RELEasE INDM Southern Baptist Convention - 1985 , American Baptists--139 's Conf. Monday btxning--29 Assoc. of Baptists for !3xuting--129 Pastor's Conf. Officers--33 BPRA mibit Winners--133 Pastor's Conf. Sunday Night-22 Billy Graham Endorsement-68 Pastor's Conf. Wrapup Revised--58 Brotherhood Breakfast--107 Pastor's Conference Wrapup-54 Campus Ministers Sunday Night--31 Peace Initiative Correction--48 Campus Ministers Sunday--30 Peace Initiative Motion--69 Campus Ministers Wrapp-71 Peace Initiative--45 Music Monday--36 Peace Plan Camnittee-106 Carranittee On Boards Report--85 Pawell Press Conference-26 Carmittee On Camnittees Report--105 Presidential Address--72 Cmittee on Conanittees--128 Purported Graham Endorsement--64 Convention Broadcast On BIN--122 Registration 3 P.M. Monday--35 Religious Educ. As=. Sunday--19 Convention Center Record--94 Religious Education Monday--42 Convention --104 Religious Education Wrapup-49 Cr iswell' s Sermon--15 Research Fellowship--41 Crowds Story Cor reetion--82 Resolutions Cmit tee-6 Cultines--98 Randup For Monday A.M. --1 Cutline Correction-132 SBC Wrapup-143 Cutlines---124 Second Vice-Pres. Correction--101 Cutlines-111 Second Vice-Pres. Election--99 Cutlines--130 Second Vice-president--90 Cutlines--131 Southeastern Seminary Luncheon--112 Cut1ines--134 Southern Seminary Luncheon--113 Cutlines--136 Southwestern Hameming--34 Cutlines--59 - - 3 0,33 Swthwestern Seminary Luncheon--115 Cutlines--66 Spxh Contest Feature-110 Cutlines-67 Stanley Elected President--80 Denminational Calendar Report--146 Stanley News Conference--91 Directors of Mission--18 Stanley, Charles Bio--61 Directors of Missions Monday--27 State Convention Peace Plan--16 Directors of Missions Wrapup-51 Statistics On mmen In The SBC--4 Draper's Sewn--3 Sunday Registration--20 mrgency Landing--23 Thursday A.M. Roundup-97 Evangelist Breakfast--62 Thursday Morning Agency Reports-135 Evangelists Correction--119 Thursday Morning Motions--137 Evangelists--117 Thursday P.M. Roundup-108 Executive Cmittee Elections--116 Thursday Resolutions--138 Executive Camittee Monday--39 Thursday Resolutions--140 Executive Carranittee Report Part 1--70 Tuesday A.M. Roundup-21. Ekecutive Cmittee Report Part 2--78 Tuesday A.M. Wrapup Correction--24 Exhibits--73 Tuesday Afternoon Resolutions--83 First VP Nominations--84 Tuesday Evening Motions--88 Foreign Mission Board Report--95 Tuesday Morning Crawd--63 Forum Second Half--44 Tuesday Morning Motions--75 Forum Wrapup-47 Tuesday Morning Resolutions-74 Form-38 Tuesday Night Reso3.ut ions--9 3 Golden Gate Seminary Luncheon--118 Voting Irregularities--142 Hame Mission Board Reprt--127 W Correctiow-46 Indians Organize--52 W Correction--57 James Baldwin Feature-89 WU Menday Af ternoon--43 Layman' s Rally--2 PBW mnday Morning--28 Midwestern Seminary Luncheon--114 W Monday Morni ng-32 Ministers ' Wives Conference-76 W Fbnday Night--55 Miscellaneous Busines4-86 W Sunday Afternoon--12 Missions Day Camp--109 W Sunday Night--17 Monday P.M. Wraplp-11 W Wrapup-53 Moore Elected First VicePres.--87 Wdnesday A.M. Roundup--77 Moore News Conference--96 Wednesday Evening Business--126 -re, Winfred Bie-60 Wednesday Morning Motions--103 -re, Winfred Feature-37 Wednesday Morning Reprts--100 Music Conference Sunday--14 Wednesday Morning Reports--102 Music Conference Wrapup-50 Wednesday Night Miscellaneous--125 New Orleans Seminary Luncheon--121 tJednesday Night Resolutions--123 Newsroan Mmno-25 Wdnesday P.M. IEoundup-81 Newsrocm I4em0-5 Wideman Press Con re ce-141 Nminations For President--79 Wanen In Ministry WP-9 Opening Sessio~egistra~ion--65 lhnen In Ministry Correctiofi--10 Pastor ' s Con£. Final Session--56 FJcmen In ini is try, SBC--7 Pastor's Conf. Monday Afternoon--40 Wmen In Ministry--8 RELEASE mF,x Southern Baptist Cc ~nvention- 1985 Dall as, Texas American Raptists--139 Pastor's Conf. Monday Morning--29 Assoc. of Baptists for Scouting--129 Pastor's Conf. Officers--33 BPRA Exhibit Winners--133 Pastor's Conf. Sunday Night--22 Billy Graham Endorsement--68 Pastor's Conf. Wrapup Revised--58 Brotherhood Breakfast--107 Pastor's Conference Wrapup--54 Campus Ministers Sunday Night--31 Peace Injt iative C~rrecti~on--48 Campus Ministers Sunday--30 Peace Initiative Motion--69 Campus Ministers Wrapup-71 Peace Ini tiative--45 Church Music Monday--36 Peace Plan Camnittee--106 Committee On Boards Repart--85 Pawell Press Conference--26 Cammittee On Committees Report--105 Presidentia1 Address--72 Committee on Committees--128 Purported Graham Fndorsement--64 Convention Broadcast On BTN--122 Registration 3 P.M. Monday--35 Religious Educ. Assoc. Sunday--19 Convention Center Record--94 Religious ducati ion Monday--42 Convention Sermon--104 Religious Fducation Wrapup-49 Cr i swell' s Sermon--1.5 Research Fel lowship-41 Crowds Story Correction--82 Resolutions Committee--6 Cultines--98 Roundup For Monday A.M.--1 Cutline Correction--132 SRCl Wrapup-143 Cut1 ines---I24 Second Trice-Pres. Correct!"on--1.01 Cut1 ines--111 Second Vice-Pres. Elect.ion--99 Cut1 ines--130 Second vice-~resid-fent--90 Cutlines--131 Southeastern Seminary T,uncheon--112 Cut1 ines--134 Southern Seminary Luncheon--113 Cutlines--136 Southwestern ~omecoming--34 Cutlines--59 -- . - Southwestern Seminarv Luncheon--115 Cutlines--66 Speech Contest Feature--110 Cut1 ines--67 Stanl-ey Elected President--80 Denminational Calendar Report--146 Stanley News Conference--91 Directors of Mission--18 Stanley, Charles Bio--61 Directors of Missions Monday--27 State Convention Peace Plan--16 Directors of Missions Wrapup-51 Statistics On Wmen In The SBC--4 Draper ' s Sermon--3 Sunday Regi stration--20 Emergency Landing--23 Thursday A.M. Roundup-97 Evangelist Breakfast--62 Thursday Morning Agency Reports--135 Evangelists Correction--119 Thursday Morning Motions--137 Evangelists--117 Thursday P.M. Roundup-108 Executive Committee Elections--116 Thursday Resolutions--138 Executive Committee Monday--39 Thursday Resolutions--140 Executive Committee Report Part 1--70 Tuesday A.M. Roundup-21 Executive Committee Report Part 2--78 Tuesday A.M. Wrapup Correction--24 Exhibits--73 Tuesday Afternoon Resolutions--83 First VP Nominations--84 Tuesday Evening Motions--88 Foreign Mission Board Report--95 Tuesday Morninq Crd--63 Forum Second Half--44 Tuesday Morni ng Motions--7 5 Forum Wr apup-47 Tuesday Morninq Resolutions--74 Form-38 Tuesday Night Resol ut ions--9 3 Golden Gate Seminary 1,uncheon--17.8 Voting Trregularities--142 Home Mission Board Report--127 W Correction--46 Indians Organize--52 W rorrection--57 James Baldwin Feature-89 W Monday Afternoon--43 Layman' s Ra1.l.y--2 W Monday Wrning--28 Midwestern Seminary Luncheon--114 WlU Wnday Mornjnq-32 Ministers' Wives Conference-76 W Monday Night--55 Miscellaneous Business--86 W Sunday Afternoon--12 Missions Day Camp--109 \M Sunday Night--17 Monday P.M. Wrapup-ll WU Wrapup-53 Moore Elected First Trice-Pres.--87 Wdnesday A.M. Roundup-77 Moore News Conference--96 Wednesday Evening Business--126 Moore, Winfred Rio--60 Wednesday Morning Motions--103 Moore, Winfred Feature--37 Wednesday Morning Reports--100 Music Conference Sunday--14 Wednesday Morning Reports--102 Music Conference Wrapup-50 Wednesday Night Miscellaneous--125 New Orleans Seminary Luncheon--1.21 Wednesday Night Resolutions--123 Newsrmn Memo--25 Wednesday P.M. Roundup-81 Newsroom Memo--5 Widernan Press Conf~reqce--141 Nominations For President--79 YVmen In ~inistr~w~-9 Opening Session/Registration--65 Warnen In Mini stry Correction--10 Pastor's ConF. Final Session--56 Warnen Tn Ministry, SRC--7 Pastor's Conf. Monday Afternoon--40 bbnen In Ministry--8 News Room - Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiC. Fields SBC PmRepresentative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Rallas, June ll.U, 1985

ROUNDUP FOR MONDAY AMS

Release after 3 p.m. Sunday

DALLAS, June 9--Pleas to feed the spiritually hungry and help the homeless key- noted opening sessions Sunday of religious groups rneetingh-in advance of the 128th Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) . Bill Weber, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, emphasized the importance of providing spiritual food in his address at the Southern Baptist ' Conference in Dallas Convention Center. William M. Elliott, director of Jefferson Street Baptist Center, Louisville, Ky,, championed the concerns of the homeless at the annual meeting of the woman's Missionary Union, SBC missions auxiliary, in the Dallas Convention Center Arena. Other Southern Baptist groups in pre-convention sessions included religious educators, church musicians, campus ministers, directors of missions, and women in ministry. The SBC wfll open a three-day run Tuesday morning at the convention center with an address by President Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church, , and election 05 officers. Competition for the presidency between Stanley and W. Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, is expected to attract 30,000 messengers, largest gathering for an annual meeting since the 14.3 mulion member convention was organized in 1845. In the advance to the clergy, Weber contended "people gather in our services today with hungry hearts, anxious to receive the spirtual food our Lord can provide. "1t is easy to forget that everyone around us has a spiritual hunger in their lives. Often, because a group of people look healthy and successful, we overlook the fact that the inner man searches daily for a spiritual feeding.'' Weber encouraged the ministers to remain sensitive to the specific needs of persons in their listening audiences and to show a positive attitude as they help others. Itwe are tempted to justify our spiritual apathy or our indifference. We try to rationalize our lack of concern that people be saved. I believe, frankly, that one day we are going to have to give an account of that indifferent attitude. Just procrastinating rather thah being enthusiastic about doing the Lord's work is not pleasing to .I1 Weber challenged the pastors to be creative in their approaches, confessing "I like to be around people who figure out different ways to do the Lord's work. 11 It's a real temptation in the ministry to get in a rut--to think you can only do something one way--and if you change it you may be violating some spiritual principle. " Roundup for Monday AMS

Page 2 Weber shared the podium with , pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, and James Kennedy, senior minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. At the women's meeting Elliott insisted that most of America's two million homeless aren't habos, but come from every conceivable background. "They are red and yellow, black and white. They are male and female, from good families and bad ones. They are educated and illiterate, alcoholic and straight.

"The homeless today are shunned by most people and by most churches. It is the feeling of many politicians and indivlduals that if a person is homeless or unemployed, It Is no one's fault but their own. I I This simply shows a lack of understanding of today's complex society. The vast majority of the homeless do not desire to be homeless. Many spend their entire lives trying to re-establish themselves. It would seem that the church would be the one place that they could turn for help." Elliott contended the homeless are being ignored by lay people and ministers who want to leave the work to the professional missionary and by those who are more concerned about doctrinal purity than they are the lost around them. Referring to the current Southern Baptist theological dispute, Elliott said 'tfundamentallsts and moderates both can be found doing valunteer work at the Baptist center for Louisville's homeless. "Do you know that it does not make any difference to the homeless? It is not fundamentalism or liberalism being lifted up, It is Christ. When some- thing like that happens, conservative and not-so-conservative work arm-In-arm reaching out to the homeless and the lost."

By Roy Jennings - 2:30 p.m. Sunday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fib SBC Press Repmentative Dan Martin News Roam Manager C* Bi PhotographylFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Laymen's Rally DALLAS, June 9--Zig Ziglar of Dallas, first vice president of the Southern Baptist Con- vention denounced Baptlst schools Saturday night for an alleged lack of commitment to bibli- cal inerrancy and called the reelection of Charles Stanley as SBC president a "solution" to problems in the 14.3 million member denomination. The Dallas layman keynoted a laymen's rally at First Baptist Church which attracted 500. The Dallas layman keynoted a layman's rally at First Baptist Church which attracted 500. Underwritten by the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies, the rally was billed by host Paige Patterson as an evening of "inspiration and information." "Doubt always precedes destruction," said Ziglar, as he began to cite evidence of what he termed a "tilt to the left" in Baptist colleges, universities and seminaries. He specifi- cally singled out Baylor University, Waco. 11 I love the university, but I don't like some of the things that are taking place there," he said, Ziglar was particularly critical of the Baylor administration's handling of the Student Manifesto, a document demanding the abolition from the campus of risque movies and songs with suggestive lyrics, Ziglar challenged Baylor President Herbert Reynolds either to produce evidence substan- tiating his accusation that the manifesto was linked to Patterson and Houston Judge Paul Pressler or to take a lie detector test. "It's time to fish or cut bait," he said. Ziglar also criticized , denominational news service, for not presenting a "balanced picture" of the moderate/conservative controversy in the convention. He said Baptist Press had "chastised1' former SBC President Jimmy Draper for comments at a Baptist Public Relations Association meeting in which he said his church and others like it might escrow Cooperative Program funds if Stanley were not reelected. However, Ziglsr said, the denominational press had ignored a 1982 statement by moderate Cecil Sherman of Fort Worth, in which he purportedly said "moderate churches in North Carolina and will...divert their annual contributions from denominational agencies to other mission programs" in the event of an inerrantist takeover. Offering what he perceived to be solutions to conflict in the convention, Ziglar challenged those on both sides of the conflict to be sure of their own salvation, to pray, to get to know one another, and to "elect -believing men as state convention presidents -- men who will appoint Bible-believing trustees to our schools." He also said the reelection of Stanley was essential. "I believe we must reelect Charles Stanley," he said, as the mostly supportive crowd burst into applause. Other speakers at the rally were Congressman Jack Fields, eighth congressional district in Southeast Texas, and Cleve McClary, Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient. Fields, a graduate of Baylor University who has served as a trustee, denounced abortion on demand and homosexuality while affirming his support of school prayer. "Many Christians cower behind the wall of separation of church and state," Fields said, He claimed the original intention of the framers of the Constitution was to prohibit a state church and nothing more. "The framers never intended an absolute separatfon of church and state," he said. McClary recounted his experiences in Vietnam, citing examples of what he consid- ered commitment, dedication and willing sacrifice. ~ollowinga benediction by Pressler, who was called to the pulpit from the congregation, rally participants were encouraged to participate in ah, all-night prayer vigil. -30- By Ken Camp -- 3 p.m. Sunday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65E7954 Wilmer C. F'iIds SBC Press Representative Dan Marlin 85 NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographyFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June ll+U,1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Draper Sermon

DALLAS, June 9--As Southern Baptists prepared for perhaps their most tumultuous convention in history, former SBC president Jimmy Draper warned Sunday there is no room for theological differences among Christians. "There is no such thing as theological diversity," Draper said in a sermon at the First Baptist Church of Euless, where he is pastor. "I hate to disillusion you. The New Testament never, speaks of theological diversity.'' In his sermon, which was concerned primarilly with Christians' basis for unity in Christ, Draper acknowledged cultural diversity among believers, but declared persons should experience "a unity of faith and a unity of understanding." The Euless church, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, was host to many visitors who are in the area to attend a three-day meeting of the denomination starting Tuesday at the Dallas Convention Center. Draper, who is currently preaching through the book of Ephesians, said it was providential the Scripture passage for Sunday (Ephesians 4;4-47 dealt with Christian unity. The passage says Christians share "one faith," which Draper said refers to both a personal faith experience with Christ and "faith as a system of doctrine." "This whole passage sounds like a creedal statement," he said. "Maybe he (the Apostle Paul) is saying there is one body of truth."

By Greg Warner--3:10 p.m. Sunday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilrner C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bi PhotographylFea~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June ll.U, 1985

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

STATISTICS ON WOMEN IN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION (SBC)

The following facts sheet was prepared for the press by the Center for Women in Ministry, 2800 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky, Reba Sloan Cobb and Betty McGary Pearce, Coordinators.

I. Ministerial

350 ordained clergywomen (Ordination is done by the local churches at their discretion. ) 14 senior pastors 40 chaplains 99 campus ministers (22%) 4 state campus directors out of 60 are women

11. State Conventions

1 editor of a state Baptist paper: June Highland, Northern Plains Baptist. 1 woman holds a division level postion (other than the Woman's Missionary Union executive director in each state): Sarah Ann Hobbs, Director of Missions, North Carolina State Convention. 1 woman has served as the president of a state convention: Christine Gregory, The General Association of Virginia Baptists. 34 women serve as state executive directors of Women's Missionary Union (loo%!)

111. Agencies and Institutions

Of 23 major agencies and institutions, 4 have no woman on administrative staff. 30% of the administrative staff of the Sunday School Board (publishing house) are women. Large portion of women on administrative staffs of Baptist Joint Committee, Annunity Board, Woman's Missionary Union, Sunday School Board. 1 Woman heads an agency of the SBC, Carolyn Weatherford, Executive Director, Woman' s Missionary Union, Birmingham, Alabama.

IV. Seminaries

16.1% of student bodies of all six seminaries are women. Southern Seminary has the largest percentage with 25% women. 2.2% of seminary faculty are women Three women teach in the schools of (all hired last year): Molly Marshall-Green and Pamela Acalise, Southern Seminary Elizabeth Barnes, Southeastern Seminary 1 woman serves as dean, C. Anne Davis, School of Sockal Work, Southern Seminary.

V. Information is also available on the response to the 1984 resolution on women. See Reba Cobb or Betty Pearce in the Press Room.

Roy Jennings---2:30 p.m. Sunday News Room DabConvention Center (214) 65&7954 WhrC. Fib SBC Press Representative Dan Marrin NEWS News Room Manager 85 Craig Bird PhotographyIFeatum Manager Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June ll~l3,1985

MEMORANDUM

TO: USERS OF THE SBC NEWSROOM--1985 FROM: Dan Martin,newsroom manager

We are glad you are here to attend the 1985 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. We will try to assist you in any way possible.

In order to assist us, I ask you to do several things:

1. Please use the main newsroom door at the entrance to Ballroom D. Please do not use the back doors in the loungelpress conference area, or the doors in the workroom area. (It is very difficult to maintain security with people going in and out every door. We have tried to make the newsroom convenient, but we must maintain security.)

2. Please do not invite people to come into the newsroom. We have provided an interview area near the reception desk. Limiting access to the newsroom is necessary because of the increased number of accredited persons using the news- room. We have a desk in the reception area,

3. Please do not stake out a place for yourself, expecting to use it during the meeting. We have 70 work stations and more than triple that number of people,

4. Please avail yourself of all of the facilities, including coffee and soft drinks.

5. If I can be of help, please Peel free to ask,

Dan Martin New Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WhrC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

Resolutions Committee FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 8--In six hours of pre-convention meetings, the Resolutions Committee for the 1985 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention agreed Saturday to try to avoid divisionand controversy while emphasizing issues of common agreement through the resolutions process. The three-day 128th meeting of the convention will open Tuesday at the Dallas Convention Center with as many as 30,000 registered messengers expected. The 10-member Resolutions Committee appointed by SBC President Charles Stanley is charged with receiving resolutions introduced by messengers, considering each and presenting a slate of resolutions for messengers' consideration. Larry Lewis, chairman of the committee and president: of Hannibal-LaGrange College, Hannibal, Mo., said the emphasis on healing and unity was shared by Stanley who met with the committee in its first session. "~e(Stanley) emphasized his desire to see the resolutions process be a helpful, healing process rather than causing further division and disunity. "Even though the two of us had not conferred at all about the resolutions process, his thinking was almost identical to my own and in sync with the committee as a whole." Lewis said the committee discussed the possibility of a moratorium on resolutions. However, "we felt this would not be a wise approach. The resolutions process is good and it can be and will this year be a healing process, helpful to the convention." Lewis said his committee will give top priority to "issues that Southern Baptists have traditionally championed so we do have a sense of togetherness." He cited social issues such as aleohol, drug abuse and pornography, along with cooperative missions. A total of 62 resolutions were submitted to the committee for review prior to the convention. However, only resolutions that are proposed by messengers at the convention can receive official consideration. "Every resolution will be considered," Lewis emphasized. "By a majority vote, the committee will decide to report a resolution as written to the convention, revise the resolution, combine it with others of a like nature, refer it to an agency or committee, or take no action on it." He speculated that the committee might report 10 to 15 resolutions for convention considerat ion. Lewis said the committee agreed not to act on issues on which the convention has spoken in recent years unless corrective action is warranted or new dimensions of the issue have arisen. He said it is likely the committee will attempt "corrective action" on the 1984 resolution which opposed ordination, particularly the reference that "woman was first in the Edenic fall." "There was a good deal of discussion on this," said Lewis. "It is likely the committee will try either to rewrite the resolution or address the facets of the resolution that were offensive and speculative.'' While Lewis said he does not favor ordination of women, he felt the statement about the Edenic fall is questionable theology. Resolutions Committee Page 2

A total of 30 resolutions were proposed by messengers to the 1984 convention with 10 submitted by the Resolutions Committee to the convention for action.

In recent years the largest number of proposed resolutions was 46 in 1982.

Elected as vice-chairman of the committee was Gary Young, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Phoenix, Ariz., and a member of the SBC Executive Committee. Carolyn Miller, a layperson and SBC Executive Committee member from First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala., was elected secretary.

Other members of the committee are Cecil, Sims, executive-director of the Northwest Baptist Convention; Bob Dugan, Columbia Baptiat Church, Falls Church, VA; Billy Cline, pastar of Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C. ; Larry Holly, Northend Baptist Church, Beaumont, Texas; Marv McGrew, Circle Drive Baptist Church, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Alma Morgan, First Baptist Church, Bartlesville, Okla,; and Tommy Henson, pastor of First Baptist Church, West Memphis, Ark., and a member of the SBC Executive Committee.

Linda Lawson: 3;40 p.m. Sunday Newa Room *Dabs Convention Center (214) 65&7954 'WiCFields SBC Prem kpmentative h Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographyllFeatu~esManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dabs, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women in Ministry, SBC

DALLAS, June 9--A standing room only crowd was urged Sunday to ''put: on Christ1' and "to implement the gospel fully" in their ministries at the worship service 05 the Southern Bap- tist Women in Ministry meeting at the . About 500 persons packed the meeting room where Molly Marshall-Green, assistant professor of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., brought a message of "hope and encouragement." In keeping with the women's conference theme, "Voices of Hope from the Exile," Marshall-Green said, "To be in exile suggests somehow that once we were all in Zion, living in the perfect community indicative of the messianic age. But that is not true, for much of the Christian vision lies out ahead of us, yet to be claimed. "The church, especially its women, has not made it to the promised land." She encouraged the women not to look back at the past, but to the future. I I Our gaze and our yearning efforts should be toward the horizon God places before us rather than a stultifying preoccupation with days gone by." She said women in the Southern Baptist Convention "hunger for direction" in what it means to be the "people of God" at this critical juncture in the life of "our respective churches and in our convention as a whole. "We long for our rhetoric to become enfleshed in constructive, transforming actions. Yet many of us feel powerless and voiceless even in the face of God's beckonirig Spirit." Marshall-Green said those petsons who have been set apart for service "should in- evitiably reflect something of Ch-ii~t'snature." Those who serve should have the qualities of , she said. The qualities, taken from Colossians 3:12-17, were compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness. "These are the qualities of Jesus in whose very being the power of God is most fully revealed. I' One of the strongest things women can do is "sing the Lord's song in the face of all adversity--believing that we are more than conquerors through hirs that loved us." In a world which is filled with enmity lives are scarred by "the animosities we nurse. In the unity of the life in Christ, there is no room for unreconciled disparity." She said when Christ's peace becomes the arbiter in hearts, "our divided world is confronted with a witness more eloquent than all our preaching and feels constrained to say, 'see how they love one another,"'

By Terry Barone: 3:50 p.m. Sunday New Room Daks Convention Center (214) 6587954 WirC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bid PhotographylFeatuces Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

FOR TMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women in Ministry

DALLAS, June 9--Introduced as the only Southern Baptist minister that resembles Lottie Moon, Addie Davis of Covington, Ya., was welcomed to the third annual meeting of Women in Ministry, S.B.C., Saturday with a standing ovation from the 3000 persons at Wilshlre Baptist Church. With the distinction as the first Southern Baptist woman to be ordained, Davis spoke on the topic of "Return from Exile -- Twenty Years Later" which chronicled her personal journey, Davis began by reading the Helen Steiner Rice poem, "Climb Till Your Dreams ComeTrue',' given to her from a friend prior to entering the seminary. "Don't settle for less than you are called by God to accomplish. Mine has been a lonely journey but a fulfilling and rewarding one. My dream has come true, "Keep on dreaming and cherish the dream God has given you. You will be delivered from exile," she said. Davis said her calling into the ministry took place as a child growing up in Virginia. "I never voiced the calling, but it never went: away," Following the traditional route, Davis served as a dean of women at a Baptist college for a number of years. She became critically ill later in life and promised God that if she lived 'IT would do what he had called me to do." Davis entered Southeastern Baptist Theological Semfnary in 1960, was lfcensed in 1963 by Watch Street Baptist Church in Durham, N.C., and ordained in 1964 by the same congregation. Unable to fulfill her calling in the Southern state, Davis served 17 pears in New England at First Baptist Church of Reedsboro, Yt., and Second Baptist Church of East Providence, R.T, She recently returned to Virginia because of family matters, and once agaln has been unable to find a pastorate in a Southern Baptist church. She is serving as one of three pastors in a rural ecumenical church outside of Covington. "P!y only regret during the past 21 years Is that I did not enter the ministry sooner," she said. Leaving some suggestions for women facing similar struggles, Davis told them to avoid bitterness "becquse it will turn against you and eventually do you great harm. Also, set specific priorities to obtafn your goals. "Give credence to your calling through adequate prayer, study and a proper education, Sincerity alone ie not enough. You must be better than the average male minister so strive to be a good minister for the glory of the Lord Jesus," Davis said, "Encourage one another and do not kill the dreams of others, We authenticate our ministry by being who we are and who God intended us to be -- a person who is unique and called of God." 1,- *"-A News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SEE Press Reiepremtative I Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention D&s, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women in Ministry, S, B. C. /Wrap Up

DALLAS, June 9 -- The third annual Women In Ministry, S.B.C. conference continued its rapid growth, doubling its attendance over the 1984 meeting in Kansas City. About 350 people registered for this year's meeting, one of several held before the June 11-13 Southern Baptist Convention. Some 500 people, including about 100 men, attended the Sunday morning worship service, where Molly Marshall-Green, assistant professor of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and interim pastor at Deer Park Baptist Church of Louiville, preached, The growing interest in the meeting is in direct contrast to strong remarks by leading Southern Baptist conservatives stating that ordaining women is outside the will of God. Several women attending the conference said this conference provides reaffirmation and fellowship so often missing in their day-to-day life. "This meeting affirmed what I have felt for about seven years concerning my call into the ministry. This meeting came at a time when I am finishing my seminary work and am going out to 'sing my song' and find a place of ministry. This has given me great hope and encouragement," said Jann Clanton of Wacw, Tx. Following the theme of "Voices of Hope from the ~xile"speakers encouraged women to continue on their pilgrimage despite the struggles. Speaking from the perspective as the first Southern Baptist woman ordained in 1964, Addie Davis of Covington, Va., challenged the women to "keep on dreaming and cherish the dream God has given you. You will be delivered from exile. " Describing an exile as a "place of unrelieved heartache when one's personhood is defined by others," Marie Bean said fellow travelers can be sustained by ~od's love. "God's love gives us strength we did not know about during our struggles," said Bean, chaplain at Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, N. C. Bean added that many women are feeling exiled after being told during last year's Southern Baptist convention that "Goddoesnot love us unconditionally since Eve's sin and the fall of man." The 1984 convention approved a resolution opposing the ordination of women. One of the rationales was woman was "first in the Edenic fall." Picking up on that theme was Carolyn Blevins, professor of religion at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., who led the Sunday morning Bible study. "Eve was created to be a helper "alongside man" rather than being created to "hang around only when she is needed by man." She said it is "ludicrous" to explain that woman, as the weaker sex, was tempted and lead man to fall with her. "It is not a question of who led whom, but who did the sinning. "How did half get the blame for what both did? Neither (Adam or ~ve)were imaging God," Blevins said. "Both were tempted, both succumbed and both were punished for their acts." Leaving the participants with a word of encouragement, Marshall-Green in her sermon told the women not to look at the past, but to the future. "Our gaze and our yearning efforts should be toward the horizon God places before us rather than a stultifying preoccupation with days gone by.'' Women in Ministry, S.B.C. /Wrap UP Page 2

During the business session members heard a treasurer's report and were given proposed guidelines for Women in Ministry, SBC. After a year of reviewing the guidelines the membership would vote on them in 1986. Included in the guidelines were a statement of purpose and a process for electing the 16-member steering committee and officers. New steering committee members elected this year to serve two-year terms were Elizabeth Barnes of Cary, N.C.; Elizabeth Smith Bellinger of Waco, Texas; Debra Harless of Indianapolis, Ind.; Diane Eubanks Hill of Durham, N.C.; Meredith Neil1 of Greensboro, N.C.; Deborah Whisnand Stinson of Houston, Texas; Susan Lockwood Wright of Chicago, Ill.; and Karen Mitchum of Bradenburg, Ky. The convenor for the 1986 annual meeting is Ashley Cartwright Peak of Columbia, Mo, and Nancy Ellet Allison of Dallas is the recorder.

by Jerilynn Amstrong and Terry Barone--4:30 p.m. Sunday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 656-7954 Wilmer C Fields SBC Press Repregenmtive Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird Phomp~hylFeanuesManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

CORRECTION

In Women In Ministry Story (4 p.m. Sunday)--first graph, line 4 -300, not 3,000, New Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. SBC P~SSRepresentative Dan Martin News Room Manager Cm& Bird PhotographyfFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11-l3, 1985

Release after 6 a.m. Monday a FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Roundup for Monday PMs DALLAS, June 10--Dramatic accounts of Southern Baptists involved in Christian ministries in the and overseas highlighted the annual meeting of Woman's Missionary Union Monday morning at the Dallas Convention Center Arena, Norma W. Mackey of Waynesboro, Miss., recounted acts of ministry leading to the forma- tion of Operation HOPE, a non-profit, volunteer Christian organization funded by churches, individuals and civic organizations to meet emergency needs of people when other help isn't available. John R. Cheyne of Richmond, Va., senior consultant in human needs ministries for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board, described feeding efforts by missionaries in Ethdopia and Mali. The women's missions organization is one of six Southern Baptist groups meeting in ad- vance of the 128th Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Others are composed of pastors, religious educators, church musicians, campus ministers, and directors of missions. Through Operation HOPE, Mrs. Mackey said, "we assist people with food, rent, utilities, medicine, budget planning, clothing and household items, especially when a house burns. The only qualification... is legitimate need." The clothing outlet is the moat used resource, she said, attracting an average of 25 families daily.

"In addition, we have a motel owner who houses people in an emergency, a dentist who provides free care and two medical doctors who see patients'who cannot afford to pay. "One of our small churches provided two acres of land for a garden this spring. At harvest time needy people were invited to pick their own food. The overabundance. ..was canned and shelved for future use. " Mrs. Mackey recalled this interest in others began when a member of a young women's Bible class that she taught said an elderly church member's house needed painting. Rejecting a suggestion to hire a painter, the young women bought the supplies and scraped and painted the house on two consecutive Saturdays, Mrs. Mackey said. "This caused such a stir in our community that the local newspaper ran an article on it." Mrs. Mackey said the young women were strongly criticized when they chose as a second project to visit a young woman held in the county jail on a murder charge. The activities of the young women attracted women from other denominations for a study of ways to help others, Mrs. Mackey recalled, The outgrowth was the need for a community crisis center, she said. Cheyne, the foreign missions consultant, attributed successful feeding efforts in Ethiopia to the reputation of career missionaries as caring and trustworthy people. Roundup for Monday AM$ -- page 2

Southern Baptists are operating a feeding station for 270,000 people in a remote section of Ethiopia. That included a nourishing food supplement to 6,500 critically ill children during a three-week period, Cheyne said. Besides providing truck, plane and helicopter loads of dry grain, Southern Baptists are also helping Ethiopians find water for drinking and irrigation, he added. In the African country of Mali Southern Baptist missionaries are supplying desert villages with thousands of tons of grain, Cheyne continued. "In this Islamic country with Communist leanings, the missionaries were almost given a carte blanche to initiate Baptist work. The successful grain distribution verified their trust level." Clergymen attending the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference heard Thomas David Elliff, pastor of Applewood Baptist Church, Wheat Ridge, Colo., call for them to "settle down in God's Word. 11We must have more than an intellectual commitment to the Word of God. We must have more than the capacity to either defend or deliver it. We must have a commitment to settle down in God's Word that we meet the God whose Word it is. It is not this convention arena which will determine the integrity of God's Word. It is the arena of life." Other speakers at the pastors' conference Monday morning included David Walker, pastor of First Baptist Church, San Antonio; Jack Graham, pastor of First Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Evangelist Arthur Blessitt of Hollywood, Calif. The SBC will open a three-day run Tuesday with an address by President ~harles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, and election of oEficers. Competition for the presidency between Stanley and W. Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, is expected to attract 30,000 messengers,lthe largest gathering for an annual meeting since the 14.3 million member denomination was organized in 1845.

By Roy Jennings--7:30 p.m. Sunday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954

Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography /Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUNDAY AFTERNOON WMU

DALLAS, June 9 -- Controversy-plagued Southern Baptists stand in danger of a rebuke from Gad because they have slipped from their "First Loveg'--the love of Jesus Christ which overflows in missions, two Woman's Missionary Union leaders said Sunday afternoon. WMU President Dorothy Sample and WMU Executive Director Carolyn Weatherford cited biblical references to how God threatened to withdraw from Ephesian Christians unless they repented and returned to the First Love they had forsaken, Both women cited a lot of good things Southern Baptists have done--just like the Ephesian Christians--but issued the warning to 2,000 persons at the opening session of the annual WMU meeting. "Southern Baptists may be earning the same rebuke," Sample said. "we're intensely busy and perhaps tensely concerned about the condition of our denomination. Are we in danger of falling from the lofty ideal of our First ~ove?'' "Perhaps leaving their First Love also included lack of love for their brothers and sisters," Miss Weatherford added, "for Jesus clearly and often taught, 'By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.'" Citing successes of foreign missionaries around the world, Weatherford said, "One of those missionaries, grieved by his battle against famine in West Africa, writes of double grief as he considers the current controversy among Southern Baptists. "He asks: 'Will there be enough unity left to carry the load of intercessory prayer for missions, or will the Spirit be so quenched that no power remains? Will we have the necessary people to staff our mission efforts or wlll our people be so disillusioned they no longer give themselves to missions through the Southern Baptist Convention? "'Will the financial base be weakened to the point that we must cut back our forces and program?' he continued. 'Will God leave us on the scrapheap and annoint another group with the heavy. responsibility? It has happened before. It could happen to us. llr~owe here pray for the Southern Baptist Convention, those who will vote at this convention, that in the midst of all the noisy clamor, they will perceive the wlll of God, that we should be preserved, that the unity of the Spirit will reign. '"We do this looking over our shoulders, depleting our energies, interceding for our base of support while the battle rages hot and heavy all around us, It doesn't seem right, but that's the way it is."' Weatherford issued this challenge: II Members of Woman's Missionary Union, we must not dissipate our energies and our spirit in any cause less than that of light bearers to a darkened world. There is no uncertain call. Jesus was direct and clear in his command: You are to go to all the world and preach the gospel to all people." Five other speakers joined Sample and Weatherford in addressing the "First Love" theme at the WMU'S 97th annual session in the Dallas Convention Center arena. Nancy Wingo, foreign missionary to Lebanon, and Michael Thomas Williams, home missionary to Harlem, told how the "First Love'' keeps missions alive in those two difficult areas. Wingo, who teaches at Beirut Baptist School in West Beirut, said missionaries and Lebanese Christian teachers keep the school open despite the danger because the school is just about all the students, mostly Moslems, have left. or our students the world is torn apart. Home and school are all they have left, and the faculty feels responsible for seeing that their school goes on. Love becomes commitment. "The world is dotted with little, dangerous places like Beirut," Wingo continued. "Baptists can be there and say God is Love." C. K. Zhang, a Baptist professor from mainland China, drew a standing ovation as he arose to address the WMU gathering. Zhang, returning to the United States for the first time in 45 years, identified himself as a "third generation Southern Baptist" who is a direct product of Southern Baptist miasionariea in China. Miguel Mojica, home missionary in Austin, Texas, cited huge growth of ethnics and language groups in America and urged increased efforts to reach them. he mission field is coming to us," he said of the growing influx of immigrants. "We must find someway to reach all of them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

By Robert 0'~rien--8:05 p.m. Sunday News brn Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiirC. Fields SBC Press Repmsentative Dan Martin New Room Manager CFaig Bi Photography IFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June Il.l.3, 1985

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Sunday Music Conference

DALLAS, June 9-Church musicians were challenged to make a "personal encounter with Jesus Christ" their foundation for music ministry and to make"praisingGod" their goal Sun- day during the opening day of the 29th annual Southern Baptist Church Music Conference at First Baptist Church, Dallas. Wesley Forbis of the Church Music Department, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, asked the church musicians to examine the underlying philosophy behind their ministry during the theme address: "Musicians on Mission." Forbis warned the musicians against making self, secular humanism or liberation theology their philosophical foundation. "~iberationtheology is a terrorist timebomb at the foot of the cross," he said. 11 Christ came as redeemer, not as a social reformer, We are evangelizers, not civilizers." Forbis went on to say that neither cultural/social, educational or aesthetic values should govern the church musician's ministry, though all these things are important, "Can social/cultural values contribute to church music? Yes," Forbis said. "Can social/cultural values save man from himself? No. "~oodNews in Christ -- This is the basis, this is the bedrock, this is the source for musicians on mission," he said. In the evening sermon, W.A. Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, examined the biblical examples of music in worship. "~ncientIsrael loved music," Criswll said, looking to the Old Testament, "It was the only art they cultivated." Turning to the New Testament and the Reformation, Criswell pointed to the important place of music in Christian worship. "Luther (Martin) did mare by his hymn singing than he did with his theological perspectives, his preaching and his writing," he said. tlThere is something about singing the songs of Zion that lifts our very souls to God. I don't think we can praise God too much."

By Ken Camp--9 p.m. Sunday New Room Dallas Convention Center

Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Repmtative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

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CRISWELL SERMON

DALLAS, June 9--It was vintage Criswell at the 20,000 member First Baptist Church, Dallas, as more than 7,000 persons in two services gathered on the Sunday before the 128th Southern Baptist Convention to hear the silver-haired patriarch of Southern Baptist conservatives denounce the "liberals" and defend the Bible as "the infallible, inerrant Word of God." Criswell, pastor of the SBC's largest congregation for more than four decades, delivered an emotional apologetic of the "inerrantist" interpretation of Scripture, emphasizing that the Bible "has no mistakes in it," whether scientific, historical or theological. Criswell and other conservative leaders have insisted throughout a divisive, six-year-old public debate in the denomination that the key issue is belief in the Bible, questioning in particular the theological orthodoxy of some seminary faculty members. "Moderates" have countered that conservative control of the convention's boards and institutions, not theology, is the real issue. The fiery pastor was joined on the platform at the 11 a.m. service by SBC President Charles Sta~ley,pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta. Criswell recently endorsed the re-election of Stanley in a letter of support sent to every Southern Baptist pastor. Stanley will be opposed for a second term as president by Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, during a Tuesday afternoon election. Greeted by a standing ovation, Stanley spoke briefly, noting that as a seminary student years ago "the greatest motivation for getting into the Word of God and learning how to preach was listening to him (Criswell)." Stanley added that he saw "only two ways" for Southern Baptists to approach the three-day meeting at the Dallas Convention Center. "The first way is with fear ,I1 he said. "The second is with the absolute, bold, unwavering confidence that our God is sovereign and his will is going to be done." As Southern Baptist messengers traveled to Dallas for what is expected to be the largest annual meeting in SBC history, scores of them came early to hear Criswell. The downtown church's congregation was overwhelmed by visitors at both the 8:15 and 11:OO worship services. At the 11:OO service, as many as 3,500 persons crowded into the 2,500-seat auditorium, filled make-shift overflow rooms and spilled into the streets outside. Between services, an overflow crowd packed the auditorium to hear popular motivational speaker and SBC first vice-president Zig Ziglar teach Sunday School. Ziglar's 30-minute lecture, laced with humorous one-liners, set forth the "dynamiqs of . successful leadership" offered by the prophet Nehemiah and included only one reference to the inerrancy issue. Noting that the prophet was met with ridicule from his enemies, Ziglar called for a massage that "keeps it simple." I I In my own theology," he said, "I'm convinced that the God who created the universe can also figure out a way to get a Bible printed that doesn't have one single error in it." The congregation responded with enthusiastic applause, a reaction repeated many times during Criswell' s message. Criswell Sermon Page 2

In his sermon, Criswell offered a string of illustrations, ranging from cosmogony to archaeology, which he said confirms the veracity of "every word" of Scripture. The Bible contains truths that modern science is "just now beginning to understand," he declared. Biblical references not only indicate such scientific discoveries that the air has weight and that the earth is round, but also more recent findings such as the special reflective properties of the moon's soil verified by astronauts. "If the U.S. government had just asked me, I could have saved them six billion dollars," Criswell joked. Other bits of Criswell humor were aimed at the "liberals." "All of Scripture is inspired by God," he said, "That's all of it, not parts of it. These liberals say it's inspired in spots--and they're inspired to pick out the spots. "They say if you have tractors to move mountains, you don't: need faith," he continued. "If you have penicillin, yau don't need prayer. If you have the state, you don't need the church. If you have an Einstein or an Edison, you don't need Jesus the Christ. If you have the manuals of science, you don't need the Bible. They say you had as well preach Aesop's fables as the Bible because both are filled with mythological tales ." Criswell went on to quote "an imminent theologian" who admitted the Bible was primarily a theological book which did contain some scientific and historical errors. "All I have to say about that is this," Criswell retorted. "If this Bible which is supposed to be written by the Holy Spirit of God contains errors, it is a work of men; it is not a work of God. It is that plain."

By David Wilkinson--8:45 p.m. Sunday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WkrC. Fib SBC Pres Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager C& Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

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State Convention Peace Plan

DALLAS, June 9-qrealdentsof 22 Baptist state conventions met prior to the Southern Baptist Convention to consider an eight-point peace plan for the controversy-ridden denomination, but delayed for another day a decision on the plan itself. Charles Pickering,president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention and ad hoc chairman of the state convention presidents, said they would meet again at 4:00 p.m., Monday, to finalize their plans. Bill Hickem, president of the Baptist Convention and chairman of the seven-member task force which is drafting the plan, said he expected the proposal to be presented during the 10:45 a.m. business session on Tuesday. Hickem, pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., said the plan would include nominations for a 15-member, broadly-representative committee to study the controversy and recommend possible solutions. The seven-member task force presented its initial report to the 22 state convention presidents meeting at the Dallas Hilton Hotel Sunday evening, after a two-hour, closedrdo~r task force session. Pickering said the committee decided not to release any preliminary report on the task force's recommendations because almost a dozen of the state convention presidents had not yet arrived for the SBC sessions. "We wanted the widest possible representation on the committee before finalizing the motion to be presented to the convention on Tuesuay, said Pickering, an attorney from Purel, Miss. Attendance at the meeting Sunday was almost as good as the meeting Pickering called in St. Louis, April 11-12, when 23 of the 37 state convention presidents were present. It was at that meeting that the idea of a committee to study the controversy was intro- duced, but not released for several weeks. The seven-member task force aesigned to draft the plan includes Hickem and Pickering, Wallace Henley of Alabama, John Gilbert of Missouri, Jack May of Tennessee, Neil Thompson of Alaska and Norman Wiggins of North Carolina. Their plan reportedly has the support of SBC President Charles Stanley of Atlanta, and Winfred Moore of Amarillo, president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas who is likely to be nominated to oppose ~tanley's re-election as president. Moore, as president of the Texas convention, attended the Sunday night meeting at the Hilton. The seven-member task force had met with Stanley on April 17 to inform him of their plans. Following the closed-door meeting to discuss the plan, the state convention presi- dents sponsored a 10:OO p.m. prayer meeting at the Hilton Hotel ballroom to pray for peace and reconciliation in the 14.3-million-member convention. News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiC. Filds SBC Prm Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SUNDAY NIGHT WMU DALLAS, June 9--An overflow crowd of 225 women and men gathered in the sumptuous setting of an Adolphus Hotel ballroom here Sunday night to partake of a simple sack dinner and offer prayers for the upcoming sessions of the Southern Baptist on vent ion(^^^). Sponsored by the Woman's Missionary Union, SBC auxiliary, the hour-long prayer meeting hit an upbeat note as the predominately female group was invited to pray that Southern Baptists be reminded they are in Dallas this week not to fight but to become ~od's "servant people. I' James Marcum, a Southern Baptist director of Christian social ministries in Montpelier, Vt., warned the denomination will fail in its old Mission" goal of sharing the gospel with every living creature before the end of the century "unless we listen to God." Underscoring Marcum's appeal, James Willet, director of missions for Baltimore Baptist Association, said Southern Baptists need to abandon their "we vs. they" mentality and adopt instead the view, "They is us; we is them. We are family." He urged prayers that: some 30,000 anticipated messengers to this week's convention be reminded that "the battle is not yours bur God ' s .I' W Executive Director Carolyn Weatherford of Birmingham called for prayers for Southern Baptist agencies and institutions, relating a conversation with a Southern Baptist Theological Seminary student during a recent trip to the Louisville, Ky. campus. The student, she said, told her that worship la the seminary chapel has been hindered as the denominational controversy has heated because students leave chapel services wondering "which side the speaker is on. t I Weatherford also related a recent visit to the home of Southwestern Baptist Theolog- ical Seminary President Russell Dilday and his wife, Betty. Expressing concern to Betty Dilday about the pressures the family has felt over the past year because of her husband's visibility as a leading proponent for denominational moderates, Weatherford said she was surprised at her host's response: "No, itVsbeen the best year of our lives," because of the knowledge many were praying for them. Prayers were offered also for some 7,000 Southern Baptist foreign and home missionaries, some of whom were among the participants at the sold-out function. Participants ate a simple meal of sandwiches, potato chips, brownies and apples as an encouragement to pray, a WMU staff member explained.

By Stan Hastey--9:55 p.m. Sunday I. News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields Slx Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Cmig Bird Photographyffeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dabs, June 11.13, 1985

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Directors of Missions

DALLAS, June 9--Almost 300 persons were reminded during the Southern Baptist Conference of Directors of Missions Sunday,that dreams are the key to doing great works for Christ. The conference at Central Expressway Inn, one of six held before the June 11-13 Southern Baptist: Convention, focused on the theme "The Director of Missions--Who? How?" William Pinson, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dallas, told conference participants that dreams have played a vital role in the history of the Christian church and Southern Baptists. Citing the efforts of early Baptist leaders such as Luther Rice, Pinson said, ItWe are what we are today as Southern Baptists because of dreamers of the past." Pinson emphasized nothing has ever been accomplished without a dream. "It takes a dream to pull us, to drive us, to mold us and to make something worthwhile in God' s hands, " Pinson warned the missions directors that a dream can become a nightmare if nothing is done with it. "Only those who persist will see their dreams come true. Don't let your dreams become nightmares. Live them out in the spirit and will of God." Morton Rose, a vice-president of the Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, emphasized the importance of maintaining excellence in programs. Rose said that maintaining excellence in programs is of vital concern for directors of missions. It is hard for one to work in the denomination and not be concerned about programs, he said. "All denominational entities exist to assist and enhance churches," he explained. According to Rose,a program starts with a vision of what God can do. That vision, he continued, must then be translated not only into words, but also into attainable objectives. Excellence in programs, he said, is "built around the concept of achievement: about which God can lead you to do. And that to ma, is success." J. Woodrow Fuller,a retired director of missions and denominational worker from Atlantic Beach, Fla.,said a director of missions must be a planner, promoter, leader, learner and servant Fuller said directors of missions stand in strategic positions within the denomination. "~on'ttake sides',' he urged. "Serve all people and churches and pray God will see us through. I' Fuller's wife,June, spoke regarding the role of the director of mission's wife. "The wife of a director of missions must have love and burden for a lost world." Bob Lee Franklin, director of missions for the Noonday Baptist Association, Atlanta, Ga., was re-elected president for a one-year term. Other new officers include: Carl Duck, Nashville Baptist Association, Nashville, first vice-president; Mack Smoke, San Jacinto Association, Baytown, Texas, second-vice president; Maurice Flowers, Jones County Baptist Association, Laurel, Miss., secretary; Bob Wainwright, Flat River Association, Oxford, N.C., treasurer; Everett Anthony, Chicago Metro Baptist Association, Oak Park, Ill., editor; and Russell Barker, Atlanta Baptist Association, Atlanta, 1986 host director. The directors learned a study of the salary structure of directors of missions was begun during the past year and will be released this fall. They also saw a preview of a new church retirement plan administered by the Southern Baptist Annuity Board, Dallas. According to Annuity Board officials, the expanded plan will provide for more adequate contributions, raise the level of benefits, include all ministers and lay personnel and include a state convention contribution. The church or association will match the participants' contributions two-for-one, up to 10 percent of base pay. Baptist state conventions will match one-half of the conttibution oE churches or associations up to $420 each year. The missions directors were asked to encourage churches in their association to adopt the program. Annuity Board officials said churches and associations need to adopt the plan by the end of 1987. It will become effective Jan. 1, 1988. -30- By Lonnie Wilkey--1O:lS p.m. Sunday lf News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Maain News Room Manager Cmig 13i PhotographylFeaturea Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

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Religious Education Meeting Sunday

DALLAS, June 9-A retired program planntng secretary of the $outhem Baptist Convention urged religious educators Sunday to keep abreast of social trends to better connnunicate denominational values. Tn an address to the 30th annual session of the Southern Baptist Religious Education Association at the Marriott Hotel, Market Square, Albert McClellan of Nashville, said Southern Baptists have never been alert to finding wher~people are or responding to then where they are. "Research has received only a pittance In our denopination. When we have research information, we have shelved it and forgotten about it." McCLellan1s remarks were in response to trends prepented by Susan Hayward, vice- president of Yankelovich, Skelly and White, Inc., a research company in New York City, Hayward outlined five major principles of the 1980s. They include a new realism that Americans are "out to wfn;" that Americans are more cost effective; that Americans see the need lor allegiances (commitments); and that Americans have a new respect for age and experience, McClellan also said that unlimited growth can na longer be taken for granted, h his is not new to Southern Baptists. We have always known that growth is always possible, but we have found it increasingly difficult in our churches, " He told the group that Southern Baptist church membership increased 87 percent between 1944-64, but between 1964-84 church membership increased 34 percent. He also said Sunday School enrollment increased 127.4 percent between 1944-64 but only increased 2.4 percent between 1964-84. In 1964 there was one baptism recorded for every 26 Southern Baptists. In 1984 there was one baptism recorded for every 36 Southern Baptists, McClellan said the church task is harder because of the "national electronic church," cammercialisrn of religion and non-historical combined with "social changes" which are occuring. Because of these reasons, McClellan said "research is essential and church leaders must tune themselves to listen to research from secular and church sources for flexibility, alertness and the reality of what is being found out about life in America," During the opening session of the conference, William M. Pinson, Jr., executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, told the educators "there is hope, but it is not found in human beings, processes or things, but is found in the living God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ." Pinson said hope is a "rare commodity because there is so much that can undermine it and prevent its possibility." He said Southern Baptists are in the business of sharing with the world a message of hope. "No matter how we proclaim the message," he said, "it ought to be centered in hope." Seven vocational groups also met Sunday afternoon to allow educators to share with people of similar goals and situations. The areas were childrens/preschool ministry, singles minis try, youth ministry, senior adult ministry, general education ladministration, assaciation/state /SBC ministry and teaching ministry (professors), A preliminary registration figure was not available but officers reported that the meeting would have the greatest registration in the 30-year history of the organization.

By Terry Barone--10:30 p.m. Sunday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 WiLner C. Fields SBC Pregs Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird Phot~gra~hylFeaturesManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

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Sunday Registration at SBC

DALLAS, June 9--During the opening day of registration for the 1985 Southern Baptist Convention, 14,148 messengers registered, making it the largest first day registration in the 140 year history of the SBC. "We had about double what we expected," said Lee Porter of Nashville, registration secretary, Participants lined up for more than two hours before registration opened at 3 p.m. At times, they spilled out of the sprawling Dallas Convention Center and even had haad- made signs saying his is the end of the line." During the first two hours, 5,831 messengers registered, compared with 810 during the first two hours at the 1984 annual meeting in Kansas City. Porter said the opening day registration of 14,148 is almost four times the opening day registration of 3,539 last year. It compares with 2,404 on the opening day of registration at the New Orleans convention in 1982, the second largest annual meeting in SBC history. On the opening day of the 1978 Atlanta Convention--the largest in SBC history with a total of 22,872 messengers--some 9,605 registered. During the first two days of registration in 1978, in Atlanta, 16,541 messengers registered. The first day registration for the 1985 convention is larger than three recent conventions: the 1983 Pittsburg meeting (13,740); 1981 Los Angeles convention (13,529) and the 1980 St. Louis SBC (13,844). The first annual meeting of the SBC, in Augusta, Ga., in 1845, drew 293 messengers. The first SBC ever held in Texas--1847 in Jefferson--drew only 222 messengers,

By Dan Martin--lO:35 p.m. Sunday New Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC kegs Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

ROUNDUP FOR TUESDAY AMS

Release after 6 p.m. Monday

DALLAS, June 10--Southern Baptists were cautioned Monday night against developing an unloving spirit while trying to maintain right doctrine. William M. Pinson Jr, of Dallas, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, issued the warning in an address to the Woman's Missionary Union, an auxiliary of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The women's organization was one of six Baptist groups meeting in advance of the 128th SBC which starts a three-day conference Tuesday at Dallas Convention Center. Others are composed of pastors, religious educators, church musicians, campus ministers, and directors of missions. Keeping priorities straight is one of life's most important and difficult tasks, Pinson reminded the women. Referring to Ephesian Christians in the Bible, Pinson said many careful students of the Scriptures believe that their zeal to ferret out the false apostles and to maintain right doctrine caused them (the Ephesians) to develop an unloving spirit. "The history of the Christian movement demonstrates that disputes over methodology, doctrine, and ecclesiastical structure result in diminishing evangelistic and missionary zeal, l1 he contended. '1 Of course, there is nothing wrong with zeal for truth. Sound doctrine is basic. What we believe has eternal consequences. Love is no substitute for truth, but truth is no substitute for love either. The two must go together. I1 Furthermore, their busyness, their many works might well have contributed to leaving their first love, They could well have been so busy being religious that they had little time to be Christians." Pinson said there is always the danger that programs, plans, work and effort--all religious--will consume persons, diverting them from the one they serve, and stifle theif warmth and love. "The Ephesians left their first love and so could we. We could lose it in the same way they lost it--by allowing a zeal for doctrine to result in a mean spirit or by being so busy carrying out programs and activities that we forget why--and for whom--we do them." For those who have left their first love, the answer is to repent of allowing something unworthy to disrupt their love for one another, Pinson continued. "Repent of what we have said or done that undermines missions, Repent of letting our love for Christ grow cool. Repent of majoring on how we differ instead of on how we agree. Repent of permitting any belief, attitude or spirit contrary to Christ to lodge in our hearts and minds." At the Southern Baptist pastors' Conference R, T, Kendall of Ashland, Ky., a member of the First Church of the Nazarene, spoke on the importance of believing that all things work together for good. "We make a grave mistake when we talk to the natural man about things like this and try to explain to him that all things work together for good, because the natural man will not understand it, it will be foolishness to him. This kind of thinking is a (Christian) family secret .I1 - -d .' -- Roundup for Tuesday AMS -- page 2 -- .- Other speakers at the pastors? conference Monday night included W, A, Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, and Richard Jackson, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Ariz.

Opening sessions of the SBC Tuesday will feature an address by President Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, and election of officers.

Competition for the presidency between Stanley and W. Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Tex., is expected to attract 30,000 messengers, largest for an annual meeting of the denomination since it was organized in 1845.

Almost 15,000 registered during the first few hours registration offices opened. Directors of missions closed their conference Monday with the re-election of Bob Lee i Franklin of Atlanta as president for a one-year term. I Other new officers included Carl Duck of Nashville, first vice-president; Mack Smoke of Baytown, Texas, second vice-president; Maurice Flowers of Laurel, Miss,, secretary; ! and Bob Wainwright 05 Oxford, N.C., treasurer.

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By Roy Jennings--9:30 a.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Qnter (214) 658-7954 Wilrner C Fib SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotogmphyIFeam Manager

Southern Baptist Convention DaUas, June 11-13, 1985 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pastors' Conference Sunday Night

DALLAS, June 10--With more than a day to go before the Southern Baptist Convention's main meeting begins, the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference came close to filling the Dallas Convention Center Sunday night. Crowd estimates ranged from 17,000 up to more than 20,000, and the pastors' president, O.S. Hawkins, was almost ecstatic. "It was incredible--I can't believe it!" said Hawkins, pastor of First Baptist Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Head counts are hard to determine in the hangar-like convention center, where the speakers' platform is topped by a huge American flag. Two large image magnification screens help thousands on either end to see. The crowd gave standing applause to two of the evening's four speakers, the first of 14 who will address the conference before it closes Monday night. As was true last year in Kansas City, the crowd gave its strongest applause to a non-Southern Baptist, Presbyterian D. James Kennedy, who sharply criticized what he termed an erroneous idea of the separation of church and state and charged that Americans have turned education of their children over to unbelievers. Kennedy, senior minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, and former SBC President Adrian Rogers of Memphis both won standing affirmation and numerous 11 amens. I' The First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution simply says that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, Kennedy said. This amendment says nothing about what the church shall do, he added. "We have let the unbelievers convince America that this is a secular nation," he said. 11There may even be some people here who have bought that lie--and nothing could be further from the truth." Southern Baptists, fearful of any wedding of religion and government, have traditionally espoused separation of church and state. But at the same time they have underwritten a large share of funding forsthe Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, which represents eight Baptist bodies in Washington, D. C., to share Baptist views with lawmakers. An attempt to cut off funding to this agency was narrowly defeated at last year's convention. Rogers, elected SBC president in 1979 in the conservatives' first organized bid to strengthen their voice in the nation's largest Protestant denomination, made only one reference to the convention controversy: "I don't know what is going to happen at this convention, but I want you to know that before I came I put my eyes on the sovereign God and I'm not going to take them off." Preaching on the 1 Samuel account of young David's victory over the Philistine giant Goliath, Rogers outlined seven principles for David's victory he said still apply to Southern Baptist preachers: preparation, perspective, purpose, progression, protection, power and praise. Pastor's Conference Sunday Night--Page 2

Rogers said the "bottom line" of all that pastors do is that it must be done for the glory of God. He told how on the first Sunday after he was elected SBC president, he was preaching at his church, Bellevue Baptist in Memphis, when a door burst open and a barefooted man he described as "maniacal" charged toward him. Assured by the Lord that "the devil was about to make a fool of himself," Rogers said he stood his ground. When the man was only about a foot away, he recounted, it was as if he had run into a plexiglass shield. As the man stopped,several men came down from the choir. A black belt karate expert jumped from the balcony to come to Rogers' aid and a Golden Gloves champion quickly decked the man with a blow to the jaw. Three or four men were on top the interloper when Rogers asked them to release him. "~'dnever taken a course in the seminary to know what to do in this moment ," Rogers said. "But I kneeled beside that man. T put one hand on his head and lifted the other toward Heaven and I said, 'In the name of Jesus, Satan, I bind you.'" Rogers said the man screamed out in protest as he repeated the words, then went "limp." Afterward, Rogers put his arm around the man and others led him from the auditorium. Forty-two persons made decisions for Christ that day at Bellevue. "1've descovered there's power, wonder-working power in the name of Jesus," he said. Robert Hamblin, vice-president for evangelism at the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, Atlanta, Ga., asked the pastors to lead their churches in support of ''~oodBews America, God Loves You," a simultaneous evangelism effort planned throughout the country in the spring of 1986, ."-". Hamblin lamented the drop in baptisms from a ratio of 19 members to one baptism in 1954 to 39 to one in 1984. "It is not our politics that will bring people to Christ," he said. "We must pray and must depend upon God...who alone can quench the spiritual thirst in our land.'' Bill Weber, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, called on pastors to use their "creative imagination" and to take a broad view of the Kingdom of God in reaching out to meet people's needs. He preached on Mark 2:l-12, which tells how four men took the roof off a house to let down a paralyzed man to Jesus far healing. If that had been a Baptist crowd, he said, laughing, someone "would surely have said, 'Who's going to pay for the roof?"' He urged Southern Baptists to rejoice with others, regardless of the denominational badge they wear, if they are "bringing honor to Jesus Christ and if they are bringing people to him." The pastors were to elect officers Monday afternoon and wind up their meeting with a message by W.A. Criswell, pastor of Dallas' First Baptist Church. --3o--

By Bob Stanley--9:15 a.m. Monday News Room Daks Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WhrC Fields SBC Press Repraentative Dan Martin News Room Manager cmig B'i PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EMERGENCY LANDING

DALLAS, June 9--Messengers from First Baptist Church, Indian Rocks, in Largo, Fla., received a rude welcome to Dallas yesterday. The group of 10 messengers was flying in a twin-engine 10-passenger airplane to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention which starts Tuesday at Dallas Convention Center. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Dallas1 Redbird Airport after both engines failed. "Everyone walked out of it with no bumps or injuries," reported airport manager Robert Hernandez. He said the plane "got banged up a little bit when it landed on its belly" and slid off the end of the runway. Charles Martin, pastor of the Indian Rocks church and a passenger on the plane, said the airplane ran out of fuel a few miles from Love Field. "The fuel warning light came on and about 45 seconds later the engines quit," he " recalled. He said the pilot, Lynn Spence, changed course and guided the stalled plane to the smaller Redbird Airport. The aircraft was forced to do a "belly-flop" because the landing gear could not be engaged. "It was an errie feeling," admitted Martin. "We just simply ran out of fuel. It was a mi8calculat ion. " In addition to Martin and his wife, Stephanie, and Spence, a Sunday School teacher at the Largo church, other messengers included the church's associate pastor Max Gessner and his wife, Marty; minister of music Bruce McCoy and wife, Cindy; minister to senior adults Mike Keeton and wife, Cheri, and singles coordinator Phyllis Alderman. During the anxious moments before landing, Martin said, "I told my wife I had the strangest peace that just overwhelmed me. As soon as the plane stopped, we got out and just started praising the Lord."

By Trennis Henderson--9:45 a.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954. WirC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

CORRECTION

Roundup for Tuesday AMS--Next to last graph---R. T. Kendall, speaker Monday night at Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference, is pastor of Westminster Chapel, London, England, not Ashland, Ky., First church of the Nazarene as referenced in the book of speeches.

Thank You News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fiilds SBC Press Repremtative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southem Baptist: Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

MEMORANDUM FROM: Dan Martin

TO: Newsroom users

1. The telephone system has been changed to allow unrestricted calls. You do not now have to go through the convention center operator ta make long distance calls. You must, however, dial 9 to get an outside line. We ask that you do not charge calls to the newsroom telephones.

2. The Houston Chronicle and Dallas Morning News are being provided courtesy of the newspapers. They will be delivered each morning during the convention. We thank both the Chronicle and the Morning News.

3. For those of you who are messengers, ballots will not be collected in the newsroom this year. The convention officials have ruled you must be in the meeting halls in order to vote.

Thanks for your cooperation. If you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to ask or express yourself,

Thanks,

Dan Martin News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiiC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POWELL PRESS CONFERENCE

DALLAS, June 10--A press conference called for "the top generals in the Battle for the Bible" in the Southern Baptist Convention dld not come off as expected when the "top generals" didn't show up. The press conference, called by Southern Baptist Journal editor Bill Powell of Buchanan, Ga., was held Monday morning at First Baptist Church, Dallas, featuring Powell, retired Christianity Today editor Harold Lindsell of El Toro, Calif., and David 0. Beale, a pro- fessor at Bob Jones University, Greenville, S.C. Powell had sent invitations earlier to news media, inviting them to interview such ?Itop generals" in the current Southern Baptist Convention controversy as former SBC presidents Jimmy Draper of Euless, Tex.; Adrian Rogers of Memphis, Tenn.; and Bailey Smith of Del City, OkJa. Powell had also invited Paige Patterson, president of Criswell Center for Biblical Studies in Dallas; Paul Pressler, Houston judge, and Lindsell. Only Lindsell showed. When asked "where have all the generals gone and why weren't they present," Powell explained that the former SBC presidents llmaHe a decision last week not to participate. "They decided if they made one goof-up or mistake, it would hurt," Powell added. Both Lindsell and Beale denied that the purpose of the press conference was to sell copies of their books about the current SBC controversy. Review copies of Beale's new book, S.B.C., House on the Sand (including a review by Powell) were distributed to the 50 to 75 reporters present, Beale identified himself as a former Southern Baptist minister who is now a member of an independent Baptist church. Beale said his book contained 232 pages of documentation of liberalism within the Southern Baptist Convention. Ha decried Baptist Book Stores owned by the SBC Sunday School Board for refusing to sell it. Beale advocated a "purge" of all liberals from the SBC saying it is not possible to mix truth with error. Lindsell, editor emeritus of Christianity Today and author of two books dealing with theological problems in the SBC, took a more philosophical and practical approach, saying that the least the SBC could do was re-elect Stanley and establish Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis to status as an official SBC seminary. The SBC needs at least one wholly theological conservative seminary, Lindsell eaid. If Mid America becomes a seminary affiliated with the SBC, Lindsell predicted it would quickly become the largest of a11 the denominationls seminaries,

By Jim Newton -- 12:15 p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Repmentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotugmphylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June ll:U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Director of Missions Monday

DALLAS, June 10--Directors of associational missions were asked here Monday to help determine what trends and counter-trends will affect Southern Baptists' Bold Mission Thrust programming in the 1990s. Bold Mission Thrust is Southern Baptists plan to reach the world for Christ by the year 2000. A record 310 directors of missions registered for the Southern Baptist Conference of Directors of Missions at Central Expressway Inn, one of six Baptist groups meeting in advance of the Southern Baptist Convention. Doran C. McCarty, professor of ministry at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif., presented a document entitled "Bold Mission Thrust Planning for the 19901s," a cooperative project of the Inter-Agency Council of the Southern Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist state conventions. McCarty said the document attempts to identify today's trends and counter-trends. "We must see where the world is heading and determine how we can intervene with the gospel of Christ," he said. The document identifies eight trends apparent in the '1980s and expected to influence the next decade. They include changing world population, an accelerated information era, diversity and specialization of education, a widening of the income gap, expanded technology, social issues and the appearance of religion in many forms. Bob Lee Franklin, president of the directors of missions conference and a member of the workgroup which enlisted McCarty to prepare the document, said all levels of the denomination will be asked to provide input in determining priority concerns that will serve as a planning base for the 1990s. Franklin said the completed document will be presented to the SBC for approval in 1987. It will then be distributed to all SBC agencies, institutions, state conventions and associations to aid them in long-range planning. W. E. Thorne, retired president of Dallas Baptist University, spoke to the directors of missions concerning retirement. "It's a shame when God's people give of themselves to do His work yet when they retire, they can't enjoy it because of inadequate planning." He said directors of missions must prepare financially, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. The secret of growing old with class is the magic of music, laughter, creativity and enrichment of faith. During the business session, approximately 100 directors of missions were honored for 10 to 30 years of service. Russell Bennett,executive director of the Long Run Baptist Association, Louisville, ,Ky., presented a resolution affirming "that all ministries of the Association pertain to the mission of the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that we recognize that the chief staff position, by whatever title the churches choose to designate that office, is called to serve the churches of our Lord in fulfilling their mission."

By Lonnie Wilkey -- 1:10 p.m. Monday News brn Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SEE Press Repwntative Dan Martin News Room Manager Cmig Bid PhotographylFeatun?~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-l3, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WMU MORNING SESSION DALLAS, June 10--A Baptist pastor from Louisville, Ky., drew a standing ovation Monday morning as he challenged Southern Baptists "to lift up Jesus Christ, not moderates or conservatives or liberals or fundamentalists." "Don't defend the Bible, do it," urged Michael Elliott, pastor-director of Jefferson Street Baptist Center, in an address to 2,000 participants at the 97th annual Woman's Missionary Union meeting in the Dallas Convention Center Arena, "If we did the Bible, it wouldn't need defending." America's homeless and needy remain largely unreached, he charged, because "too many lay people and ministers are not involved in home missions" and because "many people these days are more concerned about doctrinal purity than they are the lost around them. I' He said the Jefferson Street Baptist Center, which ministers to the homeless, uses volunteer workers of all kinds--"individuals from conservative churches and nor so conservative churches."

Fundamentalists and moderates both can be found doing volunteer work at the center, he said. "Do you know what? It doesn't make any difference, to the homeless. It's not funda- mentalism or liberalism being lifted up, it's Christ. When something like that happens, conservative and not so conservative work arm in arm in reaching out to the homeless and 10s t ." He told the story of Chester, an alcoholic down-and-outer who accepted Christ and kicked his addiction. Asked what happened to him, Chester said "I found Jesus. He was in the faces of the pepple at the Jefferson Street Baptist Center." Iater, when he heard about the Southern Baptist Convention inerrancy controversy, Chester told Elliott, "I'm sure glad you just told me about Jesus first and not all those other things ." Christianity , Elliott said,must "first be demonstrated and then proclaimed1' to reach people who need it. "~e've forgotten that .I' He asked one down-and-outer why he waited so many years to accept Christianity. "I waited until I saw somebody doing something," the man replied.

Elliott said he believes "that when we stand before God at the end,of it all, he's going to ask us: 'Did you love?"' He said some will respond that they loved the church and built structures, others will say they loved the Bible and fought for it, others will say they loved the convention and purged the unworthy, and others will say they loved God and received a blessing. God, Elliott said, will turn away them. "And then God will lean over and search our eyes, looking straight through to our souls. And he will say: 'But did you love each other?"'

By Robert O'Brien -- 1: 15 p.m. Monday News Ram Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WirC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Cmig Bird PhatogmphylFeatures Manager

Southem Fiaptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pastor's Conference Monday Morning

DALLAS, June 10--A barefooted Arthur Blessitt, Hollywood evangelist, begged Southern Baptists here Monday to "not embarass Jesus before the world." Addressing about 20,000 at the Southern Baptist Pastor's Conference, Blessitt said, "My prayer is that there won't be a word spoken here that the Holy Spirit has not given. If our lips are controlled by the Holy Spirit, then there will be glory here, "A lot of people came here expecting to see a fight," Blessitt continued. "I came here expecting a revival." Blessitt recounted how he has spent the last year carrying his six feet by 12 feet cross throughout India. About midway through his remarks, Blessitt said he wanted everyone to see his feet, so he took off his shoes to show them he had not suffered because of following Jesus. He added he was more comfortable barefooted anyway, so he took off his other shoe and continued preaching, Blessitt, who is in the sixteenth year of his cross carrying ministry, said doctors have told him he has health problems which should be treated surgically. He said he has no fear, and elected not to have the surgery because God gives him the strength for one day at a time. Just before Blessitt led the crowd in a singing of the ~ord'sPrayer to conclude his section1 of the session,he told the pastors there to think of themselves as ambassadors to ~od's kingdom, not a Southern Baptist kingdom. "If we don't act like Jesus, what are we going to tell the world?" Earlier in the session, Tom Elliff, pastor of Applewood Baptist Church, Wheat Ridge, Colo., told pastors the will of God is expressed by the spirit of God through the Word of God, which was settled in heaven. Elliff said the Word of God is "absolutely true and absolutely sufficient to solve every problem of life. Every true believer should immerse himself in the Word of God. Try to master the Bible and you will discover that it will master you." Elliff added that God's settled Word has been protected through the ages so we might have as sure a word from Him as did Abraham or Daniel, Peter or Paul. Settle down in the Word of God, Elliff urged the pastors. "Read it through; write it down; pray iO iti; and live it out," was h formula offered by Elliff, who credited the saying to the late E. F. "Preacher" Hallock, pastor of First Baptist Church, Norman, Okla., for SO year,$. "We have to have more than an intellectual commitment to the Word of God," he warned. "We must have more than the .capacity to either defend or deliver it. We must have a commitment to settle down in God's Word and live it." While the Southern Baptist Convention is being conducted here Tuesday through Thursday, I Elliff said there were people around the world and in their own communities who are experiencing the settling nature of God. I "The integrity of God's Word will not be determined in this arena, but in the arena of life," he said. Other speakers in the morning session were Jack Graham, pastor of First Baptist I Church, West Palm Beach, Fla., and David Walker, pastor of First Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas. Walker told the pastors that they must "stand firmly in the promises of God if we I are going to be what God wants us to be." I I It is amazing that to get our attention, God has to drive us into some kind of wilderness," Walker said. "To survive, it is imperative that we have a set of promises on which to stand. These promises can bring daybreak to the midnight of our desperation." Graham said,IiGod is always looking for men and women who will be faithful in small things. Mountains of pressure are but molehills in the power of God." Graham challenged the preachers to "be faithful in smaller things and God will open up greater vistas." I I

By Jim Lowry -- 2:15 p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C Fields SBC Pms Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Campus Ministers Sunday

DALLAS, June 9--A Southern Baptist religious educator called on campus ministers Sunday to lead students to a faith that frees their minds as well as their souls. Philip H. Briggs, professor of youth education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, told about 50 Southern Baptist: campus ministers that "all about are those peddling an enslaving faith." Briggs opened the 11th annual meeting of the association of Southern Baptist campus ministers with a charge that they view faith as a developmental process which parallels cognitive (mental) development. The campus ministers' association was one of six Southern Baptist conferences held prior to the annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting here. Briggs, who referred to college students as 'lcollescents,'t a blend between adolescent and collegian, explained cognitive development continues throughout late adalescence. During that time, students explore new ways of thinking, shift attitudes, values and beliefs, employ new standards of conscience, alter self-concepts, set career directions, become more tolerant of individual differences and make other kinds of adaptions, he said. At the same time, faith is being filtered through the adolescent's changing brain, said Briggs. "one cannot divorce the spiritual pilgrimage from the maturation process," he explained. But often the church has stifled legitimate questions, said Briggs. I1The degree to which a student goes through the questioning process is equal to the degree to which we give them permission to question," explained Briggs. "Often the church has said to adolescents (they may) ask questions about anything except sex and the Bible." Adult faith grows out of the alternating doubts and affirmations that characterize productive thinking, Briggs added. "Productive thinking can only happen in the person who is intellectually growing. "Doubt is not an enemy, but a friend of understanding," he said. "~ealthydoubting keeps faith relevant and dynamic." Faith grows in response to experiences one encounters in the world, said Briggs. "Faith is not simply trusting or the accepting of certain beliefs," he asserted. "Faith involves one's view of reality, how one talks about life, what one will do, how ane will go about committing oneself, how one will relate to others and their viewpoints, how one reasons about what one believes, how one perceives the stories of one's religion and how one symbolizes one' s deepest longings and convictions. " Faith development is not to be confused with just the content of Christian faith," he cautioned. "Faith development implies how to understand and reinterpret that content." Campus ministers must understand principles of development if they are to effectively minister to college students, said Briggs. While most campus ministers trained to work in Southern Baptist circles have received extensive theological education, they have had "almost no guidance in human growth and development, " he lamented. ''Could it be that many of the frustrations in working with students, council members, pastors, and laymen is brought on by the lack of understanding of the overall maturation process?" Page 2--Campus Minis e

Campus ministers also may receive little support from local churches because their ministry "doesn't perpetuate the ntatus quo of a local congregation composed mostly of children, middle and senior adults,I' said Briggs . The agenda items of the pastor "are often related to tithing emphasis and worker en- listment, while the campus minister is struggling to guide a collescent to gain intimacy and commitment in his environment',' he said. "Religious education with collescents, based upon faith development, must provide a variety of models in faith, role-taking opportunities, reinterpretation of symbols, cognitive challenges, and honest appraisal of other religious traditions, while supporting structures for movement beyond the camfortable, conventional faithing." The danger is that a restrictive approach to faith will require an immediate and exact c~mplianceto faith content, which ultimately will drive students away from the church, said Br iggs . An open learning environment may require campus ministers and others who work with col- lege students "to let the student be wrong for awhile without: condemnation about what the student believes." By modeling maturing faith in daily confrontations with questions of life's meaning, students will come to experience the "Christ-like principles of liberating and reconciling love, he concluded.

By Michael Tutterov--2:30 p.m. Sunday "il News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 6587954 Wilmer C Frlds SBC Pregs Fkpcesentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographyFea~Manager Southern Baptist Convention Dabs, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Campus Ministers Sunday Night

DALLAS, June 9--Diversity and the failure to understand it as a key ingredient in Southern Baptists' formation is the root of the denomination's current controversy, a Southern Baptist church historian said Monday, Walter Shurden, chairman of the department of Christianity at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., told about 75 Southern Baptist campus ministers that diversity had become "tanra- mount to liberal in the Southern Baptist Convention." "The nation is becoming more and more pluralistic and that is threatening to anyone who wancs uniformity." But diversity is at the heart of the 14.3 million member denomination's heritage,'he said. Shurden addressed the 11th annual meeting of the Association of Southern Baptist Campus Ministers, one of six groups meeting prior to the 128th Southern Baptist Convention. Shurden, a former professor of church history at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., noted that about 75 percent of all Southern Baptists live in "Dixie" and that the denomination is still regionally, racially and economically identifiable. II ow ever," he stated, "Southern Baptists are not as regional as we were in 1940, we ate not as white as we were in 1954, and we're not nearly as poor as we were 25 years ago." Southern Baptist diversity is not new,-said Shurden. The denomination's pluralism was shaped early on by the national context, Baptist distinctives and Southern Baptist history, he added. "~tthe heart of the American experience are pluralism, diversity and dissent," he ex- plained, "No religious group escapes completely its national and political environment. To fear pluralism is essentially a pre-American idea." A diverse mix of religious groups, the nation's geographical size and the founding fathers' commitment to religious liberty, created an atmosphere where diversity flourished, Shurden said, Baptist distinctives--authority of scripture, , priesthood of all be- lievers, religious liberty for all people, self-government (autonomy) of the local church-- also shaped Southern Baptists' diversity, said Shurden. Soul competency, the ability and right of every believer to discern for him or herself God's will for their life, was the stackpole around which Southern Baptists were built, Shurden claimed. "Southern Baptists were built on a principle which permits, not prohibits diversity," he said. "Our denominational identity has been fostered by a unity which comes out of our commitment to diversity not by a unity squeezed out of some kind of imposed uniformity."

The forming of the Southern Baptist Convention in Augusta, Ga., in 1845, said Shurden, was an effort to protect the Southern culture, particularly slavery. "Slavery fueled our sense of sectionalism and 'colored' the denomination in terms of race." The Georgia tradition also birthed cooperation as an approach to missions, said Shurden. Cooperation became the method of this denomination and missions was the motive for the denomination's formation, he explained. That approach, said Shurden, "shaped the Southern Baptist mind until 1979," the year fundamentalists in the denomination announced plans to take over control of boards and agencies in an effort to stem the tide of what they claimed was liberalism in the convention, *. b ~amA&isters SundaBQht Page 2

Shurden said Southern Baptists need a refresher course in Baptist history to effectively deal with the denomination's conflict. Baptist history, he said, allows Southern Baptists to see the mosaic of their past, which in turn lessens fears about contemporary differences. When Southern Baptists began dropping church training programs, they lost the forum for teaching Baptist history, Shurden said. "We left our heritage and nobody picked it up and we're paying the price for it right now. No denominational leader, elected or otherwise, will deal with the denomi- nation's present difficulties apart from a recognition of our diversity ." He charged campus ministers to see themselves as theological educators who under- gird the next generation of Baptists with Baptist distinctives. Shurden claimed Southern Baptists "are going to win" the women's ordination issue. ''It's a justice issue, and God's on the side of justice." Shurden predicted the convention would not split because of the complexity of dividing up the multi-billion dollar organization and property, Historically, he noted, Baptists on the right have been the ones to "defect" from the denomination. But since 1979, he admitted, those on the right have been in control. Should SBC moderates be defeated in Dallas and again next year in Atlanta, he said, some moderate churches might dually align themselves with the SBC and the American Baptist Convention. Should conservatives lose control, in a few years about 500 to 1,000 churches might defect from the SBC, he said.

Michael Tutterow 12:OO p.m. New8 Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Fkpnxentative Dan Martin News Room Manager c* Bid Photography IFeatu~wManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

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WMU Monday Morning

DALLAS, June 10--Christians who proclaim the message of Jesus Christ but fail to put it into action fail to meet the needs of the world's hurting people, speakers told 2,000 Southern Baptist Woman's Missionary Union participants Monday morning. They told stories of how Christian love in action has revolutionized the lives of people from Wayne County, Miss., to the remote reaches of Ethiopia's highlands and from Louisville, Ky., to Eastern Europe and Guatemala. Norma Mackey of Wayne County, Miss., said it amazes her when pastors and deacons of Baptist churches still tell her that her efforts to help down-and-out people aren't needed in the country. She and several other women made an impact on the country, which has 17.5 percent unemployment, by launching Operation HOPE to help needy people survive. John Cheyne, senior human needs consultant for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, Va., related how hunger relief in Ethiopia's highlands has laid a background of love which makes people realize Christians are serious about helping people. Jane Parker, missionary to Guatemala, urged Southern Baptists "never to forger rhe love motive in missions" which has caused the K'eckchi' Indians wirh whom she works to turn from pagan worship to Christianity. Mike Elliott, pastor-director of the Jefferson Street Baptist Center, Louisville, Ky., said the homeless he ministers to respond to action, not just words. Many, he said, have accepted Christ after realizing the people of Christ really care about them. John David Hopper, Southern Baptists' fraternal representative to Baptists in Eastern Europe, told how love in action has breached the walls which separate people. Hopper said believers in Eastern bloc nations face severe challenges which impede their ability to spread their faith but that the message of Jesus Christ provides "love which melts those barriers." C. Anne Davis, dean of the Carver School of Church Social Work at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., put it all in perspective. "The needs of this world aren't the reason we're on mission. The only reason is gratitude to God because of our own salvation. God saves us for service to others." When Jesus fed the 5,000 people who came to hear him preach, she said, the "Bible made no reference to whether they were irresponsible for not packing a lunch. When someone is hungry, you feed them. "We have to be on mission because we need it," she said. "You can't grow in Christian maturity by going to a local Baptist church and just sitting there. I I

By Robert O'Brien--3 p.m. Monday News Room Convention Center 1

Wher C Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR ZMMEDIATE RELEASE Pastors ' Conference Officers DALLAS--June 10-Morris Chapman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, was elected president of the Southern Baptist pastors' Conference without opposition Monday afternoon at Dallas Convention Center. W. A. Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, nominated Chapman. Chapman succeeds 0. S. Hawkins of Port Lauderdale, Fla. Ned Matthews, pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church, Gastoaia, N.C., was elected vice president and Dwight Reighard, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga,, secretary-treasurer.

By Jim bwry -3:30p,m. News Room 0Dallas Convention Center (214)65&7954 WiC. Fdds SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bi Ph~tograph~IFeaturesManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11-l3,1985

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Southwestern Homecoming

FORT WORTH, June 10--For only the second time in the school's history, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary welcomed alumni and former students back to the campus Monday for a homecoming celebration. The day-long festivities were planned to take advantage of the large number of Southwesterners in the area to attend the Southern Baptist Convention, which opens Tuesday at the Dallas Convention Center. The only other Southwestern homecoming was in 1974, the last time the SBC met in Dallas. Russell Dilday, president of the seminary, said the homecoming activities were not intended to compete with other pre-convention meetings such as the Southern Baptist Pastors1 Conference. Some observers feared Dilday, a leading opponent of the conservative faction in the SBC, would use the occasion to rally support for the moderates' cause. But the denominational controversy was not mentioned in the one-hour program in the school's Truett Auditorium. Dilday was greeted with a standing ovation when introduced to the 500 people attending the 10 a.m. program, which was repeated at 3 p.m. Dilday did tell the crowd God would turn the school's current "difficult times" into good. I1Out of that He always brings something better, and that's happening in these days," he said. The homecoming celebration also included an open house at all campus buildings, a barbeque luncheon (to which 2,000 tickets were sold) and class reunions. Other speakers included Davis Cooper, pastor of University Hills Baptist Church, Denver, Colo., and chairman of the Southwestern board of trustees, and Ralph Langley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala., and president of the school's alumni association. Cooper pledged the returning alumni would find Southwestern "everything you remember it being, and it will remain so in the years ahead.'' That comment was also met with applause. In an interview earlier, Dilday said the activities were planned so that alumni could come and go, allowing them to participate in other pre-convention activities. He said he discussed plans for the event with 0. S. Hawkins, president of the pastors' conference, to reduce conflicts. 11 It is just one of those days when fifteen or twenty things are going on," Dilday said. "It is not at all a conflict, or at least not intended to be."

BY Greg Warner--3:20 p.m. Monday C News Room Dab Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiC. Fields SBC Presn Repreentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager C* Bird Photography /Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

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Registration 3 p.m. Monday

DALLAS, June 10--Registration at 3 p.m. Monday reached 26,828, making the 1985 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention by far the largest in the 140-year history of the denomination. Lee Porter, registration secretary, said the 3 p.m. registration figure compares with 8,774 at the Kansas City convention last year and with 13,017 in 1978 in Atlanta, The Atlanta Convention held the previous all time record for attendance with 22,872, At the Kansas City meeting, 17,101 persons registered. "We have handled a lot of people," Porter said. "But it has been made easier by the fact most of them had their registration cards properly filled out. The Credentials Committee (which rules on disputed credentials) has not had a lot of work to do." Porter predicted the 1985 annual meeting "will easily break 30,000. And, if we have 8,000 or 10,000 tomorrow (Tuesday) it could easily go over 40,000 messengers." Porter said the enormous crowd could pose problems for the presiding officer, "particularly if there are a lot of hand votes. When we go over 30,000 it will necessitate meeting in two halls. "We will be able to take up the ballot votes without any problem, but hand or voice votes will be very difficult." Porter estimated it will take "about an hour" to count the ballots after the key vote for the presidency of the SBC. 1I Last year, it took about an hour to count 15,000 ballots, but this year we have high speed equipment," he said. -30-

By Dan Martin--3:55 p.m. Monday News horn Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WhrC. Fields SBC P- Repmtative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

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Church Music Monday

DALLAS, June 10--The Southern Baptist Church Music Conference awarded honorary life memberships here Monday to two long-time denominational church music leaders and presented the prestigious W. Hines Sims Award to Oklahoma Baptist composer Eugene M. Bartlett Jr. Honorary life memberships went to Paul Stewart, director of the church music department, Alabama Baptist State Convention, and Bob Lawrence, former director of church music depart- ments in the Northern Plains Baptist Convention and the Colorado Baptist General Convention, in ceremonies at First Baptist Church. Honorary memberships are awarded to individuals who, in the opinion of the SBCMC, have made outstanding contributions to the cause of Southern Baptist church music. Bartlett, former church music secretary for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, received the W. Hines Sims Award for years of outstanding service to church music in his home state. The Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma, a statewide men's chorus founded by Bartlett, presented a concert prior to the award ceremony. Earlier recipients of the W. Hines Sims award include William J. Reynolds, general editor of the 1975 Baptist Hymnal; Wesley Forbis, secretary of the church music department, Baptist Sunday School Board; and George Beverly Shea, soloist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. In other business, the conference voted to establish the John Rippon Memorial Fund to restore the marker an the London tomb of the first compiler of a Baptist hymnal, to create an endowment fund for the purpose of commissioning musical works, and to increase annual membership dues for the first time since 1979.

By Ken Camp--4:08 p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 6587954 Wilmer C. Filds SBC Press Repre8entative Dm Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeahares Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-l3, 1985

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Winfred Moore Feature

DALLAS, June 10--Moderate Southern Baptist Convention presidential contender W. Winfred Moore said here Monday he and incumbent president Charles F. Stanley have not discussed a rumored joint withdrawal from the contest to support a compromise candidate and added he has "no idea1' whether the convention's record registration will help or hurt his chances. "1 met Charles Stanley last night at a prayer meeting for the first time in my life," the 65-year-old pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas said. "He and I stood in the same circle for prayer at the close of a meeting at the (Hilton) hotel." Moore added: ''But I have said all along that if a third person arose from this convention that all sides would support that I would be the happiest man in Texas to withdraw. " Yet the idea of joint withdrawal "has never been discussed between us," he said. "I have said that publicly in my own pulpit. . . . But there has never been any discus- sion about it with anybody." Concerning persistent reports leaders of both moderates and conservatives in the six-year SBC controversy believe a registration figure above 30,000 would help assure Stanley's reelection, Moore replied: "I have no idea. I know nothing about vote counts or anything else." But, he said, "I think from what I saw in Kansas City (site of last year's annual meeting) that the fundamentalist groupis going to bus everybody they can in here." At 3 p.m. Monday registration had reached about 27,000 messengers, a record for the 140-year-old denomination. Stanley, the 53-year-old pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, was elected president of the SBC last year in Kansas City, sweeping aside the challenge of a pair of moderate candidates in a first-ballot victory. He is the fourth consecutive conservative to be elected president of the 14.3-millior~member denomination over the last six years. Along with his three immediate predecessors, Stanley has used his appointive powers as president to help the conservative group toward its announced goal of controlling denominational agencies and institutions and ridding them of theological liberalism. Moore insisted the battle is not essentially theological. I'Man, we have never agreed on everything," he declared. "We have just worked together inspite of that to preach the gospel (and have) done mission work better than anybody else in the world has ever done it, in my judgment." He said he is troubled by all the negative attention Southern Baptists are attracting because of the bitter dispute. "Here all of a sudden we've got the attention of the world, not because we are doing a good job with the mandate of Christ but because we are fussing," he said. "And it bothers me," Noting his Amarillo congregation recently has been visited by crews from the three biggest national television networks and by reporters representing national newsmagazines and numerous newspapers, Moore declared: "They wouldn't come if the apostle Paul were preaching the gospel there. They are there for the conflict, not for what Baptists have always done. " Moore insisted he did not set out to capture the presidency of the troubled denomination, saying, "I didn't want to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention, not ever . . .(but) here we are In the worst thing we've ever been in and I find myself right in the middle of it." He noted he had never spoken on the floor of the convention until last year, when he nominated a fellow Texas pastor in challenging the committee on boards' nomination of Houston appeals court judge and conservative leader Paul Pressler of Houston to the powerful SBC executive committee. The veteran pastor said reaction to his decision to challenge Stanley has been mainly positive, with a smattering of negative mail, including one unsigned note that read, "You are the devil himself .I' One Louisiana pastor wrote Moore to inform him his congregation had taken official action to endorse the popular Atlanta pastor and television personality, but said also that whatever the outcome the church would continue to contribute 20 percent of its receipts to the denomi- nationv&Cooperative Program to fund missions and other causes. Winfred Moore Feature Page 2

Moore said he wrote back telling the 'Inuisiana pastor he appreciated his forthrightness and respected the congregation's decision. But last week, Moore added, he received a second letter from the pastor, saying, "We've decided we were wrong and we're going to be there (in Dallas) to support you." Sunday night's meeting, Moore said, was convened by a group of state convention presiden seeking to reconcile the two sides in the battle. Several hundred persons attended, he re- ported, hearing personal testimonies from two seminary presidents, Roy Lee Honeycutt of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and Milton Ferguson of Midwestern - Seminary, Kansas City, Mo. In addition, former SBC president and conservative leader Adrian Rogers of Memphis, Tenn., spoke on prayer, Stanley led an invocation and Moore led in a responsive reading from the Bible.

By Stan Hastey--4:20 p.m. Monday New hm Dallas Convention Center (214)658-7954 Wilmer C Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeature Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

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Forum

DALLAS, June 10--Two Southern Baptist leaders called for strong stands on soul competency and integrity in preaching during the second annual SBC Forum Monday afternoon at Dallas Convention Center. Welcoming more than 4,000 was Gene Garrison, pastor of First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla. "YOU are hearing the best preaching and singing to be found and it is important for you to be here to represent what we stand for and believe in," he said. The forum was developed as an alternative for clergymen to the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference which is attracting about 20,000. Walter Shurden, chairman of the Department of Christianity at Mercer University, Macon, Ga., used a dramatic device during his message. He spoke from the perspective of soul competency. Randall Lolley, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C., dealt with integrity in preaching. "I am your bedrock Baptist principle. I am competency of soul," Shurden said. "I am the single most important contribution of Baptists to religious thought in the world. I I Soul competency asserts the inalienable right and responsibility of every person to interpret God for himself. There must not be a middle person save for Jesus ~hrist." Shurden said that soul competency is based on the truths that man is made in God's image with the capacity to choose, God is able to reveal himself to man, man has a capacity for God and God can and does communicate directly with individuals. 11 I (soul competency) stand as a safeguard against intimidation, coercion and even

peer pressure," he said. . - here is no meaning in life apart from freedom," Shurden said. "I beg of you to stand up. Though some may call you liberal, stand. Though some in your denomination seek to silence me (soul competency), I beg of you to speak up. I I If you protect me, I promise I will protect you." Beginning with a truth from J. R. Ewing, the villain on the popular television drama, "Dallas," Lolley quoted, "Qnce integrity goes, everything else is a piece of cake. " I I Personally, integrity means honesty to God, myself and fellows on earth," said Lolley,president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. The call today is one of integrity in preaching or even more appropriately, integrity in living, he added. 11 Integrity in preaching focuses on God's word. Jesus preached with appropriate authority, emotion and empathy and so must we." Lolley added that integrity is formed around the words of scripture about the word of God. "Preachers' words must be comparable to the Bible. Infallible truth is always more spirit than letter. God uses men to reveal truth." Referring to the recent use of tape recording others, Lolley said that Southern Baptists have recently relied more on a tape recorder to keep one another honest than the spirit of God." "In this room there is not one single infallible interpreter," Lolley said to applause from the audience. "Integrity preaching flows from the integration of the message and the messenger. We must practice what we preach or perish," Lolley said.

by Jerilynn Armstrong--4:35 p.m. Monday News lRoom Dallas Convention Center (214) 6587954 Wilrner C. Fields SBC PmRepresentative

News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MONDAY

DALLAS, June 10--The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention moved routinely through its pre-convention business session here Monday afternoon, adopting unanimously a series of 11 recommendations from its three subcommittees. In a one-hour session, the committee approved its annual report it will present for adoption during sessions of the Southern Baptist Convention Tuesday, at the Dallas Convention Center. The report includes a recommended 1985-86 Cooperative Program allocation budget of $130 million, same as the current 1984-85 budget. Also included in the report is:a recommendation affirming the SBC1s "historic relationship to the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs," adding that the establishment of a Southern Baptist governmental affairs office in Washington "does not appear practicable." A motion presented at last year's convention in Kansas City called for a strictly Southern Baptist government affairs office in Washington. The motion grew out of recent criticism of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, which represents eight other Baptist bodies in addition to the SBC on matters related to religious liberty and the separation of church and state. The BJCPA has come under fire in recent years by conservatives within the denomination, particularly in reaction to the agency's steadfast opposition to a public school prayer amendment. Rumors have circulated that the recommendation may be.challenged from the floor of the SBC. Executive Committee member Ed Drake of Dallas, who led an unsuccessful effort at the 1984 convention to defund the Baptist Joint Committee, spoke against the Executive committee's recommendation when it was approved during the committee's February meeting in Nashville. In other actions, Executive Committee members: --Approved a resolution opposing a Treasury Department proposal which would eliminate the tax free housing allowance for ministers. President Reagan recently announced his opposition to the proposal. --Heard a six-month progress report on Cooperative Program receipts for 1984-85. Receipts of $58.1 million are more than $4 million ahead of the same period last year, although they are 10.6 percent short of the total allocation budget and 1.5 percent short of the basic operating budget. --Agreed to join the Home Mission Board, the Stewardship Commission and the Southern Baptist Foundation in providing "technical counsel and guidance" to the Colorado Baptist General Convention related to a financial crisis confronting two of the state convention's entities. The Baptist Foundation of Colorado and the Colorado Southern Baptist Church Loan Corporation are on the brink of financial collapse, and the convention's executive secretary- treasurer has requested guidance from the Executive Committee and the Home Mission Board in dealing with the crisis. --Heard a progress report on "Planned Growth in Giving," a convention-wide plan for increasing dramatically the financial support of churches and families. Cecil A. Ray, national director of the program, praised denominational executives for "leading the way'' through personal commitments to a 15-year growth in giving plan. --Commended Albert McClellan, author of a new book on the history of the Executive Committee.

By David Wilkinson -- 4:50 p.m. Monday New Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 656-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SEC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography IFeatutes Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

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MONDAY AFTERNOON PASTORS' CONFERENCE

DALLAS, June 10--Houston Baptist Pastor Edwin Young told his fellow preachers here Monday afternoon that it's time factions in the Southern Baptist Conventian got down on their knees together to seek God's help in solving their differences. Young, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Houston, and one of the leaders in efforts to reunite the 14.2 million member denomination, said "the real enemy is not your brother--it's old slewf oot , the devil. 'I In an impromptu news conference after his talk, Young said he believes the main task of a special reconciliation committee expected to be appointed Tuesday will be "to try to find those things that unite us." Young said human answers have been exhausted and it's time to pray for God's miraculous intervention. He called for reaffirmation of the Baptist Faith and Message Statement, first approved in 1925, although he said some are "soft" in their definitions of its terms. Earlier, he told the pastors he believes "it is wrong and dishonest to stand up and condemn our professors in our institutions" because he firmly believes that the majority of those who teach in Baptist schools and seminaries are "warmhearted, conservative evangelicals." But he said there are some who have gone too far in offering other explanations for the miracles of the Old Testament and raising questions about those in the New Testament. One seminary president, he said, had said "we are committed to theological pluralism." -. But Young said he felt that the seminaries' trustees and presidents could deal with such problems. Expressing concern over the declining harvest in baptisms in the past 30 years, Young said his own ministry had been barren in the years after seminary. He said he had to go back and wrestle with the Word (the Bible). As he began to stand in the "sea of the Word," he said, "miraculous things happened." To deal with what ails Southern Baptists, he advised transparency, a willingness to look at any criticisms no matter how ridiculous they may seem, and, finally, negotiation. "Even criticisms that seem most absurd should be taken to the prayer closet to let God help us examine them," he said. He told of visiting one home, knowing that someone was probably there, he finally, with- out thinking, stooped down and looked in the keyhold. On the other side, looking back, was another eye. The woman in the house, somewhat embarrassed, then opened the door. But the important thing, he said, was that "the first time we got down on our knees to- gether, we saw eye to eye." The statement: drew long applause from the pastors. Other speakers Monday afternoon were Morris Chapman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, who later was elected new president of the pastors' group; John Wood, pastor of First Baptist Church, Waco; and Jack Taylor, president of Dimensions in Christian Living, Fort Worth. Other new officers are Ned Matthews, pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C., vice-president; and Dwight Reighard, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga., secretary-treasurer. During the session, this year's president, 0. S. Hawkins of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., read a telegram from President Ronald Reagan expressing regret he was unable to accept an invitation to attend the conference and sharing his unity with the spiritual values of the group.

By Bob Stanley--5:05 p.m. Monday

'to News Room Dallas Convention Center (214)65&7954 WirC. Fdds SBC h Repmentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird Photogra~hy~ea- Mana~

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

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RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

DALLAS, June 10--Total cities are emerging overnight and the church ought to join the economic forces that are developing them, a sociologist told members of the Southern Baptist Research Fellowsllip here Monday. Paul Geisel, professor of Urban Sociology, Institute of Urban Studies, University of Texas, Arlington,pointed to the new wave of self-contained cities being developed across the nation which are built for the "total lifestyle" of the individual. "Just look at what is happening in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Billions of dollars are being spent on areas where you can reside, do your shopping, and enjoy recreational facilities. But you can't go to church because the church has been excluded as a part of the development ." Geisel said that if the church is going to grow in this rapidly developing new age, it must I1sit down at the table with the developers and be a part of the planning session. I I Cl~urchleaders need to tell these people that religion Is a vital part of the society. Tiley need to have a say-so about where and when new cllurches should be built in these cities." Geisel challenged the researchers to reconsider the task of the church and intervene at all levels of society. He referred to the modern day church as a "franchise enterprise. I 1Baptist churches are similar to a MacDonalds hamburger chain. If the territory is good, the church flourishes, but if it is not, the church fails. He said he thinks the church needs to become more holistic in its approach to ministry. "The church has done well at meeting the needs of most women and children, but it has not succeeded in meeting the needs of post: adolescents and males. "I believe Baptist churches need to join forces with other denominations and become advocates for the family unit," Ebbie Smith, assistant professor of missions and Chris tian ethice at Southwestern Baptist ~heolo~icalSeminary, Fort Worth, challenged Baptists to launch a new bold effort for reaching the poor. "All of our statistics indicate that we are not reaching the laboring class, The only way we will reach them is to target new churches, especially for the poor." Smith said the effort should not be construed as one that excludes a claes of people. "The fact is these people do not want to be a part of our middle-class churches. They want their own churches that meet their emotional, spiritual needs." He observed that the seminaries need to develop a special area of studies for people who feel called to work with the poor. "We need preachers with dirty fingernails who are willing to be bivocational by choice. It Smith said that contrary to what most people think Southern Baptist resident membership roles are not growing because churches do not fit the communities in which they reside. "We need to abandon the old idea of only one church for each two-mile radius and build as many churches as are needed to meet the needs of the people in the community." --3o--

By Ray Furr -- 6 p.m. Monday News Room Dab Convention Center (214) 65&79$4 WirC Fkl& SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bid PhotographyIFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention June 11-l3, 1985

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Monday Religious Educators

DALLAS, June 10--The Southern Baptist Religious Education Association voted Mon- day to work toward an endowment of $150,000 by.1990 to support the association and educate Southern Baptists about the issues facing ministers in educational areas. In 1984-85, $23,905 was contributed to the SBREA endowment which was approved at the 1984 meeting in Kansas City, Mo. More than $3,325 was dispersed this year for membership services, ,organizational development and program expenses. The membership voted to disperse interest from the endowment in the Eollowing manner: 80 percent for the SBREA operating fund, 15 percent to be returned to endowment, and five percent to begin scholarships for religious education students at the six Southern Baptist seminaries. In other business, the educators elected Lloyd Householder, director of commun- ications, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., as president-elect of their association. Dennis Parrott,minister of education, Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas, will serve as president this year. He was chosen president-elect at SBREA1s 1984 meeting . Don Dendy, minister of education, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, was elected vice president. Three regional vice presidents elected were Katie Grogan, director of age-group coordination, Baptist Convention of Maryland, Lutherville, eastern region; Mavis Allen, program design and planning coordinator, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., central region; and Jerry Stubblefield, professor of religious education, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif., western region. Joe Haynes, consultant, general field services, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., was reelected secretary-treasurer and Jack Naish, minister of education at Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, was elected assistant secretary. Prior to the business session the educators were informed about the general status of the profession and were told by Will Beal, consultant, Church Administration Department, Baptist Sunday School Board, that ministers of education are moving away from the day when they were known as "announcers." Now they are known as "planners and educators and are essential to the concep- tualization of ministries in the church," he said. Beal added that ministers of education also help churches grow in numbers and help persons "grow spiritually." Beal warned the educators not to "isolate themselves Erom their congregations and peers. If you do, you may destroy the minister of education's servant role and may become deserters Erom your original call." William B. Rogers, Jr., dean, School of Christian Education, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., outlined the four recognized traditions in Southern Baptist educational life and warned the educators against having a "separa- tists and isolationists mentality that has characterized us (Southern ~aptists)in too many periods." Rogers told the group they needed to know "From Whence We Came" and needed to know "Where We Are and Where We Go" in order to provide stability. Rogers quoted Albert McClellan, former program planning secretary, SBC Executive Committee, saying "~eligiouseducation is essential, but not the essence; it is evangelism, but not the Evangel; it is missionary, but not the mission; it is a form, but not the content; and it requires high priority, but is not itself the priority." He added,"Religious education : is more than instruction in the scriptures; ncvcrtllclcss, it is rooted in and derives its being from the scriptures -- the scriptures sit in judgment on religious education; not religious education on the scriptures." Seven vocational groups met Sunday afternoon and Monday morning to discuss wha~ needs to be done to enhance their ministry and to discuss what Southern Baptists need to. hear/know/do.

By Terry Barone --6:20 p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention hter (214) 6587954 WirC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager 85 Craig Bird Photography/Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

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WMU MONDAY AFTERNOON I DALLAS, June 10--About 2,000 persons attending the annual meeting of Woman's Missionary Union learned Monday afternoon how first love for missions can last a lifetime. In keeping with WMU's theme of "First Love," Connie Markham of Montpelier, Vt., said love does not stop after one goes'to the mission field. "It may be true that people go to the mission field by love compelled. But if people stay on the mission field, they must be compelled to keep on loving," she said. Markham, a missionary with the SBC Home Mission Board's Christian Social Ministries Department, related ways of how love can be sustained. Sustained loving, she said, first requires forgiveness from God. "Because God forgives us, we must remember we are to forgive others," she said. Another important factor in sustained loving is remembering that the Great Commission has two sides, she said. 1I Everybody must be a goer. If your realm of influence includes one unsaved person, you are called to be a goer. But to make it work, everyone also has to be a sender. "I'm grateful to God's people who send me where I go in Jesus' name and under Southern Baptist sponsorship. I have the responsibility to be a sender to my fellow Baptists so they can keep on loving in the places they go." Marjorie J. McCullough, a former missionary to Nigeria, Ghana and Brazil, related her love for missions began when she learned about the Chinese as a young girl in Sunbeams. She attributes her successful life as a missionary and WMU leader to the fact her love for missions never wavered. "I have confidence it will be that way until I die--as long as I don't forget and leave that first love .'I Dale Beighle, a missionary to Taung, Bophuthatswana, expressed gratitude to Southern Baptists for their gifts through the Cooperative Program which, he said, has helped his ministry as a veterinarian. "God has used veterinary medicine to open doors to the good news of Jesus Christ that could not have been opened any other way," he said, Marilyn Prickett, a missionary with the SBC Home Mission Board's Christian Social Ministries Department in Washington, D.C., said "first love" is responsible love. "One must see a need, recognize it and then respond to that need," she said. Joe W. Bruce, a missionary in Guatemala, said missions focuses on people. It always has and that: is our "first: love," he said. During the business session, Dorothy E. Sample of Flint, Mich., was re-elected to her fifth term as president of the women's auxiliary. Betty Gilreath of Charlotte, N.C., was re-elected recording secretary. During the 1983-84 report of the executive board, officials related the organiza- tion had 69,630 members in 1983-84, a loss of almost 5,800 from the previous year. There were 92,709 WMU organizations, however, a gain of 21,880. Sample related two priorities of W over the next three years. One is Vision 88-- a plan to enroll two million women, girls and preschoolers in WMU by 1988--and the other is to have the new WMU building paid for by 1988 which is the WMU'Scentennial year. A special offering was taken during the afternoon session for the new building which was dedicated in January.

By Lonnie Wilkey--6:38 p.m. News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954

Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bi PhotographylFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAST HALF OF FORUM DALLAS June 10-A leading Southern Baptist pastor charged Monday afternoon that certain palitical groups have formed a coalition with certain religious groups to get access to the financial resources of the 14.3-million member Southern Baptist Convention. William L. Self, pastor of Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga., leveled the charge during the final address of the SBC Forum. "We're nat dealing at this convention with who's going to be our next presiding officer, We're dealing with bigger issues and larger issues than that. I firmly believe that we're dealing with some kind of coalition between certain political groups and certain religious groupa because the political groups want acceaa to the resources of our convention," he said. Self's remarks drew a lengthy standing ovation from the estimated 5,000 Southern Baptists attending the second annual Forum. This meeting was developed for pastors a year ago as an alternative to the Southern Baptist Pastor's Conference, Self estimated that the SBC has $2 billion worth of institutions at stake, and he warned that "there may not be anything there" if the coalition is allowed to take control. He also warned that the SBC Annuity Board might cease to exist if the current trend to mix religion and politics continues. "All it takes is one vote over there," he said, painting toward Washington, D.C. "we may not have retirement funds if we do not continue as we have hi~tbricall~, When church and state go to bed together, they do not make love, and they do not produce offspring. One always rapes the other." He specifically mentioned a coalition between broadcast magnate Ted Turner, North Carolha Senator Jesse Helms and Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell to purchase the CBS network, "We are being manipulated, and the stakes are high',''%@ said. Self urged Forum participants to place God above secular politics. "I was taught that God was not a Republican. Somehow, I was taught that God is bigger than political organizations. God is above all governments and above all man-made institutions. Our gospel should not be shackled to any man-made political organization." -more- - --y!, Second Half SBC Forum--page 2

Self's warning came at the end of a somewhat tongue-in-cheek address entitled "What They Don't Teach You in Southern Baptist Preachers' School," subtitled "Notes From a Street-Smart Pastor." In the address, Self took jabs at the fundamentalist faction within the SBC, which has announced intentions to rid Southern Baptist schools and seminaries of liberalism. "I found that I can't make my way in Southern Baptist life without throwing a hand grenade at a seminary," he said. Recalling his student days at Stetson University and at a Southern Baptist seminary, he said, "Since then, I've found that the faith always has to be defended. But somewhere along the way, I picked up the idea that God could take care of himself ... There is more being said now about how to defend the faith than how to proclaim the faith. "My schools did not teach me that style is more important than substance. And I've found that it's easier to steal a church or a school than it is to build your own." Other Forum speakers included Catherine Allen, associate executive secretary of the Woman's Missionary Union, Birmingham, Ala., and Cecil E. Sherman, pastor of Broadway Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas. Allen's presence on the Forum program represented the first time a WMU official has ever been invited to speak at a pastor-led meeting held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention. In her address, Allen called for a four-pronged commitment to the "Doctrine of First Things," which includes a commitment to Jesus Christ as the son of God, to organization and cooperation as a means of doing convention business, to the mission boards as the most effective missionary-sending institutions, and to the Cooperative Program as the most efficient way of financing convention business. She asserted that the current denominational controversy is not about doctrinal disputes, but rather about stewardship and cooperation. Southern Baptists as a whole must join with the WMU to support the Foreign Mission Board and the Home Mission Board as evidence of that stewardship and cooperation, she said. "We pray for missionaries every day. It's our ritual, and we like it that way, we know what they believe, and we know what they're doing. And we are going to have the fury of a feline mother if they and their leaders are accused or abused or made to feel anxiety about their support. I' Sherman predicted that Southern Baptists are on the verge of "losing the dream," and said the denomination needs a "transfusion of idealism," encouragement and personal healing. He urged the Forum audience to continue striving to "tell the truth" in all matters. "If we're ever going to get out of this mess, we're going to have to start using plain words in simple ways with no veiled meanings." The present upheaval is "not going to change the way God's people do business," he said, although he warned of those within the denomination who are trying to "change the rules. "Sometimes I think that Southern Baptists are taking on a siege mentality," he said, cautioning that such a mentality leads to "old and established rules being put aside because we are under siege." "Be careful. We are on God's business. Have no part with those people. The present crisis does not give us the right to change the rules. Sanity is going to return. This is the time for Southern Baptists to be straight and true. We need to be responsible denominationalists whether anybody else is or not ... Men and events maytdeyou out of the mainstream, but nobody can take away your heritage, and no one can keep you from being a part of God's coming kingdom."

By Karen Benson -- 6:46 p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WkrC. Fields SBC Press Repmentative Dan Mamn News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographyIFeanw~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEACE INITIATIVE

DALLAS, June 10 -- Saying they saw a yearning for peace and healing in the Southern Baptist Convention, presidents of 37 Baptist state conventions Monday came up with a 10-point peace plan including nominations for an 18-member committee to study the issues involved and make recommendations to solve the problems. The motion, including names of 18 men to comprise the "peace committee," will be made Tuesday morning at the 10:40 SBC business session by H. Franklin Paschall, retired pastor of the First Baptist Church of Nashville, who first proposed the plan. The proposal has the support of current SBC President Charles Stanley of Atlanta and all 37 presidents of the state conventions, including Texas Convention president Winfred Moore of Amarillo who probably will be nominated to oppose Stanley. If Paschallls motion is adopted by the convention, the SBC would ask the 18-member committee to ''seek to determine the sources of the controversies in our convention, make findings and recommendations concerning these controversies so that Southern Baptists might effect reconciliation ...." The proposal calls for the committee to report its recommendations to the 1986 convention in Atlanta, or to bring a preliminary report in 1986 and a final report and recommendations in 1987. While the committee is doing its work, the state convention presidents urged all Southern Baptists "to exercise restraint, to refrain from divisive action and comments, and to reflect Christian love." Pickering, an attorney from Laurel, Miss., conceded there was not unanimity among the state convention presidents on who should be named to the peace committee, but there was unanimous agreement that the 18 men suggested were broadly representative. "~feach one (state convention president) had been asked to prepare the list (of nominees), it would have been different," said Pickering. "~utthe final list represents a broad spectrum within the SBC, and there was unanimous agreement to the proposal." The proposal was drafted by a seven-member task force headed by Bill Hickem, pastor of Riverside Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., and president of the Florida Baptist Convention. Hickem said the task force met until 1:30 a.m. Monday and finally adjourned without reaching agreement on the names. The task force finally completed their work at 3:00 p.m. Monday just before 30 of the state convention presidents met an hour later. Hickem said the task force concluded their nominations were balanced when they realized the "moderates" felt it was overbalanced in favor of the llconservatives" and the "conservatives" felt it was over-balanced in favor of the "moderates." Four laymen, and no women, were nominated for membership on the committee, When asked why no women were suggested, Hickem said that women have been involved deeply in the work of the convention, but have not been highly visible, The nominations went to those who were more highly visible, he said. "We realize a large segment of the SBC population is not represented on the committee," Hickem conceded, Nominated to be chairman of the committee was Charles Fuller, pastor of First Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., who will. preach the convention sermon Wednesday. The committee recommended that whoever is elected president of the SBC Tuesday serve as ex-officio member of the committee "with full rights." Two former Southern Baptist Convention presidents were among the 18 nominations. They are Herschel H. Hobbs, retired pastor of First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City (1962-64) and Adrain Rogera, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn. (1980). Peace Initiative

The four laymen nominated were Harmon Born of Register, Ga.; Doyle Carlton of Wauchula, Fla.; William Poe of Charlotte, N. C.; and Pickering. Two retired denominational executives were nominated. They are Albert McClellan, former program planning secretary for the SBC Executive Committee, Nashville; and Ray Roberts, retired executive director of the Baptist State Convention of Ohio, Columbus. Others nominated for the committee were: Bill Crews, pastor, Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church, Riverside, Calif. ; Robert Cuttino, pastor, First Baptist Church, Lancaster, S. C.; Jim Henry, pastor, First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla; William Hull, pastor, First Baptist Church, Shreveport, La., and former dean of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lousiville; Cecil Sherman, pastor of Broadway Baptist Church, Fort Worth and former pastor of First Baptist Church, Asheville, N. C,; John Sullivan, pastor of Braadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, and former first vice president of the SBC. Dan Vestal, pastor of First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas; Jerry Vines, co-pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla.; Ed Young, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas. Paschall, who will make the motion,said in the news conference he was concerned about three levels of problems the committee will have to deal with. The first level, Paschall said, was the difference of opinion about issues. The second was the level of personal relationships and past conflicts. The third was the "spiritual problems1' caused by the deep divisions within the convention. Paschall declared, however, that there is not going to be a split in the Southern Baptist Convention. "There is not enough to divide us. We are going to stay together." Pickering added that the state convention presidents had discovered in their discussions that Southern Baptists have a lot more they agree on than they disagree on.

By Jim Newton -- 7:SO p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SEI+ Repmentative Dan Martin News Rmm Manager C& Bird Photography/Fearurea Manager

Southern Baptist Convention . Dab, JW 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CORRECTION

WMU Monday Afternoon Story -- 3rd graph from bottom, 2nd line should read 1,169,630, not 69,630.

Thank you. News Room DallaP Convention Center (214) 6587954 Wilmer C Fields SBC Prms Representative Dan Marlin News Room Manager Craig Bid PhotographylFeatua Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORUM WRAP-UP

DALLAS, June 10--Five Southern Baptists representing Southern Baptist Convention agencies, universities and local churches addressed a variety of issues including convention political activity, soul competency and integrity in preaching at: the second annual SBC Forum Monday at the Dallas Convention Center, More than 5,000 attended the meeting, more than doubling last year's attendance of 2,000. The forum was developed as an alternative for clergymen to the Southern Baptist Pastors1 Conference which attracted about 20,000. William L. Self, pastor of Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga., drew the longest standing ovation when he claimed that he believes "we're not dealing at this convention with who's going to be our next presiding officer. We're dealing with bigger issues and larger issues than that. "1 firmly believe that we're dealing with some kind of coalition between certain political groups and certain religious groups, because the political groups want access to the resources of our convention." He estimated that the SBC has $2 billion worth of institutions at stake, and he warned that ''there may not be anything there" if the coalition is allowed to take control. Self urged Forum participants to place God above secular politics. "I was taught that God was not a Republican. Somehow, I was taught that God is bigger than political orgafiiza- tions. God is above all governments and above all man-made institutions. Our gospel should not be shackled to any man-made political organizations." Catherine Allen, associate executive secretary of the Woman's Missionary Union, Birmingham, Ala., also received several standing ovations from the crowd. Allen, speaking on "The Doctrine of First Things," asserted that the current denomina- tional controversy 1s not about doctrinal disputes, but rather about stewardship and coopera- tion. Southern Baptists as a whole must join with the WMU to support the Foreign Mission Board as evidence of that stewardship and cooperation, she said. "We pray for missionaries every day, It's our ritual, and we like it that way. We know what they believe, and we know what they're doing. And we are going to have the fury of a feline mother if they and their leaders are accused or abused or made to feel anxiety about their support. Claiming soul competency as the bedrock Baptist principle and single most important contribution of Baptists to religious thought in the world, Walter Shurden of Macon, Ga., said soul competency stands as a safeguard against intimidation, coercion and even peer pressure. Shurden, chairman of the Department of Christianity at Mercer University, said there is no meaning in life apart from freedom. Randall Lolley, president of Southeastern Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C., called for the pastors to practice integrity in their preaching. "Integrity in preaching focuses on God's word. Jesus preached with appropriate authority, emotion and empathy and so must we." Lolley added that integrity is formed around the words of scripture about the word of God. "Preachers' words must be comparable to the Bible. Infallible truth is always more spirit than letter. God uses men to reveal truth." Forum Wrap-Up -- Page 2

Cecil Sherman, pastor of Broadway Baptist Church, Fort Worth, predicted that Southern Baptists are on the verge of "losing the dream," and said the denomination needs a "transfusion of idealism," encouragement and personal healing. He urged the Forum audience to continue striving to "tell the truth" in all matters. "If we're ever going to get out of this mess, we're going to have to start using plain words in simple ways with no veiled meanings. "Be careful. We are on God's business. The present crisis does not give us the right to change the rules. Sanity is going to return. This is the time for Southern Baptists to be straight and true. "We need to be responsible denorninationalists whether anybody else is or not . . . Men and events may take you out of the mainstream, but nobody can take away your heritage, and no one can keep you from being a part of God's coming kingdom." I The SBC Forum had no budget to hold its meeting and Gene Garrison, pastor of First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla. who presided the meeting, announced that the costs I for the facility and reception Monday evening were $22,000. During the offering more than $23,000 was collected in addition to $2,000 currently on hand.

By Jerilynn Armstrong and Karen Benson - - 8:20 p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center

Wilmer C. Fields SBC kess Repmentative Dan Martin New Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention lhh, June 11-l3,1985

CORRECTION

On Peace Initiative story filed 7:40 p.m., June 10, please change first graph of page 2 to read as follows: . The four laymen nominated were Harmon Born of Rex, Ga.'. . . . (not Register, Ga.)

Thanks

News Room Staff New Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 wilmer C. Fields SBC PIW Represenrarive Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Ph~t~phylFeahuesManager

Southern Baptist Conv* Dallas, June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS ROUNDUP

DALLAS, June 10--The Southern Baptist Religious Education Association voted in a two day meeting here to establish an endowment of $150,000 by 1990 and members looked at past, present and future trends to prepare them better for service in their particular minis tries. A record registration of 604, almost double the previous record, voted for the $150,000 endowment to support the association and to educate Southern Baptists about the issues facing ministers in educational areas. During the meeting the participants heard Will Beal, consultant, Church Administration Department, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., report that ministers of education are moving away from the day when they were known as announcers and to a day they are known as planners and educators essential to the conceptualization of ministries in the church. Minister of education is a relatively new profession which has grown rapidly since World War 11. Beal said ministers of. education have an improved image, increased professional security and better salaries with increased benefits. But, Beal warned educators not to "isolate yourselves from your congregations and peers. If you do, you may destroy the minister of education's servant role and may become deserters from your original call." In a message entitled "From Whence We Came," William B. Rogers, Jr., dean, school of Christian Education, Southern Baptist Theological Semfnary, Louisville, Ky., outlined the four recognized traditions in Southern Baptist educational life and warned the educators against having a "separatists and isolationists mentality that has characterized us (Southern Baptists) in too many periods." Rogers told the group they needed to know "From Whence We Came" and needed to know "Where We Are" and "Where We Go" to provide stability. Rogers quoted Albert McClellan, former program planning secretary of the SBC Executive Committee, saying "~eligiouseducation is essential, but not the essence;, it is evangelism, but not the Evangel; it is missionary, but not the mission; it is a form, but not the content; and it requires high priority, but is not itself the priority," He added that 'religious education is more than instruction in the scriptures; never- the less, it is rooted in and derives its being from the scriptures -- the scriptures sit in judgment on religious education; not religious education on the scriptures," In an early session McClellan said Southern Baptists have never been alert to finding where people are or responding to them where they are, "~esearchhas received only a pittance in our denomination, When we have research information, we have shelved it and forgotten about it," McClellanls remarks were in response to trends presented by Susan Hayward, vice- president of Yankelovich, Skelly and White, Inc., a research firm in New York City, Hayward outlined major principles of the 1980s, They include a new realism that Americans are "out to win " that Americans are more cost effective; that Americans see the need for allegiances (commitments); and that Americans have a new respect for age and experience. Responding to Hayward's remarks, McClellan said that unlimited growth can no longer be taken for granted by Southern Baptists, Southern Baptist church membership increase 87 percent between 1944-1964, but between 1964-84 church membership increased 34 percent, ~c~lellanpointed out, He also said Sunday School enrollment increased 127.4 percent between 1944-64 but only increased 2,4 percent between 1964-84. Religious Educators Roundup -- Page 2

In other business, the educators elected Lloyd Householder, director of communications, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, as president-elect of their association. .Dennis Parrott, minister of education, Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas, will' serve as president this year. He was chosen president-elect as SBREA'S 1984 meeting. Don Dendy, minister of education, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, was elected vice president. Three regional vice-presidents elected were Katie Grogan, director of age-group coordination, Baptist Convention of Maryland, Lutherville, eastern region; Mavis Allen, program design and planning coordinator, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, central region; and Jerry Stubblefield, professor of religious education, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif., western region. Joe Haynes, consultant, general field services, Baptist Sunday School Board* Nashville, was re-elected secretary-treasurer and Jack Naish, minister of education at Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, was elected assistant secretary. The SBREA honored four Baptist educators with distinguished service awards at a banquet. They were Elmer Bailey, retired minister of education, Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn., and the late J, M, Price, Gaines S, Dobbins and W, L, Howset Jr,

By Terry Barone - - 8:45 p.m. Monday News bm DaUas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WirC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News horn Manager Craig Bird Photography /Feature Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Music Conference Wrap-Up

DALLAS, June 10--Declaring that "God has given to us the dignity and danger of decision,ll Frank Pollard, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif., warned his fellow Southern Baptists against making the Bible their God during the final session of the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. "I believe the Bible is everything it says it is," said Pollard, addressing close to 1,500 church musicians and guests at First Baptist Church. Dallas. "I am an inerrantist. I believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture. I believe the Bible is the word of God, but it is not God. "Jesus Christ is the Word of God with a capital 'W,ll' he said. ''We need to be lifting up the Lord Jesus Christ." Pollard challenged the church musicians and guests to emulate the servant leadership model and catch the evangelistic, missionary vision of the Apostles. "They (the Apostles) did not offer a creed. They offered Christ," he said. "They did not offer rules. They offered a relationship. They shared Christ with their world, and we must share our Lord Christ. "The world will never be won by the ego-maniac who is hung up on his own authority," he said. "When Christ is in the heart of the messenger, Christ will be the heart of the message. Earlier speakers had urged church musicians to make a "personal encounter with Jesus Christ" their foundation for music ministry and to make "praising God" their goal. Wesley Forbis of the Church Music Department, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, asked the church musicians to examine the underlying philosophy behind their ministry, warning against making self, secular humanism or liberation theology their philosophical foundation, "Liberation theology is a terrorist timebomb at the foot of the cross," he said. "Christ came as redeemer, not as social reformer. We are evangelizers, not civilizers. "Good News in Christ--This is the basis, this is the bedrock, this is the source for musicians on mission." W. A. Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, examined the biblical examples of music in worship, stressing, "There is something about singing the songs of Zion that lifts our very souls to God. I don1t think we can praise God too much." In business session, the church musicians awarded honorary life memberships to Paul Stewart, director of the church music department, Alabama Baptist State Conven- tion, and Bob Lawrence, former director of church music departments in the Northern Plains Baptist Convention and the Colorado Baptist General Convention. Eugene M. Bartlett, Jr., former church music secretary for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, received the W. Hines Sims Award for years of outstanding service to church music in his home state. In other business, the conference voted to establish the John Rippon Memorial Fund to restore the marker on the London tomb of the first compiler of a Baptist hymnal, and to create an endowment fund for the purpose of cotmnissioning new musical works. Music conference officers installed were Harry Cowen, minister of music at First Baptist Church, New Orleans, La. , president; Hugh McElrath, Southern Baptist Theo- logical Seminary, Louisville, Ky., president-elect; Mary June Tabor, associate music secretary, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, secretary-treasurer; Wade Davis, Church Music Department, Baptist Convention of Georgia, vice president of denomina- tional division; Susan M. Clark, minister of music, Oakdale Baptist Church, Brandon, Miss, , vice president of local church division; and A. L. 'l~ete"Butler, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Mo,, vice president of music educators division. Music Confgr- Wrap-Up -- Page 2

Members of the executive council, local church division, are Dick Ham, minister of music, First Baptist Church, Richmond, Ky.; and C. L. Huling, minister of music, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tenn., in the east division. In the west division, officers are Don Browning, First Southern Baptht Church, Glendale, Ariz., and James Nance, minister of music, First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas. Members of the denominational division of the executive council are: John F. Gardner, 1x1, Church and Staff Support Division, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., east; and W. A. Bradshaw, Church Music Secretary, Baptist Convention of New Mexico, west. In the educational division, James Glass, Mississippi College, Clinton, east; and Gary Ingle, Chairman, Department of Music, Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Ma., west, were installed. Ron Bostic, chairman, division of fine arts, Wingate College, Wingate, N. C., was reinstalled as editor of publications,

By Ken Camp--9:40 P.M. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wher C. Fi SBC Press Representative Dan Maain News Room Manager Craig Bird Ph~tograph~fFeaturesManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAS

DIRECTORS OF MISSIONS WRAP-UP

DALLAS, June 10--The importance of planning, quality programs, action, Christian retirement plans and retirement was emphasized during a two-day meeting here of 310 directors of associational missions. William Pinson, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Da issued the call for action, Reminding that dreams have played a central role in the history of the Chriatian church and Southern Baptists, Pinson cited efforts of early Baptist leaders such as Luther Rice saying, "We are what we are today as Southern Baptists because of dreamers of the past." But Pinson warned the directors of missions that a dream can become a nightmare if nothing is done with it. "Only those who persist will see their dreams come true. "Don't let your dreams become nightmares. Live them out in the spirit and will of God," he urged. The directors of missions previewed a new church retirement plan offered by the Southern Baptist Annuity Board, Dallas and were asked by board officials to encourage churches in their associations to adopt the program. Annuity Board officials said the expanded plan will provide for more adequate contributions, raise the level of benefits, include all ministers and lay personnel and double the state convention's contribution. The church or association will match the participants' contributions' two-for- one, up to 10 percent of base pay. Baptist state conventions will match one-half of the contribution of churches or associations up to $420 each year. The plan must be adopted by churches and associations by the end of 1987. It will become effective Jan. 1, 1988. Doran C. McCarty, professor of ministry at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif,, presented a document entitled "Bold Mission Thrust Planning for the 1990s,11 a cooperative project of the Inter-Agency Council of the Southern Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist state conventions. The document attempts to identify today's trends and counter-trends, McCarty said, "We must see where the world is heading and determine how we can intervene with the gospel of Christ,11 The document identifies eight trends apparent in the 1980s and expected to influence the next decade, They include a changing world population, an accelerated information era, diversity and specialization of education, a widening of the income gap, expanded technology,social issues and the appearance of religion in many forms. The document, which will not be ready for approval by the Sauthern Baptist Con- vention until 1987, will be distributed to all SBC agencies, institutions, state conventions and associations to aid them in long-range planning. Morton Rose, a vice-president of the Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, emphasized the importance af maintaining excellence in programs. Rase said excellence in programs is "built around the concept of achievement about which Cod can lead you to do. And that to me, is success," J. Woodrow Fuller, a retired director of missions and denominational worker from Atlantic City,Fla., said directors of missions stand in strategic positions within the denomination. "Don't take sides," he urged. "Serve all people and churches and pray God will see us through." W. E. Thorne, retired president of Dallas Baptist University, spoke to the directors about retirement. "It's a shame when God's people give of themselves to do his work yet when they retire, they can't enjoy it because of inadequate planning." In the business session Bob Lee Franklin, of Atlanta, Ga., was re-elected president of the organization for a one-year term. Other new officers include Carl Duck, Nashville Baptist Association, Nashville, first vice-president; Mack Smoke, San Jacinto Association, Baytown, Texas, second vice-president; Maurice Flowers, Jones County Baptist Association, Laurel, Miss., secretary; Bob Wainwright, Flat River Association, Oxford, N.C., treasurer; Everett Anthony, Chicago Metro Baptist Association, Oak Park, Ill., editor; and Russell Barker, Atlanta Baptist Association, Atlanta, 1986 host director.

By Lonnie Wilkey---lo p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC PmRepresentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Cmig Bird PhotographylFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dh,June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANS ORGANIZE

DALLAS, June 10--Four hundred years ago Roger Williams began Baptist work among the American Indians, but it wasn't until the 140th meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention that the first national Indian Baptist organization was formed, Formed by a group of Southern Baptist Indian pastors, the Native American Southern Baptist Fellowship will help Southern Baptists develop the resources and programs to reach the native Americans for Jesus Christ. I I The Southern Baptist Convention is the most successful evangelical denomination in reaching the Indian people," said Victor Kaneubbe, pastor of First Indian Baptist

Church, Phoenix, Ariz., and the newly-elected chairman of the fellowship. Kaneubbe said I that of the 495 Indian tribes in America, only 95 have heard the gospel, "Ninety-two percent of the Indian population is still unchurched. We want to offer Southern Baptists through our fellowship, our expertise in developing resources that will help our people find Christ in their culture." Emerson Falls, pastor of American Indian Baptist Church, Oakland, Calif,, said the mere organization of the fellowship represents a new vision arising among the Indian people that they want to do something to help their people, He noted that many of the congregations were giving as much as 50 percent of their tithes and offerings to missions through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program, Falls said he hopes the organization will also help remove some of the misconceptions people have about Indians. "We are not all living in teepees on some remote reservation. Many of us are well- educated, competent people who have a lot to offer in the leadership roles of our denomi- nation. Russell Begaye, national Indian consultant at the Home Mission Board, Atlanta, said the fellowship will play a key role in developing and coordinating strategies and programs among the Indians. Begaye said Southern Baptists have 480 Indian congregations and "our goal is to have 840 by the year 2000." The Indian fellowship will meet every two years at the Southern Baptist Convention. Other officers include Belvin Hill, pastor, First Indian Baptist Church, Ada, Okla., secretary-treasurer, and Cloyd Harjo, pastor of Haskell Indian Baptist Church, Lawrence, Kan., parliamentarian. Sixteen congregations were represented in the formation of the fellowship.

By Ray Furr--10:lO p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. F~lds SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography/Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention D&s, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WMU WRAP-UP

DALLAS, June 10--Southern Baptist women heard two days of pleas to maintain their "First Love" and warnings that they face a rebuke from God if they forsake it. More than 2,000 participants explored the "First Love" theme in four sessions in the Dallas Convention Center Arena at the 97th annual meeting of Woman's Missionary Union, auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention. In business sessions, they re-elected Dorothy E. Sample of Flint, Mich., as national president of the 1.1-million-member women's auxiliary and Betty Gilreath of Charlotte, N. C., as recording secretary. Several speakers cited biblical references to how God threatened to withdraw from the Ephesian Christians unless they repented and returned to the "First Love" they had for- saken--the love of Jesus Christ which overflows in missions. "Southern Baptists may be earning the same rebuke,l1 Sample warned. "We 're intensely busy and perhaps tensely concerned about the condition of the denomination. Are we in danger of falling from the lofty ideal of our First ~ove?" "Perhaps leaving their First Love also included lack of love for their brothers and sisters," WMU Executive Director Carolyn Weatherford said of the Ephesian Christians. William M. Pinson Jr. of Dallas, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, said many careful students of the Scriptures believe the zeal of the Ephesians to ferret out the false apostles and to maintain the right doctrine caused them to develop an unloving spirit. "The history of the Christian movement demonstrates that disputes over methodology, doctrine and ecclesiastical structure result in diminishing evangelistic and missionary zeal. I' Love and truth, he said, must go together. "~epentof what we have said or done that: undermines missions," Pinson urged. "Repent of letting our love for Christ grow cool. Repent of majoring on how we differ instead of on how we agree. Repent of permitting any belief, attitude or spirit contrary to Christ to lodge in our hearts and minds." A Baptist pastor from Louisville, Ky., drew a standing ovation as he challenged Southern Baptists "to lift up Jesus Christ, not moderates or conservatives or liberals or funda- mentalists. " "Don't defend the Bible, do it," urged Michael Elliott, pastor director of the Jefferson Street Baptist Center. "If we did the Bible, it wouldn't need defending," Fundamentalists and moderates, he said, can work side by side in reaching out to the homeless and the lost, Also featured was Chinese Baptist teacher C. K. Zhang of Shanghai, who told of increased opportunities for ministry in the world's most populous nation. He said China now has 700 Christian churches open for worship and Christian education while calling attention to a new provision in the Chinese constitution allowing more religious freedom. "We are at the beginning of a new ~entecost,''he declared. Among five testimonies on the importance of starting new churches was one by W. Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas. Moore, who will be nominated tomorrow as SBC president, told of blessings the large west Texas church has reaped from helping begin new churches in the western U.S. and in Japan and Korea. -more- WMU Wrap-Up - Page 2

A series of speakers declared that .Christians who proclaim the message of Jesus Christ but fail to put it into action fail to meet the needs of the world's hurting people. Christianity, Elliott said, must "first be demonstrated and then proclaimed; to reach the people who need it. "We've forgotten that." He said he asked a down-and-outer at the Jefferson Street Baptist Center why he had waited so many years to accept Christianity. "I waited until I saw somebody doing something," the man replied. Speakers told stories of how Christian love in action has revolutionized the lives of people from Wayne County, Miss., to the remote reaches of Ethiopia's highlands and from Louisville, Ky., to Eastern Europe and Guatemala. But C. Anne Davis, dean of the Carver School of Churchsocial Work at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, put it all in perspective. "The needs of this world aren't the reason we're on mission," she said. "The only reason is gratitude to God because of our salvation. God saves us for service to ethers." Home and foreign missionaries joined in a common theme of thanking Southern Baptists for their support through the denomination's Cooperative Program and special missions offerings which allows them to reach out to people in the world's difficult places. Foreign Missionary Nancy Wingo, who teaches at Beirut Baptist School, said teachers keep the school open in the war-torn land because of love for the students. I1For our students the world is torn apart, she said. "Home and school are all they have, and the faculty feels responsible for seeing that their school goes-an. Love becomes commitment. "The world is dotted with little, dangerous places like Beirut," she continued. "Baptists can be there and say God is love." John R. Cheyne, senior consultant in human needs ministries for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, Va., described how feeding efforts in Ethiopia and Mali have opened new opportunities for Christians in those two desolate countries. WMU Executive Director Weatherford left the women with a story and a challenge. Citing successes of foreign missionaries.aroundlthe world, Weatherford said, "One of those missionaries, grieved by his battle against famine in West Africa, writes of double grief as he considers the current controversy among Southern Baptists. "He asks: 'Will there be enough unity left to carry the load of intercessory prayer for missions, or will the Spirit be so quenched that no power remains? Will we have the necessary people to staff our mission efforts or will our people be so disillusioned they no longer give themselves to missions through the Southern Baptist Convent ion?" "'Will the financial base be weakened to the point that we must cut back our forces and program? Will God leave us on the scrapheap and annoint another group with heavy responsibility? It has happened before. It could happen to us."' Weatherford added: "Members of woman's Missionary Union, we must not dissipate our energies and our spirit in any cause less than that of light bearers to a darkened world. "

By Robert O'Brien, Stan Hastey, Lonnie Wilkey--9:05 P.M. Monday. News Room Dab Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields Sl3C Press Fkpraentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bi PhotographyFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PASTORS' CONFERENCE WRAPUP

DALLAS, June 10--Southern Baptist pastors packed the 20,000-seat Dallas Convention Center to give a Texas-sized finale to the largest Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference in their 50-year history. Their heroes were obvious in ovations given to the patriarch pastor of Southern Baptist conservatism, W. A. Criswell, pastor of all as' First Baptist Church, and to Southern Baptist Convention President Charles Stanley of Atlanta. Outgoing pastors president 0. S. Hawkins of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., estimated there "may have been 25,000" at the final session. He said he was counting people who had to stand around the wall. Fourteen speakers and uncounted musicians helped focus attention on an upbeat theme, "Tracing the Rainbow Through tlze Rain ...Preaching the Precious Promises." But the pastors saved their biggest attraction, Criswell, for the concluding presentation and he didn't disappoint them. In a message which he said he'd given more preparation to than any he'd ever delivered, the silver-haired pastor of Southern Baptists ' largest congregation (20,000) traced a pattern of decline he said had befallen victims of neo-orthodoxy and German higher biblical criticism. This pattern led to the downfall of British Baptists and the censuring of Charles Hadden Spurgeon, Criswell said. He said there's a lesson in this for Southern Baptists. "Whether we continue to live or ultimately die lies in our dedication to the in- fallible word of God," Criswell said. He claimed that the very future of Southern ~aptists'missionary enterprise lies in their faithfulness to the Word of God. If higher criticism continues to grow like a parasite in our seminaries, he said, "there will be no missionaries to hurt--they will cease to exist. " Criswell closed on the hope that "we can experience in our midst a great revival.. our mightly God is marching an...Glorious triumph is coming ...our greatest days are yet to come .I' He cited revival occurring in Korea, South America and Africa, then asked; "Why not America and why not now?" As Baptist churches and Baptist people, he said, we need each other. Southern Baptists, he noted,are a vast denomination with a strong, vital missionary movement. Apparently quoting a poem, he said God "has whispered and said to me that if my people rise, I will answer them from the swarming skies...." "God grant it! Amen!" Pastors' Conference -- Page 2

A,Florida Presbyterian, D. James Kennedy, received a standing ovation with sharp ciiticisrn of Southern Baptists' traditional stance on separation of church and state. "We have let the unbelievers convince America that this is a secular nation," he said. "There may even be some people here who have bought'that lie--and nothing could be further Erom the truth." Former SUC President Adrian Rogers of Memphis also got standing applause as he preached on seven principles that gave young David victory over the Philistine giant Goliath: preparation, perspective, purpose, progression, protection, power and praise. Robert Ilamblin, the Southern Baptist Home Mission ~oard's vice president for evangclism, urged the pastors to lead out it1 "Good News America, God Loves You, a simultaneous evangelistic effort in the spring of 1986. "It is not our politics that will bring people to Christ," he said. "We must: pray and depend upon God ...who alone can quench the spiritual thirst in our land." From across the Atlantic, Pastor It. T. Kendall, Westminster Chapel in London, snid Ll~eevarlgelistic oi~tlookin England is bleak. But he snid that if the 20,000 pastors "would 131 1 to their krlecs and desire this blessing of God, we can go back to our peoplc and say, 'Slloulrl Jcsus tarry, time is on our sidc."' Another pastor who served briefly as a Southern Uaptist missionary to Africa, Tom Klliff, said the Word of God is "absolutely true and absolutely suEficient to solve every problem ol: life. Every true believer should inm~crsehimself in the Word of God. Try to master the Bible and you will discover that it will master you." Elliff is pastor of Applewood Baptist Church, Wheat Ridge, Cola. A telegram from President Ronald Reagan expressing his unity wit11 the spiritual values of the group was read to the pastors by Hawkins, the 1985 president. Reagan had been irlvited but; could not attend the sessiotls,

By Bob Stanley and Jim Lowry--lO:35 p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 WirC Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

FOR INMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY NIGHT SESSION/WMU

DALLAS, June 10--The annual meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union ended here Monday night with a call for Southern Baptists to return to their "first love" of doing missions and evangelism together. Citing the New Testament congregation at Ephesus as a tragic example of a church that abandoned its primary purpose of sharing the gospel to engage in theological disputes, William M. Pinson Jr., executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dallas, warned that unless Southern Baptists repent and "do the first works," God may remove vast opportunities now open to the nations's largest Protestant denomination. It Satan is a cunning adversary," Pinson declared. "His most subtle technique is to turn good into evil. Love for true doctrine can be good, but the pursuit of that in an unloving spirit becomes evil." The former pastor, seminary president and professor of Christian ethics continued: "There is an urgency about this matter. With a world to win growing more lost every day the Savior cannot afford us a long time to work out whatever detracts us from our mission. In battle the troops must be removed from the field who are rebellious, indifferent, or too busy squabbling among themselves to attack the enemy. If we have left our first love and do not soon return, we can expect sudden response from the King of kings and Lord of lords. " Besides hearing Pinson's closing address, the largely female audience also witnessed a parade of missionaries and others giving first-hand accounts of missions successes at home and abroard. Foreign Mission Board president R. Keith Parks, Richmond, Va., introduced to a rousing, standing ovation, was joined by Home Mission Board president, William G. Tanner of Atlanta, in sharing recent news from the field, including progress reports on last year's Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for foreign missions and this year's Annie Armstrong Offering for home mfssions. The Lottie Moon effort netted just under $65 million, or 98 percent of its goal, while the 1985 Annie Armstrong Offering is running 38 percent ahead of last year's effort. SBC President Stanley received two standing ovations in a brief appearance at the final session--one when he declared that Southern Baptists will send "a very certain signal to the world that we still are bound to the Word of God as the revelation of ~od." But Stanley also said he wants a second signal to go out from this convention: that Southern Baptists still know how to be forgiving and loving toward one another. As he stepped from the microphone, the conference audience jumped to its feet again for sustained applause. In an afternoon session, Criswell nominated Morris Chapman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, as the 1986 president of the pastors conference. Chapman was elected by acclamation. Other new officers are Ned Matthews, pastor of Parkwood Baptist church, Gastonia, N.C., vice-president; and Dwight Reighard, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, ~ayetteville,Ga., secretary-treasurer. Calls for reconciliation between feuding factions in the SBC were interspersed with continuing accusations that liberal teaching is sapping the denomination of its spiritual power. Barefoot Hollywood evangelist Arthur Blessitt begged Southern Baptists "not to embarass Jesus before the world," He said a lot of people came to Dallas expecting to see a fight but he came "expecting a revival." About midway through telling how he has spent the last year carrying a 6-by-12-foot cross throughout India, Blessitt took off his shoes to show them he had not suffered because of following Jesus. Monday Night Session/WMU

Page 2

Edwin Young, pastor of Houston's Second Baptist Church, also called on his fellow pastors to get down on their knees together to seek God's help in solving their differences. he real enemy is not your brother--it's old slewfoot, the devil," Young said, Expressing concern over the declining harvest of baptisms the past 30 years, Young said he felt there are some in Southern Baptist seminaries who have gone too Ear in offering other explanations for both Old Testament and New Testament miracles. But he said he believes the majority of those who teach in Southern Baptist schools and seminaries are "warmhearted, conservative evangelicals." Whatever problems do exist in such schools, he said, can be handled by their trustees and presidents. Among those bringing testimonies was Foreign Mission Board human needs consultant John Cheyne, who thanked Southern Baptists for praying this year for rain in Africa. He reported sections of the drought-devastated continent have received recently the heaviest rainfalls of the last 13 years. Yet other sections of Africa remain in desperate need of rain, he said, in asking Southern Baptists to redouble their prayers. Foreign Missionary Nancie Wingo, who livea in Beirut, Lebanon, told of dogged determination to keep open Beirut Baptist School in the devastated Middle Eastern city and of dozens of young men who are responding to a call to Christian ministry in their Moslem society. C. K. Zhang, formerly professor at the University of Shanghai, brought an optimistic report on conditions inside the world's most populous nation. He said 700 Christian churches now function openly with rapidly growing numbers of believers and inquirers in attendance. Zhang said the recently revised Chinese constitution gives attention to religious freedom, including specific permission for children and young people to participate fully . "We are at the beginning of a new Pentecost," he declared. Warm applause greeted the introduction of Amarillo, Texas pastor W. Winfred Moore, who will be nominated Tuesday for SBC president in a challenge to the incumbent, Atlanta pastor Charles F. Stanley. Moore told of blessings received by his large north Texas congregation from years of effort invested in helping start new churches in other western states, including California, Wyoming and Montana, and in other countries such as Japan and Korea.

By Stan Hastey--11 p.m. Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wier C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bid PhotographylFeatuw Manager

Southern Baptist Convention , I Dallas, June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PASTOR'S CONFERENCE FINAL SESSION

DALLAS, June 10--Southern Baptist churches and people need each other, W. A. Criswell of Dallas told fellow clergymen Monday night at the closing session of the 1985 Southern Baptist Pastors conference. "One segment cannot do the work alone. Our strength lies in the common determination and dedication," the 76 year-old pastor of the 20,000 member First Baptist Church, said. I1 There are great revivals in Korea, Africa and other parts of the world," Criswell said. "Why not in America and why not now?" "Whether we Live or ~ie"was the title of,Criswellls address to the 50th pastors conference which attracted 20,000. He said he has spoken before the group 30 times iq his 58-year ministry. Criswell said he carefully prepared his remarks in light of the confrontation expected between conservative and moderate factions in the sessions of the Southern Baptist Convention Tuesday through Thursday. He discussed the pattern of death of a denomination, the pattern of death of an institution add the pattern of death of a preacher and a professor, before closing with a look to the promise of resurrection, renascence and revival. For the pattern of death of a denomination, he presented a historical study of the Baptist Union of England when Charles Spurgeon was censured for demanding an end to a frontal attack on the Word of God. Criswell said the censure of Spurgeon was fallowed by declining churches, baptisms and witnessing in the churches in England. The primary source of argument was because of the higher critical method of biblical study, which allows questions to be raised about the details of the Bible which might disagree with the literal interpretation, His example for the death of an institution was the University of Chicago, which was ' founded, he said, to train preachers to witness in the midwestern part of the country. He also mentioned that in the last few years two Southern Baptist colleges had been removed from Baptist control, and predicted that in anather century, the loss will be "unspeakable." Crawford H. Toy, a brilliant and promising professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., in the 1860s was his example of the death of a prof essor/preacher, According to Criswell, Toy drifted away from a literal interpretation of the Bible and finally stopped going to church completely, Criswel1,expressing hope that Southern Baptists1 greatest days are yet to come, was interrupted numerous times with applause, and given an extended ovation at the end of his address. In the opening address of the final session, Richard Jackson, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Ariz., asked "what kind of people must we be for God to send a revival? "I pray with others that God will do something special in our times," Jackson said, "God seems much more anxious to move in us than we seem to be to allow him to do that ,I1 Jackson said "there is a creative, cultivated and continual thirst in our country for God. "What will happen if the 20,000 people in this room get together and wait on Jesus . to pour out his spirit on us?" 11He has promised to pour out his spirit on the worid, I pray that God will do something that every little church in the land will be overrun with people wanting to know God," In a greeting to the pastors conference, SBC President Charles Stanley of Atlanta, said he prayed that two messages will come out of the Southern Baptist Convention meeting Tuesday through Thursday. pr he two messages are that we are bound to God's word and we know how to be forgiving and loving toward one another," R. T. Kendall, pastor of Westminster Chapel, London, ~ngland,also spoke,

By Jim Lowry -- 10;55 p.m, Monday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilrner C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Cmig Bird Photography/Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June ll.l.3, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CORRECTION Monday Night SessionlWMU -- Please delete graphs 9-20, starting with "SBC President Stanley" and ending with "frusteea and presidents." This information lifted by mistake from Pastor's Conference story.

Remainder of WMU story is correct.

Thank you. News Fbm Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Pre99 Rqmentative hMartin NEWS ' News Room Manager cmig Bird Photogmphy /Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June ll.l.3, 1985

FOR IMMEDXATE RELEASE PASTORS ' CONFERENCE WRAPUP (REVISED)

DALLAS, June 10--Southern Baptist pastors packed the 20,000-seat Dallas Convention Center to give a Texas-sized finale to the largest Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference in their 50-year history. Their heroes were obvious in ovations given to the patriarch pastor of Southern Baptist conservatism, W. A. Criswell, pastor of alla as' First Baptist Church, and to Southern Baptist Convention President Charles Stanley of Atlanta. Otltgoing pastors president 0. S. Hawkins of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., estimated there "may have been 25,000'' at the final session. He said he was counting people who had to stand around the wall. Fourteen speakers and uncounted musicians helped focus attention on an upbeat theme, "l'racing the Rainbow Tlirough the Rain. . .Preaching the Precious Promises. l1 But the pastors saved their biggest attraction, Criswell, for the concluding presentation1 and he didn' t disappoint them. In a message which he said he'd given more preparation to than any he'd ever delivered, the silver-haired pastor of Southern ~aptists'largest congregation (20,000) traced a pattern of decline he said had befallen victims of neo-orthodoxy and German higher biblical criticism. This pattern led to the downfall of British Baptists and the censuring of Charles Aadden Spurgeon, Criswell said. He said there's a lesson in this for Southern Baptists. "Whether we continue to live or ultimately die lies in our dedication to the in- fallible word of God," Criswell said. He claimed that the very future of Southern Baptists' missionary enterprise lies in their faithfulness to the Word of God. If higher criticism continues to grow like a parasite in our seminaries, he said, "there will be no missionaries to hurt--they will cease to exist ." Criswell closed on the hope that "we cnn experience in our midst a great revival.. . our mightly God is marching on...Glorious triumph ie coming...our greatest days are yet to come." He cited revival occurring in Korea, South America and Africa, then asked: "Why not America and why not now?" As Baptist churches and Baptist people, he said, we need each other. Southern Baptists, he noted,are a vast denomination with a strong, vital missionary movement. Apparently quoting a poem, he said God "has whispered and said to me that iE my people rise, f will answer them from the swarming skies., .." "God gxan t it l Amen! " ' r SBC President Stanley received two standing ovations in a brief appearance at the final session--one when he declared that Southern Baptists will send "a very certain signal to the world that we still are bound to the Word of God as the revelation of God." But Stanley also said he wants a second signal to go out from this convention: that Southern Baptists still know how to be forgiving and loving toward one another. As he stepped from the microphone, the conference audience jumped to its feet again for sustained applause, In an afternoon session, Criswell nomdnated Morris Chapman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, as the 1986 president of the pastors conference. Chapman was elected by acclamation. Other new officers are Ned Matthews, pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C., vice-president; and Dwight Reighard, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga., secretary-treasurer. Calls for reconciliation between feuding factions in the SBC were interspersed with continuing accusations that liberal teaching is sapping the denomination of its spiritual power. P%?.~OY-~' Conference Wrap-Upe -- Page 2

AL"-.----.------______" -. . _ -->-I------~-. Barefoot Hollywood evangelist Arthur Blessitt begged Southern Baptists "not to embarass Jesus before the world," He said a lot of people came to Dallas expecting to see a fight but he came "expecting a revival." About midway through telling how he has spent the last year carrying a 6-by-12-faor cross throughout India, Blessitt took off his shoes to show them he had not suffered because of following Jesus. -.- -" - Edwin Young, pastor of Houston's Second Baptist Church, also called on his fellow pastors to get down on their knees together to seek God's help in solving their differences. . "The real enemy is not your brother--it's old slewfoot, the devil," Young said. Expressing concern over the declining harvest of baptisms the past 30 years, Young said he felt there are some in Southern Baptist seminaries who have gone too far in offering other explanations for both Old Testament and New Testament miracles. But he said he believes the majority of those who teach in Southern Baptist schools and seminaries are "warmhearted, conservative evangelicals." Whatever problems do exist in such schools, he said, can be handled by their trustees and presidents. ". - - - .. A.2-" A Florida Presbyterian, D. James ~eiied~,received a standing ovation with sharp criticism of Southern ~aptists'traditional stance on separation of church and state. "We have let the unbelievers convince America that this is a secular nation," he said. "There may even be some people here who have bought that lie--and nothing could be further from the truth." Former SBC President Adrian Rogers of Memphis also got standing applause as he preached on seven principles thar gave young David victory over the Philistine giant Goliath: preparation, perspective, purpose, progression, protection, power and praise. Robert Hamblin, the Southern Baptist Home Mission ~oard'svice president for evangelism, urged the pastors to lead out in "Good News America, God Loves You, a simultaneous evangelistic effort in the spring of 1986. "It is not our politics that will bring people to ~hrist,"he said. "We must pray and depend upon God...who alone can quench the spiritual thirst in our land." From across the Atlantic, Pastor R. T. Kendall, Westminster Chapel in London, said the evangelistic outlook in England is bleak. But he said that if the 20,000 pastors "would fall to their knees and desire this blessing of God, we can go back to our people and say, 'Should Jesus tarry, time is on our side."' Another pastor who served briefly as a Southern Baptist missionary to Africa, Tom Elliff, said the Word of God is "absolutely true and absolutely sufficient to solve every problem of life. Every true believer should immerse himself in the Word of God. Try to master the Bible and you will discover that it will master you." Elliff is pastor of Applewood Baptist Church, Wheat Ridge, Colo. A telegram from President Ronald Reagan expressing his unity with the spiritual values of the group was read to the pastors by Hawkins, the 1985 president. Reagan had been invited but could not attend the sessions.

By Bob Stanley and Jim Lowry--10:35 p.m. Monday -v. WW"J

News Room 'I 'I &tion (214) 6557954 WhrC Fields SBC Pma Repmtative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographyIFea~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention hhi, June lldL3, 1985

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

CWLINES CUTLINES CUTLINES CUTLINES CUTLI NES CUTLINES

15. PRESIDENTS FOR PEACE -- The elected presidents of 37 state conventions which voluntarily cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention announced a "peace plan" for the strife- ridden SBC at a news conference on the eve of the annual meeting of the SBC. Members of a task force of the state convention presidents, along with former SBC president and retired pastor of First Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn., H. Franklin Paschall (who had earlier announced a peace effort of his own) met reporters to explain the 10- point plan on June 10. Paschall then made the official motion to the convention June 11. Among those at the news conference were, seated from left: Bill Hickem, Florida; Charles Pickering, Mississippi; Paschall; Wallace Henley, Alabama; Neil Thompson, Alaska; and Bob Latham, Indiana. (Photo by John McTyre)

3. 'FIRST LOVE' IN LEBANON AND HARLEM -- Amang the speakers for the annual meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union were Nancie Wingo, foreign missionary to Lebanon, and Michael Thamas Williams, home missionary to Harlem in New York City. They told how "First Love," the theme of the 1985 meeting, keeps missions alive in those two areas.

(Photo by Tim Fields)

Cutline Correction ---

In photo 56B, the liturgical dance ensemble, please give a photo credit line to John McTyre.

Thanks, Craig News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilrner C. Filds SBC Press Repmentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bid PhotogmphyFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATIONj

W. WINFRED MOORE, 65 Pastor, First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas since 1959

President, Baptist General Convention of Texas (2 terms)

Native of Tennessee

Educated at Larnbeth College Union University George Peabody College

Awarded honorary doctorate at Wayland Baptist University and Baylor University

Former pastor of: Olive Branch Baptist Church, Olive Branch, Mississippi Harrisburg Baptist Church, Tupelo, Mississippi First Baptist Church, Barger, Texas Central Park Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama

Parent of a son and two daughters @ News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SEC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographyIFeatuws Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11.13, 1985

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Advance Background Material

Biographical Data

CHARLES F. STANLEY Pastor, First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia

Born: Danville, VA Experience: Pastor, First Baptist Church, Fruitland, N.C. Professor, Fruitland Bible Tnstitute Pastor, First Baptist Church, Fairborn, Ohio Pastor, First Baptist Church, Miami FL Pastor and Principal, George Muiller Christian School, Miami Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bartow, FL

Education: University of Richmond, VA Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX Luther Rice Theological Seminary, Jacksonville, FL, Doctorate, Theology, 1971 Publications: The Walk of Faith Reaching Your Goals Stand Up, America! A Man's Touch Handle With Prayer

Telecasts: In Touch, weekly, CBN and PTL The Chapel Hour, weekly, CBN and FTT, Personal: WifemaAnna; 2 children News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WirC. Fields SBC Pregg Repmentative Dan Martin News Room Manager c* Bird PhotographylFeanue~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-l3, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EVANGELISTS BREAKFAST

DALLAS, June 11 --In a harmonious business session Tuesday morning, Southern Baptist evangelists adopted a new constitution, elected officers and sent a message of support to legendary pastor W.A. Criswell. Newly elected presidentrbrry Taylor of San Antonio, Texas, said the session was one of the most peaceful in the history of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, which in recent years has struggled for harmony. The new constitution states the group's purpose is fellowship, inspiration, teaching and to "offer to its members a means of expressing the convictions of the conference to the Southern Baptist Convention--and to a lost world." The evangelists voted to thank Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, for his ministry and for a message he preached to the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference Monday night. In addition to Taylor, the group elected Rudy Hernandez of Catarina, Texas, as vice president; Jackson Cox af Milledgeville, Ga., secretary-treasurer; Jim Niel of St. Louis, Mo., Music Director; Dick Barrett of Bremen, Ga., assistant music director; Bob Kendig of Memphis, Tenn., parliamentarian; and Jerry Glisson, pastor of Leawood Baptist Church, Memphis, as pastor advisor.

By Greg Warner -- 9555 ~ am Tuesday New Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wic. Filds. SBC PmRepresentative Dan Martin News Room Manam Craig Bi PhotographylFeam Manasr

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U, 1985 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday Morning Crowds

DALLAS, June 11--It was evident during the early morning hours of the opening day of the Southern Baptist Convention that many Southern Baptists believe "the early bird catches the worm." Hundreds of Southern Baptist messengers crowded into the hallways of the Dallas Convention Center almost two hours before the arena was opened Tuesday morning for what many observers have called the most potentially divisive meeting of the nation's largest Protestant denomination. By the time doors opened at 7:45 a.m. several thousand other messengers were lined outside beneath a steady Texas shower. Those who arrived before 7 a.m. did so positively. Early arrivers joined in the singing of favorite hymns and enjoyed fellowship. Reasons for arriving early were diverse, but all were united by a common cause-- to find a seat and be a part of the opening day of the convention. Hazel Maffet, a 70-year-old messenger from Audubon Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky,, was an outspoken early arrival. I1We're interested and concerned Baptists who want God's will to be done. Whatever happens, we will go on. We won't be divided," she declared. Maffet, who came with nine other messengers from the Louisville church, brought food and drinks because "Tuesday you don't leave." She said she is a strong believer in Baptist principles and for that reason she planned to vote for Winfred Moore of Amarillo, Texas for president because "that's what he stands for." Danny Crow, pastor of Pittsburgh Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, Pa., skipped breakfast and walked from his hotel room for one simple reason. "I'm a realist. I wanted a soft seat for the day," he said. Crow and nine other messengers from his home church came to Dallas because of news reports which predicted a possible division. "we're in a real mission area. There had been talk of a split and we're in a place where we can't afford that," he said. Crow noted most of his people favored the re-election of Charles Stanley, when they became familiar with his work through his television ministry. "Stanley has opened a lot of doors for them in our area," he said. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Stacy, laymen from First Baptist Church, Natchitoches, La., were among the earliest arrivals at 6:15. "We haven't even had coffee yet, but we wanted to make sure we got in," Mrs. Smith said. Smith said they were open to the work of the Holy Spirit in maklng their decisions. Bill Hair, Covington Pike Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn., arrived at 6:15 because he wanted to be part of history. "1t seems like this is going to be a pivotal convention," he said. I'Ir could be the most significant event in church history in the last 200 years, as the country's largest Protestant denomination faces great, critical issues." A1 Andrews, pastor o£ Wilkesboro Baptist Church, Wilkesboro, N.C., was "late" arriv- ing at "just" 7:15. He expressed surprise at the magnitude of the crowd and noted he drove from his Garland hotel through steady 25-mile-per-hour traffic. ~uesda~_tl&in~Crowds

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He said he was here because of the issues shaping the convention. Andrews expressed support for Moore because "he will represent an unbiased opinion that incorporates the umbrella philosophy of the Southern Baptist Convention. George and Jo Ann Whitfield, First Baptist Church, Cartersville, Mo., arrived at 6:25 for their first experience on a Southern Baptist Convention floor. The couple looked forward to the election of the president and hoped good things would come from the decision of the messengers. . "We're praying for a closer fellowship in the convention. We want to see unity and harmony restored," Whitf ield said. Robert and Evelyn McKenzie, Savannah, Ga., said they ate breakfast at 5:30 and rushed to the convention center to get in line at 6:30. McKenzie, who describes himself as a regular convention participant, especially wanted to be part of this year's meeting. allas as is really quite a place to came," he said. "I think of it as kind of the Mecca of Southern Baptists." Most messengers knew it would be a long day when they arrived, George Rose, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Marion, N,C,, summed it up this way; "We know it will be a long day, but we don't care. We're willing to pay the price to see Charles Stanley elected,"

By Lonnie Wilkey and Ken Camp-9:50 a.m. Tuesday News Room DabConvention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C Fieb SBC Press Ftepmentative Dan Maain NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR YOUR INFORMATIOI

PURPORTED BILLY GRAHAM ENDORSEMENT

DALLAS, June 11--Don Bailey, Evangelist Billy Graham's press representative in Minneapolis, Minn., said Tuesday he is still trying to verify whether Graham made a statement endorsing Charles Stanley for re-election as Southern Baptist Convention president. The endorsement reportedly was made in a telegram which T. W. Wilson, associate to Graham, sent to Stanley June 5. But Wilson was enroute to Europe to prepare for a Graham crusade in England, and the Grahams were also in Europe. According to the reported telegram, Graham called Wilson from Europe and said: "Do me a favor. I want you to call Dr. Charles Stanley and tell him that I will be praying for him during the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas. Tell him that if I could be there I would vote for him. " Dr. Ken Chafin, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., said he had talked to Sterling Houston, Graham's crusade chairman, and "he was as amazed as I was" by this report. Chafin said he was with Graham two weeks ago in Hartford, Conn., and Graham told him then he was not going to get involved in the SBC conflict (between moderates and conservatives),

By Bob Stanley--9:58 a.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center F - CI Wnrir pr*-% Prtl~er~ns-.. (214) 65&7954 WhrC. Fields SBC kess Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Cdg Bird PhotographyIE:eatures Manager

Southem Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPENING SESSION/REGISTRATION

DALLAS, June 11 (BP) -- The largest number of messengers in the history of the 140- year-old Southern Baptist Convention constituted the denomination's 128th annual meeting Tuesday at the Dallas Convention Center, Lee Porter of Nashville, Tenn., registration secretary for the 14.3-million member denomination, announced that 40,723 messengers from Southern Baptist churches had registered as of 9:10 a.m. Tuesday "and we're still counting." Tuesday morning's figure tops a previous high registration of 22,872 at the Atlanta, Ga., meeting in 1978. Southern Baptist Convention President Charles F. Stanley called the messengers to order a few minutes after 9:00 a.m. at the Dallas Convention Center. Stanley is pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta. Porter applauded the patience of messengers while registering for the meeting and chided the few messengers who had "cut in line and tried to cheat" some out of their place in registration lines. Porter said about 100 persons had returned ballots and messenger badges because they had not met the convention's qualifications for registration. Only constituted churches which have contributed through the Cooperative Program, the denomination's unified budget, denominational mission offerings or have designated contributions to one of the SBC agencies are permitted to send messengers to the annual meeting . Porter also thanked one person who had returned his messenger card and ballots after lying about his credentials in order to be a messenger to the 1985 SBC meeting. The 250-voice choir and orchestra from First Baptist Church, Atlanta, opened the convention meeting.

By Michael Tutterow -- 10 a.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. Fie& SBC b Repmtative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography /Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

CUTLINES CUTLINES CKL'LINES CUTLINES CUTLINES CUTLINES CUTLINES

45. BROTHERHOOD BASEBALL--One of the more popular attractions among younger SBC convention goers (and many older ones too) in the exhibit area was the Brother- hood Commission booth which featured a computerized game called Royal Ambassa- dor Baseball. Royal Ambassadors is a missions program for boys in Baptist churches. (Photo by Ken Lawson)

10. WHY NOT AMERICA, WHY NOT NOW--W. A. Criswell, 76-year-old pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, addressed 20,000 people attending the closing session of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference at the Dallas Convention Center. He spoke on the pattern of death and resurrection in a denomination, an institution, a preacher and a professor. He asked why, while great revivals are sweeping Korea, Africa and ocher parts of the world, spiritual renewal is not more evident in the United States. (Photo by Van Payne)

3B. 15 YEARS FROM NOW--The Bold Mission Thrust dramatic musical ''2000 A.D.w premiered June 10 during the evening session of the Woman's Missionary Union annual meeting. The musical, by Wesley Forbis and Mark Hayes, was performed by PraiSong from Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, (Photo by John McTyre)

11. PASTORS' CONFERENCE OFFICERS--Morris Chapman, at podium, was elected president for the 1986 Pastors' Conference which will meet in Atlanta prior to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, Chapman is pastor of First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas. Behind Chapman, from left, are W. A. Criswell, .pastor of First Baptist Dallas who preached the closing sermon, Dwight Reighard, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga., secretary-treasurer, and Ned Mathews, pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C., vice-president. (Photo by Van Payne)

9, PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITY--Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church of Amarillo, Texas and current president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, addressed the Woman's Missionary Union meeting June 10. He was expected to be nominated for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention June 11. (Photo by Mark Sandlin) News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WhrC. Fields SBC b Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager .- Craig Bid ---. ---. .-.- PhotographylFeatum Manager - - Southern Baptist Convention FOR YOUR INFORMATION Dallas, June Il-U,1985

CUTLINES CUTLINES CUTLINES CUTLI NES CUTLINES CUTLINES CUTLINES

13. POINTING TO A FULL HOUSE--A crowd estimated at 18,000 turned out for the Sunday night session of the 1985 SBC Pastors' Conference in the Dallas Convention Center. Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, was the closing speaker for the session. He preached on seven principles which apply to Southern Baptist pastors--prepara- tion, perspective, purpose, progression, protection, power and praise. (Photo by David ~aywood)

56. PACKED WORSHIP SERVICE--A standing room only crowd of 500 met for Sunday morning wor- ship June 9 at the Adolphus Hotel during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Womcn In Ministry. Molly Marshall-Green, assistant professor of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., brought a message on Colossians 3:12-17 and stressed the qualities of Jesus those "called to serve" should have. (Photo by Lonnie Wilkey)

42. INDIAN OFFICEIIS--The National American Indian Fellowship of Southern Uaptist, whicl~ formed prior to the 1985 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention selected the Following officers (from left): Blevin Hill, a Creek from Oklahoma, secretary-treasurer; Victor Kaneubbe, Choctaw from Arkansas, chairman; Cloyd Harjo, Creek-Seminole from Kansas, parli- mentarian, and Emerson Falls, Sac-Fox and Choctaw from California, vice-chairman. (Photo by Van Payne)

56B--The Liturgical Dance Ensemble from Second Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, led the call to worship for the worship service at the Adolphus Hotel June 9 which was part of the annual meeting of the Women In Ministry.

14. SIGN OF THE TIMES--The strong feelings over which direction the SBC should follow were evident in many ways. One messenger advertised.his sentiments on the back of his motorhome parked outside the Dallas Convention Center. (Photo by Tim Fields)

58, TI115 FIRST LONG LINE--The record registration at: the 1985 SDC convention started with messengers wound back and forth around the floor of the Dallas Convention Ccntcr two hours bcfore registration opened at 3 p.m. June 9. More than 14,000 messengers were processed by 10 p.m. (Photo by Ken Lawson)

580. YOUNG MESSENGERS--When the 36,500 churches across the Southern Baptist Convention sent messengers to the 1985 annual meeting in Dallas at a record pace, they came in just about all ages, shapes, sizes and colors. These two young ladies were among mate than 14,000 members of SBC churches who got voting packets June 9. (Photo by Ken Lawson)

15B. THE BONDS OF PRAYER--When thc presidents of the 37 state conventions which cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention hosted a prayer meeting Sunday afternoon (June 9) it attracted scores of Southern Baptist leaders, In the group above, from left, are: Milton Ferguson, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City; Roy C. Honeycutt, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville; Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, and Charles Stanley, SBC president and pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta. (Photo by John McTyre) @Dallas ConventionNews CenterRoom (214) 6587954 Wilmer C. Fields S'BC Press Repnsmtative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographyIF- Manaw

Southern Baptist onv vent ion Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BILLY GRAHAM ENDORSEMENT

.. --.. --- DALLAS, June 11--Billy Graham!~press representative verified Tuesday that a telegram had been sent endorsing Charles Stanley for re-election as Southern Baptist Convention president. Don Bailey,press representative on Graham's Minneapolis, Minn., staff, said he had been able to verify "through the office" that T. W. Wilson did send the telegram to Charles Stanley June 5. The telegram read as follows: "Billy Graham called me from Europe. He said, 'Do me a favor. I want you to call Dr. Charles Stanley and tell him that I will be praying for him during the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas. Tell him that if I could be there I would vote for him.' God bless you and our great convention. We will be praying for you though we ourselves will be in . England for a crusade. "Sincerely,T. W. Wilson, associate to Billy Graham." Asked why Graham had decided to endorse Stanley when he previously had said he would not get involved in the conflict, Bailey said he had no information on why Graham changed his mind. Bailey said Wilson was enrouge to England and probably would arrive there either late Tuesday or early Wednesday. He said he had no plan to try to contact him. Graham and his wife are on a short vacation in Europe before the June 22-29 crusade in Sheffield, England, and cannot be reached,Bailey said. -30-

By: Bob Stanley--11 a.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas ConveRtioft Center (214) 65&7954 WiLner c. Fdds SBC Press Representative Dan Maain News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFea~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dabs, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEACE INITIATIVE MOTION

DALLAS, June 11--Security-conscious ushers prevented former Southern Baptist Convention President H. Franklin Paschall of Nashville from presenting his planned "peace initiative" motion during the SBC miscellaneous business session Tuesday morning. The motion was made instead by Bill Hickern, president of the Florida Baptist Convention and pastor of Riverside Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., on behalf of Paschall and the presidents of 37 Baptiat state conventions. Paschall, president of the SBC from 1966-68, had previously planned to make the motion as the first item of business, but Paschall said he left his ballot cards in the hotel room and security-conscious ushers would not allow him to enter the convention hall crammed with 30,000 messengers. Although the motion was not read in full to the convention messengers, Hickem said it would be printed in the daily convention bulletin on Wednesday and scheduled for discussion by the commirtee on order of business, probably at 11:05 a.m., Wednesday, June 12, The motion requests the 18-member committee to "seek to determine the sources of con- troversies in our convention, make findings and recommendations concerning these controversies so that Southern Baptists might effect reconciliation ... In addition ro nominating 18 men to serve on the committee, the peace plan calls on all Southern Baptists to refrain from divisive action and comments, and to reflect Christian love, while the committee is doing its work. It would report back to the convention in 1986, and again in 1987 if the committee had not completed its work.

By: Jim Newton,ll;20 a.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 698-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Prm Repmentative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Executive Committee Report - Part I DALLAS, June 11--Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention adopted a $130 million Cooperative Program budget for 1985-86 to finance the denomination's multiple programs of missions, education and other ministries. The budget was the major item in a series of recommendations from the convention's Executive Committee which were approved during the opening session of the three-day annual meeting at the Dallas Convention Center. The $130 million budget is the same as the current 1984-85 budget, an effort to bring Cooperative Program budget and Cooperative Program receipts into closer harmony. Executive Committee members were told on Monday that Cooperative Program receipts for the first six months of the 1984-85 year stood at $58.1 million, more than $4 million ahead of the same period for last year. The total, however, is 10.6 percent short of the total allocation budget and 1.5 percent short of the basic operating budget. The two major components in the budget adopted for 1985-86 are the basic operating budget of $120,600,000 and a capital needs budget of more than $7.8 million. Almost $84 million of the basic operating budget is allocated for the Foreign and Home Mission Boards. Another $24.7 million is divided among the denomination ' s six seminaries. Also, in some "housekeeping1'matters, messengers approved amendments to the char- ters of several SBC agencies and changes in terminology in two articles of the SBC Constitution. Atlanta was approved as the site for the 1991 meeting of the SBC. The dates are June 4-6. While messengers raised few questions about recommendations brought by the Executive Committee, several persons did step to the floor microphones to express frustration with some of the logistical headaches created by a convention registration that had reached 43,237 by mid-morning Tuesday--nearly double the previous record of 22,800 in Atlanta in 1978. Thousands of messengers were forced to vote without the aid of a Book of Reports, a 210-page publication containing the recommendations of the Executive-- Commit tee and the reports of the convention's agencies, In response to one messenger's question, Executive Committee secretary-treasurer Harold C. Bennett of Nashville, Tenn., explained that only 10,000 books were printed for the convention--a quantity that had been ample in previous years. The Executive Committee will present the second half of its report during the Tuesday afternoon session.

By David Wilkinson--ll:45 a.m. Tuesday News Rmm Dallas Convention Center (214) 65E7954 Wier C. Fi SBC Press Re-tative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Campus Ministers--Wrap-up

DALLAS, June 10--Southern Baptist campus ministers explored their past and were challenged to confront ethical issues of the future during their two-day meeting here. Southern Baptist students have became desensitized to the major ethical issues confronting society,claimed a Southern Baptist ethicist. The college campus does not appear "alive and aware that there axe ethical and moral issues which need to be addressed," charged Paul Jones, executive director-treasurer of the Christian Action Commission for the Mississippi Baptist Convention, Jackson. Jones addressed about 90 persons attending the eighth annual meeting of the Association of Southern Baptist Campus Ministers, one of six meetings held prior to the Southern Baptist Convention. Jones said Baptist students seem concerned with outward forms of spirituality, primarily prayer and Bible study. Jones challenged campus ministers to lead students into an awareness of the social implications of their faith. Jones lumped ethical issues into three broad categories: those which relate to human survival; those which relate to human failure; and those which relate to human responsibility. By far the most serious issue confronting society is the threat of nuclear and chemical/biological warfare, Jones said. For the first time in history global destruction is possible, Jones said, Yet this week, thousands of Baptists will come to Dallas, but only a handful1 will gather for a breakfast to discuss peace issues, he lamented. The low attendance reveals the denomination's priority is not that of global peace,Jones said. Failure to actively work for peace leaves an impression that individuals have the right to use whatever means they want to defend their interests, Jones said. The nation's obsession with armaments has opened the way for some Christians to ''willfully manipulate the political process1'which may lead to annihilation in an attempt to fulfill their theological belief in a cataclysmic end to time, he added. Media coverage has made Baptists more aware of those suffering from hunger, said Jones as he encouraged campus ministers to do more to confront world hunger than lead their students to save "quarters and dollars. '* About 40,000 people worldwide die daily as a result of hunger, he contended. Jones called on campus ministers to lead students to explore issues relating to the redistribution of the world's goods. He also challenged conference participants to do more than compete with other campuses for first place in hunger offerings to raise students1 level of hunger awareness, Jones said campus ministers must lead the fight against racism, national supremacy, and societal corruption, a11 issues relating to human failure. He encouraged campus ministers to integrate personal integrity, prafessional accountability and family responsibility into their role. Jones challenged participants to raise up a generation of students willing to be advocates for the disenfranchised of society. "Our call is to become the voice for those who don't have a forum, the hands for those whotve had their hands amputated by indifference, and the feet for those wholve been crippled by despair." A Southern Baptist religious educator called on campus ministers to lead students to a faith that frees their mind as well as their soul. ..* 4 Campus Minsters Wrap-Up -- Page 2

Philip H, Briggs, professor of youth education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Fort Worth, asked the group to stretch the minds of students by allowing them to question and examine their faith. he degree to which a student goes through the questioning process is equal to the degree to which we give them permission to question," explained Briggs. "Often the church has said to adolescents (they may) ask questions about anything except sex and the Bible." Adult faith grows out of the alternating doubts and affirmations that characterize pro- ductive thinking, Briggs added. "Productive thinking can only happen in the person who is intellectually growing. "~oubtis not an enemy, but a friend of understanding," he said, "Healthy doubting keeps faith relevant and dynamic. I I An open learning environment may require campus ministers and others who work with college students "to let the student be wrong for awhile without condemnation about what the student believes," added Briggs. While diversity may flourish on the college campus, it is the root of Southern ~aptists' current controversy, charged church historian Walter Shurden. Shurden, chairman of the department of Christianity at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., told the group that diversity had become "tantamount to liberal in the Southern Baptist Con- vent ion. 1 I But Shurden said diversity is at the heart of the 14.3rmillion member denomination's history. The American experience, shaped by tlpluralism,diversity and dissent," Baptist distinctives primarily the soul competency of every believer, and the denomination's own history of diverse traditions brought nurtured diversity within the SBC, said Shurden, A failure to understand the denomination's past has led to battles for control of the largest non-Catholic religious goup in the country, said Shurden, He called for a return to the study of Baptist history,which he claimed would allow Southern Baptists to see the mosaic of their past, which, in turn, would, lessen fears about contemporary differences. W.F, Howard, adjunct teacher of religious education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, said campus ministry in this country traces its roots to Harvard University, the first college in the colonies, He explained that students at the university, founded in 1636, were participating in voluntary religious services, known as Harvard Religious Societies, by the end of that century, The societies, Howard added, incorporated theological discussion and debate; religious fellow- ship, prayer and revivalism; and discussion of foreign missions," By 1919, Texas Baptists were developing a state prograp of student work called Baptist Student Union. Southern Baptists voted to establish their "southwide program of Baptist relegious activities1'during their annual meeting in Chattanooga, Tenn,, in 1921, he noted, Four years later the convention adopted Baptists Student Union for the name of the denom? ination's national student ministries program said Howard. The campus ministers association elected new officers for the 1985436 year. Bob Ford, campus minister at Jacksonville State University in Alabama was elected president elect. He actually will not take office until June, 1986. Frank Cofer, director of metro Chicago student ministries, took office as president for the new year. He was elected by the 182-member as so cia ti or^ last year, The group re-elected Bill Neal, who works with the Georgia Baptist on vent ion's department of student work, Atlanta, vice-president of adminstration. They also elected Wi1 McCall, campus minister at University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, vice-president of membership; Jan Fuller, campus minister at Yale University, New Haven, Conn., program vice-president; and Steve Hollaway, campus minister at Columbia Universit: New York, publications vice-president. The association also voted to keep full membership to the organization limited to Baptist campus ministers. The group's executive committe had proposed constitutional changes which would have granted full membership to other ministers whose primary role is relating to student: Currently those persons are recognized by the association as affiliate members.

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By: Michael Tutterow--12:OO p.m. Tuesday L News Rm DabConvention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilrner C. Fields SBC Rw Repraentative Dan Martin NEWS News Rann Manager

Southem Baptist Convention Dallas, June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SBC PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

DALLAS, June 11--Southern Baptist Convention President Charles Stanley of Atlanta, Ga., challenged Southern Baptists Tuesday to put denominational strife behind them and show a watching world that the message of love and forgiveness they proclaim is an authentic one. Stanley, seeking re-election to a second one-year term as SBC president, issued the challenge to more than 44,000 SBC messengers a few hours before presidential balloting was scheduled to get underway. The messengers interrupted Stanley's address several times with applause as he urged healing of differences--although he didn't specifically refer to charges so-called conservatives and moderates have hurled back and forth in the SBC1s theo-political strife over a variety of issues. Moderates and conservatfves have made the SBC presidency a battleground to seize control of the president's appointive powers which affect naming of trustees to denominat- ional boards and agencies. Winfred Moore,pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, is expected to contest Stanley for the presidency. Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church and television evangelist, likened the 14,3- million-member SBC to a large family and said all families, large or small, have hurts and must seek to heal them. The healing, he said, must grow out of a willingness to forgive as Jesus Christ for- gave, accompanied by a commitment to love other persons and to show a spirit of humility, "Before you make a decision," he said, "let me remind you of what we have at stake here. "We know wetll. not always agree on many things, The world isn't looking to see if all Southern Baptists agree, ~hey're looking to see how we disagree. "~hey're not going to be impressed by our budgets, our buildings, our large churches, our large numbers," he contfnued. "Whatls going to impress them is how you and X respond to one another ," Stanley said he believes God will do something "fantastfcally great" among Southern Baptists, "if somehow you and T can take a step forward in this convention in expressing forgiveness, love and humility to one another. "~ove,forgiveness and humility aren't feelings we have but commitments we must make.!' Stanley also told the record crowd of messengers that their own personal relationship with God was at stake. "How can you stand in pulpits Sunday after Sunday and expound on God's love and forgiveness if those qualities don't prevail in your heart?" he asked. Messengers closed the session with a standing ovation after complying with Stanley's request that they stand in silent prayer for one minute symbolizing "confession and re- pentance before God and before the world."

Robert OIBrien--1:36 p.m. Tuesday News Room Dab Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin NEWS New Room Manager Craig Bid Photography/Features Manager Southern Baptist Convention Dalks, J~ne11-13, 1985

FOR ZMMEDZATE RELEASE

Exhibits

DALLAS, June 11--"oh, no, you wuz robbed," says the baseball game computer to the boy racking his brain to come up with the right answer. But unfeathered, the convention-goer just picked up his free baseball he got for trying the game and went on to the next booth. The Brotherhood Commission booth at the Southern Baptist Convention was one of 46 booths vying for the attention of more than 44,000 messengers. And the only ones who were feeling robbed were the ones who had canvassed the exhibit hall after some of the freebies were gone. But they,to~,incounty fair style, picked up their complimentary goodie bags and proceeded to the next booth where they could find free souvenir pictures of themselves against a Dallas backdrop or get "~ig~lue" Mississippi College fans or calendars from another agency or prayer guides. Sunday School Board exhibitors gave away 80,000 pieces on Monday, the day before the convention officially opened. For the exhibitors, the convention means big business. Crawford Howell of the Broadman section of the Sunday School Board, Nashville, says consumer sales and church information systems brought about $100,000 in merchandise for their exhibit. While much of the video, computer and audiovisual products will be sold as demos on thescene,Howell says the volume comes in church sales in follow up. In the next four months, he expects $150,000-175,000 in sales as a direct result of the convention. He says most of the messengers have to go back to their churches and get approval to make the purchases. beexception this year however was a large church sign saying "First Baptist Church" purchased on the spot for about $1,650. are always the biggest sellers for the Baptist Book Store with Holman Study Bible in the King James and New American Standard versions expected to top the list. Paul Webb expects SBC President Charles Stanley's book entitle, onfr fronting Casual Christianity" to be the top individual title. He had sold half of his 1,000 copies before Stanley spoke Tuesday and expected to sell the athers afterwards. In addition to books, costume jewelry, SBC logo hats, stationery for all occasions and other paraphernalia are expected to bring Baptist Book Store sales to $250,000, Webb said.

By Irma Duke-2;15 p.m. Tuesday News Rmm Dallas Convention Center (214) 65P-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Representathe Dan Marrin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography /Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY MORNING RESOLUTIONS

DALLAS, June 11--A near record 45 resolutions were proposed by messengers to the Tuesday morning opening session of the 128th meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention at the Dallas Convention Center. The largest number of resolutions proposed at one convention was 46 in 1982. That number is likely to be surpassed Tuesday afternoon as more resolurions may be proposed by the record 44,375 messengers. A total of 19 proposed resolutions, more than one-third, relate to some dimension of the SBC controversy, with five calling for peace and unity, five criticizing agency executives for political involvement and supporting four supporting Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. Three others expressed support for elected leadership, appreciation for SBC President Charles Stanley and support for the six SBC seminaries while two others oppose secret tape recording of conversations and criticize two denominational agencies, As the 1985 resolutions process was getting under way, a motion was introduced by Clay Warf, Temple Baptist Church, Durham, N. C., to discontinue resolutions effective in 1986. The motion, referred to the Committee on Order of Business to schedule a time for discussion and convention action, notes that resolutions are only statements of opinion, are frequently misunderstood and "customarily eat up an enormous amount of time in our convention sessions," Among the five resolutions calling for peace and unity, one proposed by Charles Chaney, president 05 Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Mo., compared the present controversy to a similar debate in the 1920s. The four-page resolution cited "mean-spirited attacts on both conservatives and moderates," It urges the Great Commission and asks trustees to hold employees "accountable to these minimum standards in what they preach, teach and publish." Four of the resolufions criticizing denominational employees for political involvement urged support of convention officers by all agency leaders. A fifth, proposed by Bill Dudley, Carpenter Street Baptist Church, Moberly, Mo., charged that the denominational controversy "has been fueled by the presidents of Southern, Southeastern and Southwestern Baptist theological seminaries and by the president of the Foreign Mission ~oard." The resolution goes on to request the resignations of.(agency)Presidents Roy Honeycutt, Randall Lolley, Russell Dilday, and Keith Parks, "in the interest of peace and unity in the Southern Baptist Convention. At the same time, four other resolutions cite the many contributions of Southwestern Seminary and affirm support for both the seminary and Dilday. Another resolution proposed by J. Dan Cooper, Calvary Baptist Church, Lexington, Ky ., commends the six SBC seminaries and urges faculties to resist pressure from any source which might hamper freedom of thought or investigation in any realm of life." The Christian Life Commission and Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs drew criticism in a resolution by Steve Raps, South Side Baptist Church, Hannibal, Mo., for taking positions on issues "inconsistent with or diametrically opposed to a position taken by the convention in annual session." In a resolution on secret recordings proposed by William E. Shoulta, pastor of First I Baptist Church, Providence, Ky., messengers are asked to condemn secret tape recording of conversations and "discourage the election of such persons to leadership and committee positions of the Southern Baptist Convention." A variety of church and state-related issues were addressed in eight resolutions on subjects including religious exercises in public schools, freedom of religious schools, equal access act, tax deductions on contributions, tuition tax credits, civil rights restoration act, and churches as political campaign committees. C-. -,c

Tuesday Morning Resolutions -- Page 2

International political issues were the subject of four resolutions on world peace, genocide treaty, refugee resettlement and arms control. Women, the subject of the most controversial resolution adopted by the 1984 convention, is addressed in only two resolutions. One, introduced by Mrs. Claude Kirkpatrick, First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La., expresses appreciation for dedicated Christian women. The resolution was earlier adopted by messengers to the 1984 Louisiana Baptist Convention. A second resolution proposed by David Baker, First Baptist Church, Belton, Mo., encourages "the service of women in all aspects of church life and work other than the role of pastor or deacon." Moral and social issues, traditionally a popular topic of SBC resolutions, were addressed in only seven resolutions. Subjects included alcohol and beer advertising, alcohol abuse, abortion and sodomy. Support for single adult ministry was urged in a resolution by Richard McEver, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Mayer, Arlz, The 45 resolutions were referred to the 10-member Resolutions Committee for con- sideration. The committee is obligated to consider each resolution for submission to the convention and may submit a resolution as written, revise it, combine it with others on the same subject, refer it to an SBC agency or institution or take no action on it,

By Linda Lawson--2:40 p,m. Tuesday News Raam Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR TWDIATE RELEASE Tuesday Morning Motions

DALLAS, June 11--Southern Baptist Convention messengers introduced more than 25 motions during the first business session of the 128th annual meeting, including two that were immediately ruled out of order. The majority of the motions called for changes in the way appointments are made to SBC committees, and agency and institution boards. A motion to establish a special committee to devise a peace proposal for the convention was introduced, along with a motion to discontinue resolutions as a part of SBC business,beginning with the 1986 convention in Atlanta, Ga. Other motions were introduced to authorize an offering for world hunger to be taken during the SBC,to instruct the SBC Christian Life Commission regarding abortion issues, to require messengers to be at least 13 years old, to approve a new multi-volume Bible commentary, and to initiate a "systematic and careful divestiture" of any SBC invest- ments in South Africa. Ruled out of order was a motion to rescind the 1983 SBC action designating Las Vegas,Nev., as the site for the 1989 convention because contractural agreements already are in place to hold the SBC meeting there. Another motion was introduced later asking the convention to set aside Robert's Rules of Order on the Las Vegas motion and select another site for the 1989 convention, even if that action would require the convention to honor financial contracts in Las Vegas . Also ruled out of order was a motion to "nullify" the appointments of SBC President Charles Stanley to the Committee on Committees and replace those appointees with the state convention presidents and state convention Woman's Missionary Union presidents. That action would have suspended the SBC By-Laws, which is not allowed by ~obert's Rules. Following the out-of-order ruling on this motion, the parliamentarian was asked by one messenger to always read aloud the reason why he ruled a motion out of order. Several of the motions would limit the number of SBC board or agency trustees from a single church, with one motion calling for the voluntary resignation of all but one board or committee member who represanted the same church, Other motions would place requirements on Committee on Committees appointments, such as length of service in a Southern Baptist church or recommendation by the state convention president. Another motion would require that the names of appointees be accompanied by the name of the church in which the nominee is a member and the percentage of undesignated funds given to the Cooperative Program by that church in the previous convention year, A motion to amend the SBC Constitution was introduced that would allow one ad- ditional messenger from each SBC church for each 2 percent of undesignated tithes and bfferings or for each $10,000 contributed to the SBC through the Cooperative Program, A Bylaw change was introduced that would change the appointment power from being solely in the hands of the SBC president to 7'a committee composed of the convention preeident and the two vice-presidents. ': One motion would oppose salaried employees of SBC boards, agencies and institutions being involved in "taking of sides in the controversies within our convention.'' Two motions were introduced which would require the annual SBC Book of Reports to be made available to each church at least one month prior to subsequent SBC meetings and that plenty of copies be made available at the registration booths of future conventions, The motions reflected frustration in a shortage of 1985 Book of Reports, which contains the printed recommendations by SBC boards, agencies and institutions, The motion for a new Bible commentary calls for the past five presidents of the SBC to serve in "an advisory capacity, with final approval in the choice of editor and authors." The Baptist Sunday School Board would be asked to implement the action, The Committee on Order of Business will either schedule the motions for discussion on Wednesday or will refer the motions to the proper standing SBC cornmitte,

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By Karen Benson-~2:50 p,m, ~uesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiC. Fields SBC Ptrm Reprewmtative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographyIFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist: Convention Dab, June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ministers' Wives Luncheon

DALLAS, June 11--Wives of Southern Baptist mlnistere were encouraged here Tuesday to use their God-given gifts. During a luncheon highlighting the 30th annual Conference of Ministers Wives the women heard a musical theme interpretation of spiritual gifts presented by Ragan Courtney, faculty member at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and Cynthia Clawson of Louisville, a two-time Grarmny Award winner for Gospel Singer of the Year. The ministers1 wives were told that while being the wife of a minister is important, it is important to remember their own gifts are real. Courtney said "all of you are gifted and the greatest of these gifts is love." The presentation honored 19 women who were chosen as typical wives of ministers who serve in a variety of ways in their own right. They included: 30 Nell Caldwell, Little Rock, Ark.; June Honeycutt, Louisville, Ky. ; Doris Conley, Hartford, Conn, ; Joy Yates, Yazoo City, Miss. ; Anna Keith, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Joy Rust, Columbia, S.C.; Wilda Fancher, Coffeeville, Miss.; Susie Hawkins, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Mary Hair, Crystal Springs, Miss.; Alice Marshall, Louisville, Ky.; Virginia Clawson, Conroe, Texas; Nell Bowen, Barnsville, Ga.; Jill Baker, Clinton, Miss.; Norma Brown, Norman, Okla.; Ellen Jones, Decatur, Ga.; Lorraine Hendrix, Monroe, La.; Ellen Tanner, Atlanta, Ga., and Robin Weber, Dallas. Officers for 1986 are Mrs. Russell Dilday, Fort Worth, Texas, president; Mrs. Peter Rhea Jones, Decatur, Ga., vice-president; Mrs. Ray Rust, Columbia, S.C., secretary- treasurer; and Mrs. Bill Hinson, New Orleans, La., corresponding secretary. Elected as officers for 1987 were Mrs. Ted Sisk, Lexington, Ky., president; Mrs. John Hewitt, St. Louis, Mo., vice-president; Mrs. Jerry Hayner, Cary, N.C., secretary- treasurer; and Mrs. Don Moore, Little Rock, Ark., corresponding secretary.

By Lonnie Wilkey--3:iS p.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilrner C. Filds SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography ffeatww Manager

Southern Baptkt Convention Dallas, June 11-l3, 1985

FOR RELEASE AFTER 3 p.m.

Roundup for Wednesday AM8 DALLAS, June 11--Southern Baptists received an optimistic progress report Tuesday night on their Christian missions activities in 106 countries throughout the world. Keith Parks, president of the Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, Va., said overseas Baptists recorded more than 150,000 baptisms in the 14,750 churches and 17,779 missions and preaching points. Even so, records must be achieved each year if cooperating Baptists are to reach their Bold Mission Thrust goals by the year 2000, Parks said. Bold Mission Thrust is described as Southern ~aptists' effort to present the gospel to every person in the world by the end of the century. The annual report of the foreign missions agency to the Southern Baptist Convention also focused on hunger relief, missions possibilities in China, and medical work. In Ethiopia and other rain-starved areas of Africa, and elsewhere in disaster and relief situations, missionaries in 1984 administered $8 million in hunger funds donated by Southern Baptists and $558,000 in general relief funds. The missions agency also created a cooperative services international office to respond to opportunities for professional and social service in Christian and secular institutions in China, and perhaps later in other countries closed to missionaries, the report said. In missionary medical work, 63 physicians, nine dentiats and 72 nurses, working with 5,559 nationals, treated 163,000 inpatients and more than 1.3 million outpatients last year in 26 hospitals and 104 clinics, the report added. Messengers also received progress reports from the Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, and the Annuity Board in Dallas. President Lloyd Elder said the Sunday School Board is cooperating with the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board in an emphasis to train one million Sunday school workers in evangelism by 1990. A five-year emphasis on music and missions seeks to enroll 1.99 million persons in the music ministry during the same period, he added. Elder said Southern Baptists have ordered more than 1.1 million New Testaments since January for use in a project this fall to discover church prospects. Another 3 million copies are currently on order. The report of the Annuity Board dealt with a new retirement plan developed for churches and associations. "State conventions unanimously approved the expanded church annuity plan last year in their annual sessions. Now is the time for the associations to adopt the program, President Darold H. Morgan said. "The primary difference (to the current church retirement plan) is that the individual, church and state conventions will make contributions to the retirement plan, "We want our preachers and missionaries to live with dignity when they retire. Most people don't realize that we are investing in a valuable missions resource when these retired servants are free to serve in a voluntary capacity." Total annuity assets are about $1.5 billion and are expected to exceed $2 billion in two years, Morgan said.

By Roy Jennings--3:55 p.m. News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiC. Fi SBC Press Repmentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Cmig si PhotographylFeatt.~mManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Executive Committee--Part 2

DALLAS, June 11--The Southern Baptist convention's Executive Committee honored one of its retired staff members and reported briefly on the third phase of the denomination's Bold Mission Thrust program during the second of two reports Tuesday at the Dallas Con- vention Center. Albert McClellan, retired associate executive secretary and director of program planning for the Executive Committee, was recognized for his authorship of a new book, The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1917-1984. McClellan's successor, Reginald McDonough then reported on phase three of Bold Mission Thrust which begins in October. Launched at the 1979 Southern Baptist Convention in Houston, Bold Mission Thrust represents an ambitious effort to share the gospel with every person on earth by the year 2000. McDonough pointed out that the primary emphasis of the 1985-90 phase will be on strengthening missions at home and abroad. After McDonoughts report, the 1985 Texas Baptist All-State Youth Choir presented two selections from a new musical "2000 A.D." written in aupport of the Bold Mission Thrust emphasis on missions and evangelism. Earlier, in adopting the report of the Executive Committee, messengers left un- challenged recommendations on a total of 20 matters referred to the committee from the 1984 convention. The most controversial iasue concerned a motion last year that an exclusively Southern Baptist government affairs office be established in Washington, D.C. Rumors had circulated that the Executive Committee's recommendation affirming the Washington-based Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs opposing such an office as "not practicable" and affirming the Washington-based Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs might be challenged from the floor of the convention.

By David Wilkinaon--4:35 p.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC b Repmtative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography/Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention . Dallas, June lldl3, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOMINATIONS for PRESIDENT

DALLAS, June 11--Two veteran Southern Bapt:is t pas tors labeled as "denominationalists" were nominated for the president of the Southern Baptist Convention here Tuesday after- noon. Tension filled the Grand Hall and arena packed with more than 40,000 messengers, ushers, press and others as the names of Charles Stanley, current SBC president, and W. Winfred Moore, pastor, First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, were nominated for the powerful presidential postion of the 14.3-million-member SBC. Morris Chapman, pastor, First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, and newly- elected president of the Southern Baptist Pastors1 Conference, placed Stanley's name in nomination by saying he was a man who loved his lldenomination...the local church...and the lost." Stanley is pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta. In his speech, Chapman said Stanley is a man who "stands for his convictions with- out compromise and listens to those who criticize him." During the past year, many have criticized Stanley and his church's lack of support of Southern Baptist mission endeavors, par titularly the Cooperative Program, the denomination' way of financing multiple programs of missions, education and other ministries. Chapman characterized Stanley's love for the denomination by saying he had graduated from Southwestern BaptistTWLagi-wl Seminary (one of six Southern Baptist seminaries) and had been the pastor of Southern Baptist churches in North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Georgia. I I Chapman also characterized Stanley as a man who has criscrossed "this country challenging us to our knees. . . He has set an example for us all because of his love for the lost ." He said Stanley reaches 75 percent of the nation through his "In Touch" television ministry and that thousands "have come into the kingdom and joined our (Southern Baptist) churches1' because of this ministry. Chapman concluded his speech by saying Stanley "deserved to be president another year. But more than that, we (Southern Baptists) need Charles Stanley." In nominating Moore, Milton Cunningham, pastor, Westbury Baptist Church, Houston, said Moore "with Christ as his Lord, the Bible as his foundation and Southern Baptists as his peaple . . . stands as a stalwart man of God and leader of the people of God." Cunningham also said Moore is a man of "God, with absolute integrity and a healer" who would be "good news for missians, good news for evangelism and good newa for the kingdom of ~od"if he were elected president of the SBC, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Cunningham, a former missionary to Africa and former president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, said Moore has been a "leader in both evangelism and missions" through his ministry. Under Moore's leadership, First Baptist, Amarillo, in the last ten years, has given almost "$8 million to missions through our Southern Baptist, Foreign and Home Mission Boards." Because of this support, Cunningham said Moore has made the Southern Baptists' Cooperative Program the primary and main channel of mission outreach for Christ." Cunningham also lauded Moore for his mobilization of lay persons in his church to be personally involved in missions and said Moore has given leadership on every level of Southern Baptist life--local, associational, state, national and international. He also said Moore has "consistently demonstrated a spirit of absolute loyalty to his Lord and unquestionable cooperation with his denomination. After the vote was taken, Lee Porter, registration secretary of the convention, announced that 45,049 persons had registered by the time the vote for president was taken. Preceding the Tuesday afternoon session,. Southern Baptist evangelistic singers entertained messengers waiting for the afternoon session to begin in order to vote for president. A 30-minute concert by the Texas Baptist All-State Youth Choir and Orchestra opened the session.

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By Terry Barone--4 :30 p ,m. Tuesday ?$ WhrC Eilds SBC Press Repmntative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bid PhotographylFeaturcs hiimager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, Junl: 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STANLEY ELECTED PRESIDENT

DALLAS, June ll--Charles Stanley, pastor, First Baptist Church, Atlanta, was re- elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention garnering more than 55 percent of the 44,278 ballots cast. Stanley received 24,453, or 55.3 percent. He defeated W. Winfred Moore, pastor, First Baptist Church, Armarillo, Texas, and president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Moore received 19,795, or 44.7 percent, of the votes cast. After his election, Stanley said, "Brother Winfred and I sure got out a big vote... and it shows a fresh new involvement of Southern Baptists." Lee Porter, registration secretary for the convention, said the vote for president was the largest ever taken at a Southern Baptist Convention. He also said it was the highest percentage votes ever taken, More than 98 percent of the registered messengers voted. The previous record was less than 92 percent. Only 21 votes for president were rejected, mainly because messengers voted on the wrong ballot, according to Porter.

By Terry Barone--4:SO p.m. Tuesday News Room Dallad Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiC. F~lcls SBC PmRepresentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeam Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

Release after 6 a,m, Wednesday

ROUNDUP FOR WEDNESDAY PMS

DALLAS, June 12--Southern Baptists were warned Wednesday that preconception, pride, pre- sumption and preoccupation can cause them to lose touch with the power. of God, Charles G, Fuller, pastor of First Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va,, sounded the warning in a keynote address to almost 30,000 messengers to the 128th meeting of' the Southern Baptist Convention at Dallas Convention.Center, Speaking on the topic of "Too Much To Lose," Fuller told the messengers ''we Christians know any loss of touch with God's power is just too much to lose," SouthernBaptistswould do well to learn a lesson ahout preconception, he said, then added : "We may insist that we would never knowingly resist the presence of Christ in our fellow- ship, but what if we reject one in whom Christ dwells? Do we not risk, then, the possibility of squandering the Lord ' s liberty and power?ll Fuller said he resented references to Virginia Baptists as liberals but expressed the hope the use of that "geographic theology1' as an index to categorize others is declining, 11 I am a 'non-union' conservative, who pays dues to no one. I would tell you that I believe the Bible is the authoritative, authentic voice of God put to print, without mixture of error, but I would ask, please let me be what I know I am, and don't try to stampede me, goad me, or isolate me to be what someone else insists I am." "What I am saying is that no Christian should reject another Christian, especially when we have never taken the time to really know each other, To do so could short-circuit the liberty and power of Christ in our midst and that is toolmuch to lose. 11 Turning to the danger of pride, Fuller said it is a sad state of affairs for any group of Christians to be so impressed with their own nearness to the Lord that they cannot see Him at work in the lives of others. hat kind of exclusivism virtually guarantees the forfeiture of any spiritual power we Christians might hope to have. "Must the preacher have certain group identifications before we can appreciate the Gospel when we hear it? There is no boycott quite so vicious as a boycott between Christians at the point where they most agree, I I I am convinced we cannot make much progress working through our positions, polity, policies and polarization until we work through our spirit, Are we committed to Christ? Or are we committed to Conservatism or Moderateness.l1 Fuller encouraged the messengers to demonstrate a purity and fairness of spirit, "If conservatism is represented by someone with the disposition of 'a junkyard dog1 and moderateness is the position of someone who is 'profane as a pirate,' where lies the hope for a purity of spirit?" As for the danger of presumption, Fuller reminded that some things are accomplished only by spiritual means, done God's way and under Godt s conditions, Roundup for Wednesday PMS Page 2 -- t

"With regard to our usefulness to the Lord, the emphasis is not to be placed upon ski1 or strategy, or past success, but upon our present spiritual condition.. .the current whol&- someness of our relationship to God. "No one can deny that a great deal of strategy has been designed and deployed in Soutt ern Baptist ranks in recent days. But regardless of whose strategy it is, it is conceived by minds which are bitter, arrogant, smug, frightened or presumptuous. God will not bless it even if we ask him." Fuller encouraged the messengers to search for a middle ground in their efforts to fi~ a solution for togetherness. Turning to the threat of preoccupation, Fuller said it is tragic to be so concerned . with rejecting someone because he is not in the right fellowship "that you turn a deaf ear to Jesus." Citing a series of instances of rejection in the Old Testament, Fuller said "if you fi to see the way these circumstances could apply to those of us who are brothers in this denominational family, your problem is not with your position on Biblical inspiration, your problem is with a heart which is frozen over. "My Southern Baptist family, it is not for us to despair or panic i.n the midst 01 turbulence, but to keep in touch with the power of God. We must. If we don't, there is just LOO much to lose." In a business session Tuesday afternoon messengers elected Charles S~anley, pastor of First Baprist Church, Atlanta,to a second one-year term as president. Stanley received 24,453 votes while his opponent, Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, received 19,795.

By Roy Jennings--5;OO p.m. Tuesday New Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC PmRepmtative Dan Martin News Rwm Manager Craig Bird Photography/Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.0, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE REmASE

Tuesday Afternoon Resolutions

DALLAS, June 11--A new record for resolutions proposed by messengers to a Southern Baptist Convention was set Tuesday afternoon when 16 more were introduced, bringing the total to 61 and topping the former high of 46. The 16 new resolutions addressed a wide range of issues, including religious liberty, Las Vegas as a 1989 convention site, unified belief in Scripture and rescission of the 1984 resolution which attributed to Eve the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. A suggested revision of the process for handling convention motions and resolutions ' was the subject of a resolution by Tom Hart, Liberty Baptist Church, Hawkins, Texas. The proposal suggests that all motions and resolutions be compiled at the beginning of the annual convention, be printed and then made available to messengers prior to voting . The religious liberty resolution proposed by Robert Showers, Providence Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., urges support for a constitutional amendment permitting voluntary, oral prayer in public schools. The resolution concerning the 1989 convention site in Las Vegas, Nev., exhorts Southern Baptists "to take the city by storm" in witnessing and ministry. Tom Lazenby, Northwest Baptist Church, Miami, Okla., suggests that all messengers to the convention take 100 tracts to distribute and that a citywide evangelistic crusade be held in conjunction with the convention, The resolution on the unified belief of the Scriptures urges "that we as individual Baptists become unified, not only in speech but action, in our belief that each individual can be spoken to by God in this book of books." Jim Everett, Bennington Park Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn., proposed the resolution. Resolutions on pornography, gambling and homosexuality also were proposed. The gambling resolution by J, B. Fowler, Del Norte Baptist Church, Albuquerque, N.M., calls for the defeat of a proposed national lottery. A resolution opposing the involvement of denominational employees in political con- troversy, the sixth introduced in this convention, was proposed, along with a request that a Southern Baptist political education department be established. Bible reading, high school and college ministries, Sunday school reaching material, support for vocational evangelists, opposition to free masonry and support for the Statue of Liberty foundation were the subjects of other proposed resolutions.

By Linda.Lawson: 5:50 p.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954

Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeahws Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First VP Nominations

DALLAS, June 11--A Virginia pastor who came to Dallas this week to support Southern Baptist Convention Moderate presidential contender W, Winfred Moore's effort to unseat incumbent Charles F. Stanley stole the show this afternoon when he shocked 45,000 mes- sengers by nominating Moore as first vice-president following Stanley's reelection. Ray Allen, pastor of Blacksburg Baptist Church, Blatksburg, Va., may have salvaged many moderates1 hopes for the immediate future of the nation's largest denomination fol- lowing the beleaguered group's seventh consecutive presidential defeat at the hands of conservatives within the 14.3-million-member body, The native Virginian, whose congregation is located across the street from Virginia Tech University, told reporters after his unexpected nomination of Moore as first vice- president he decided to take the action only 20 minutes before stepping to the platform. In his brief remarks to the huge gathering of 45,000 messengers, Allen commended Stanley's presidential address this morning, in which the 52-year-old Atlanta pastor and television preacher called on Southern Baptists to forgive, love and humble themselves before one another, A£ terwazds, Allen told reporters, "I assume he (Stanley) plans to live that way." Denying his action was politically motivated, the Virginia pastor explained simply, "It was what I felt led to do," Asked if Stanley could afford to ignore Moore's recommendations for appointments to the key committee on committees if the 65-year-old Amarillo, Texas, pastor is elected, Allen replied, "1 don't think so, If we're going to stay together, we must learn to work together." As pastor in a university setting, Allen said students are "getting turned off" by authoritarian actions by SBC conservatives, especially regarding the role of women in ministry. T" -- . Bath Allen and Moore insisted the Virginia pastor's action was unplanned, Moore saying he never met Allen. The move came moments after the convention was told by registration secretary Lee Porter that Stanley had withstood ~oore'ssurprisingly strong showing in a 24,453 to 19,795 vote. Moore, who was being interviewed by dozens of reporters in the second row of seats at the front of Dallas Convention Center, was interrupted by Stanley who calling him to the platform to ask if he would accept the Allen nomination, Upon arriving at the podium, Moore put his arm across Stanley's shoulders and replied: "Let me ask, are you asking me that?" Although Stanley did not reply audibly, he smiled broadly. Moore then said, "I will do with Charles Stanley everything that I know how to do to put the convention back in the mainstream of evangelism and missions." Allen called Moore's acceptance and reaction "magnanimous," adding, "He is willing to put into practice what: Dr. Stanley called us to do." Allen did admit, however: "yes, I put him on the spot." Before Allen's nomination of Moore, incumbent first vice-president Zig Ziglar of Dallas, and Henry Huff of Lousiville, Ky. were nominated. Zigler is a nationally known motivational speaker and a Sunday School teacher at alla as! First Baptist Chruch. He was the conservatives' choice. Huff, an attorney and deacon at Crescent Hill Baptist Chruch, Louisville, Ky,, is a past moderator of Long Run Baptist Association and past president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. He is a moderate in the denominational battle.

By Stan Hastey and Karen Benson - - 6:40 p.m. Tuesday l)st~Martin Nrws Rwnr h[artagcr Craig Bird PhotographylFcaturfi blanagcr

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Committee on Boards ~eport

DALLAS, June 11--Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention beat down two attempts to replace trustee nominees from the Committee on Boards Tuesday afternoon and then voted overwhelmingly to accept the committee's entire slate of 243 nominees. Messengers al.so voted against allowing balloting on the two contested trustee nomitlations. In doing so, they supported a ruling by platform officials that such a ballot was unnecessary in view of an estimated two-thirds vote in one case and a 60 to 40 percent vote in the other. Preston Callison, a deacon at First Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C., was nominated as a substitute for William Dial Delahoyde, Raleigh, N.C., on the list of trustee nominees for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. Delahoyde, assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, will be the third person from 'the U.S. attorney's office in Raleigh serving as a trusiee of one of the SRC institutions. This argument was not used, however, in the alternate nomination. Instead, it was argued that Soutlt Carolina lies with the 300-mile radius oE the seminary from which 11 local" trustees are chosen, yet it has no local representatives on the Southeastern board. In a hand vote, two-thirds voted against allowing the substitute nomination of Callison. William Leathers 111, pastor of First Baptist Church, Rockingham, N.C., was nominated as a substitute trustee nominee for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. But he was rejected by a 60 to 40 percent vote. Messengers upheld the original nomination of Gerald C. Primm, pastor of Eller Memorial Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C. fiecause voting was done by show of ballots in three sites, decisions on the results were delayed momentarily until word was relayed from the other locations. Bill Sherman, pastor of Woodmont Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn., called for a ballot vote on the substitutions, but his request was denied. Sherman said it was the first time in attending the convention for 25 years he had seen such a request for a ballot vote refused. Ne was told that a ballot would have been allowed if the voting had been closer. An expected move to renominate Jerry Gilmore, a Dallas attorney who has served as chairman of the Southern Raptist Home Mission Board, did not materialize. Gilmore, a member of Cliff Temple Baptist Church, was eligible for a second four-year term. But the con~mitteesaid questions were raised about Gilmore's wife, Martha, who is an ordained Methodist minister. Committee Chairman Bob Eklund of Dallas had stated when the nominees' names were first released that the committee voted 25 to 22 against renominating Gilmore.

By Bob Stanley -- 6:45 p.m. Tuesday News Room Ddas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fiikls SBC Press wtative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photwpph~IFeam Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dabs, June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Miscellaneous Business

DALLAS, June 11 -- A motionlto establish a peace initiative committee for the Southern Baptist Convention and a motion to take an offering for world hunger needs will be considered by messengers Wednesday mbrning at the Dallas Convention Center. Discussion is scheduled for ll:O5 a.m. The two motions are the only ones thus far scheduled, although more than 25 motions were introduced Tuesday morning. Tn addition to scheduling those motions, the Committee on Order of Business referred several other motions to SBC standing Committee on Boards, They also ruled out of order two motions that would instruct the SBC Christian Life Commission regarding abortion issues. Those motions are similar to motions presented at the 1984 SBC meeting in Kansas City, Mo., Since the Christian Life Commission has not given its annual report to the convention, it is possible that the subject will be addressed when the report is given. The CLC report is scheduled for 9:55 Wednesday morning. Until that time, the motions introduced Tuesday morning will remain ruled out of order. The motion calling for a new Bible commentary was referred to the Baptist Sunday School Board, and many of the motions calling for changes in the SBC Consitution or Bylaws were referred to the SBC Executive Committee. The Committee on Order of Business was challenged on one of its referrals to the Executive Committee -- the motion brought by C. Welton Gaddy of Highland Hills Baptist Church, Macon, GA., to amend Bylaw 16. The motion reads: "No convention committee, board or cornmission shall include simultaneously more than one person from the same local church except in those cases in which the charter of a board, insitution, agency or commission located within the same municipality or county as the church provides for a specific number of board members, in which case the committee may naminate as many as two persons from a single church." . Gaddy challenged the referral to the Executive Committee, asking that messengers vote on the referral to show "the will of the body," His motion passed, and the Committee on Order of Business will set a time for the motion to be discussed. About a dozen motions will be considered by the Executive Committee, including a motion by John Hewett, messenger from Kirkwood Baptist Church, St. Louis, Mo,, which calls for major SBC appointments to be made by a committee composed of the convention president and the two vice-presidents. That motion would a£f ect the election of board I I I I members, trustees, commissioners or members of standing committees. Other motions referred to the Executive Committee include: * a motion to amend Article 111 of the Constitution to read, "One additional messenger from each such church for each 2 percent of undesignated tithes and offerings or for each $10,000 contributed to the Southern Baptist Convention through the Cooperative Program, " * an amendment to Bylaw 16 to read, "No local church may be represented simultaneously on mare than two convention commit tees, boards or commissions ," * an amendment to Bylaw 16 to insert the following, "The name of each nominee shall be accompanied by the name of the church in which the nominee is a member and the percentage of undesignated funds given to the Cooperative Program by that church in the previous convention year, 11 * a motion to appoint a committee to "study endowment and/or holdings of agencies and institutions for the purpose of initiating a systematic and careful divestiture of any investment securities which have been issued by corporations which conduct business with South Africa," * and a motion to "discontinue the entertaining of resolutions in the sessions of our convention beginning in 1986. "

By Karen Benson 7~ 7; 10 p,m, Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Pras Repmtativc Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography~eanue~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention ]Dallas, June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Moore Elected First Vice-President

DALLAS, June 11--W. Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, was elected first vice-president of the 14.3-million member Southern Baptist Convention Tuesday afternoon at Dallas Convention Center. Moore took more than two thirds of the total vote in defeating two laymen, Zig Ziglar of Dallas, the incumbent first vice-president, and Henry Huff of Louisville, Ky. Earlier Tuesday, Moore lost a bid for the presidency of the denomination to incumbent Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, who pulled 55 per- cent of the votes. The official vote for first vice-president was Moore, 22,791; Ziglar, 10,957, and Huff, 301.

By Roy Jennings--7:43 p.m. Tuesday New Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Repraentative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11-U,1985

TUESDAY EVENING MOTIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 11--A discussion by Southern Baptist messengers Wednesday morning will determine whether or not the 1989 Southern Baptist Convention will meet in Las Vegas, Nev., after all, and whether or not salaried employees of SBC boards, agencies and institutions may become involved in controversial convention politics, The Committee on Order of Business at the 128th Southern Baptist Convention added those two previously introduced motions to the list of business to be considered at the Wednesday morning business session. They also referred several other motions to varioys SBC standing committees or agencies, including a motion charging the SBC Christian Life Commission to observe a "Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.'' That motion was referred to the Christian Life Commission, since it deals with an internal matter of the commission. The motion to rescind the 1983 SBC decision regarding Las Vegas was made ~uesdaymorning but was ruled out of order because contractural agreements already were in place to hold the SBC meeting there. Later, another motion was introduced asking the convention to set aside ~abert's Rules of Order and select another site, even if that action would require that financial contracts be honored, On Wednesday, the motion to suspend the rules will be considered first. Passage of the motion will require a two-thirds majority. If the suspension of rules passes, the messengers will then vote whether or not to rescind the 1983 action and move the convention site to another location. The motion regarding salaried SBC employees would allow the messengers to "go on record as opposing salaried employees of the boards, agencies and institutions of our convention being involved in the taking of sides in the controversies within our convention." Motions to make more SBC Book of Reparts available prior to future conventions and to permit all state conventions to be represented on all SBC boards and agencies regardless of state convention membership were referred to the SBC Executive Committee. Earlier Tuesday, another series of motions was introduced during the afternoon business session, Motions introduced included scheduling the first balloting for SBC president prior to the president's address; changing the constitution to allow for additional messengers for each $20,000 paid to the convention or for each 2 percent given above 10 percent, not to exceed 20 messengers; and requiring all nominations be accompanied with the name of the nominee's church, the percentage of undesignated receipts which the church gave through the Cooperative Program, and the ratio of baptisms to resident membership during the pre- ceding convention year. Other motions would require that the New International Version or the New American Standard Version of the Bible be used in Vacation Bible School materials in addition to the King James Version; dictate that credentials for SBC messengers be authorized only from SBC churches which recorded at least one baptism during the preceding year; allow for Southern Baptist home and foreign missionaries serving on the field to vote by mail prior to the SBC; and require that at least one-fourth of the sites for the SBC in the years following the year 1990 be located in areas west of the Mississippi River and north of the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. Additionally, a motion was introduced that would instruct the Southern Baptist Executive Board to investigate holding one or more satellite convention meetings at places at least 1,000 miles from the main convention site, which would run concurrently. Another motion would remove the words "mixture of" from the Baptist Faith and Message statement, which would make the statement read, "It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any error, for its matter."

By Karen Benson--8:45 p.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC h Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Cmig Bird PhotographylFea~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June lldl3, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feature on James Baldwin

DALLAS, June 11--When a record number of Southern Baptists began casting ballots for convention officers Tuesday, James M. Baldwin knew the process by heart. Baldwin, pastor of Branch Baptist Church near Galatia, Ill., was one of the 45,189 messengers registered for the opening day of the 1985 Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas. It is Baldwin's 50th consecutive meeting. Baldwin first attended the 1935 SBC meeting in Memphis, Tenn. Messengers to that convention numbered more than 4,000, a tenth of this year's messengers, but was still one of the largest convention meetings up to that time, Baldwin recalled. Baldwin, a trim 72, said convention meetings have become more political during the past 50 years, much of it centered around the election of the president. Convention meetings were not always political, he claimed. Three persons were nominated for president in 1935, he recalled, but two withdrew and deferred to long-time denominational statesman John R. Sampey, who was elected without opposition while still in route to the convention meeting. The 1935 denominational meeting focused on the convention's debt and other problems related to the depression, said Baldwin. Messengers "were concerned about taking care of people in need," he explained. Baldwin added that volunteerism among Southern Baptists was high because no convention agency was set: up to work with poor and hungry people at that time. "Churches had a great social concern for the preservation of the lives of hungry people," he explained. Aside from the obvious numerical growth of convention meetings, the annual SBC has be- come polarized, said Baldwin, pastor of First Baptist Church, Salem, Ill., for 25 years before retiring. "There seemingly isn't enough room under the umbrella for differing viewpoints," he lamented, Still, the convention has made great strides, he added. In 1945 a black college president spoke to messengers about the needs of blacks, said Baldwin, leading messengers to respond to the needs of blacks and begin cooperative ministries with Black Baptists. During his years in attendance, Southern Baptists have created three new seminaries, reorganized the denomination's Annuity Board, and expanded both home and foreign missions efforts, he said. I IWe were very small in everything compared to what we are now," said Baldwin. "It seems that everything Southern Baptists have laid their hands on God has blessed," Pre-SBC meetings have also increased, said Baldwin. In 1935, there were no pre-SBC meetings. In fact, the pastorst conference, now the largest of six meetings held prior to the annual convention, was not begun until the 1940s, Baldwin noted. Despite six years of controversy, Baldwin believes the denomination is finally headed toward reconciliation. "In this convention today there has been a victory for both conservatives and moderatee" with the election of Charles F. Stanley of Atlanta as president and W. Winfred Moore of Amarillo ae first vice president, Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, was defeated by incumbent SBC president Stanley for the presidency of the 14.3-million member denomination Tuesday afternoon. Moore was later nominated for first vice president of the convention, and defeated incumbent Zig Ziglar of Dallas and nominee Henry Huff of Louisville, Ky. 11 (Messengers) said today there's room for two viewpoints," said Baldwin. "Baptists sometimes get vocal and seem to fall out (with one another), but when the chips are down, they a11 come together. I have lived long enough to see us come through storm and sunshine. " - 30- By Michael Tutterow--9:OO p.m. Tuesday New Room Dallas Convention Center

Wher C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Rmm Manager Craig Bid PhotographylFeaturcs Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June lldl3, 1985

SECOND ,VICE PRESIDENT NOMINATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 11--Messengers nominated six persons--including two women--for second vice president during the Tuesday evening session of the 128th Southern Baptist Convention. They were W. 0. Vought, Little Rock, Ark.; Mrs. Russell Helen Begaye, Arlington, Texas; Dan Yeary, Coral Gables, Fla.; Mrs. Earl Maurice Johnston, San Antonio, Texas; Henry Huff, Louisville, Ky,; and Oliver Wolfenbauger, Knoxville, Tenn. Vaught received 6,730 votes to lead the balloting. He will meet Huff, runner up with 2,998 votes, in a runoff election Wednesday morning. Thomas D. Elliff, pastor of Applewood Baptist Church, Wheat Ridge, Colo., challenged Southern Baptists to pray diligently and to restore lost fellowship with God in his theme interpretation, "Pray Ye, Therefore,. ." Recalling the testimony of Duncan Campbell, evangelist in the historic Hebrides revival, Elliff asked Southern Baptists to consider the same question Campbell's daughter asked him when the famed preacher lost his evangelistic zeal: "Why is it not with you and God as it used to be?" Lloyd Elder, president, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn,, presented the yearly board report through a testimony-£ illed mult i-media presentation entitled, "Touching Lives--Growing Churches." Testimonies on various ministries provided by the Sunday School Board were presented by Steve Stege, Grand Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Smith, Ark.; Lorenzo Pena, Hispanic Baptie Church, El Paso, Texas; Johnny Johnson, Trinity Baptist Church, Springfield, Ore.; Pearl Collinsgrove, First Baptist Church, Polo, Mo.; and John Sullivan, Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, La. Describing the Sunday School Board as a "witnessing board," a "discipleship board," a "supporting board," and a "mission board," Elder presented what he called "a report from the churches to the churches.'' Elder noted that in the previous year the board made substantial progress toward its goal of promoting the enrollment of 8.5 million persons in Bible study by Sept. 30, 1985, produced and transmitted training programs to more than 200 church, associational and agency subscribers through Baptist Telecommunications Newtork (BTN), and filled approximately 450,000 church literature orders. In miscellaneous business, the convention accepted for consideration resolutions concerning unity of spirit, alcohol, political statements by denominational leaders, the plight of American farmers, sex and violence on television, and the use of Cooperative Program dollars to support women pastors. Motions were entertained to ask the Christian Life Commission to designate and promote a Sanctity a£ Human Life Sunday, to insure state convention representation on boards and agencies, to order Books of Reports prior to annual conventions and to change bylaws. All were referred to committee. Motions introduced that would be discussed later included action on denominational leaders who take sides in denominational political disputes, to suspend the rules to consider changing the site of the 1989 SBC from Las Vegas to another location and to pay any necessary price for cancelling existing contracts with Las Vegas hotels and conven- tion facilities.

By Ken Camp--9:20 p.m. Tuesday News Rorm hl.Lu Cotlver~tionCenter (214) 658-7954 Wher C, Field5 SRC Press Represenwtivc Dan Martin News Kuom Manager Craig Bir~i Photograpl~ylFeatureshlaruger

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, Junc 11.13, 1985

STANLEY NEWS CONFERENCE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 11--Newly-reelected Southern Baptist Convention president Charles P. Stanley refused Tuesday night to commit himself to full consultation with the new denomination's vice-presidents, including his defeated challenger, W. Winfred Moore, elected Tuesday after- noon as first vice-president. Challenged during a post-election news conference to commit himself anew to follow the letter of the SBC constitution to t'consult" with the vice-presidents in making choices for the powerful committee on committees and resolutions committee, the Atlanta pastor defended his conduct over the past year. Stanley was pointedly criticized recently by outgoing second vice-president Donald V. Wideman, pastor of First Baptist Church, North Kansas City, Mo., for rejecting all but three of his suggestions to the panels and for declining to talk with him personally about the choices. "I did consult with him," Stanley declared. "He did make some choices . . . . We dis- cussed them. We did not agree on many of them." Stanley added: "The Constitution does not say you have to agree: it says consult. And so I did what I believed was fair and right." He also confirmed he had rejected Wideman's request to air his complaint to messengers attending the annual meeting at Dallas Convention Center during the opening session Tuesday morning. He said he told the Missouri pastor that "to begin the convention on the first morning with that kind of statement, I thought would have been terribly divisive, especially in the light of what I was about to preach on at eleven o'clock." Stanley delivered his presidential address at the close of the morning session, calling on Southern Baptists to forgive, love and humble themselves before each other. When messengers reconvened for the afternoon session, the first order of business was election of a president, an order many moderates felt helped ~tanley'sreelection. Stanley kept up the talk of unity during the half-hour news conference, declaring at one point: "I don't think any moderate congregations are going to leave the convention." Of his sermon, which received good reviews by conservatives and moderates alike, Stanley added: "I believe that the message this morning spoke to lots of people on both sides. I think there's going to be a greater spirit of cooperation." Asked if he saw his victory as one involving the taking of "prisoners," he retorted, I I I have no prisoners." Of his opponents, he said, "I plan to do what I preached this morn- ing, just love them." Pressed to commit himself to work with Moore in choosing committee members for next year's convention in Atlanta, Stanley said he had "no reason to think that he and I couldn't get along great." He said further, "(I) would be happy to use him. In fact, I'd be happy to send him a lot of places that I got too tired to go." Concerning ongoing theological conflict that has helped fuel the six-year war between conservatives and moderates in the denomination, Stanley replied: "I think two people can hold very different convictions and still be respectful and accepting. . , . "I don't have to agree with a person's theology. Some people's theology I would never agree with, would never compromise what I believe in some areas. But I can still accept the person and not reject him." Stanley also defended his association with Jerry Falwell, whom the Atlanta pastor assisted in forming Moral Majority, the Christian Right organization. "He happens to be my friend," he declared. "And there's nothing wrong with having him as my friend." He also defended his canservative views on Christian issues such as abortion and school prayer, saying he opposes the former and approves the latter. "I've never used this off ice to promote any of those things," he said. "I've been to Washington less since I became the president than before. . . . I don't consider myself a right winger. I just consider myself a very strong Christian citizen who intends for my life and my influence to be felt as much as possible."

By Stan Hastey--9:30 p,m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WirC. Fields S'BC PmFtepmtative Dan Martin News Room Manager

' Craig Bird PhotographylFeahtres Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June ll.l.3, 1985

FOR IWDTATE RELEASE

TUESDAY NIGHT RESOLUTIONS

DALLAS, June 11 -- A three-step proposal for dealing with accusations against denominational employees was among 13 resolutions in the final group submitted Tuesday night by messengers to the 128th Southern Baptist Cmvention. The tbtal number of resolutions to be considered by the 10-member Resolutions Committee reached an all-time high of 73. Wayne Ward, messenger from Crescent Hill Baptist Church and a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., said a person bringing charges should first go to the employee to ascertain the truth of the charges. If this step did not resolve the concern, Ward said the person should approach agency trustees and wait for them to hear and act upon the charges before proceddhg further. In the same session,three resolutions opposing denominational political involvement by agency leaders were introduced, bringing the total to nine on the subject. Opposition to use of Cooperative Program money to support women pastors was the subject of another resolution, along with one recommending that all convention messengers be at least 13 years old. A resolution of support for family farmers was proposed by Orba Lee Malone, First Baptist Church, El Paso, Texas. Alcohol, sex and violence on television and parnography were other resolution topics suggested Tuesday night. The Resolutions Committee is expected to make its first report to the convention Wednesday morning.

By: Linda Lawson--9:30 p.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954

Dan Martin News Rmm Manager Craig Bird PhotographyFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention. , Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONVENTION CENTER RECORD

DALLAS, June 11--The opening day of the Southern Baptist Convention Tuesday is the largest single event in the history of the Dallas Convention Center. Frank Poe, convention center manager, said Tuesday was the "largest in terms of the number of people attending "any event at the sprawling Convention Center. "We have had meetings where the registration was higher, but this was the largest meeting we have had in terms of the concentration of people under one roof in a single day,'' I Poe said. I He noted the Home 'Builders Association meeting, which was a "multiple day event" drew 55,000 registrants. "But we never had all of them attending in any single day," he said. Poe said an estimated 50,000 to 51,000 people attended Tuesday's session. "We know there were more than 45,000 messengers and we estimate there were at least 5,000 more, including people in the exhibits, non-messengers and people walking the hall- ways. I I

-30-

By Dan Martin--9:45 p.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WhrC. Fields SF3C Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOREIGN MISSION BOARD REPORT

DALLAS, June ll--In a presentation sprinkled with applause and a final standing ovation, Keith Parks, president of the Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, Va., re-emphasized the Board's commitment to the Bible and evangelism Tuesday night at the Dallas Convention Center. Beginning the presentation with a personal word to Charles Stanley, newly-elected presi- dent of the Southern Baptist Convention, Parks pledged his support. "ln the spirit of yaur message this morning, I wanted to say to you personally before all these people that we may have our differences but we are not in disagreement. I pledge my support and the Foreign Mission Board's support." Following the April death of Baker James Cauthen, former president of the Foreign Mission Board, Parks issued a statement that "attacks on the cooperative mission approach and sus- picion of all SBC agencies has erupted in a distrust of Southern Baptist missionaries." He also announced he would not support Stanley for re-election. In a 40-minute report that included testimonies from missionaries and video, Parks used a metaphor of weaving to illustrate that for 140 years Southern Baptists have "sat at the loom of love and the fabric we (Southern Baptists) weave is missions," Parks added that the cloth on which Southern Baptists weave is the principle of a biblical base. he Bible and missions are basic to our origin, our convictions, our present and our future, They are so interwoven that to tamper with either strand distorts the true picture of who we are. "Southern Baptists do believe the Bible. We are committed to missions. We will maintain this bold commitment to both God's Word and God's world," Parks said to applause, Personal testimonies were shared by missionaries in Guatemala, Tanzania and a special segment on the hunger crisis in Ethiopia. Speaking of work done in Ethiopia and other critical situations, Parks said that service in these situations allows many to find "Jesus as Savior. "As needs are met they (the people) always ask why we give lives and money to meet the needs of the people. Then we introduce Jesus and meet their greatest need," Parks said. Issuing a call for Southern Baptists to respond to the needs of the world, Parks asked the question, ''will history record that Southern Baptists were so busy fighting each other that we forgot who the enemy really is? "Are we willing to rise above our differences to unite again around the greatest cause ever given to man? We are a missions people hearing, believing, living and telling His story, Now is the time to join in a new level of enthusiasm and joy in telling the Good News to all people," he said, At the beginning of the program a special tribute was given to Cauthen portraying his life and ministry. Included in it was a reminder of his call in 1979 to "keep before Southern Baptists a mandate for missions and do it cooperatively." His wife, Eloise Glass Cauthen, was welcomed with a standing ovation to the podium. Her only response was, "remember what he said, I'

By Jerilynn Armstrong - - 9:52 p.m. Tuesday News Room Dallas Convention Gnter (214) 656-7954 WirC. 'el& SBC Press Repmntative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography /Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dabs, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Moore News Conference

DALLAS, June 11--Defeated Southern Baptist Convention presidential candidate W. Winfred Moore said at a news conference Tuesday night he senses a growing unity among strife-stricken Southern Baptists. "I really am convinced we're seeing a unity we've not seen in our convention in several years, and I'm very thankful for everything that's brought that to pass," he told reporters at the Dallas Convention Center. Moore, pastor of First Baptist church, Amarillo, Texas, lost to Stanley, who gained 55.3 percent of 44,248 votes cast. However, in a strange twist of events, Moore captured the SBC first vice presidency, winning more than 66 percent on the first ballot against Zig Ziglar, incumbent and a motivational expert from Dallas, and Henry Huff of Louisville, Ky. Asked if he saw his election as a sort of "balancing of the ticket" in the SBC theo- political six-year "Holy War," he said, "No, what I saw was the biggest blunder anybody ever pulled .I1 Earlier, Moore, who was being interviewed by dozens of reporters in the second row of seats at the front of the convention center, was interrupted by Stanley calling him to the platform to ask him if he would accept a first vice presidential nomination by Ray Allen, pastor from Blacksburg, Va. Upon arriving at the podium, Moore put his arm around Stanley's shoulders and said, "Let me ask, are you asking me that?" and added, "I will do with Charles Stanley everything that I know how to do to put the convention back in the mainstream of evangelism and missions. " That series of events, Moore told the news conference, was a blunder because he didn't know Allen had nominated him or that Ziglar and Huff had also been nominated, "It was a horrible mistake on my part,'' he said, "and if the Lord turns it to good we can all be thankful," "Maybe it was the hand of God putting us in relationship to work together." Responding to questions, he said he hoped to counsel with Stanley on his appointments and in other areas but said Stanley is the president and he will cooperate with him and work under his leadership. He said comment about growing unity doesn't mean Southern Baptists still don't have a lot of differences of opinion but that they can disagree without being disagreeable. Asked about problems conservatives see in the SBC, Moore said, "I think we need to isolate problems to see if they are there, instead of putting a blanket of mistrust over an institution." He said he anticipates the SBC will name a special study committee to work with administrators, trustees and others to explore problems and initiate peace. "1 think the peace committee will begin to talk to each other and those on various sides and will come back having eliminated some problems and pinpointed others." Although characterized as a standard bearer of the so-called moderates, Moore said, FA conservative I am. It's unfortunate to label people, but we do so because we don't know how to deal with complex issues." Asked about a charge earlier by a conservative leader that he was "a tool of the liberals," Moore snorted and said, "I don1t agree with that evaluation. 1'm not a tool of anybody, " Page 2 Moore News Conference

Moore parried about whether he would run for president next year, noting that he hadn't anticipated being a candidate this year, I I Have you ever seen anyone nominated for vice-president who later became president?" he asked. "I haven't." Asked about theological liberalism in the seminaries, he said he doesn't personally know any, although he knows some with whom he disagrees. Uut he said it never occurred to him to think that those who disagree with him don't believe the Bible is God's word. Moore said the question of women's ordination hadn't come up in his church but that if it did he'd have to do a great deal of study on it before expressing his opinion. He said he hoped it wouldn't become an issue at the SBC meeting. On the question of churches withholding Cooperative Program funds, Moore said they have the right to do it but hoped they wouldn't because Southern Baptists are a coaperating convention. "I don't think many churches will do it," he said. "Our biggest problem as a convention is that we don't get together to talk enough to understand each other. We don't have as many problems when we do."

By Robert O'Brien--10:20 p.m. Tuesday News Room DabConvention Center (214) 658-7954. Wher C Fields SBC Press Repregenrative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bi PhotographyIFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-l3,1985

ROUNDUP FOR THURSDAY AMS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 12--The needs of hurting, irreligious people were singled out for Christian ministry Wednesday night in a report to messengers to the 128th Southern Baptist Convention at the Dallas Convention Center. William G. Tanner, president of the Home Mission Board, Atlanta, identified the focus in the annual report of his agency entitled "Sharing God's Love Through Ministry." Baptists need to go into the ghettos of poverty, the swank suburbs, and blighted inner cities and minister to the needs of hurting people, Tanner said. "Our nation is a montage of confused and hurting people," Tanner explained. "one of the special tragedies is that so many 6f them slip through life unnoticed." Tanner specifically mentioned broken families, alcoholics, persons contemplating suicide, child abusers, divorcees, prostitutes abandoned children, battered wives and lonely elderly as recipients for these ministries. During 1984 more than 3,700 home missionaries served throughout the United States, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Tanner reported. Another 49,000 Southern Baptists participated in short and long term volunteer mission projects through the mrkssion board, he added. Through the work of missionaries, chaplains, and volunteers almost 60,000 persons made professions of faith, the report said. They also help start 769 new churches and 2,140 new missions. Two home missionaries supported Tanner's report with testimonies about their Chris tian ministry activities. Mildred McWhorter, director of Baptist Centers in Houston and a Christian social ministries missionary, described her opportunities for ministry in Houston's inner city. Maurice Graham, chaplain at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, shared how he works with children and family members trying to cope with cancer. Graham, who ministers ta persons of all faiths, involves Southern Baptist lay people in developing close relationships with patients and their families. In a business session, the messengers elected Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas, as first vice-president of the 14.3-million member denomination, Recording secretary Martin Bradley and registration secretary Lee Porter, both of Nashville, Tenn., were re-elected to one-year terms, Roy Honeycutt, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and outspoken critic of the conservative faction in the SBC, drew sustained applause in introducing the annual report of his institution. He reminded the messengers that Southern Seminary is focusing on believing and doing the word. "Nothing we can say about the Bible can substitute for doing the Word."

By Roy Jennings--9:40 a.m. Wednesday New Room Dalhs Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WiC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin New Room Manager Craig Bid PhotographyIFeatum Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985 CUTLINES---...------FOR YOUR INFORMATfON

48. BALLOT BUSINESS--The record number of messengers put a strain on many of convention facilities, but the most pressure was probably on the registration process. Lee Porter, registration secretary of the convention, brought 34,000 packets of ballots--but more than 35,000 had registered by the night before the convention opened Tuesday. Porter and Royal Ambassador pages joined other workers to hand assemble the ballots for the next 10,000 messengers. (Photo by Ken Lawson)

16. HEALING HUG--Much of the tension in the Dallas Convention center was eased when Winfred Moore, left, pastor of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas was unexpectedly nominated for first vice-president of the SBC after losing to Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, in the presidential balloting. Stanley called Moore to the platform to ask if he would allow his nomination for first vice-president. The humor and good-febling of the moment relaxed the crowded convention hall. (Photo by John McTyre)

16B. HEALING HUG--Much of the tension in the Dallas Convention center was eased when Winfred Moore, left, pastor of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas was unexpectedly nominated for first vice-president of the SBC after losing to Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, In the presidentail balloting. Stanley called Moore to the platform to ask if he would allow his nomination for first vice-president. The humor and good-febling of the moment relaxed the crowded convention hall.

(Photo by David Haywood)

34. A LOSS AND A WIN--Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church of Amarillo, Texas, lost in the presidential voting at the Southern Baptist Convention despite getting more votes (almost 20,000) than the total attendance at most SBC meetings, But by the time he held the "loser's press conference1' he had been elected first vice-president of the 14.3-million member denomination, (Photo by Mark Sandlin)

20. FLOORED BY THE CONVENTION--Messengers overflowed three rooms of the vgst Dallas Convention Center June 11 to decide who would be president of] the Southern Baptist Convention for 1985-86. Many decided to sit on the concrete floor when all the chairs were occupied. (Photo by John McTyre)

2B, INTERSECTION LINES--With 45,000-plus people crowding the Dallas Convention Center lines formed everywhere--to register, to get in the cafeteria, to get into meeting halls-- even to ga to the bathroom or buy a soft drink. (Photo by Ken Lawson) News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 WirC Filds SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bi PhotographyIFea~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Election of Second Vice-President

DALLAS, June 12--Henry Huff of Louisville, Ky., was elected second vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention Wednesday morning, defeating W. 0. Vought of Little Rock, Ark. Huff, an attorney and member of Crescent Hills Baptist Church, was second in the six candidates primary with only 16 percent of the vote but garnered almost 56 percent in the runoff . Vought, a retired pastor, received 36 percent of the vote in the primary and 44 percent in the runoff, Huff will succeed Donald V. Wideman of North Kansas City, Mo;, who did not seek a second term.

By Roy Jennings - - 10:55 a.m. Wednesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Pregs Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Rmm Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, JW 11-U,1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday Morning Reports

DALLAS, June 12--A Southern Baptist seminary president told messengers attending the 128th annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention Wednesday that he did not believe anyone should be ordained. Franklin D. Pollard, president, Golden Gate 'Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif., drew applause by responding to a woman messenger from Virginia who asked about: women who felt called into the ministry and about their being ordained, Pollard said, "~hurchesare good about sending women to our seminaries, but are not good about calling women from the seminaries. It After his report, Pollard said he could not find biblical basis for "laying on of hands of persons for particular tasks within the chur~h','~~ He also said he believed ordination was a o om an Catholic heresy that Martin Luther did not clean up" during the Ref ormation, Pollard also questioned the ethics of being ordained in order to receive a "tax break. I' Landrum P. Leavell, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, defended seminary professors who recently have been under attack by convention conservatives. Leavell testified that while he was at New Orleans seminary professors did not: "rob me of my faith or turn me against the Word of God, Most professors took a personal interest in me and have been role models" because of their loving Christlike spirit, he said. Leavell said he "could have gone to a noo Southern Baptist school. I'm glad I didn t. :' As a result, Leavell said he has fully accredited degrees for which he has not had to apologize. He also said his degrees havetnever been questioned by a pulpit committee, In response to his statement, a messenger asked if there is a place in Southern Baptist life for persons who did not receive their education at a Southern Baptist institution. Leavell said "sure. You dontt need to be talking to me, you need to talk to the pulpit committee since they are the ones who hire you." In other reports, James Dunn, executive director-treasurer, Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, Washington, D.C,, thanked the convention for its "strong support" the last year in helping pass equal access legislation allowing student-led, student- initiated groups to meet voluntarily for religious purposes before or after the school day. Dunn also reported the Baptisi: Joint Committee has "vigorously protested" the exchange of ambassadors between the United States and the Roman Catholic Church, A deputy secretary of state testified the U,S, needed an ambassador "to influence the political positions of the Roman Catholic church," Dunn said. "we know that's what he thought but we didn't think he'd say it, I tell you, it is no part of the business of government to influence the position of any church. We intend to keep saying that in CGngress and in the courts and the media until we right that wrong, at least educate Americans. I' -- Wzdnesday Morn1@ Reports -- Page 2

Phillip Sena, pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, Obion, Tenn., asked Dunn if he would welcome a separate voice of Southern Baptists in Washington. Conservatives in the 1984 Kansas City, Mo., convention attempted to defund rhe Bapti: Joint Comrnirree. There has been talk of another agency in Washington to address governme] issues dealing with religion. Dunn responded by saying the SBC Christian Life Commission frequently works with the Baptist Joint Committee on moral and ethical concerns in the nation's capitol. "We not only welcome this Southern Baptist presence, we work together in that relationship," he said. The CLC, social concerns agency of the SBC, was questioned about what had been done since 1984 on the abortion issue. Foy Valentine, executive director of the commission, referred to the CLC report Lo the SBC and said his agency has maintained an ongoing program of study, education and action ro the issue of abortion. The report stated "Without ignoring the complexities and ambiguities related to aborl the commission maintains a responsibly conservative position which seeks to lead Southern Baptists to support a morally responsible approach to sexuality and family life, challengr Southern Baptists to press for responsible alternatives to abortion, and seeks to shape public policy in opposition to abortion on demand.'' Also during the morning session, the SBC Canada Planning Group reported that Canadiar churches had formed their own convention in 1985 and were working with SBC agencies to srrengrhen their churches. The CLC awarded its Distinguished Service Award to Valentine for his 25 years of service with the commission.

By Terry Barone -- 12:40 p.m. Wednesday Craig tlird PI~otogn~~~lrylI.'c~~turc~XLanagvr

CORRECTION

Second Vice-President Story Moved Wednesday Morning

First Graph--It's Vaught, no Vought

Sedond Graph--I t Is 'crescent Hill, not liills

Thank you News Room hh &nvention Center (214) 65&7954 wilmer C. Fields SBC Pms Fkpmmtive Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager c* Bid PhotographylFea~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

-. . . WEDNESDAY MORNING REPORTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 12--Henry Huff, a lawyer from Louisville, Ky,, was elected second vice- president of the Southern Baptist Convention Wednesday morning, defeating W. 0. Vaught, retired pastor of Inunanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., in a runoff. Huffy former president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, received 56 percent of the vote (9,302). Considered the candidate of the moderates, Huff is a member of Crescent Hill Baptist Church in Louisville and former moderator of the Long Run Baptist Association. Vaught, a leader of the conservative cause in Arkansas, received 44 percent of the vote (7,334). Also during the morning session, two Southern Baptist seminary presidents brought their institution$<' annual reports to the gathered messengers and were welcomed warmly. Roy Honeycutt, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, affirmed the school's belief in the "impeccable authority of Holy Sckipture, "The Word of God is the heart of all we are doing at Southern Seminary," he said. "But nothing we can say about the Bible can substitute for obedience to the Word." +------".- --- . .- ---A. ---.---*----,"-+---.

Russell Dilday, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, emphasized the role of trust in seminary education. "Our trust in each other is our most valuable asset (as Southern Baptists)," he said. Southwestern has the trust of Southern Baptist churches, Southwestern alumni, faculty and trustees, he said. "In a way, each one of us (messengers) is a trustee of that trust." Each president was asked two questions from the floor of the convention, but the questioners were more supportive than confrontive. Bob Moon, pastor of North Broad Baptist Church in Rome, Ga., told Honeycutt he was concerned about attempts to silence seminary presidents in the current denominational controversy, saying such attempts weaken their role as "prophets," I*How can you do what you are supposed to do if you are not allowed to practice what you preach?" Moon asked. In response, Honeycutt said he felt no one had restricted hia ability to speak his convictions. "All Baptists appreciate the priesthood of the believer," he said. Other messengers thanked the presidents for the ministry of the seminaries and asked what they could do to help. The group heard the reports of the Stewardship Commission, Southern Baptist Foundation and the Canada Planning Group. Messengers also re-elected Martin Bradley as recording secretary and Lee Porter as registration secretary. Both are from Nashville. For what most believe to be the first time in convention history, an ordained woman led a prayer. Anne P. Rosser, co-pastor of Bainbridge-South Hampton Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., opened the morning session with a lengthy petition that included an appeal to protect Southern Batpists from both "civil religion" and Uauthoritatianism," "Help us to see that your love is all-inclusive and not exclusive," she prayed.

By Greg Warner--ll:25 a.m. Wednesday Neu3 H

Southcm Baptist Convention D&, JWC 11-13, 1985

'FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday Morning Motions

DALLAS, June 12--Southern Baptists meeting at the Dallas Convention Center will . collect an offering for world hunger Wednesday night. Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention earlier approved a motion calling for the special offering, which will be distributed through the SBC Foreign Mission Board and Home Mission Board. The Foreign Mission Board will receive 80 percent of the money for overseas hunger needs, and the Home Mission ~oardwill receive 20 percent for hunger needs in the United States. A motion authorizing a special committee to devise a "peace plan" for the controversy- racked SBC also was approved, after two amendments were made to the original motion. The amendments added the names of Christine Gregory of Danville, Va., and Jodie Chapman of Wichita Falls, Texas, to the list of committee members, as well as the new first vice-president of the SBC, Winfred Moore of Amarillo, Texas. In other business action, C. Welton Gaddy of Highland Hills Baptist Church, Macon, Ga., withdrew his motion from cdnsideration by the SBC messengers and asked that it be referred, instead, to the SBC Executive Committee. Gaddy explained that the motion, which would amend Bylaw 16, might be in conflict with certain articles of the SBC Constitution, and thus needed further study by the I Executive Committee and legal counsel. His mot ion reads: "No convent ion cornmi t tee, board or commission shall include simultaneously more than one person from the same local church except in those cases in which the charter of a board, institution, agency or commission located within the same municipality or county as the church provides for a specific number of board members, in which case the committee may nominate as many as two persons from a single church. I' During a Tuesday afternoon business session, messengers had voted to overturn the Committee on Order of Business report which sent Gaddy's motion to the SBC Executive Committee, Caddy had challenged the referral, asking that messengers vote to show "the will of the body," His motion passed, with action scheduled Wednesday morning. Time did not permit several other motions originally set for discussion Wednesday morning to be considered. They dealt with whet he^ or not salaried employees of the denomination may "take sides" in convention controversies, and whether or not to con- tinue plans to meet in Las Vegas, Nev., in 1989. Those motions will be considered during the Wednesday evening business session. I The Committee on Order of Business also reported that a motion in support of the SBC president will be considered during the 7:10 p.m. Wednesday business session. That motion, by Robert C. Rayner of West Acres Baptigt Church, Evans, Ga., reads: ItBecause I believe our time has come as Southern Baptists to join hands and hearts to win this world for Jesus and to cease the division among us, I mqve that we pledge our support to the president elected by this convention. I further recommend we return to our churches and encourage support to him and our convention."

By Karen Benson--1:15 p.m. Wednesday . News Room &Uas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC PmRepresentative Dan Martin News hmManager Cmig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAS* June 11-13* 1985

Convention Sermon

DALLAS, June 12--Southern Baptists were admonished here Wednesday to return to "purity and fairness of spirit" or lose their spiritual power, Charles G. Fuller, pastor of First Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., told messengers to the 128th Southern Baptist Convention they have "too much to lose" in the controversy which has divided the 14.3-million member denomination into moderate versus conservative camps. In the annual conventrion~~sermon, Fuller described himself as a 'Inon-union conservative who pays dues to no one, "I would tell you that I believe the Bible is the authoritative, authentic voice of God put to print, without mixture of error, but I would ask, please let me be what I know I am, and don't try to stampede me, goad me or isolate me to be what someone else insists I am." Fuller said "there are those who want you to have the courage of their convictions, insisting you have no courage otherwise. "What I am saying is that no Christian should reject another Christian, especially when we have never taken the time to really know each other. "To do so," he said, "could short-circuit the liberty and power of Christ in our midst, and that is too much for us to lose." Fuller compared the SBC controversy to the failure of ~esus'disclples to be impressed by his feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6:30-52. "It is a sad state of affairs for any Christian or group of Christians, to be so impressed with their own nearness to the Lord that they cannot see Him at work in the lives of others, I r I am convinced we cannot make much progress working through our positions, polity, policies and polarizations until we work through our spirit," he added, Fuller said no one can deny that a great deal of strategy has been designed and deployed in Southern Baptist ranks in recent months. 11 But regardless of whose strategy it is, moderate strategy, conservative strategy, well-intended strategy, devious strategy, if it is conceived by minds which are bitter, arragant, smug, frightened or presumptuous, God will not bless it, even if we ask ~im," Calling for "purity and fairness of spirit," Fuller said, "if conservatism is represented by somone with the disposition of a junkyard dog and moderateness is the position of someone who is profane as a pirate, where lies the hope for a purity of spirit?" Fuller recalled the Old Testament incident in which Joseph's bnmthers sold him into slavery out of bitterness and jealousy. "I£ you fail to see the way in which that Old Testament circumstance could well apply to those of us who are brothers in this denominational family, your problem is not with your position on Biblical inspiration. Your problem is that you've got a heart that ' s frozen over. l1 Fuller took issue with some prognostications that Southern Baptists are compelled to go the way of some other denominations. "~ecauseanother group has been swallowed up by a whale of compromise or obliterated by the dynamite of division is no mandate that we do it," he said. God still has much for Southern Baptists to do, Fuller added. "~aldMission Thrust (a plan to reach every person on earth with the gospel of Jesus by the year 2000) is far from complete. Demographics tell us there will be seven billion people in the world shortly after the turn of the century, and we have not yet witnessed to the 4% billion who live on the earth now. He also noted that a stewardship ernpahsis, "Planned Growth in Giving, l1 has' bar$ly been born, and that Southern Baptists across the nation will be involved in 1986 in "~oodNews America" simultaneous evangelistic crusade. Fuller thanked Charles Stanley of Atlanta, Ga., who was earlier re-elected as convention president, for giving opportunity on several occasions during the sessions for messengers to meet in prayer clusters. He also warned Southern Baptist leaders that they must stay in touch with Southern Baptists. Fuller commended a group of six North Carolina pastors who declared that "Baptists need to back up andtake a sober look at our convention before we destroy the magnificent tool God has given us for reaching our world together for Christ." "This is nat so much a time for strategy as a time for prayer and fasting," Fuller said.

By Orville Scott--l:30 p.m. Wednesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fiilds SIX Press Representative Dan Marlin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Peace ~lan/Committee

DALLAS, June 12--Affirming that "peace cannot come by war," the Southern Baptist Con- vention appointed a 22-member "peace committee" to study the causes of controversy within the 14.3million member convention and recommend possible solutions. The proposal, offered by a coalition including the presidents of 37 Baptist state con- ventions and former SBC President M. Franklin Paschal1 of Nashville, passad,by an over- whelming 95 percent margin, SBC registration secretary Lee Porter estimated'. The motion asks the 22-member committee to "determine the sources of the controversies in our denomination, and make findings and recommendations regarding these controversies, so that Southern Baptists might effect reconciliation , , , . 1l Approving a surprise amendment from the floor, the convention added newly-elected SBC first vice-president Winfred Moore of Amarillo, Tex,, to the peace committee as ex-officio member "with full (voting) rights." Two women members were also added to the committee by the state convention presidents, whose initial plan proposed an all-male 18-member committee plus the SBC president as ex-of f icio. The two women, chosen to maintain "balance" on the committee, were Mrs, Christine Gregory of Danville, Va,, and Mrs, Jodi Chapman of Wichita Falls, Tex. Mrs. Gregory is a former first vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention and former president of Woman's Missionary Union, SBC. Mrs. Chapman is the wife of Morris Chapman, pastor of First Raptist Church, who earlier had nominated Charles Stanley as SBC president. Charles Pickering of Laurel, president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention and chairman of the state convention presidents, said in an interview after the action that he suggested addition of the two women to give representation to a large number of Southern Baptist (women) deeply concerned about the problems. Pickering, said he sensed there might be an amendment from the floor to add wamen to the cnmrnittee, and that he felt the names suggested must be negotiated in advance to maintain balance. In the negotiatirlg process, at least one name was rejected, but Pickering would not say by whom. The amendment adding Moore as ex-officio was made by Ector Hamrick of Petersburg, Va., who said he was doing so "in the spirit of what happened here yesterday." Hamrick was referring to the spontaneous nomination and election of Moore, who had run against incumbent SBC President Charles Stanley of Atlanta. \hen Moore was nominated for first vice-president, Stanley asked him if lie would be willing to serve, and hugged him when Moore responded: "Are you asking me to?" After Ilamrick's amendment was introduced, Pickering announced to the crowds packed into the 30,000-seat rol.iseum that he had checked with Page Patterson, president of Criswell Center for Bi hl ira 1 Studies in Dallas and key figure in the !'conservative/moderate" controversy, and Patterson had no object ions, In an interview afterwards, Pickering said he felt a moral obligation to check the addition of t on re's name with Patterson. explaining that the state convention presidents had given a solemn pledge to maintain balance on the committee. Little oppositian was expressed to the pence plan during debate on the proposal. At one point, Ed Drake, Dallas attorney and member of First Bapitst Church, Dallas, argued that the "crisis committee" was not really needed, because the "crisis" had already passed. Drake estimated the committee study would cost $50,000 and the money could better be spent on SBC "Rold Mission 'Thrust" projects. Rill Hickem, president of the Florida Baptist Convention and pastor of Riverside Baptist Ctiurch, Jacksonville, countered that if some things are not solved within the SBC, "there will be no I5old Mission ~hrust." Ilickem pointed out that the committee was not a "crisis" committee but a "peace" committee. Hickern said he felt the plan gives Southern Baptists an opportunity to talk to each other instead of talking about each other, and to do it "within the family" instead of outside the family. "It will take it (the discussion) out of the public arena of the press, who do their job very well, when we do ours very poorly," said Hickem, Peace Plan Committee--page 2

Asked if a clause in the motion urging "all Southern Baptists to exercise restraint and refrain from divisive action and comments" was aimed at muzzling SBC agency heads, Hickem said the motion was not designed to gag anyone. 11 It is a prayerful request for all of us to give restraint to what we are saying," Hickem said. "We preach against gossip, but then tell our friends, 'Do you know what I've just heard? 'I The preamble to the motion presented by Paschall acknowledged the divisions among Southern Baptists "which if allowed to continue, inevitably will impede our progress, impair our fellowship and imperil our future," . Paschall, president of the SBC from 1966-68, added in making the motion that the SBC has been on a collision course, has already suffered damage in the wreck, and the worst is yet to come if the denomination does not chaxe+-. its course. "We've been pitting power against power, and it is a no win situation. Whoever wins, we all lose," Paschall said. Observing that peace cannot come by war, Paschall quoted philosopher Arnold Toynbee as saying "the one thing you cannot do with a bayonet is to sit on it." Following the action, Pickering said he felt adoption of the plan was an answer to prayer. I I I've never seen so much prayer on both sides of the issue," Pickering said. "I believe God will solve our problems, working through the 22 men and women elected so overwhelmingly by the convent ion. " Elected to the committee were: Charles Fuller, chairman, pastor, First Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va.; Harmon Born, automobile dealer, Rex (Atlanta suburb), Ga,; Doyle Carlton, businessman, Wauchula, Fla.; Bill Crews, pastor, Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church, Riverside, Calif.; Robert Cuttino, pastor, First Baptist Church, Lancaster, S.C.; Jim Henry, pastor, First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla.; Bill Hull, pastor, First Baptist Church, Shreveport, La.; Herschel H. Hobbs, retired pastor, Oklahoma City; Albert McClellan, retired program planning secretary for the SBC Executive Committee, Nashville; William Poe, attorney, Charlotte, N.C.; Ray Roberts, retired executive director, Baptist State Conventnion of Ohio, Columbus; Adrian Rogers, pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn.; Cecil Sherman, pastor, Broadway Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas; John Sullivan, pastor, Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, La.; Dan Vestal, pastor, First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas; Jerry Vines, co-pastor, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla.; Ed Young, pastor, Second Baptist Church, Houston; Pickering, an attorney from Laurel, Miss.; plus Stanley and Moore as ex-officio members with full rights.

By Jim Newton--2:05 p.m. Wednesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 WiC. Fie& SBC Press Representative Dan Maxtin NEWS News Room Manager c* Bid PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brotherhood Breakfast

DALLAS, June 12--I1~verywhere I've been lately, people ask me if I'm depressed about Dallas. Naw, 1'm not depressed. God's in charge and I've got nothing to be depressed about," Jerry Clower told a Brotherhood breakfast audience of 300 Wednesday at the Greneleie Hotel. "Man, I ain' t mad about nothing," he said, "I'm on your side." Appearing at the Brotherhood Commision sponsored breakfast to honor Bill Reese, winner of the Royal Ambassador Missions Speak Out national competition which bears the comedian's name, Clower likened the current turmoil among Southern Baptists to "cats fighting in an alley. "When the fight's over, there'll be more cats and there'll be more Baptists. I I If I understand the Bible right, we are the church," the Christian entertainer hollered, gesturing to an audience alternately shouting amen and howling with laughter, "and it's easy for the church to be good in the church house. But what does your golf partner and your wiEe think about your Christianity?" he asked the largely male audience. Using a story about notching ears of pigs in Liberty, Miss., to determine ownership, Clower told the group there are three earmarks to being a Christian. "Wa1.k in the light as he is in the light. And, if you like being here with Christian folks this morning, that's evidence of a good earmark. Why, I'd rather be with God's people than watch my Mississippi State Bulldogs play Ole ~iss." After a pause he added, to the delight of the crowd, "Now if I knew we were gonna win, I might have to think about it a minute." He said a second mark of a Christian is keeping God's commandments. "That one ain't complicated," he snorted. With his hands lifted high and his voice rising, Clower declared the third earmark the most difficult. "Love the brethren. Too many of us want to say 'I love you, but . . . 'It he said, looking sideways, his voice trailing off. "Any born-again individual is your brother and it ain't your option whether or not you love him. Hate is a sin. We've got to get away from determining who we love based on tradition and start talking about issues such as race that prevent our practice of Christian love," he concluded. Turning to present Missions Speak Out winner Reese after he had delivered his award winning speech, Clower extended to him an invitation to be his guest at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., and said, "Bill, you really shucked the corn here today. It Earlier, George and Janet Crews from Colleyville, Texas, shared their experiences as Missions Service Corps volunteers. Johnathan Barnes, Michael Lucas, Anthony McCaleb and Ken Williams, a quartet of Royal Ambassadors from Dickson, Tenn., known as the Ambassadors Four, sang.

By Jack Childs--3:OO p.m. Wednesday News Room Dallas Convention Center b (214) 658-7954 Wilnaer C. Fi SBC Press Representative Dan Martin Nev Room Manager Craig Bird Photography/Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June ll.l.3, 1985

For Release at 6 a.m. Thursday

Roundup for Thursday PMs

DALLAS, June 13--Messengers to the 128th Southern Baptist Conventton heard glowing reports of progress from many of their agencies and institutions Thursday morning at the Dallas Convention Center. The Radio and Television Commission report reviewed the progress of the American Christian Television System (ACTS) which reached more than 3 million homes in its first year of operations. Jimmy Allen, president of the commission, said ACTS was one of the Eastest growing networks in cable TV, adding 100,000 homes each week. The report of the Brotherhood Commission emphasized a 1984 enrollment increase of .5 percent to 568,353 men and boys, the tenth year of growth in the past 12. Major changes in the Royal Ambassador and Baptist en's programs have been approved following recommendations by a long range study commit tee, the report added. 'the agency expects to focus in the future on involving more non-English speaking Southern BaptIsts in Brotherhood work, expanding Brotherhood work in black Southern Baptist churches, and strengthening Brotherhood work in new areas, James Smith, president, said. Two seminaries also reported on sLucIent enrollment. Enrol.lment at: Sotltheastern Uaptist 'I'heol.ogicaZ Seminary, Wake Forest, N. C., climbed 3.6 percent to 1,246 while Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City. reported 700 students enrolled from 37 states and 11 foreign countries. Southern Baptists provided 146 scholarships of $1,025 each last year to students attending American Baptist Theological Seminary, a black Bible school in Nashville, Tenn., messengers learned. The institution's extension program enrolled an additional 623 students ladt year, the report said. The report of the Education Commission identified Christian leadership in the 21st century as a major concern. To respond to this need the commission will co-sponsor a national congress on leadership on June 4-7, 1986 at Gatlinburg, Tenn. The report of Woman's Missionary Union spoke of a commitment to the future in describing a 1984 conventian which attracted 14,000 girls to Fort Worth, Texas for four days of missions activity. The woman's auxiliary recently made decisions to expand \JMU publications and services, including production of such items as bookmarks, flags of states, international dolls, and a WMU cookbook. The report of the Historical Commission announced the opening of a new Southern Baptist historical library and archives and completion of four major new products--a resource kit, newsletter, series of six video tapes, and a microfilm catalog. In a business session the messengers appointed a 22-member "peace committee" to study the causes of controversy between conservative and moderate forces within the convention and recommend solutions.

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By Roy Jennings--3:30 p.m. Wednesday Craig Ilid I'hotography lFvaturvs blanagr

kuthern Baptbt Gnvention Dalla, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MISSIONS DAY CAMP

DALLAS, June 12--More than 400 boys and girls in grades 1 - 6 participated in the Southern Baptist Convention Missions Day Camp conducted daily concurrently with the Southern Bapitst Convention. The camp provides missions education to the youngsters and relief from the rigors of the Convention for both them and their parents. Sponsored by the Brotherhood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Texas Baptist Men and the Dallas Baptist Association, the Missions Day Camp was held at nearby Samuell- Tennison Park. - Suffering from traffic woes which also plagued Convention-goers, the day camp opened in the halls of the Dallas Convention Center when two of five buses scheduled to transport the! youngsters overheated. Adjusting quickly to the dilemma, missionaries John and Ruby Parker from Chile simply talked to the group at the convention center while awaiting transportation. Theme of the Missions Day Camp was an American Heritage. Children were divided into groups which bore the names of the original 13 U. S. colonies. Studies focused on American heroes as well as Biblical missions. Five missionaries visited with the children. Questions the children most frequently asked the missionaries centered on animals and the kinds of discipline administered by parents in foreign lands. I1Meeting the missionaries" was the answer most often given by the children when asked about their favorite part of the camp, Les Brown, Royal Ambassador director at colonial Hills Baptist Church in Dallas, served as Missions Day Camp director, Karl Bozeman, Crusader Royal Ambassador director at the Brotherhood Commission, Memphis, Tenn., was camp coordinator. John LaNoue handled local arrangements. He is an associate with Texas Baptist Men in Dallas.

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By Jack Childs--3 :10 p.m. ~edneida~ Dan hi:irtui Kcivs Rcu)nl hlandgr Craig Uirtl I'hotogral>hy/E'euti~rehhtanagcr

L>uthcrn Raptkt Convention I);rll;~~, Jurw 11.13, I'M5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Speech Contest Feature

DALJAS, June 12--Comedian Jerry Clower and 18--year-old Bill Reese met for the first time at a Dallas breakfast Wednesday. It was a meeting neither will forget. Reese, of Columbia, S.C., is the 1985 winner of a national speech contest named in honor oE Jerry Clower, the Christian entertainer from Yazoo City, Miss. The Royal Ambassador Speak Out: is sponsored annually by the Southern Baptist Brother- hood Commission, and Reese's winning speech was presented as part of the Brotherhood breakfast during the Southern Baptist Convention. More than 200 people attended the breakfast at the Grenelefe Hotel where Clower paid high tribute to Reese and all the young men who entered the speech contest. Ree~ewon the National Jerry Clower Award in competition with 17 other finalists by delivering a five minute original speech. ~eesc'stalk, entitled "Ambassadors for Christ," is consistent with the missions education emphasis of Royal Ambassadors, a church program for youth in grades 1 through 12. In addition to an expense-paid trip to the Dallas convention, Reese also received a $500 scholarship £ram the Brotherhood Commission trustees, a Royal Ambassador blazer, a trophy and a trip to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., as lower's guest. The son of Ilr. and Mrs. Robert W. Reese of Columbia, Bill is a 1985 graduate of Dreher High School. He plans to enter North Greenville College (S.C.) as a ministerial student this fall. He is a member of Temple Baptist Church in Columbia. In ~eese's winning message, he said that Christians are like mountain climbers. They depend on ropes to help them reach the summit. "Cilrist is our lifeline," he said, "and we must rely on him to attain our goals in 1 ife. "

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By Dick Jensen--l:25 p.m. Wednesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 WhrC. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager $ Southern Jhptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

CUTLINES

11b: 1985-86 PASTORS' CONFERENCE OFFICERS--The largest Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference in history, with several crowds in the 20,000 range, met in the Dallas Convention Center June 9-10. Elected officers for next year's meeting !tn Atlanta were, from left, Dwight Reighard, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga., secretary-treasurer; Morris Chapman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, president, and Ned Mathews, pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C., vice-president. (Photo by David Haywood)

46. PAUSE FOR PRAYER--During the opening session of the 1985 Southern Baptist Convention, Charles Stanley, convention president, asked the more than 45,000 people attending to spend time in prayer. Above, from left, Keith Parks, president of the Foreign Mission Board; Ll-oyd Elder, president of the Baptist Sunday School Board; Roy Honeycutt, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; and William Tanner, president of the Home Mission Board, ask ~od'sblessings on the 1.4.3-million member denominat4on. (Photo by Mark Sandlin)

50. FLOODS OF BALLOTS--The vote count of the SBC presidential election, which attracted more than 44,000 ballots, went rapidly, as both people and machines turned to the task. Above, members of the Tellers Committee check to make sure all the ballots are the right nhmber before putting them in the machfnes. (Photo by John McTyre)

18. TEXAS SIZE SBC GET TOGETHER--Texas really knows how to throw a convention--at least Southern Baptists seem to think so. Pre-convention estimates of a record 30,000 messengers seemed optimistic to some, but more than 45,000 Southern Baptists from across the nation gathered 4n Dallas and overflowed the Dallas Convention Center. (Photo by Van Payne)

52. CAMPUS MINISTERS OFFICERS---Elected to lead the Association of Southern Baptist Campus Ministers for 1985-86 were Wil McCall, vice-president for membership, University of South Mississippi, Hattiesburg; Jan Fuller, vice-president for program, Yale University, New Haven, Conn,; Steve Hollaway, vice president for publications, Columbia University, New York City; Bob Ford, president-elect, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Ala.; Frank Cofer, president, Baptist Student Ministries Director, Chicago Baptist Association, Chicago; Bill Neal, vice-president for administration, Georgia Baptist Convention, Atlanta (nut pictures), (Photo by Tim Fields)

57. 1985-86 SOUTHERN BAPTIST RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION OFFICERS---(L-R) Don Dendy, minister of education, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, vice-president; Dennis Parrott, minister of education, Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas, president; Mavis Allen, design/planning coordinator, Sunday School Department, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., central vice-president; Joe Haynes, consultant, Sunday School Department, Rapt ist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., secretary/ treasurer; and Katie Grogan, director, age-group coordination, Baptist Convention of Maryland, Lutherville. Officers not present include Lloyd Householder, director, of fire of comn~unications, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn., president-elecbt ; Jerry Stubblefield, professor of religious education, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, west vice-president; and .Jack Naisll, minister of education, Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, assistant secr~tary/treasurer. (Photo by Lonnie Wilkey) /I 1 News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wihr C Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dalks, June lldl3, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southeastern Seminary Luncheon

DALLAS, June 12--A standing-room only crowd of more than 500 friends and alumni of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wednesday gave a standing ovation to President W. Randall Lolley at the school's annual lunch. National association president Marion Lark, pastor of First Baptist Church, Henderson, N.C., cited Lolley for his courage that has been evident "in the past several months...on behalf of loyal, cooperative, Bible-believing, missions-minded Southern Baptists." In a testimony Peggy Haymes, a recent graduate from Winston-Salem, N.C., said, "I think God that at Southeastern my calling to ministry was accepted, affirmed and celebrated. Intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally, my years at Southeastern have been a time of growth." New officers elected for 1985-86 are Earl Crumpler, '61, pastor, Edwards Road Baptist Church, Greenville, S.C., president; Eileen Stone, '79, associate minister, Vienna Bap- tist Church, Falls Church, Va., president-elect; Harold Armstrong, '80, pastor, First Baptist Church, Pierson, Fla,, secretary; and Mack Thompson, '69, pastor, First Baptist Church, Laurenburg, N.C., director. The alumni also approved a bylaw change which expands membership to include persons who hold an advanced certificate from a seminary extension center, and retired professors. In his presidential report to the gathering, Lolley intraduced two new trustees, Ralph Holt, Wilmingtop, N.C., and James Herron, Rock Hill, S.C., both of whm are alumni, Lolley also paid special recognition to Hubert F. Ledford, Raleigh, N.C., in whose honor the school's new student center has been named. The $2.5 million project now under construction will be completed in 1986.

By Rod Byard--5:15 p.m. Wednesday New Room Dallas Convention Center (214)65&7954 'Wilmer C. Fi SBC Press Repmtative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFea~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, JW Il-U, 1985

SOUTHERN SEMINARY LUNCHEON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS--A record attendance of nearly 1,800 alumni and friends of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., elected new officers, honored three Alumni of the Year, and heard seminary president Roy L. Honeycutt announce more than $1 million in recent gifts at the school's national alumni luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel. Special guests included Winfred Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, newly elected first vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), and Henry Huff, Louisville, Ky, attorney, and new second vice-president of the SBC. Huff also serves on the board of trustees of Southern Seminary. Current national alumni president Alton McEachern, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greensboro, N. C., presided at the luncheon. The new alumni association president will be Bob R. Agee, president of Oklahoma Baptist University. John Hughes, pastor of First Baptist Church, Independence, Mo., was named president-elect. - Honored as alumni of the year were Paul R. Bobbitt, Jr,, director of the Church Music Department of the Florida Baptist Convention, Jacksonville; T. T. Crabtree, pastor of First Baptist Church, Springfield, Mo., and current chairman of the SBC National Task Force on Planned Growth in Giving; and George W. Redding, retired chairman of the Depart- ment of Bible at Georgetown College and currently chairman of the Department of Religion at Mid-Continent Baptist College in Mayfield, Ky. Honeycutt told the large gathering that more than a million dollars in major gifts had been received or pledged in recent weeks. He pointed to such gifts as proof of support for Southern Seminary. The seminary president also pointed to a 28 percent enrollment increase over the past four years--including a 4 percent jump this year--as further evidence of the seminary's support within the denomination. Honeycutt announced the completion of a $1.25 million expansion of the seminary's music school, and the creatian of the Dehoney Center for the Study of the Local Church and the Gheens Center for Christian Family Ministry.

By Mike Duduit--5:OS p.m. Wednesday .-. News Room Dallas Convention Center r (214) 65E-7954 WiC. Fields , SBC Press Repmntative Dan Martin I NEWS NewsbmManager ! Caig Bird j PhotographylFeatures Manager ; :

' Southern Baptist Convention ; Dallas, June 11.13, 1985 j I i 1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE F

MIDWESTERN ALUMNI LUNCHEON

DALLAS, June 12 -- Alumni of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary honored a Southern Baptist Convention officer and a leader of new work ministry among Southern Baptists Wednesday during the institution's national alumni association luncheon. Recipients of the 1985 Alumnus of the Year Award were Donald V. Wideman, second vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of First Baptist Church, North Kansas City, Mo., and R. Rex (Peck) Lindsay, executive director of the Kansas - Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists, Ray Kesner, director of alumni affairs and denominational services at Midwestern, presented the awards during the luncheon at the Grenelefe Hotel, About 400 attended. Alumni also installed Michael D. Brown, a home missionary in Milwaukee, Wis., as national alumni president and named Doyle M. Sager, pastor of First Baptist Church, Sedalia, Mo., president-elect. Also during the luncheon, Seminary President Milton Ferguson urged alumni to celebrate their heritage of "biblical faith." He said biblical faith is faith which does not have all the answers but leaves room to "risk everything on the fact that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. IIWe are able to allow and affirm diversity because we know we have a unity with all our brothers and sisters who share the same faith.''

By Mary Speidel -- 5:25 p.m. Wednesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 656-7954 Wilmer C Fields SBC p1.ess Repmtative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeanws Manager

Southern Baptist Convention hb,June 11-U,1985

SOUTHWESTERN ALUMNI LUNCHEON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 12--More than 1,900 alumni and former students of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at Port Worth were assured Wednesday their preaident was "absolutely secure. " Davis Cooper, chairman of seminary trustees and pastor of University Hills Baptist Church, Denver, affirmed President Russell 8. Dilday at the annual luncheon of the institutions's national alumni association at the Hyatt Regency. Cooper, who presided over a stormy meeting of the board in March, said that "despite disagreement, we do not see ourselves as representing any faction. We take our steward- ship seriously ." At the March meeting, Dilday introduced a recommendation by the academic affairs committee to dismiss Farrar Patterson, 16-year professor of preaching and communications, for conduct unbecoming a seminary professor. A secret ballot failed by one vote to gain the necessary two-thirds margin needed for dismissal. "Our faculty also is absolutely secure," Cooper said. "~hingsare in great shape at ~outhwestern.~' Ralph Langley, outgoing president of the alumni group, said two-thirds the resolutions presented for consideration prior to this year's annual SBC supported the seminary and Dildav. ------.. -- "l've learned a lot this year," said Dilday. "In this kind of climate some things take on new significance." Dilday said he has learned that the Southwestern family "is very large. Our graduates are scattered all over the face of the earth. "When a family is together and under attack, it tends to pull together even closer. "Under the current climate, the Bible speaks with more power and urgency than ever before. Verses I have read many times have taken on new meaning. They come alive." I One verse particularly has come ro mean a lot, Dilday said, quoting Galatians 6:9: "And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not .I1 Six persons received distinguished alumni awards. They were Lloyd Elder, president of the ~aptistSunday school ~oard,Nashville; R. Othal Feather, professor of education emeritus at Southwestern; Gal Guy, distinguished professor of missions emeritus at southwestern; ~ecilSims. executive director-treasurer of the Northwest Baptist Convention; Rheubin South* executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, and Rowena strickland, professor at Palm Beach Atlantic College. "We want to be ready for those God is preparing ro be at Southwestern," Dilday said after the group watched a multi-media presentation introducing Upward 90, a new development and capital improvements plan which includes an effort to raise $50 .million. ~. - I New national alumni officers elected were Ernest E. Mosley, executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association, president; Daniel Yeary, pastor of University Baptist Church. Coral Gables, Fla., vice-president; and John Seelig, vice-president for public affairs at Southwestern, secretaxy.

By Mark Wingfield and Timothy Tune--6:00 p.m. Wednesday NC'LI~I~WIIII - I Ilalla Cbi~vuntionCct1tc.r (2 14) 658-7954 Wilrncr C. Fielllv SIK: I'm&\ Hcprcwntati\w l);ir~ Mi~rtin NEWS News 1Ln)ni hlmagr Craig 13irJ . I'hc~to~~phylFeatur~~Managcr

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Executive Committee Elects

DALLAS, June 12--Three laypersons were elected Wednesday as officers of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention for 1985-86. David C. Maddox, a contractor and real estate developer from Fullerton, Calif., was elected chairman at the commit tee' s organization meeting during the annual mec ting of the SBC here. Maddox, a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Anaheim, served the pasl: year as vice chairman of the Executive Committee. He defeated Jimmy Jackson, pastor of Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala., for the post. New vice-chairman is Harmon Born, president of Beaudry Ford, Atlanta, Ga. Born is a member of The Rock Baptist Church, Rex, Ga. Mrs. Lois Wenger, a businesswoman from Orlando, Fla., was reelected recording secretary. She is a member of First Baptist Church, Orlando. In other actions during the meeting, Executive Committee members: --Adopted unanimously a resolution expressing a commitment to pray daily for the work of the SN's peace committee elected earlier in the day to recommend possible solueions to controversies that have divided the denomination in recent years. Two members of the I Executive Committee, Born and John Sullivan, pastor of nrondmoor Baptist Church, Shreve- 11 port, La., are members of the special committee, 1 --Expressed appreciation for the leadership of outgoing chairman W. Dewey Presley, a ,; Dallas layman. --Welcomed five new members, C. Ray Fuller, a director of missions from Joliet, Ill.; Benny J. King, pastor, First Southern Baptist Church, Northglenn, Colo.; Rich Liner, pastor; First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, N.C.; James M. Morton, Jr., pastor,Trinity Baptist . Church, Livermore, Calif.; and James F. Yates, pastor, First Baptist Church, Yazoo City, Miss. -30-

By David Wilkinson--6:10 p.m. Wednesday Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Ddi~,June IbU, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Evangelists

DALLAS, June 12--Charging they had been betrayed, supporters of Charles Stanley turned the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists Wedneaday afternoon into a call of arms to defeat an attempt to replace the SBC committee on boards, In a departure from the announced order of service, Arkansas evangelist Sam Cathy came to the podium in First Baptist Church here to urge the 2,500 people attend- ing to retaliate against the "liberals." At issue is a motion before the Southern Baptist Convention to replace the nomi- nees to the committee on boards, proposed by the Stanley-appointed committee on committees. Stanley's ruling Wednesday morning that the suggested replacements be voted on individually was overruled by a vote of the messengers, In an apparent reference t~opublic gestures of reconciliation in the strife-torn denomination, Cathy, who lives in Hot Springs, said, e ester day was a sham, yesterday was fakery, so that the liberals, not the moderates, can take control. 1I For years I've been saying we've got to take off the kid gloves," he said. "People who don't believe the Bible can be mean as all hell. In grace and love and kindness, we've got to fight. Truth and error cannot co-exist. We've got compromise. We've got liberals. They've come out of the woods. We know who they are. Let's get 'em." Evangelist conference president Mike Gilchrist of Shreveport, La., told the group the effort to tamper with the nominees strips the SBC president: of his power. E.J. Daniels of Orlando, Fla., agreed and said, "If they do that, we are done for." Stanley himself appeared briefly before the group and was greeted with an extended standing ovation as soon as he appeared on the platform, ''What we are dealing with tonight ia at the heart and core of our convention," Stanley said. "I believe we have extended a long, warm hand of cooperation. I don't know that that ' s what we' re receiving .I1 Stanley urged the evangelists and guests to attend the evening session and vote their convictions. "Whatever God allows is alright with me," he concluded. "It will tell me where we are." Jerry Vines, co-pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., and one of the scheduled speakers at the four-hour conference, also called on those present to take the offensive against liberalism. "We need some fighters in our day," he said, "We need some folks who will fight liberalism in our convention. l1 The bulk of Vines' message was an exhortation to tearful compassion for unbelievers, "You can't be a liberal and a soul-winner," Vines said. Every preacher, Sunday School teacher and denominational employee should be a personal soul~winner,he added. Bill S taf ford, evangelist from Chattanooga, Tenn., recounted the struggle of Paul with the "thorn in the flesh," an unknown affliction from God that kept Paul humble, Stafford said God used the thorn to teach the apostle about God's sufficiency. I I You can never come to the sufficiency of God's grace until he drives you out of your own sufficiency," Stafford said. That experience in Paul's life led to rejoicing. Rob Hamblln, vice-president for evangelism at the Home Mission Board, Atlanta, preached on the "slavery of evangelism." He too recalled the example of Paul, who cited his own slavery to Christ as a credential for his ministry. Seeing ourselves as slaves would lead to holy actions, he said. II Holiness means sur- rendering to a holy God. "We don1t need to strut. People need to see that we have been with Jesus, and recently. l' The conference also presented special recognitions to long-time evangelists Manley Reasley and Freddie Gage, both of Euless, Texas,

By Greg Warner--6:45 p.m. Wednesday News kwrn Dab Convc~ltionCenter (214) 658.7954 Wllrner C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Marrin NEWS News Rmm Manager Craig Bird Photographyktures hhger

Southern Baptist Convention IMh, June 11-l3, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE .Golden Gate Lunch

DALLAS, June 12--One ofthelargest groups of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary alumni and friends ever gathered in one place attended the institution's annual alumni luncheon and business meeting Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency. Honored as "~lumnusof the Year" for 1985 was L. Arthur Nunn, Jr. of Sacramento, Calif. He was lauded for having "rendered outstanding, dedicated service to the Southern Baptist Convention during the year." Nunn is director of missions for the Sacramento Association of the California Baptist Convention, He earned a master of divinity degree from Golden Gate in 1965 and a master of religious education degree in 1976. The Alumni Association presented its fourth "Meritorious Service Award1' to Martha Roper Saul of Mill Valley, Calif., for having rendered outstanding, dedicated service to Golden Gate Seminary over an appreciable span of years." Mrs. Saul, who earned a master of religious education degree from Golden Gare in 1965, has been a counselor in the seminary's Counseling Center since ir opened in 1981. She has taught several courses at Golden Gate and is the author of the book "God Sees A Beautiful You" published by Broadman in 1979. Elected president of the Association for 1985-86 was Jerry D. Brumbelow of San Diego, Calif. He succeeds Allen E. Barnes of Pleasaneon Calif. Chosen president-elect was Michael Rochelle of Sacramento. Ronald D. Shepard of Concord, Calif., was selected vice-president. Featured speaker for the two-hour program was Dr. Franklin D. Pollard, president

of Golden Gate. - ,. -.. Pollard told the crowd that the increasing numbers of new students coming to the Seminary at the same time Golden Gate is experiencing some budget cutbacks caused by recent shortfalls in the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program, is presenting new challenges and opportunities for the Seminary to make the best use possible of its existing facilities and to develop more and more of its own sources of financial support. "The types of problems we are having at Golden ate," he said, "are the kinds of problems that are good to have. II We are learning to creatively stretch our every resource in order to accommodate the growing numbers of quality people God is calling to Golden Gate to prepare for minis try. "

By Mark Smith--7:00 p.m. Wednesday News Room Dalh Corlvenrion &ntt (214) 658-7954 Wher C. Ful& SIX Press Reprewntativc Dan hiartin Ncws Room Manager Craig Bird 'hotopphylFeatures Manager

kuthcm Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, I985

CORRECTION

RE: Evangelist Story Moved Wednesday Night

2nd and 5th Graph--Cathy now lives in Oklahoma City, not Hat rings, Arkansas.

Thanks, The News lorn

I ~hwsKtwrn aallas G~crnvcntiunCcntcr (214) 65&7954 Wilmcr C. Ficlds SXPress Rcprexntativu Dan Martin NEWS News Room Managr . Craig 13ird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Ddas, J~ne11-13, 1985

NEW ORLEANS SEMINARY LUNCHEON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 12--Reports of another record enrollment, naming of distinguished alumni, and election of national alumni officers highlighted the annual luncheon for alumni and Eriends of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Wednesday at the Dallas Hilton. With 760 in attendance, the luncheon was the largest annual meeting held outside of New Orleans, The previous high attendance, 701, was recorded in 1978 in Atlanta. Dr. C. E. Autry, former director of evangelism for the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Perry R. Sanders, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lafayette, La., were honored as distinguished alumni. Both were cited by the faculty for "distinguished service," Autry as a "denominational leader in evangelism," and Sanders for "local church pastoral leadership ," hutry served as director oE evangelism for the Home Mission Board from 1960 to 1969. He also served as professor of evangelism at New Orleans and at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is presently interim pastor of Ellyson Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla. Sanders was pastor of churches in Alabama and Louisiana before going to Lafayette in 1959. His denominational service included two terms as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and chairman of the SRC Committee on Committees. In his report, Landrum Leavell, seminary president, noted that following registration for the June term the previous record enrollment, 2,622, set in the 1983-84 academic year had been surpassed. Tlle total at the end of the July term will represent the tenth con- secutive year of record breaking enrollment, he added, Grady C. Cothen, president emeritus of the Sunday School Board, became the new national alumni president, succeeding Carolyn Weatherford, executive director of the Woman's Missionary Union. Joe McKeever of Columbus, Miss.,was elected president-elect, Barbara Long of Little Rock, Ark., was elected secretary and Wayne Stockstill of Upland, Calif., treasurer.

BY NEW ORLEANS REPRESENTATIVE Wilmer C. Ficlk SIC 1'n.s~Rcpwwntative Dan Martin Ncws Rcxjrn M;inagcr Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONVENTION BROADCAST ON BTN

DALLAS, June 12 -- The impact of the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention here has been broadened significantly through the live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Baptist Telecommunication Network (BTN). More than 350 locations throughout the United States carried the live transmission. Many of those locations are churches and some are cable systems, ranging From Cadiz, Texas, where there is a potential audience of 40,000, and Louisville, Ky., with a potential audience of 350,000. At the First Baptist Church, Cordell, Okla., 46 persons watched the Tuesday evening session. After the Foreign Mission Board report, Jesse Newton, 58, made a decision to accept Christ because of what he had seen at the convention. J. V. Lobaugh, pastor of the western Oklahoma church, announced in church that interested persons could watch convention proceedings at the church. Newton was visiting the church and decided to attend and watch the convention in session. In Gaston, N.C., approximately 30 persons gathered on the opening day to watch the convention on BTN in the Gaston Baptist Association offices. Richard Spence, director of missions, called his office from Dallas and was told everyone there participated by singing hymns, praying anciaholding hands, The group voted 14-13 for Charles Stanley for president. Officials of RTN said the transmissions had gone without problems through the second day, with only a few calls reporting equipment problems in churches. Several newscasts on national television networks used clips from the convention taken from the BTN transmission, The Baptist Telecommunication Network is a national teaching and training network for Southern Baptists sponsored by the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn.

-30-

By Jim Lowry -- 8 p.m. Wednesday Ncws lLx)r~i C.bi~vcntion CL.ntcr (214) 658-7954 Wilmcr C. &I& SIK: Pr~sRcpmentativc Dan Martin Ncws Room Manager Cnig Iiird I'hotographylFcatur~~Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11.13, 1985

Wednesday Night Resolutions

DALLAS, June 12--In a stormy Wednesday night business session, messengers to the 128th Southern Baptist Convention adopted three resolutions, amending two, including the traditional resolution on appreciation for convention hospitality. A second resolution affirming the priorities of evangelism and missions was amended to add a third priority, education. A third resolution on prayer for spiritual awakening was adopted as presented by the 10-member Resolutions Committee. The resolution on appreciation had been adopted virtually unanimous1.y and presentation begun on another resolution when a messenger from Virginia protested that SBC President Charles Stanley had not recognized him for a proposed amendment to the resolution on ap- preciation. Stanley ruled by common consent that Michael Clingenpeel, pastor of Franklin Baptist Church, Franklin, Va., could present his amendment !which expressed appreciation "to heads of SBC agencies for devotion to Christ, loyalty to the denomination in difficult times of our beloved convention." Clingenpeel's amendment passed with only scattered opposition. The resolution also expressed appreciation to the convention's local committee, SBC officers, order of business committee and the media "for their informative and adequate coverage of the sessions and other pertinent activities of the Convention." James Murpl~y, Hope Valley Baptist Church, Durham, N.C., proposed the addition of education to the priorities of evangelism and missions. "We believe the Bible teaches us to go and win the lost. It also teaches us to go and train," said Murphy. The resolution urges Southern Baptists "to make evangelism, education and missions priorities within their sphere of influence to the end that the Great Commission might be carried out throughout the world. " , The resolution on prayer for spiritual awakening was adopted after an amendment was defeated that would have set aside the first Monday of each month as a day of fasting and prayer far spiritual awakening, As adopted, the resolution calls church and individuals to pray for a spiritual awakening. Earlier, in introducing the first part of the Resolutions Committee report, Chairman Larry Lewis, president of Hannibal-LaGrange College, Hannibal, Mo. , said the com- mittee agreed to present a minimum number of resolutions in the interest of unity and healing. "We have made a deliberate effort to be uncontroversial," said Lewis. "There is a time to be prophetic through resolutions but not this year." He said the committee did not consider resolutions on subjects addressed by the convention in recent years or resolutions of affirmation or censure of individuals or institutions. Additional resolutions will be presented to the convention Thursday morning.

By Linda Lawson--8: 55 p.m. Wednesday News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 WiirC Fields SBC Press Reprwmtative Dan Martin 85 ~Fxrs News Iioom Manager Craig Bid PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13,1985

CUTLINES FOR YOUR INFORMATION

24. THE WRITER AND THREE MAKERS OF HISTORY--Harold C. Bennett, executive secretary- treasurer of the SBC Executive Committee, presented special copies of the recently printed History of the Executive Committee to the book's author, Albert McCellan, and his two immediate predecessors, Duke McCall, second from left, and Porter Routh. McCellan was an assistant to a11 three. (Photo by Mark Sandlin)

26. PRESIDENTIAL PRIVILEGE--SBC President Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, delivered an impassioned plea for Christlike love in his presidential address. Later Stanley was elected to a second one-year term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

(Photo by Tim Fields)

32. MEETING THE MEDIA--Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, found his post-election press conference was like almost everything else about the 1985 SBC meeting in Dallas--bigger than what came before it. Stanley, in his second "after el.ection" meeting with reporters, answered questions in a newsroom which housed more than 600 credentialed reporters--hundreds more than usual,

(Photo by Tim Fields) News Hwm Dabs Canvention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Repmtave Dan Martin News Room Manager Ctaig Bird PhotopphylFeatures Manawr

Southern Baptist Convention JUIX 11.l3, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WEDNESDAY NIGHT MISCELLANEOUS

DALLAS, June 12 -- Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., and former Southern Baptist Convention president, was designated Wednesday night to preach the 1986 Convention sermon when the denomination holds its annual meeting June 10-12 in Atlanta. The recommendation of Rogers, first in a succession of conservative presidents elected by SBC messengers since 1979, won approval despite some opposition at the denomination's 128th annual meeting in Dallas Convention Center. Rogers served as president of the convention from 1979-1980. Homer L. Lindsey, Jr., co-pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., was designated as the alternate preacher for the 1986 convention sermon, William Reynolds, associate professor of church music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was chosen to lead music for the Atlanta meeting. Rogers also was among 11 past Southern Baptist Convention presidents recognized during the evening session, which included actions on resolutions, motions and miscellaneous business. Messengers heard an appeal from Robert L. Hamblin of Atlanta, vice president for evangelism for the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, to make evangelism the denomination's number one priority, Hamblin said a spiritual hunger "which you can see in the hollow eyes of those who are lost in the despair of their sins" runs rampant in the United States. Hamblin challenged messengers to participate in "Good News America, God Loves You," an HMB-sponsored event which calls for the 36,000-plus SBC churches to sponsor simultaneous revival meetings in an effort to evangelize more than 500,000 people in 1986. Hamblin said Southern Baptists' previous high in baptisms was 460,000. Baptisms have continued to hold steady around the 400,000 mark, he said, noting the reasan Southern Baptists haven't crested the one-half million mark is because "you are not winning people to Christ." He predicted that simultaneous crusades would result in 560,000 baptisms next year. "Southern Baptists believe in evangelism; we say it is our priority. Let us not make evangelism our priority,'' he implored. Undergirding the denomination's Bold Mission Thrust, the plan to share the gospel with every person in the world by the year 2000, requires an increased commitment to cooperation, said Cecil Ray of Raleigh, N. C. Ray directs Planned Growth in Giving, a 15-year denominational emphasis that calls for each Southern Baptist and each SBC church, association and state convention to syste- matically increase its gifts through the Cooperative Program, the denomination's unified budget . ~ay'sdaughter, Susan, who co-authored a book with her father about cooperation as Southern Baptists' mission strategy, explained that Southern Baptists love for cooperation and missions "has made us a unique denomination," Speaking from the convention platform from her motorized wheelchair, Susan Ray asserted Planned Growth in Giving was ~od's way of leading the denomination to stop arguing about the Bible and instead take its message "to a lost world." Dissension within the 14.3-million member denomination could rob it of the opportunity to reach the world with the gospel, she added. If Southern Baptists fail to take the Bible's message to people in need, "God will raise up another group somewhere in the world to take our place," she warned. "We will be left standing in the backwash, left there to shrivel and die." Messengers also collected an offering for world hunger, following through on a motion passed earlier in the day.

By Michael Tutterow--10:05 p.m. Wednesday

News Roam ,,vent, center *&(214) 656-7954 Wilmer C. Fields SBC Press Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Rmm Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Suuthern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-13, 1985

HOME MISSION BOARD REPORT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 12--The president of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board challenged messengers Wednesday night to let themselves be used to help a nation that "is hemorrhagkng internally from unforgiven sin and spiritual lostness." In his report to the Southern Baptist Convention entitled, "Spreading God'a Love Through Ministry," William G. Tanner of Atlanta used the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate that Southern Baptists must give of themselves to see the good news of Jesus Christ brought to a world of lost and hurting people. Our nation is a montage of confused and searching people lost in the shuffle of times and movements without any hope of redemption," Tanner charged, "And they are our responsibility." Tanner said Southern Baptists must not allow their churches to simply blend into a culture which evades responsibility. "The church is not a storm shelter to protect us from the hurting people stumbling around in a battered world. It is a launching pad to put us in the midst of a world that is crying for help," he declared. Personal sacrifice, Tanner said, is a must if Southern Baptists are to be neighbors to a lost world. I I The Son of God wants to go out on the city streets and mix and mingle with the crowds of irreligious because he loves them, but He will never get to the streets of your city unless you go there," he said. The Home Mission ~oard'sreport was given five standing ovations as Tanner and various Home Mission Board personnel related the agency's work. Maurice Graham, chaplain at St. Jude Hospital, Memphis, Tenn., said it was a privilege to share God's love. It But it's not my ministry. It is Southern Baptists who through their Cooperative Program giving help me share love with more than 4,000 patients at St. Jude Hospital." Tanner reported there were more than 3,700 home missions personnel in 1984. During the past year, Tanner said, missions and volunteer personnel, chaplains and staff reported 59,498 professions of faith, 34,916 additions to churches and 8,600 decisions for special sewice. The Home Mission Board also assisted in starting 769 new churches and 2,140 missions. Personnel preached 262,617 during the year. Tanner said Southern Baptists responded in record numbers to volunteer missions opportunities in 1984. More than 49,000 volunteers, a 100 percent increase since 1977, served through the Home Mission Board, he noted. News Koom

(214) 6587'354 WkrC, Fields SBC Ptrss Representative Dan Martin News horn Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFcaturesManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dh,June ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Committee on Committees

DALLAS, June 12--Amidst suspicion of possible voter irregularities, the Southern Baptist convention's Committee on committees' slate of nominees to the Committee on Boards Wednesday night survived a heated challenge from the floor. Messengers approved the committee's nominees to the key Committee on Boards by a vote of 13,123 to 9,851, after a disputed ruling by SBC President Charles Stanley and parlia- mentarian Wayne Allen of Memphis that a substitute slate of nominees was out of order. Before announcing the vote, SBC Registration Secretary Lee Porter told messengers he had reports from members of the SRC teller's committee that numerous persons were seen passing out bal.l.ots outside the convention hall and in the parking garage. "I was asked to do something about it," Porter said, "but I can't. The integrity of the balloting system of the SBC depends on the integrity of local churches and individual messengers. I1You cannot vote another person's ballot if they leave," Porter told the messengers. "We shouldn't: have to supervise that in a meeting of 12, let alone a meeting of 40,000 to 45,000.'' Messengers hotly contested nominees to the Committee on Boards because that committee nominates candidates for trustee boards of national SBC boards, agencies and institutions. Committee appointments have been a key factor in disputes between so-called moderate and conservative Southern Baptists in the past six years. Following the vote three Southern Baptist pastors--Cecil Sherman of Fort Worth, Texas; his brorher, Bill Sherman of Nashville, Tenn., and James Slatton of Richmond, Va.-- held a news conlerence to protest what they called a lack of justice in the voting process. Earlier in the day, Slatton proposed that presidents of state Baptist conventions and Woman's Missionary Union organizations be substituted for the Committee on Committees' slate. Discussiot~over Slatton's challenge, characteristic of actions throughout the day on the issue, evolved into confusion and repeated cries of "point of order'' as messengers and leaders at the SHC podium sought to deal with the issue. Stanley eventually ruled Slatton would have to nominate and the messengers discuss the 52 names one by one, rather than present them as a group. Messengers rejected Stanley's ruling 12,576 to 11,801. When business resumed at the evening session, the President Stanley upon the advice of parliamentarians ruled SRC Bylaw 16 prevents messengers from amending Committee on Cammittee slates of nominees and that they must be either accepted or rejected. Slat ton, both Shermans and others protested that Stanley ignored numerous shouts for "points of order" from a11 over the convention hall as he brought the issue quickly to a vote. "They'll say we were disturbing the peace," Slatton said. "I say a guaxantee of peace is due process and a structure that makes peace possible. Regrettably we don't have due process. I' Parliamentarian Allen told the messengers he and two other parliamentarians had studied the issue all afternoon following the first business session. Allen quoted SBC Bylaw 16 as stating the Committee on Committees "shall nominate all special conrmittees" and said the verb "shall1' doesn't allow discretion to amend as the verb "may" would have. Earlier, Bill Hickem of Jacksonville, Fla., and president of the Florida Baptist Con- vention, spoke against the motion on grounds that it would cause one autonomous body, the Southern Baptist Convention, to interfere with other autonomous bodies, the state Baptist convent ions. Slatton disputed the parliamentarian's decision, noting the verb "shall" simply says the committee shall fulfill its duties by presenting a slate. "That doesn't prohibit a call for an amendment ,I1 Slarton said. "It's normal rules of order to be allowed to amend a committee report." The argument about autonomous bodies "is spurious," Slatton said, "because the state would not be appointing committee members. I was using the state convention leaders as a convenient list of trusted people. Be said he did that to give the SBC a Committee on Boards free from the charge of being stacked by conservatives to control SBC boards and agencies. In the joint news conference, the Shermans and Slatton charged the proceedings Wednesday violated integrity and justice. "1'm here making an appeal," Bill Sherman told reporters, "since I can't be heard in there (the convention hall). 11As long as we were in there talking about things that did not deal with power in this denomination, they don't care what we do and we can have it," said Cecil Sherman, a member of the newly appointed SBC peace committee. "As soon as we began to address power (the appointive process), they were back because they were defensive of a system that now they control," he said. The Shermans said they felt the election of SBC President Charles Stanley over op- ponent Winfred Moore was a fair one, but not the vote on the committee on committees slate. Both said they did not see ballots being passed out but Bill Sherman said a 1,000 vote victory didn't surprise him from his observation af the floor but a 4,000 vote spread did. The Shermans and Slatton said they had no plans to pull aut of the SBC but would continue what they called "a quest for fairness.I1 "In a Baptist meeting, Baptists let people have the right of speaking and voting their will," Cecil Sherman said. h hat did not happen on the committee vote."

By Robert O'Brien--ll:20 p.m. Wednesday News Rrnm , 1)allas Convmtiiln Center I (214) 6587954 1 Wilmer C. Fields I SBC Prm Representative I

Dan Martin I New Room Manawr I Cmig Bid I PhotographylFeatures Manager I

Southern Bsptist Convention I Dabs, June ll.U, 1985 I

ASSOCIATION OF BAPTISTS FOR SCOUTING FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, June 13--Porter Routh, retired executive secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, became the tenth person in the world to receive the Silver Good Shepherd Medal Erom the Association of Baptists for Scouting at a recognition break- fast Wednesday, held in conjunction with the annual session of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Silver Good Shepherd Medal, made available through the Association of Baptists far Scouting in cooperation with the Boy Scouts of America, is the highest nationally accepted recognition for adult Scouters and peabars, Routh, who serveu aa vice-preeident, Baptist World Alliance, is an Eagle Scout and already hold^ the Gilver Beaver Award and the Good Shepherd Cross and Staff. Gaod Shepherd recognition w~sgranted to the following Southern Baptists: Rudy Fagan, president, Southern Baptiat Stewardship Commission; Robert L. Hamblin, Home Mission Board; John J. Hurt, retired editor, Baptist Standard; Paul G. Jones, 11, executive director- treasurer, Christian Acpion Commiseion, Mississippi Baptist Convention; arid William C. McCord, founding chairman of the Board, Criswell Center for Biblical Studies. The purpose of the Good Shepherd Cross and Staff is to acknowledge distinguished netvice by Baptist layperson^ and pastors guiding the spiritual, physical, mental and moral development of youth through uervice to the church and its Scouting program on the local, diatrict, council and national levels.

By Ken Camp--9:lS a.m. Thursday - News Rmm Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954 Wher C. Fields SBC PmRepreamtative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeahues Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, J~ne11-U, 1985

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55. EVANGELIST OFFICERS--Elected to head up the Souehern Baptist Evangelist Conference for next year were, from left: Bob Kendig, Memphis, Tenn., parliamentarian; Rudy A. Hernandez, Cararina, Texas, vice president; Larry Taylor, Bandera, Texas, president; Jim McNiel, St. Louis, KO., music director; Dick Barrett, Bremen, Ga., assistant music director; and Jackson Cox, Milledgeville, Ga., secretaryftreasurer.

(Phato by Lonnie Wilkey)

54, DOM LEADERS--Directors of Missions officers elected were from left, first row, Maurice Flowers, Jones County Association, Laurel, Miss., secretary; Russell Baker, Atlanta Association, Atlanta, Ga., 1986 host director; Bob Wainwright, Flat River Association, Oxford, N.C., treasurer; Mack Smoke, San Jacinro Association, Baytown, second vice president; back row, (1-r) Carl Duck, Nashville Association, Nashville, Tenn., first vice president; Everett Anthony, Chicago Metro Association, Oak Park, Ill., editor; Bob Lee Franklin, Noonday Association, Atlanta, Ga., president.

(Photo by Lonnie Wilkey) News Room DabConvention Center (214) 6584954 Wher C. Fields SBC Press Repmntativc Dan Martin News Room Manager Crai~Bird Photography /Featured Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dab, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cut lines

47. HAND VOTING---Marshall Love, a messenger from Liberty Baptist Church In Hawkins, Texas, was among more than 45,000 messengers at the 1985 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Non-ballot votes are taken by messengers holding up their ballots-- the back card of which is pink to make it easier for the presiding officers to judge the results. (Photo by David Bell)

43. ANOTHER VIEW---Adults may have been overwhelmed by the crowds of people swarming the Dallas Convention Center during the 1985 session of the Southern Baptist Convention--but imagine what it looked like to people under three feet tall. This young lady decided to brighten her outlook by peering over her sun glasses. (Photo by Sherri Brown)

51. WIVES OFFICERS---Elected to head up the Conference of Ministers"Wives for 1986 are: Mrs. Russell Dilday, Fort Worth, Texas, president; Mrs. Peter Rhea Jones, Decatur, Ga., vice-president; Mrs. Ray Rust, Columbia, S.C., secretary-treasurer, and Mrs. Bill Hinson, New Orleans, corresponding secretary. (Photo by Sherri Brown)

61. IGNORED---Rudy Pulido, a messenger £ran Southwest Baptist Church in St. Louis got caught in the parlimentary snarl of SBC business Wednesday night. During the business session Pulido was twiae recognized by Convention president Charles Stanley then asked twice to wait and Stanley would get back to him. He never was allowed to ask his question. (Photo by David Bell)

7. WMU LEADERSHIP---Elected leaders for Woman's Missionary Union for the coming year has a familar look--All three officers were reelected, Flanking WMU-SBC Executive Director Carolyn Weatherford are President Dorothy Sample (dark hair) of Flint, Michigan, and Betty Gilreath of Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Mark Sandlin)

22. ANOTHER DIMENSION---For the first time in history the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention was televised around the country. BTN, a satellite system which connects the Baptist Sunday School Board with local SBC churches broadcast every moment of the SBC sessions, Co-anchors for the coverage were Gomer Lesch, of Nashville, Tenn,, and Richard McCartney of Oklahoma City,

(Photo by Ken Lawson) News Rwm 0 nit1l;ls Canvention center (214) 658-7954 Wilmer C. ReIds SBC Press Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

CU.TLI.NE CORRECTION .,. . ,,. ..,,..,,,, ,...,..,

In cutline 48, please make the following addition.

In the next to the last line, please add the word Acteen to the list of persons mentioned in the photograph. It should be Porter, Royal Ambassador and Acteen pages. News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 658-7954. WirC. Fields SBC Press Repraentative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography/Features Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BPRA Exhibit Winners

DALLAS, June 13--Judges made first and second place awards in four categories in the Baptist Public Relations Association Exhibit competition conducted during the Southern Baptist Convention. First place winners are Education Commission, SBC, Category I; Baptist General Convention of Texas, Category 11; Annuity Board, SBC, Category 111, and Southern Bap- tist Seminaries, Category IV. Second place winners are Mississippi College, Category I; Union University, Category 11; Brotherhood Commission, SBC, Category 111, and Baptist Sunday School Board, CPS Section, Category IV. Seventeen exhibits were entered in the competition to encourage improved comrnunica- tion by means of exhibits prepared by members of the Association. Category I is for cxtribits costing up to $500; Category I1 is for exhibits costing from $501-2,500; Category I11 is for exhibits costing from $2,501-5,000 and Category IV is for exhibits costing $5,001 and above. Judges, all from Dallas, were Mike McDaniel of Herirage Communications, a company that designs booths and displays; Skeeter Hagler, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer of the Dallas Times-Herald, and Mac Roy Rasor, retired corporate public relations executive and former Associated Press reporter.

By Oscar Hoffmeyer, Jr.--ll:40 a.m. Thursday - News Room Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fib SEC Press Representative Dan Maain News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotogmphyIFeatum Manager

Southern Bapdst Convention Dallas, June 11-U,1985

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62. VALENTINE HONORED--Charles Wade, right, pastor of First Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas, and chairman of the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission, presents the Cormnission's~annual Distinguished Service Award to Foy Valentine, Executive Director of the moral concerns agency as his wife, Mary Louise Valentine, looks on. Valentine, head of the agency for the past 25 years currently holds the longest tenure of any Southern Baptist agency head. (Photo by Tim Fields) 0.- hn;;;7.52;;News Room Wilmer C, Fields SBC Ptw Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird Ph~togra~hylFeaturesManager

Southern Baptist Convention Dadas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE MLEASE

Thursday Morning Agency Reports

DALLAS, June 13--Six Southern Baptist agencies and commissions brought their annual reports to SBC messengers Thursday morning in one of the least disputed sessions of the three-day meeting. Included in the line-up were the reports of two Baptist seminaries---Midwestern and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminaries. Midwestern president Milton Ferguson said the school was committed to finding an alternative to two theological extremes---the denial of the supernatural element in the gospel and the rationalism that "prescribes what God must do and how he must act." Both extremes rely on human reason rather than "biblical faith" for authority, he said. "We are dangerously close to spiritual blasphemy, telling God what he can and cannot do," Ferguson said. "God cannot be called upon to do our bidding like a trained dog jumping through a hoop. " After his report, Ferguson was asked by Ellis Villarreal, pastor of Milton Avenue Baptist Church, Brownwood, Texas, to address the issue of liberalism in Southern Baptist schools. Villarreal called on the SBC seminaries "at least to admit that we have at least an inkling or a leaning toward this. .----liberalistic . thought." Ferguson said he too was concerned about theological teaching in Baptist schools and was thankful for a system that allowed Villarreal to raise the issue from the floor. W. Randall Lolley, president of Southeastern, told the messengers the school was representative of the pluralism of the Southern Baptist Convention. "We are enriched and not threatened by our Southern Baptist diversity," he said. During one of the later reports, Steve Kehrer, associate pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Dallas, brought another question about seminaries, saying he was not recognized during the earlier reports. "I don't exactly hear what is to be done about these institutions that are straying from traditional Baptist doctrine," Kehrer said. "What are our seminaries going to do to purge the non-Baptist teaching and non-Baptis t professors from our institutions?" SBC president Charles Stanley said the question could not be addressed at that time, but that Kehrer should take his concern to the recently elected peace committee. In the report of the Brotherhood Commission, it was announced 500,000 men and boys are involved in missions education and involvement through the agency. Brotherhood President James H. Smith said the organization promotes a dual emphasis on body and soul through both evangelism and helping ministries. At the close of the report, Smith presented Foreign Mission Board President R. Keith Parks a goat, symbolic of those being purchased by Royal Ambassadors for people in Bangladesh. Jimmy R. Allen, president of the Radio and Television Commission, said the agency's American Christian Television System is still in infant stages, but "it will fly." Allen said the effort would succeed because of its own necessity and because Baptists would support it. Allen reported the SBC Executive Committee is now studying ways to refinance the start-up costs of the nationwide Baptist TV network. The Education Commission reported 190,000 young people are enrolled in Baptist schools, and chat Southern Baptists have given $81 million to support these educational ministries. Other reports to the body came from the Baptist World Alliance, which is meeting in Los Angeles July 2-7, and the American Baptist Theological Seminary Commission, which operates a school in Nashville for black ministers in conjunction with the National Baptist Convention.

By Greg Warner -- 12:lO p.m. Thursday '-. News Room Dallas Convention Center (214) 65&7954 Wilmer C. Fiel& SIX Ptpss Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

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30. ONE MORE LINE --- The 1985 SBC meeting attracted a record number of resolutions. Above, Ron Sisk, messenger from Tiburon Baptist Church, Tiburon, Calif., consults with the Resolutions Cammittee. (Photo by Tim Fields)

33, FMB REPORT --- One of the more striking moments during the Foreign Mission Board report to the 1985 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention was the parade of missionaries in the dress native to the countries in which they serve. FMB President R. Keith Parks received a standing ovation from messengers after his address. */.- News Rnom hllas Convention Qnmr (214) 658-7954 WbC, Fulde SBC P- Representative Dan Martin News Room Manager Ctaig Bird PhotographylFeatum Manager I Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday Morning Motions I DALLAS, June 13--Five motions that had not been properly handled during the Wed- nesday evening business session of the Southern Baptist Convention were ruled out of order Thursday morning, and messengers declined to overturn the ruling so that they might be considered, Morris Chapman, chairman of the SBC Committee on Order of Business which processes motions, apologized for "mishandling" the motions, explaining that he was rushed Wednesday in trying to accept all motions presented to him, and that due to the rush, the committee had not followed proper convention procedure for processing motians. He also said he had been unavailable for comment or clarification of the matter followjng his Wednesday report due to a sudden illness of his mother-in-law, The normal process for the convention to receive items of business is to permit messengers to propose them during business sessions and to print them in the Daily Convention Bulletin when they are scheduled for discussion. The five motions dealt with abortion issues, parliamentary procedure and resolution votes. "I accepted these motions quickly," Chapman said. "It has since come to my atten- tion that they should be moved by those persons who submitted those motions. Those five motions, then, would not be in order." The one motion scheduled for discussion at the 10:30 a.m. business session was soundly defeated, following a plea by ?lerschel H. Hobbs of Oklahoma City, former SBC president and former chairman of the committee that drafted the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message statement. The motion would have removed the words "mixture of" from that statement, making it then read: "It has God for its author, salvation for it3 end, and truth, without any error, for its matter.'' The phrase "truth without any mixture of error" was taken from the 1925 Faith and Message statement, Hobbs said, and that phrase in the 1925 statement lifted from the New Hampshire Confessions of Faith, prepared'in 1833. "It has served Southern Baptists well for over 150 years," he said. Since 1963, motions have been presented repeatedly to amend the statement on faith, he said. very time, the convention has voted down those efforts." The current statement has been endorsed previously by both moderates and conser- vatives, including former SBC president Adrian Rogers and conservative leader Paul Pressler, Aabbs said. Hobbs quoted from an article in -The Theological Educator; a publication of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, in which Pressler had described the statement as "Splendid, splendid," and as, "It could only have been written by an inerrantist." "I agree with him," ?Iobbs said. Messengers also refused to suspend a Committee on Order of Business ruling regard- ing a motion by the Rev. fl. J. Peteraen of Eastern Heights Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Ind. The motion had been referred earlier to the SBC Christian Life Commission. The motion called for the Christian Life Commission to provide a workbaok for all Southern Baptist churches on how to "legislate against abortion on demand; how to set up a crisis pregnancy counseling center; and how to peacefully picket against abort ion clinics ." Thursday Morning Motions

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President Charles Stanley turned back challenges to his rulings during discu~sions and approval of controversial nominations to a committee on boards by his Committee on Committees. Following the advice of Parliamentarian Wayne Allen of Memphis, President Stanley ruled the messengers could only accept or reject the nominations, not amend them. Messengers accused Stanley of ignoring another convention bylaw which stated the .convention reserves the right to amend the body of all reports. Stanley replied through his parliamentarian that the bylaws clearly state that the Committee on Committees nominates, not reports, and that bylaw did not apply. Another messenger made an effort to extend the business session and when he was unsuccessfu1,he declared "we do not believe in dictatorships in Cuba and Russia or on the platform of the Southern Baptist Convention." 1 I I rule you out of order," Stanley said. A third messenger asked the president why he didn't acknowledge points of order during heated Wednesday night discussions on the committee nomination. I1The chair recognized no points of order so there are none," he replied. The discussions were tempered by pleas from John Sullivan, pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, and Winfred Moore, newly elected first vice-president, to discontinue reviewing the controversial committee recommendations.

By Karen Benson and Roy Jennings--l:50 p.m. Thursday News Houm 0- bnvention Center (214)65EL.7954 WiC. F~lcls SBC Press Representative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird Photography /Features Managcr

Southern Baptist Convention DaUas, JUW ll.U, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY RESOLUTIONS DALLAS, June 13 -- Messengers adopted with little discussion eight resolutions submitted by the Resolutions Committee and defeated a Kentucky messenger's attempt to bring to the floor a resolution on secret recordings during their Thursday morning session. The rwo-hour business session was punctuated by points of order and attempts to gain reconsideration of the Committee on Committees report adopted Wednesday night. However, in presenting the final report of the Resolutions Committee, Chairman Larry Lewis, president of Hannibal LaGrange College, Hannibal, Mo., had urged the messengers not to introduce amendments that would be controversial. "If you inject a divisive issue, I think you will do the body more harm than good," said Lewis, who had maintained since his nomination as chairman that he wanted the resolutions~ process to contribute to healing and unity. Resolutions adopted Thursday included four related to governmental issues -- approval of 1984 equal access legislation, support for charitable contributions deductions, opposition to a national lottery and interpretation of a Tennessee law treating churches as political action committees. Resolutions supporting the denomination's Cooperative Program and refugee resettlement efforts were adopted with two opposing homosexuality and video tapes, cable television channels and relephone messages containing pornography. The eighr resolutions adopted Thursday brought to 11 the number adopted by messengers to the 128th Southern Baptist Convention. Earlier, the messengers approved resolutions supporting convention priorities of evangelism, education and missions, favoring spiritual awakening and expressing appreciation for convention hospitality. William Shoulta, pastor of First Baptist Church, Providence, Ky., had proposed a resolution on secret recordings of fellow Southern Baptists, one of a record 74 suggested by messengers to the Resolutions Committee. The 10-member committee had declined to take action on the resolution urging messengers Lo condemn the practice of secretly recording conversations and discouraging the election to leadership positions of persons who admit the practice. Shoulta said he sought consideration of his resolution in the interest of integrity. "We may be divided, but we are not unethical," said Shoulta. Opposing consideration of the resolution, Lewis said, "If we want to have a fight on our hands, we can have a good one." Messengers voted overwhelmingly not to consider Shoultals resolution. Only three of the 11 resolutions were amended by messengers. The resolution on pornography was changed to include opposition to child pornography along with video and telephone pornography. The traditional resolution on appreciation was amended to include SBC agency leaders in addition to the 1985 convention's local committee, SBC officers, order of business committee and the media "for their informative and adequate coverage of the sessions and other pertinent activities of the Convention." A resolution affirming the priorities of evangelism and missions was amended to add a third priority, education. An attempt to amend the homosexuality resolution to urge churches to minister to homosexuals failed after Resolutions Committee member Larry Holly, Beaumont, Texas, said the amendment was redundant. As adopted, the homosexuality resolution opposes "the identification of homosexuals as a minority with attendant benefits or advantages" and a££irms that forgiveness and transformation through Christ is possible, The resolution supporting the Cooperative Program urges churches to increase their giving through the denomination's unified plan and requests state conventions to consider a goal of 50-50 distribution of funds to state convention and SBC causes. , < Li Page 2 Thursday Resolutions . --- -. _I__. . . " ___. - -

The refugee resettlement resolution notes the 10th anniversary of Southern Baptist resettlement of Indochinese refugees and encourages churches and individuals to increase involvement in resettling legal refugees. After urging support of equal access legislation in a 1984 resolution, the 1985 resolution supports efforts to educate people to the purpose of the legislation which became law Aug. 11, 1984. The Tennessee law which is criticized in the resolution on churches as political action committees is being interpreted in the state to include churches that spend at least $250 supporting or opposing any law submitted to voters. The resolution urges opposition to "any law that would classify churches as political campaign committees if they address such issues." After the adoption of the Resolutions Conunittee report, Lewis said, "I was amazed that people with such strong feelings resisted the temptation to ventilate their feelings and to amend resolutions by introducing volatile, divisive issues." He called the lack of divisive amendments an answer to prayer. "Before we made our report we joined hands and prayed the spirit of God would bring healing and that we would be able to aid that process." Lewis had said before the convention he hoped his committee would take corrective action on the 1984 resolution that blamed women for the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. However, the committee decided not to address the issue. "If we had attempted corrective action on the 1984 resolution, there would almost certainly have been amendments supporting or opposing ordination of women," said Lewis. "This was not the time to stage that kind of battle."

By Linda Lawson--2 p.m. Thursday News Room Ikdas anvention Center (214) 65&7954 WirC. Fiilds SBC Press Fkpresentative Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager C* Bird PhotographylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dabs, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

American Baptists Recruit

DALLAS, June 13--Southern Baptist churches disgruntled over events in their denomination during recent years would be welcomed into the American Baptist Conven- tion, Robert Seymour, a Chapel Hill, N.C., Baptist pastor said Thursday, but so far few seem ready to make the move. Seymour is pastor of Binkley Memorial Baptist Church, which is al4gned with both the ABC and the Southern Baptist Convention. He held a meeting in the Dallas Hilton Wednesday night to talk to any interested ministers. Only a handful turned out for the meeting, but Seymour said more than 25 people had approached him during the week about dual alignment, full participation in both denorninacions. The 128th Southern Baptist Convention attracted 45,404 messengers for three days of meetings. "This is a very difficult thing for a Southern Baptist church to do," explained Everett Goodwin, pastor of the dually aligned First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. "They need to say 'We're not leaving, just establishing a new relationship. "' Seymour said American Baptists are more receptive to theological diversity than Southern Baptists because they are a conglomeration of many smaller ethnic and regional groups. "The single most obvious difference is the incredible pluralism," he said. That diversity prompted many black churches to align with the ABC during the civil rights movement, and would offer women who feel excluded by the SBC the same benefits, he said. Seymour conceded the ABC, with 1.4 million members, would be overwhelmed if even a small percentage of Southern Baptist churches shifted allegiance. A split in the SBC might lead to a "new entity," a new denomination formed between the ABC and former SBC churches, the pastors agreed. Before 1945 the two bodies constituted one denomination, but they split over the issue of slaveholders being appointed as missionaries and the amount of home mission work in the South. Seymour said Baptists are the only major group that has not been reconciled after a Civil War split. Today 40 to 50 churches are aligned with both denominations, Seymour said, most in Florida and North Carolina. But despite the division among Southern Baptists, Seymour does not see that number increasing dramatically in the next year. "Many pastors say they would like to lead their church in this direction, but the people are not yet ready," he said.

By Greg Warner--2:25 p.m. Thursday News Kmm Dallas Convention Gnter (214) 6587954 Wier C. Fields SBC PmRepwsentativc Dan Martin NEWS News Room Manager Craig Bird PhotupphylFeatures Manager

Southern Baptist Convention Dallas, June 11.13, 1985

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WIDEMAN PRESS CONFERENCE

DALLAS, June 13 -- Donald V. Wideman, pastor of First Baptist Church, North Kansas City, Mo., and second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, expressed disappointment at his lack of participation in convention-related matters during his 1985 term. Wideman, who earlier this year claimed current SBC president Charles F. Stanley of Atlanta failed to consult with him before making key SBC committee appointments, maintained that "I have not been treated any differently here than I have been treated all year long." Wideman said he felt left out of proceedings at the Dallas meeting this week. He said Stanley asked him to preside over messengers assembled in an arena adjacent to the main hall and to report their vote to the main body of convention messengers. Wideman said he was asked Thursday morning to preside over the Thursday afternoon session of the Convention, Widernan said he also felt snubbed by Stanley during the opening day of the convention meeting. Wideman planned to register his protest to messengers regarding his exclusion from the appointnlent process, He contended Stanley denied him permission to speak, and that Stanley told him he "would not recognize me" if he tried to raise a point of personal privilege from the convention floor. Wideman also said he was disappointed by the "firm and somewhat autocratic" style of Stanley regarding parliamentary process during convention proceedings. Wideman criticized Stanley for not recognizing several points of order by messengers protesting their disapproval of committee on committee nominations. He said he hoped Stanley would be more inclusive of newly elected vice presidents W. Winfred Moore of Amarillo, Texas, and Henry Huff of Louisville, Ky., in appointments and nominations of key committees during the next year.

By Michael Tutterow -- 3:45 p.m. Thursday