that and often (God) gifted. tell you.” we should read to “enter fully” into the opin- Frederick Buechner echoed the idea of For many readers, Mr. Beaver’s answer ions of others. In this way we can learn to grace when he wrote that we never “get” to Lucy’s question has been the great appreciate books and the ideas and experi- grace but it is something we are given, and description of Christ ences in them for what they are, while at the that the gift of grace can be ours only if we and the Christian life same time not “losing ourselves.” will reach out and take it. — we have a king who Another thing we often forget is that One grace we often overlook is that of is good, but following books and stories at their best are artistic good books and reading. We all know that him is never “safe.” and that Christian readers can have the books and stories entertain and help us Aslan, in that particular delightful privilege of enjoying the grace of escape from a stressful and chaotic world. scene, in that particular their artistry and beauty. Good books also help us understand our story, becomes the liv- Good books picture ideas and expres- world, our culture, our society and times, ing picture of Christ sions of beauty, whether they contain a play, and even ourselves. The best of good read- and the Christian life as it can be and is to story, novel or poetry, and these literary ing can present to our minds and hearts be lived, for all the particular readers of forms often have elements that show us the ideas that not only are appealing intellectu- Lewis’s wonderful and enchanting story. grace of God. The unity, design, balance, ally and emotionally stimulating, but also Two years before his death, Lewis pub- use of language and descriptions in good perhaps those we may want to make our lished his only book of literary theory, a very books or stories can enhance our ideas of own. In addition, good books or stories can readable little masterpiece titled An beauty and show us best how to enjoy them. picture for us a character so brimming with Experiment in Criticism. This work is, at its Well-written and crafted stories can admirable virtues that we remember it most basic, an encouragement for any reader haunt (in a good way), charm, sometimes always and “take to heart” the Christian and to enjoy good books and stories for what disturb and nearly always “take us away” to moral ideals the character represents. they bring us. new experiences of the mind and heart. A reliable example of a memorable char- In it Lewis reminds us that if we want From a Christian perspective, we should be acter is the great royal lion Aslan, the to become good readers, we have to “surren- aware that literary artists have often created unforgettable and majestic Christ-God figure der” to what we are reading — in other for us expressions of God’s beauty that can of C.S. Lewis’s Narnian tales. Many have tes- words, read it with our whole mind and help us feel and know his good pleasure. tified that they will always remember the heart. He wrote that when we do this, our C.S. Lewis was a reader his entire life. early scene in The Lion, the Witch, and the good reading experience will have something He always appreciated the grace and beauty Wardrobe when Mr. and Mrs. Beaver in common with love and moral action — of good books and stories as they enter- tained and inspired him, challenged him to think logically and clearly, and informed him as a devoted Christian who cared Read about it in deeply about his world. We can give thanks that God continues to give us the grace of Baptists Today Lewis’s own good books and stories, and that we can read and enjoy them anytime DISCUSS IT AT we want. BT — Perry C. Bramlett is the founder of C.S. Lewis for the Local Church-Interstate Ministries, a nationwide Lewis speaking and www.BaptistLife.com teaching ministry based in Louisville, Ky. Baptists Today • March 2006 33 I N F O R M A T I O N

Texas ethics leader i n t h e k n o w Phil Strickland dies Keeping up with people, places, and events DALLAS — Phil Strickland, director of the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, PEOPLE PLACES died Feb. 11 at age 64. He worked with James R. Barnette has been named associate Louise and Harwood Cochrane have pledged the public policy and moral concerns professor of religion and director of ministe- a $3 million matching gift to Baptist agency for 38 years. rial formation at Samford University where Theological Seminary at Richmond to be Strickland earned his undergradu- he has served as minister to the university applied to the $19 million “Building Our ate and law degrees from the University since 1994. Future … Together” campaign. of Texas in Austin. He often recalled that he took a leave of absence from a Joseph Bruce is executive director of the Campbell University has announced plans to Fort Worth law firm in December 1967 Baptist Convention of New Mexico, build a chapel. A gift of more than $2.1 to help Texas Baptists defeat gambling succeeding Claude Cone who retired. million has been given toward the $5 million and never returned. worship center by Robert Butler of Warren- Strickland became the first Ronda Cole was ordained to ministry Jan. ton, N.C., in memory of his wife, Anna. registered lobbyist in Austin serving a 15 by First Baptist Church of Cocoa, Fla., religious denominational body where he where she serves as minister to students. First Baptist Church of Aiken, S.C., spent urged lawmakers to oppose the expan- Cole, from Cary, N.C., is a graduate of last year celebrating the congregation’s bicen- sion of gambling, resist attempts to chip Campbell University and Duke Divinity tennial. The church formed in 1805 with 15 away at the separation between church School. members. Fred Andrea III is current pastor. and state, and remember the needs of children — particularly the poor, PASSPORT announces the addition of a William Flake, a North American Mission abused and neglected. Louisiana camp for this summer. Loyola Board resort missionary in Helen, Ga., died He was a member of Wilshire University in New Orleans will host one Jan. 27. Baptist Church in Dallas where a week of PASSPORT Youth Camping with a memorial service was held Feb. 15. BT Mission, July 17-22. During the daily Doug Hodo will retire June 30 as president missions project time at camp, teenagers will of Houston Baptist University, where he has have the opportunity to participate in hurri- Longtime Baptist educator served 19 years. cane relief work. For more information, call Starr Miller dead at 84 (800) 769-0210 or visit www.passport- Linda Marie Jones is missions coordinator camps.org. NEWNAN, Ga. — W. Starr Miller, of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North president emeritus of Brewton-Parker Carolina. She previously served as an associ- College, a Georgia Baptist school in ate pastor of Winter Park Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Ga., died Jan. 26. Miller, Wilmington, N.C. EVENTS 84, had lived in Newnan, Ga., in The University Campus: Tomorrow’s retirement. H.K. Kingkade is director of church rela- Moderate Baptists, a conference on colle- Miller served as Brewton-Parker’s tions for Georgetown College in Kentucky. giate ministry and mission, will be held at president from 1979-1983. He He has served as Baptist campus minister at First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga., May returned as interim president in 1997 the University of Kentucky since 1993. He 4-5, 2006. For information and to register, to help guide the school during a succeeds Eric Fruge who is now leading visit www.centerforbaptiststudies.org/ financial crisis. During his tenure, the Georgetown’s capital campaign. conferences/index.htm. college established its first bachelor’s degree program. Mitchell Neubert fills the Chavanne Chair The Baptist History and Heritage Society An educator for 38 years, Miller for Christian Ethics in Business at the annual meeting is June 1-3, 2006, at First also served in teaching and administra- Hankamer School of Business at Baylor Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. Speakers tive positions at Young Harris College University. He comes from Bowling Green include Brent Walker and Denton Lotz. and Tift College, where he was aca- State University. For information, contact Pam Durso at demic dean. Miller, who held a [email protected] or visit doctorate from Duke University, was Reggie Thomas is new director of leader- www.baptisthistory.org. BT dean of the education school at Georgia ship development for the Baptist General Southern University for 18 years. Convention of Texas. He comes from the A memorial service was held Jan. pastorate of First Baptist Church of Walnut 31 in the college chapel, following a Valley, Calif. graveside funeral in Statesboro, Ga. BT

34 Baptists Today • March 2006 P E R S P E C T I V E t h e l i g h t e r s i d e ‘Anybody could have done it’ By Brett Younger

’m not sure how this happened. This is opinion that it takes a special brand of inep- to say. Jerry made me think about other gra- so not me. When I received my car titude to scrape off your inspection sticker cious comments we can use when I registration renewal from the Texas and replace it with a second registration. confronted with stupid behavior. Some of Department of Motor Vehicles I immedi- I handed Jerry my receipt from two these suggestions are pretty specific: ately sent it in. I was pleased to receive my months earlier (at least I’m an idiot who sticker well before the expiration date. saves receipts) and he graciously said, “We • “I think I have a coupon for tattoo That’s when the story gets fuzzy. As best don’t have a choice. We have to do the removal.” I can reconstruct it, I inexplicably scraped inspection again, but we can shave a few • “I can hardly see the stain.” off the sticker that looked most like the one dollars off of this. The government does the • “It’s going to grow back.” I had received in the mail and replaced it, dangdest things. It’s just ridiculous how • “You were too cute for him.” without recognizing that I now had two reg- much these look alike. At least now your • “You didn’t like working there anyway. You istration stickers and no inspection sticker. registration and inspection will be the same said a monkey could do that job.” (If you have done this, it would be nice month. That’s an advantage.” • “I’ve read that the SAT is a terrible predic- if you would let me know. I will not tell I’m still not clear on how this is an tor of college success.” anyone except my wife, Carol, as she seems advantage, but I am grateful to Jerry for • “I wrecked my first car when I was 16, to need evidence that I’m not the only one being kind and I’m more confident than too.” this foolish.) ever about my radiator, power steering and • “Most men your age look funny in I realized my mistake, but it took a brake fluids. shorts.” while. I stared at my windshield in disbelief “Anybody could have done it” and “it for a long time. Later that morning, I pulled really is confusing” are such Christian things Some kind comments after stupid in to the “In-N-Out Lube” and tried to behavior would be helpful around the explain, “The goofiest thing happened.” church: Jerry, my mechanic, gently interrupted: “It certainly did. Anybody could have done • “Not every sermon has to be thought it. It really is confusing. We get at least provoking.” three or four of these a week.” • “The Bible says, ‘Make a joyful noise.’ John, the smirking teenager standing You certainly did that.” behind Jerry, did not seem to agree that • “It’s not like you’re the first person to fall anybody could have done it or that it’s asleep during a prayer.” really confusing. John was more of the • “Bless your heart.” (This one works partic- ularly well when spoken by a Southern woman.)

Sometimes a mistake is an oppor- tunity to speak sacred words:

• “I know how you’re feeling. I’ve been there, too.” • “You made a mistake, but it’s not who you are.” • “No matter what, I will always be here for you.” • “All I want you to do is come home.” BT

—Brett Younger is pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Illustration by Scott Brooks Baptists Today • March 2006 35 I N F O R M A T I O N Vatican rejects science behind Intelligent Design

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The Vatican has theory of evolution. Intelligent Design from being taught as sci- moved to clarify its position in the Intelligent “If the model proposed by Darwin is ence in public schools. That ruling is not Design debate, publishing an article in its held to be inadequate, one should look for binding beyond Pennsylvania, but it is official newspaper that dismisses the theory another model. But it is not correct method- expected to have a ripple effect, perhaps on scientific grounds and embraces a recent ology to stray from the field of science influencing school boards across the country court ruling in Pennsylvania keeping the pretending to do science,” Facchini wrote. considering Intelligent Design as a theory theory out of classrooms. Views expressed in L’Osservatore do not that should be taught. After months of mixed messages from affect church doctrine, but the newspaper is “Intelligent Design does not belong to Pope Benedict XVI and his aides, the Vatican thought to reflect Vatican thinking because science and there is no justification for the directly addressed the issue in the Jan. 17 its content is published with official approval. pretext that it be taught as a scientific theory edition of L’Osservatore Romano by reaffirming Intelligent Design is a theory that says alongside the Darwinian explanation,” wrote Catholic support for the science behind observation of life forms reveals they are so Judge John Jones, a Republican appointee. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. complex they could only be the product of a Pope Benedict XVI has at times In an editorial by Fiorenzo Facchini, a designer. Noting that the debate over appeared to favor Intelligent Design, describ- professor of evolutionary biology at the Intelligent Design’s merits has recently spread ing the natural world as an “Intelligent University of Bologna, Italy, the newspaper beyond the United States to Europe, Facchini project” one day after the Kansas Board of said proponents of Intelligent Design said the theory’s reliance on a “superior Education voted in November to adopt new improperly blurred the lines between science cause,” or designer, ultimately undermined its standards that cast doubt on evolution. His and faith to make their case that certain validity as sound science. ambivalence has opened a rift between some forms of biological life are too complex to He also lauded a recent ruling by a fed- conservative prelates and members of the have evolved through Charles Darwin’s eral judge in Pennsylvania that kept Vatican’s scientific community. BT

Religious conservatives praise Bush’s commitment to ban cloning

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Conservative Bush supports the Human Cloning “Human life is a gift from our creator — Christian groups say they are heartened that Prohibition Act that would ban the creation and that gift should never be discarded, President Bush promoted legislation to ban of embryos through cloning and impose devalued or put up for sale,” Perkins said. human cloning in his State of the Union criminal and civil penalties on offenders. But some see an opportunity in cloning address Jan. 31. The House of Representatives has voted to enhance and lengthen life. “Any time the president uses the bully to ban all human cloning, but the legislation The Biotechnology Industry Organiza- pulpit to endorse specific measures, we’re is stalled in the Senate. tion, a secular group of companies, opposes optimistic that it will have an impact,” said Earll said Focus on the Family opposes reproductive cloning but supports human Carrie Earll, bioethics analyst for Focus on human cloning not only because an embryo cloning techniques for research — especially the Family. is destroyed to obtain stem cells for research, when used to create stem cells — “because it In his speech, Bush described human but also because of the serious health risks has been demonstrated over and over that that cloning as “the most egregious abuses of med- posed in reproductive cloning. technique in that context holds a lot of prom- ical research” and called for a ban on the Tony Perkins, president of the Family ise to eventually treat and cure many controversial procedure “in all its forms.” Research Council, has also pushed for a ban. diseases,” said spokesman Michael Werner. BT

36 Baptists Today • March 2006 P E R S P E C T I V E t h e m e d i a s h e l f Reviews by Jackie Riley

Talking the Walk contemplate these key words and names as pri- terms a church crisis. Letting Christian Language Live Again mary elements in our relationship with God While the book is a collection of short Marva Dawn before rejecting them as outdated and irrelevant. reflections on more than 60 words, written in “Churches cannot flourish if the names are very approachable language, it should not be Principalities and powers, the Virginal corrupted,” Dawn writes. viewed as a quick read. Individual readers could Conception, the Incarnation, salvation, vicari- “Some essential words should examine one or two readings on a daily devo- ous atonement, propitiation, redemption, be retained in all their custom- tional basis. Likewise, Bible classes could use the justification, sanctification, parousia … these ary truth and eternal mystery.” selections as discussion starters for more indepth and other “church words” are often overused, Therefore, she calls Talking the study. Detailed endnotes provide additional usually misunderstood and sometimes even Walk a book of “corrupted study resources for those ministers, teachers or ignored. words reclaimed.” In it she students desiring further exploration of topics. While the language of the Christian faith does not attempt to present a systematic seems to have lost much of its meaning, Marva doctrinal piece or an explanation of definite $22.99 / hb / 220 pp / BrazosPress / Dawn argues that “church words” symbolize conclusions about the Bible or creative ISBN 1-58743-061-4 / www.brazospress.com significant events and the ways in which approaches to dealing with church-related they are spoken can influence the behavior of issues. Rather, she is responding to what she others. Thus, she encourages the church to More Media Shelf page 38 ­ Author explores marks of ‘competent pastor’

A review by John Pierce congregations generally function according to than the church board, that constitutes self- family dynamics. motivation,” writes Sisk. “If you’re working Competence, according to author Ron Sisk, Two creative approaches give Sisk’s book for the board, it’s time to search again for is “the ability to do what needs to be done.” a feeling of dialogue. First, he gives brief case God’s call in your life.” For those in pastoral ministry such compe- studies at the beginning of each chapter. The Sisk noted that ministers lack a pre- tence requires a wide range of skills and reader learns of a minister facing a particular scribed work routine and must discipline commitments. challenge. Then Sisk addresses the issues pre- themselves to use their time wisely. Sisk addresses the issues of pastoral com- sented in the story. Understanding one’s personality is a good petence out of 20 years of firsthand Second, Sisk invited two way, he adds, to work at doing what needs to experience as a Baptist pastor along with his pastors and a pastoral care be done rather than doing only those things current work with ministerial students at expert to add their comments. one enjoys. North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux The sidebars are interspersed An admitted introvert who loves his Falls, S.D., where he is professor of homiletics throughout the book and study, Sisk writes: “If I waited to go visiting in and Christian ministry. address the various topics pre- the nursing homes until I felt like going visit- A clear understanding of oneself is essen- sented in each chapter. These ing, it would never get done … There is no tial to functioning as a competent minister, comments from ministry professionals dealing substitute for the daily work of deciding what according to Sisk. Such ministers need “a real- with real-life pastoral situations help keep the you will do.” istic perspective on your own life as human book grounded and practical. Sisk explores many other aspects of pas- being, a Christian, and a minister — what Addressing the important issue of moti- toral competence including the minister’s works for you and what doesn’t.” vation, Sisk writes: “Ministry is first of all a personal faith development, improving com- Sisk urges ministers to gain a good calling. It is a calling that has professional munication and relational skills, good time understanding of family systems and to see aspects and that requires professionalism, but management, dealing with stress, and becom- how the minister’s own family dynamics have at the bottom the only sufficient reason to ing a more effective leader. His insights and shaped his or her life. For example, a middle enter and to remain in the Christian ministry the pastoral dialogue should bring encourage- child of an alcoholic parent will likely assume is the call of God.” ment and practical help to both novice and the peacemaker role and avoid conflict at all Ministry as a vocation declined in social veteran ministers. cost. Awareness of these dynamics can help status through the 20th and into the 21st cen- the minister in understanding leadership turies, said Sisk, eliminating previous cultural The Competent Pastor: Skills and Self-knowledge for styles and other behaviors. reasons for becoming a minister. It is a diffi- Serving Well, Ronald D. Sisk Familiarity with family-systems psychol- cult and demanding occupation, he insisted. $18.00 / pb / 192 pp / The Alban Institute / ogy is helpful to pastors, said Sisk, because “If you’re working for the Lord rather ISBN 1-56699-304-0 / www.alban.org

Baptists Today • March 2006 37 P E R S P E C T I V E

­ Media Shelf from page 37 charter school for students expelled by the local Travelers on the Journey may be a spark for initi- public school system. ating serious discussion aimed at change. It The Baptist interviewed, Cindy Webber in poses sensible questions for ministers and con- Travelers on the Journey inner-city Louisville, Ky., spoke of how she has gregations to consider in changing ministry Pastors Talk about Their Lives and changed her type of ministry approaches and for instructors as they train Commitments from giving handouts to ministerial students. BT Mark D. Constantine, editor becoming part of the commu- nity seeking help and working $20.00 / pb / 232 pp / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Following interviews with six socially engaged as part of a family to achieve Co. / ISBN 0-8028-2934-1 / www.eerdmans.com pastors across the American South serving progress. She emphasizes: “Let Protestant, Catholic and nondenominational the social workers do social congregations from rural Arkansas to urban work, and let the church be a Baptist News Atlanta, Constantine concludes that 21st-cen- place where everyone’s on common ground.” Baptist Views tury pastors will increasingly be called on to use A volume in the Pulpit & Pew series under- their power and influence to promote racial, taken by Duke University Divinity School and social and economic equity. BAPTISTS TODAY supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., While the persons interviewed are pre- sented “not as models who should be emulated but rather as companions and fellow travelers on the journey to justice from whom we can “Always thoughtful; learn and with whom we can walk,” they are often prophetic; consistently representative of a new generation of ministers who must learn to generate new ideas and take worth reading” more risks in the face of varied societal chal- —Guy Sayles, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C. lenges. These six spoke with candor about their The Baptist Studies Bulletin accomplishments and failures as they have attempted to do ministry in new ways such as www.centerforbaptiststudies.org operating a community grocery store and a

38 Baptists Today • March 2006

Q: What do these churches have in common? A: Through group subscriptions to Baptists Today, they keep up with the latest issues facing Baptists.

American Baptist Church, Ft. Collins, Colo. First Baptist Church, Griffin, Ga. Knollwood Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. Angier Baptist Church, Angier, N.C. First Baptist Church, Hawkinsville, Ga. Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, Danville, Ky. Ball Camp Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tenn. First Baptist Church, Hickory, N.C. Madison Baptist Church, Madison, Ga. Baptist Church of the Covenant, Birmingham, Ala. First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala. Masonboro Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C. Bayshore Baptist Church, Tampa, Fla. First Baptist Church, Independence, Mo. Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. QBelievers Baptist Fellowship, Hendersonville, Tenn. National Heights Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga. First Baptist Church, Jefferson, Ga. Bible Fellowship Baptist Church, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, Mo. New Heights Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. Boulevard Baptist Church, Anderson, S.C. First Baptist Church, Jesup, Ga. New Hope Baptist Church, Hickory, N.C. Briarcliff Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, N.C. Northhaven Church, Norman, Okla. Broadmoor Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La. Northminster Baptist Church, Jackson, Miss. First Baptist Church, Lavonia, Ga. Brookwood Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. North Riverside Baptist Church, Newport News, Va. First Baptist Church, Lincolnton, N.C. Calvary Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C. North Stuart Baptist Church, Stuart, Fla. AFirst Baptist Church, London, Ky. Calvary Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Northwest Baptist Church, Ardmore, Okla. First Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. Oakhurst Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga. Central Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Fla. First Baptist Church, Marion, N.C. Peachtree Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. Central Baptist Church Bearden, Knoxville, Tenn. First Baptist Church, Manchester, Ga. Piney River Baptist Church, Lowesville, Va. Chapel Creek Church, Broken Arrow, Okla. First Baptist Church, Morehead City, N.C. Pintlala Baptist Church, Hope Hull, Ala. College Park Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla. First Baptist Church, Morganton, N.C. Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C. Covenant Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C. First Baptist Church, Morrow, Ga. Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark. Crosscreek Baptist Church, Pelham, Ala. First Baptist Church, Mt. Olive, N.C. Rock Falls Baptist Church, Orrick, Mo. Cullowhee Baptist Church, Cullowhee, N.C. First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Tenn. Rocky Creek Baptist Church, Forsyth, Ga. Druid Hills Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. First Baptist Church, Orangeburg, S.C. Second Baptist Church, Liberty, Mo. Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship, Irmo, S.C. First Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla. Second Baptist Church, Lubbock, Texas Emerywood Baptist Church, High Point, N.C. First Baptist Church, Ringgold, Ga. Second Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn. Fellowship Baptist Church, Fitzgerald, Ga. First Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga. Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. Fernwood Baptist Church, Spartanburg, S.C. First Baptist Church, Spruce Pine, N.C. Shades Crest Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. First Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas First Baptist Church, Tifton, Ga. Signal Mountain Baptist Church, Signal Mountain, Tenn. First Baptist Church, Aiken, S.C. First Baptist Church, Vero Beach, Fla. Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, Ga. First Baptist Church, Albany, Ga. First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. South Main Baptist Church, Houston, Texas First Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C. First Baptist Church, Washington, N.C. Southside Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. First Baptist Church, Athens, Ga. First Baptist Church, Waynesville, N.C. St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, La. First Baptist Church, Avondale Estates, Ga. St. Matthews Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. First Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C. First Baptist Church, Cape Girardeau, Mo. Tabernacle Baptist Church, Carrollton, Ga. Flat Rock Baptist Church, Mt. Airy, N.C. First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tenn. The Lakeland Fellowship, Lakeland, Fla. Florence Baptist Fellowship, Florence, S.C. First Baptist Church, Clemson, S.C. The Oaks Baptist Church, Lyons, Ga. Glenwood Hills Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. First Baptist Church, Columbus, Ga. Trinity Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn. First Baptist Church, Commerce, Ga. Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss. Trinity Baptist Church, Moultrie, Ga. First Baptist Church, Conway, S.C. Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, Cary, N.C. Valley Brook Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga. First Baptist Church, Dalton, Ga. Haddock Baptist Church, Haddock, Ga. Vineville Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. First Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga. Hardwick Baptist Church, Hardwick, Ga. Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky. Highland Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. Weatherly Heights Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala. First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Ga. Highland Hills Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. First Baptist Church, Georgetown, Ky. Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo. Winter Park Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C. First Baptist Church, Goldsboro, N.C. Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Ga. Woodmont Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn. First Baptist Church, Greenwood, S.C. Kirkwood Baptist Church, St. Louis, Mo. Yates Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. … Your church can be better informed, too, for as little as $375 per year (minimum 25 subscriptions at $15 each). Just send a list of names and addresses, along with a check, to: Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318 (For more information, call toll-free 1-877-752-5658)

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