'Contrary Faith'
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>> This is the March 2015 issue containing the April Bible Study Lessons Adoption causing evangelicals to 38 grapple with race baptiststoday.org ‘Contrary to our Faith’ Mel Williams tackles the scourge of poverty 4 New Baptist Covenant takes action 11 BIBLE STUDIES for adults 17 FA TH™ BAPTIST PROFILES IN CONSCIENCE John D. Pierce Executive Editor [email protected] Julie Steele A new William H. Whitsitt Chief Operations Officer [email protected] Heritage Society Series Jackie B. Riley Managing Editor ! [email protected] Tony W. Cartledge Tommy Douglas shaped Contributing Editor [email protected] Canada’s commitments to Bruce T. Gourley social justice Online Editor/Contributing Writer [email protected] BY BRUCE GOURLEY David Cassady Church Resources Editor [email protected] Vickie Frayne Art Director Jannie Lister 30 Customer Service Manager [email protected] Kimberly L. Hovis Marketing Associate [email protected] IN THE NEWS PERSPECTIVES Lex Horton Nurturing Faith Resources Manager Drayton and Mary Etta Sanders Thanks for 15 changing, challenging, [email protected] lead effort to support, strengthen and rewarding years 7 Walker Knight, Publisher Emeritus secure news journal’s mission 9 By John Pierce Jack U. Harwell, Editor Emeritus Executions drop to lowest level A grieving Christian, and that DIRECTORS EMERITI in two decades 12 which is to come 28 Thomas E. Boland By Bill Ellis R. Kirby Godsey Jonathan Edwards’ collected works Mary Etta Sanders available for download Learning to disagree agreeably Winnie V. Williams 12 29 By Bill Wilson BOARD OF DIRECTORS Catholic groups rally against climate change Donald L. Brewer, Gainesville, Ga. (chairman) amid intense church debate 13 ‘I survived a short-term mission trip’ 34 Cathy Turner, Clemson, S.C. (vice chair) By Brian Howell Edwin Boland, Johns Creek, Ga. Religious college presidents agree on Mary Jane Cardwell, Waycross, Ga. ‘calling,’ common threats 13 FEATURE Bob Cates, Rome, Ga. Jack Causey, Statesville, N.C. Rabbi Jack Moline succeeds Welton Gaddy Profoundly personal: Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. Kenny Crump, Ruston, La. at Interfaith Alliance 14 How adoption has forced evangelicals Doug Dortch, Birmingham, Ala. to grapple with race 38 James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. Pope’s ‘rabbits’ comment heightens By Sarah Pulliam Bailey Jack Glasgow, Zebulon, N.C. discussion of birth control Frank Granger, Athens, Ga. 14 Cynthia Holmes, St. Louis, Mo. Temple in Iceland to honor Norse gods 15 David Hull, Watkinsville, Ga. Becky Matheny, Athens, Ga. Turban confusion: Tommy McDearis, Blacksburg, Va. Andrew McGill, Chattanooga, Tenn. Americans clueless about Sikhs 35 William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. Roger Paynter, Austin, Texas Science vs. religion: Kathy B. Richardson, Rome, Ga. Charles Schaible, Macon, Ga. Researchers find more of a Charlotte Cook Smith, Winston-Salem, N.C. three-way split 42 Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. David Turner, Richmond, Va. Clem White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Vickie Willis, Murfreesboro, TN Cynthia Wise, Birmingham, Ala. Donna Wood, Macon, Ga. Photo by John Pierce. Story on page 4. READERS SERVICES Mission Statement or Baptists Today serves churches by providing a reliable TEACH source of unrestricted news coverage, thoughtful analysis, helpful resources and inspiring features FACILITATE? focusing on issues of importance to Baptist Christians. Advertising GREAT BIBLE STUDY in combination is in YOUR HANDS right now! Individual and Gift Subscriptions Baptists Today, P.O. 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POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to: Baptists TodayAll rights reserved. !"#$% &'( )*#"# +% ,#*' )-.$/. DIRECTOR EMERITUS O Baptists Today SBC Today PeaceWork Seeds ‘Contrary Baptists Today by Union Baptist Church, the city’s largest African-American congregation — that drew 540 people. Good ideas that have become good faith’ programs emerged, he said. “We help children by helping parents get Mel Williams coordinates efforts to tackle poverty better jobs,” he noted. Churches have partnered with schools, URHAM, N.C. — During his 24 End Poverty Durham brings together 15 and there is greater connectivity between the years as pastor of Watts Street Baptist to 20 leaders, representing diverse faith groups, privileged and the poor now. And the related D Church here, Mel Williams was well each month to raise awareness of the needs issue of race, he said, is being more directly known for his community engagement. Mel and to develop plans to reduce and ultimately addressed. served as president of Durham Congregations eliminate poverty. “We have to deal with race,” Mel said. in Action, co-founded Religious Coalition for The leaders identified five major areas “That’s become a crucial part of this.” a Nonviolent Durham, and co-founded End that impact the poor: education, housing, Mel came from simple roots — “the edge Poverty Durham 10 years ago. health care, jobs, and family support — which of poverty,” as he described it — to graduate In retirement (in 2012), he became includes daycare, transportation and “all the from Wake Forest University and Yale Divinity coordinator of End Poverty Durham, an orga- things that help families to work.” School. He seeks to open opportunities for nization of interfaith and community groups One successful program, started in 2007, others as were opened for him. working together for the single purpose found is the Durham Economic Resource Center While a ministerial student at Wake in the organization’s name. He hangs his hat, (DERC) — a warehouse where low-income Forest, Mel’s inclination toward social justice he said, at MDC, a nonprofit think tank study- residents can buy new clothes and other items issues was enhanced by his professors, friends ing “pathways out of poverty.” at drastically reduced prices. and especially one guest speaker. The then- The disparity between the privileged The contact made with shoppers, sophomore is still inspired by the words he and the poor in Durham has long concerned however, opens the door for supervised job heard in chapel from Martin Luther King Jr. in Williams. He points to escalating poverty rates training. And the program is working, said 1962 — calling the church to be “headlights” of 18 percent for adults and 28 percent for Mel, helping people move to self-sufficiency. rather than “taillights” in the cause of racial children. He calls the situation “unacceptable, Working in collaboration, End Poverty equality. shameful and contrary to the teachings of our Durham also addresses child poverty through In Durham, N.C., Mel is indeed a head- faith.” a broader effort in East Durham called REAL light that illuminates the way ahead. However, He doesn’t fight the battle alone. In fact, Durham (Relationships, Equipping Allies and he doesn’t seek the spotlight for his own efforts. much of his work involves connecting the Leaders) that matches families in poverty with “My role is in the background trying to various resources from within the wider com- supportive allies. make this happen,” he said. “I’m convinced munity. And the city’s mayor is onboard with A growing emphasis on child poverty led there are people with resources to make a the effort. to a faith summit in January 2013 — hosted difference.” BT 4 You are invited to the 15th annual JUDSON-RICE AWARD DINNER honoring Dr. Bill Leonard Please join this evening of celebration sponsored by the Baptists Today Board of Directors, the Judson-Rice Society and other faithful supporters. 6:00 pm — Registration and Reception 6:30 pm — Dinner * Dinner reservations Friday, April 24 $40 per person Bridger Field House $400 per table of 10 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, N.C. For reservations and sponsorships* visit baptiststoday.org or call (478) 301-5655, or send checks (marked “Judson-Rice Dinner”) to Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318. *Event sponsors: $500 sponsorship gifts are requested to honor Dr. Leonard and support Baptists Today. Event sponsors will be recognized for their support, and will receive two dinner tickets with preferred seating. quotation —Pastor Eric Spivey of First Baptist Church of Cornelia, Ga., after a man who stayed in remarks the church’s cold weather shelter in January was later arrested for a brutal murder (nowhabersham.com) —President Jimmy Carter, 90, on the thousands of annual visitors to Maranatha Baptist Church in —Oklahoma County Deputy A.J. Graffeo, who Plains, Ga. responded to a call that someone had vandalized