MAY 2011 | Vol. 29, No. 5 | baptiststoday.org

Soul food Families nourished by dinner night out page 4

MULTI-SITE NEW BAPTIST COVENANT EVENT SET FOR

NOVEMBER page 10

John D. Pierce BAPTISTS TODAY MAY 2011 | Vol. 29 No. 5 Executive Editor Julie Steele “To serve churches by providing a reliable source of unrestricted news coverage, thoughtful analysis, Chief Operations Officer helpful resources and inspiring features focusing on issues of importance to Baptist Christians.” Jackie B. Riley Managing Editor Tony W. Cartledge Contributing Editor PERSPECTIVES Bruce T. Gourley Online Editor > Getting free from frustration ...... 7 David Cassady By John Pierce Church Resources Editor An autonomous national Steve DeVane Contributing Writer > Gaustad kept us reminded of ‘Roger’s crazy ideas’ ...... 17 Baptist news journal Vickie Frayne By John Pierce Art Director Jannie Lister > Unlike Ford, Edwin Gaustad knew the value of history ...... 17 Former, current pastors Office Assistant By James M. Dunn Kim L. Hovis can make healthy Development/Marketing Associate > Bell on Hell ...... 18 handoffs Bob Freeman By Leroy Seat Development/Marketing Associate By Bill Wilson 8 Walker Knight Jack U. Harwell Publisher Emeritus Editor Emeritus > ‘A Decade of Promise’ — a decade later ...... 25 Board of Directors By Walter B. Shurden Gary F. Eubanks, Marietta, Ga. (chairman) Chinese connection Kelly L. Belcher, Spartanburg, S.C. > Is cooperative missions dead? ...... 26 (vice chair) made in Missouri Z. Allen Abbott, Peachtree City, Ga. By Mark Wingfield Jimmy R. Allen, Big Canoe, Ga. By Robert Nannette Avery, Signal Mountain, Tenn. Hamblin Thomas E. Boland, Alpharetta, Ga. 12 Huey Bridgman, Columbus, Ga. IN THE NEWS Mary Jane Cardwell, Waycross, Ga. Robert Cates, Rome, Ga. > Host churches sought for New Baptist Covenant II ...... 10 Jack Causey, Statesville, N.C. Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. Kenny Crump, Ruston, La. > Craddock commends good starts for ministers, churches ....11 David Currie, San Angelo, Texas James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. R. Kirby Godsey, Macon, Ga. > New Bible museum to feature significant artifacts ...... 16 Ben Gross, Chattanooga, Tenn. Leslie D. Hill, Lexington, Ky. > News Digest ...... 14,15,24 Michael M. Massar, Tyler, Texas J. Thomas McAfee, Macon, Ga. Michael G. Queen, Wilmington, N.C. > Expanded, newly designed Baptists Today ...... 36 Lee Royal, Greensboro, N.C. Mary Etta Sanders, Dalton, Ga. coming in June; May tour set Charles Schaible, Macon, Ga. Macon Sheppard, Folly Beach, S.C. > New online teaching resources coming next month ...... 37 Walter B. Shurden, Macon, Ga. “A rabbi, an imam & Charlotte Cook Smith, Raleigh, N.C. two preachers go on a David M. Smith, Houston, Texas Leo Thorne, Valley Forge, Pa. FEATURES trip …” Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. David Turner, Richmond, Va. By Elizabeth Evans > Baptists and the Civil War: May 1861 ...... 30 Clement H. White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Hagan Winnie V. Williams, Seneca, S.C. By Bruce Gourley

Baptists Today (ISSN 1072-7787) 34 is published monthly by: > Langdons answer six questions about CBF ...... 31 Baptists Today P.O. Box 6318 > The Pickin’ Preacher ...... 33 Cover photo by John Pierce Macon, GA 31208-6318 By John Pierce Members of a Dalton, Ga., Subscription rates: 1 year, $20 2 years, $35 congregation serve up more 1 year groups of 25 or more, $18 > Musical, politicians put Mormons in spotlight ...... 38 than food. 1 year groups of less than 25, $20 Story on page 4 1 year Canada, $35 1 year foreign, $50 Periodical postage paid at Macon, Ga. 31208 and additional mailing offices IN EVERY ISSUE POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to: Baptists Today Quotation Remarks 6 Classifieds 23 P.O. Box 6318 Macon, GA 31208-6318 Editorial 7 Lighter Side 28 (478) 301-5655 1-877-752-5658 Bible Studies 19 Reblog 29 www.baptiststoday.org In the Know 22 Media 32 © 2011 Baptists Today . All rights reserved.

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 3 FEATURE STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN PIERCE Soul food Families nourished by dinner night out

ALTON, Ga. — About every other Tuesday the fellowship hall D of the First Baptist Church of Dalton, Ga., looks especially hospitable. Tables are set, affirming messages roll quietly across a screen, and Jane Jarrett faithfully provides soft piano music. Church members Lori Lowery and Tim Rogers, editor of the local newspaper, serve guests There is no program — but a clear attending the three-year-old “Soul Food” dinner at First Baptist Church of Dalton, Ga. purpose: to provide a good meal and an enjoyable night out for families who other - SERVING HANDS wise might not have such an opportunity. Gail credits the church’s kitchen staff and “Soul Food” is a dream turned reality many volunteers with the enthusiasm that for Gail Duke who found her fellow church continues to grow after three years. Seven members and ministers eager to pitch in to teams work the kitchen, serving line and provide such hospitality for the working tables on a rotating basis. poor in a community hit especially hard by For some church members, their turn the economic downturn. doesn’t roll around often enough. Betty “They come as families and we feed and Charles Langford showed up even them here,” Gail said of the simple, but though it wasn’t their turn to serve. effective event that occurs on the first, “It’s addictive,” said Betty. “You get to third and fifth Tuesdays of each month. know the people.” Balloons, banners and birthday cakes Pastor Bill Ireland, who came to the Scott and Kerri went to “Soul Food” for a on this particular evening mark the cele - church after “Soul Food” was already going meal and found friends, work, a place to live and a church home. bration of three years for “Soul Food.” strong, said it takes no motivation from Children with icing on their fingers finish him or other ministers. He might offer a their hearty meals and head over to tables suggestion or give feedback to an idea, he there were families in Dalton who scraped where teens engage them in face painting said, “but mostly I get out of the way.” to get by and could use a night out on and balloon art. Twice a year, when the weather in occasion. On the drive back from the meet - It is apparent that more is being fed North Georgia is especially good, the din - ing she filled the ears of her then-pastor than empty stomachs. ner moves outdoors and becomes a Bill Wilson with her growing plan. “The stories are amazing,” said Gail, cookout. “The church was doing renovations,” during a rare break from moving table-to- said Gail, who served on the missions com - table to greet families and to invite them to GETTING STARTED mittee at the time. “So I stayed quiet for a complete a survey that will help volunteers While attending a Cooperative Baptist little while.” know what other services might be helpful. Fellowship of Georgia meeting, Gail heard Soon afterward, her proposal was well Some of that is already taking place. someone from another congregation talk of received and a planning committee was One Sunday school class assisted those serving “the working poor” and was formed. The first dinner was set and flyers needing help with tax return preparation. intrigued. were placed in the city schools — although And a “Soul Food” children’s choir is being Various programs fed homeless persons most promotion was by “more word of formed. regularly, she knew. But Gail wondered if mouth,” she said.

4 | Baptists Today • May 2011 FEATURE

Thirty-five persons attended the first And some of the families are engaging dinner. Now anywhere from 250-450 peo - in First Baptist in other ways beyond the ple attend regularly — causing the kitchen meal. Gail’s husband, Tommy Duke, crew to show great flexibility. believes that helps the congregation as well “They feel loved here,” she said of as the families. many families who return repeatedly. “We say we are diverse, but we’re not,” “They keep saying they are welcomed he said of the prominent church. “This is here.” possibly a way to get us more diversified.”

FAMILIES, FRIENDS SCOTT AND KERRI Some of the attendees are day laborers who One couple showed up for a meal nearly find “spotty work,” said Gail. Others face three years ago and ended up with both a particular challenges that squeeze their steady job and a new church family. resources. Scott and Kerri moved to Dalton to At the first “Soul Food” dinner, a 10- live with his sister after he lost his job — year-old girl rode several blocks on the and eventually their home — in a neigh - back of her ailing mother’s wheelchair so boring town. His sister told them about they could enjoy the meal with others. Gail “Soul Food,” so they stopped by. recalled the tenderness the girl showed in Meeting Gail and Tommy Duke began carefully removing corn from the cob and opening much-needed doors, they said. feeding it to her mother. “We needed the meal,” said Scott, “They said we could move in anytime When the woman went into the hospi - point blank. But he said they found much we liked,” Kerri recalled. “So we got some tal, the girl called the church because she more. stuff and moved in (that night).” knew they cared. When her mother died, “And we started going to church here,” Scott built a reputation for being hard church ministers and members were there Kerri added. working and soon was picking up odd jobs to help. The now-young teen continues The Dukes introduced Scott and Kerri all around. coming to the Tuesday dinners. to fellow church members George and “Gail and Tommy helped us out by Gail said she gets “sweet little notes — Phyllis Sutherland who had a farm with an giving me work when I didn’t have work,” especially at Christmas” from families empty trailer on it. They asked Scott and he said gratefully. “They’ve been a real showing appreciation for “Soul Food.” But Kerri if they might be interested in moving blessing to us.” the real rewards are in their stories. in there and doing some work on the farm. Scott and Kerri said they endured “a couple of rough years” and fear that would have continued had they not made their way to First Baptist for dinner on a Tuesday night. “It seemed like everything was pulling against us for about two years until we met this church,” said Scott.

BEYOND TUESDAYS Now they come to the church on Sundays as well — and Scott reports to work there on weekdays. When the church had an opening on its maintenance staff last December, hard-working Scott’s applica - tion rose to the top. “‘Soul Food’ has helped a lot of peo - ple,” said Scott. “It helped us for awhile.” Out of gratitude, Scott and Kerri return whenever “Soul Food” dinners are held at the church. They are a source of encouragement and hope to others who are going through challenging times. And they enjoy the meal. “We don’t need the food now, but Gail MORE THAN FOOD — Gail Duke hands out surveys to determine other ways in which church won’t let us come and not eat,” said Scott. members can assist their neighbors living on very limited means. “She’s got a heart that is so big.” BT

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 5 PERSPECTIVE quotation remarks

“The entrance exam for Christianity “Sadly, charity does“ nothing to “When I speak about ”living in a multi - is admitting you are a failure.” address the deeper issues of poverty, cultural environment, stripping —J.R. Briggs, a blogger and pastor of the Renew which are systemic. Charity is main - Christianity of its American biases, Community in Lansdale, Pa., who organized the tenance. What is needed is justice.” and developing a global worldview, Epic Fail Pastors Conference in April (RNS) —James Evans, pastor of First Baptist Church of (college) students look at me like I Auburn, Ala. (ethicsdaily.com) am an alien. It is mind-warping to “The Two Rivers Baptist Church realize there are committed Christians in other places who expe - name has been drug through the “I was the prodigal son … but I came rience life differently than you do.” mud for the last several years. I’d back … You start thinking about what even go as far to say that it’s been is important.” —President Jeff Iorg of Golden Gate Baptist Seminary, advocating at least two mission drug through the sewers.” —63-year-old rocker Alice Cooper telling TV host experiences for Christian teens (BP) —Executive Pastor Len Taylor on the renaming of Joy Behar of his return to the Christian faith Two Rivers Baptist Church, one of Nashville’s largest about 20 years ago (CNN) Southern Baptist congregations, as The Fellowship at “Are Christians called to change to Two Rivers following a long power struggle that world? Unequivocally, yes. This is, resulted in a lawsuit (The Tennessean) sometimes. Well, sort of … In a “Beyond religion it's the same sense, transforming the world is “Our church has a whole new life philosophy for any theme day: Jesus’ job. We’ve got a bad record. Some of the worst stuff we’ve done and spirit than in recent years. We give fans a chance to enjoy wanted our name to reflect that.” has been in the name of changing baseball with their group...” the world.” —Pastor Kevin Lund on the decision of Holladay Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in —Oakland A's Steve Fanelli on Jewish —Bishop Will Willimon of the North Alabama Utah, to change its name to Risen Life Church Heritage Night that offers a team yarmulke and Conference of the United Methodist Church, speak - (Salt Lake Tribune) admission for $26 (USA Today) ing at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary (ABP)

“A healthy society seems to arise when “There are three key components of free people can earn a living and find being a Baptist as I have known it. joy and purpose in the life they earn; “The magic of parables is that they Giving in to being loved, giving in to when going off to work is balanced by give us a glimpse of the transcen - the demands of love and giving back coming home to love; when diligence dent from the lens of the ordinary.” because of love.” and daydreaming are both valued…” —David Garland, New Testament scholar and —Church historian Walter B. Shurden in giving —Religion News Service columnist and dean of Baylor’s Truett Seminary, speaking at the Baptist Heritage Lecture Series at Campbellsville Episcopal priest Tom Ehrich Wayland University (Baptist Standard) University in Kentucky

“I learned about civil dialogue at my “The point was to get more people “The new model is you don’t provide family dinner table.” to be like Chuck.” the housing and you provide more financial aid.” —R. Marie Griffith, new director of Washington —Chip Mahon, a board member for Charles University’s John C. Danforth Center for Colson’s various ministries including the Centurions, —President Ron Crawford on Baptist Theological Religion & Politics in St. Louis, who grew up in a program designed to pass along the 79-year-old Seminary at Richmond’s plan to relocate after First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Tenn., where felon-turned-evangelical’s understanding and prac - “the orderly selling of the campus” that includes her parents, Nan and Charlie Griffith, remain tice of Christianity to younger handpicked leaders dorm space and apartments active lay leaders (St. Louis Beacon) (Washington Post) (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

6 | Baptists Today • May 2011 PERSPECTIVE editorial Getting free from frustration — by seeing what we are supposed to see By John Pierce

eeking personal appeasement — i.e., and distractions often become distractions and to pull into the driveway or walk outside and wanting everything done our way — frustrations for others who are seeking a divine notice first and foremost that a bench still S may be a greater obstacle than all oth - encounter. However, the needs for worship, needs a fresh coat of paint and a new shrub ers that churches face today. Yet changing community and transformation far exceed the row needs to be installed along the driveway. firmly held, personal perspectives is a major matters that cause our frustration. My attention on these few yet-to-be- challenge. Admittedly, needed shifts in perspectives finished projects often keeps me from enjoying A needed and intentional shift in perspec - are not done in a moment. They are learned the beauty of the many completed ones. It is a tives may only come through awareness and over a period of time — often while counter - matter of focusing on the wrong things. conviction. Instead of working so hard to get ing relapses. Likewise, we can engage in church life our way in every situation — and becoming The starting point is with our attention aimed at those matters that frustrated when it does not occur — we must confession. We must will often cause frustration: musical styles and work harder to get past our frustration to see acknowledge our ten - other elements of worship planning that differ what matters more than personal appeasement. dency to see what from our taste, the look and behavior of others This needed perspective jumped out to displeases us first — and who have come to church, or the physical set - me from a comment Texas Baptist lay leader our failure to move on to ting that we think could be improved. Ella Prichard made privately about her experi - those genuinely more Getting stuck on these points of frustra - ence with a small, multi-cultural congregation. important matters to tion leaves no room for giving proper She said: “I get frustrated with the lack of which we have been blinded. attention to our own personal spiritual organization, deferred maintenance, music that It’s a learned perspective — one many of transformation and to seeing the joy in others is not always to my taste — and then, again us are still trying to learn. It is an approach finding meaning and purpose in life. and again, I see God at work changing lives in not unlike my own tendency to see what needs Perhaps the starting place when feeling the most spectacular way and I feel like I’ve to be done rather than what good things have frustrated by “the way things are going” is to had a glimpse of the Kingdom of God.” been accomplished. explore what might be going on within our Indeed our tendencies are to see that This spring I completed some outdoor own lives. which frustrates us — the condition or design projects that had been on my “to do” list for a A change in perspectives may be needed of the building, the appearance of some atten - while: repainted a fence and arbor, and planted more than a change in worship styles, an orga - dees or the choices made by worship leadership about two-dozen shrubs and vines. Stone nizational restructuring or a fresh coat of paint — and to be blinded to the presence and planting areas were created to grow flowers on the walls. We just might get a glimpse of movement of God in broken lives. and vegetables this year. the Kingdom of God — if we look in the right The greater tragedy is that our frustrations Despite all of this work, my tendency is places. BT

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May 2011 • Baptists Today | 7 PERSPECTIVE BY BILL WILSON A healthy handoff Building crucial relationships between former, current pastors

The transition from one pastor to EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of a yearlong coupled with his undying love for the congre - series titled “Transitions: Helping churches and gation, helped make our remarkable work the next is a precarious handoff. church leaders in changing times,” provided there possible. through a partnership between Baptists Today and Another story of a successful transition Too often, the exchange is bungled the Center for Congregational Health (www.healthy - involves Michael Lea of the First Baptist church.org) based in Winston-Salem, N.C. and the ministers and local church Church of West Jefferson, N.C., who fol - suffer from a litany of bruised feel - my father and mother back on staff as co- lowed Pastor Emeritus Ken Morris, when he ministers of missions. Upon their return, retired after 33 years there. Michael entered ings, resentment, wounded ego Mike saw the congregation begin to enjoy the the situation with eyes wide open: “I knew that Ken could be my greatest threat or my and crippled ministry. warm relationship between my father and himself. greatest ally.” regularly talk with current and former “People loved the fact that the former Before coming in 2008, Michael dis - pastors, as well as their spouses and chil - and current pastors were good friends,” said cussed the transition process with the search I dren, who express deep hurt and regret Mike. “He never missed a chance to brag on committee and then spoke to Ken both by about the way a pastoral transition has taken me, and I never missed a phone and in person. He was reassured of a place. There is a better way because I had a chance to say how much healthy handoff, and said of Ken recently, ringside seat for a transition that went well. he meant to me. He “He has been my greatest asset.” My late father, Bill Wilson Sr., was the never tolerated criticism Healthy boundaries founding pastor of a church in Brentwood, of me from others, even Tenn., and after 20 years as pastor, left to when it was deserved.” Before Michael entered the picture, Ken pre - work for the state Baptist convention. His Over the years, Dad pared the congregation to love another successor, Mike Glenn, walked into a situa - became Mike’s counselor, pastor. He reminded them on numerous tion filled with both opportunity and peril. prayer partner and occasions that he was retiring because he Over the ensuing 20 years, the church encourager. Mike, never threatened by the wanted to, and he announced his intention to has relocated, grown exponentially and respect and affection the congregation had for fully support the new pastor. thrived. These two men and their families my father, even channeled it in positive ways. Ken stayed out of the search process, and managed this precarious situation with grace, “One time, in the midst of a church- was often absent from the church during the humility and wisdom. wide crisis,” he explained, “the anxiety in a two-year interim between his retirement The result is a congregation that contin - large meeting was very high. At a critical and Michael’s arrival. Like my father, Ken ues to live into its remarkable story with vigor, moment, I told the congregation that the first served other churches as he transitioned away health and passion. Brentwood Baptist Church thing I had done upon discovering the prob - from pastoral leadership of his long-time today is a congregation 8,000 strong, with an lem was to go to Bill Wilson (Sr.) for counsel congregation. amazing story of growth and innovation. and advice. When I said that, you could feel Serving as an interim pastor for two the tension ease and the whole church exhale. churches outside the county helped him sepa - Space for the new pastor His voice of wisdom, earned over the years, rate. “That feeling that I belonged to another Mike and I spoke recently about his relation - was invaluable to me.” church helped me feel that not all of my ship with my father. Mike regularly and Mike maintains that part of the strong roots were at First Baptist,” he said. publicly affirms my father’s ministry and growth and health of Brentwood Baptist has Today he calls Michael his pastor and insists that when he does so, he is affirming to do with how he, my father and the congre - friend. When Ken is asked to do a funeral, he the church itself and the fact that its past is gation managed that handoff from founding requests that the family go through Michael. inextricably linked to both present and pastor to successor. I believe their individual Then he lets Michael assign him a role. If future. ego strength and maturity were critical as the Ken visits church members in the hospital, he One factor that helped the transition at two of them modeled a healthy transition goes as a friend — not a pastor — and tells Brentwood was that, during Mike’s first five that perpetuated a healthy church culture. them, “Michael will take good care of you.” years as pastor, my father did interims, Later, in my own career, I was blessed to Trust and respect preached other places and attended a church succeed Billy Nimmons at the First Baptist plant. That time away gave Mike space to Church of Dalton, Ga., following his retire - Like the friendship between Mike and my become the pastor. ment. He was always gracious and generous father, Michael and Ken’s relationship is one Eventually, Mike and the church called with his support and encouragement, which of trust and open communication.

8 | Baptists Today • May 2011 PERSPECTIVE

“Ken has provided a great deal of lead - One factor that helped the transition Advice for incoming pastors: ership here by saying to people, ‘Michael is 1. Do not rush the transition. our pastor now; let’s ask him,’ or ‘let’s look at Brentwood was that, during 2. Recognize the principle of different gifts for to him for leadership at this time,’” Michael Mike’s first five years as pastor, my different times, which allows you to bless explained. your predecessor without reservation. On the other hand, Michael under - father did interims, preached other 3. Be respectful of and sensitive to the history stands that many in the church have a rich places and attended a church plant. and culture of the church. history with Ken, so they want him to be 4. Honor your elders. involved in funerals and weddings. The two That time away gave Mike space to 5. Watch your territorial language. Remember have proactively avoided triangulation. become the pastor. that it is Christ’s church, not yours or your When someone mentions Michael to predecessor’s. Ken, Ken responds with how fortunate he is 6. Leave your ego at the door. to have Michael as his pastor. When some - requires careful planning and sustained 7. Work to build trust with the former pastor one mentions Ken to Michael, Michael effort. and congregation. responds with a narrative description of the How can we manage this pivotal transi - great pastoral leadership that has brought tion in a way that is healthy and promotes Advice for former pastors: the church to this point. growth for all concerned? What follows is 1. Work to find interests and an identity apart The respect between former and cur - sound advice from Mike, Ken and Michael. from being pastor of that congregation. rent pastor is clear. Ken refuses to serve on To read more about the ways former 2. Tell the congregation that you are no longer committees or teach Sunday school, but he pastors can leave well, and to read the full the pastor, and believe it yourself. stays involved in music at the church and interviews with Mike Glenn, Michael Lea 3. Show support and confidence in the church occasionally volunteers in the library. and Ken Morris, visit and in the new pastor and pastoral staff. Michael invites Ken to meetings of the healthychurch.org/threshold or 4. Set boundaries around funerals, weddings larger staff. cntr4conghealth.wordpress.com . BT and hospital visits. “This is Christ’s ministry,” Michael insisted, “not Ken’s or mine.” —Bill Wilson is president of the Center For outgoing and incoming pastors: A healthy handoff between former and for Congregational Health (www.healthy - Model health, even if it is not reciprocated. current pastors never just happens. It church.org) based in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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May 2011 • Baptists Today | 9 INFORMATION STORY AND PHOTO BY JOHN PIERCE Host churches sought for multi-site event New Baptist Covenant [email protected]. Updated said, the receipt of funds for retaining prison - information will be posted at www.new ers has become an incentive to keep prison organizers planning baptistcovenant.org. facilities full. Shared programming via satellite from “I think there’s some wonderful things we Nov. 17-19 gathering the Atlanta site will begin on Thursday might do on that one subject,” Carter said. evening Nov. 17 and conclude on Friday Building homes through Habitat for evening Nov. 18. Two prominent African- Humanity and making poor families aware of TLANTA — Three years after the American Baptist preachers, National Baptist resources available to them are other possible Celebration of a New Baptist Convention of America president Stephen projects he mentioned. Carter said his own A Covenant drew 15,000 persons from Thurston and Progressive National Baptist congregation, Maranatha Baptist Church in various Baptist groups to Atlanta, a second Convention president Carroll Baltimore, will Plains, Ga., has made an intentional effort to major event is being planned for mid- speak. Additional program personalities and become better acquainted with the poorest November with large church-based gatherings plans will be forthcoming. persons in their community. to be held across the nation. Saturday, Nov. 19, will be devoted to Allen added that the Saturday ministry The major sessions will originate at the ministry in various settings where participants events at the conclusion of New Baptist Atlanta gathering and be beamed to the various gather. The overall theme of the meeting will Covenant II should be groundwork for ongo - locations. Hosts in each location ing ministries and not something may provide additional program - “just for a day.” “How can we do ming and will coordinate ministry something in a day that accelerates opportunities to close out the event. something down the road?” he asked. “This will be quite a different Organizers are seeking to form format than before,” former volunteer task forces to plan and President Jimmy Carter told a implement the various aspects of the group of about 25 Baptist leaders three-day, multi-site celebration. he summoned to the Carter Center While four regional New April 4 to hear a report on the Baptist Covenant gatherings were first-stage planning and to offer held in the intervening years, Carter suggestions. said holding the second major event Carter said holding the meet - three years after the large Atlanta ings in churches in various cities David Key (left), director of the Baptist studies program at Emory’s Candler School of Theology, is working with Jimmy Allen (center) to gathering in 2008 has historical will reduce overall costs and permit organize the New Baptist Covenant II that is set for Nov. 17-19 in vari - precedence. The Triennial more people to be involved than ous cities around the U.S. In convening the second major event, Convention (1814-1845), the first the single large gathering held in President Jimmy Carter said Baptists from diverse backgrounds have a chance to build on past successes coming out of the 2008 celebration. national Baptist group formed in the Atlanta in 2008. All participants, U.S., met on that schedule before he said, will be “bound electronically and again be tied to Jesus’ call in Luke 4:18-19 to dividing North and South. through the Spirit of Christ.” “proclaim the release of the captives, and the “Three years is the target we set,” Carter Longtime Baptist leader Jimmy Allen, recovery of sight for the blind, to set at liberty told Baptists Today news journal. “That’s why who spearheaded the planning of the earlier those who are oppressed…” we’re having it in November.” event, will do so this time along with David Carter suggested Saturday ministry activi - The 2008 meeting, Carter said, broke Key, director of the Baptist studies program at ties should better acquaint Baptists with the down racial barriers and brought Baptists from Emory University’s Candler School of poor in their communities as well with per - different backgrounds together. “This will give Theology. Emory is providing office space for sons in prison. us a chance to build on these past successes.” the planning, and Mercer University is manag - “I’ve been praying a lot about this,” said Carter said he hopes a large and widely ing the finances. Carter, noting the increased number of per - diverse crowd of Baptists will gather in each of Allen and Philadelphia pastor William sons being held in correctional facilities and the various locations. Shaw, former president of the National Baptist the large percentage that are African American, “This is not an exclusive group,” he said. Convention Inc., will co-chair the event with Hispanic or with mental incapacities. “One of “All Baptists who believe we are saved by the Carter serving as convener. the worst blights on American society is the grace of Jesus Christ are welcomed to come.” Organizers admitted that the time frame people we have in prison.” Wrapping up the planning session, is short for planning such a major event and As governor of Georgia, Carter said he Carter, 86, said the bringing together of oft- requested help in securing host churches in and leaders of neighboring states sought to divided Baptists for worship and service is various cities and contributions to cover costs. reduce prison populations while retaining important to him. “This is a very high priority Interested persons may contact organizers at those who should be incarcerated. Now, he in my life.” BT

10 | Baptists Today • May 2011 STORY AND PHOTO BY JOHN PIERCE INFORMATION

Craddock commends good starts for ministers, churches

ATLANTA — “I hope we get rid of “Get rid of not letting the churches get lots of things,” said famed preacher in on our education,” said Craddock, noting that too many ministers withhold “the good Fred Craddock as part of an April 12 stuff” of theological insight and give their inaugural convocation sponsored by congregations “the same old boiled peanuts.” the Center for Teaching Churches, a “You should share the best of your new Lily-funded initiative of Mercer scholarship,” he said. “…You don’t save the good stuff for your colleagues.” University’s McAfee School of Craddock said the name given to the Theology that assists graduates new program, Center for Teaching and churches with transition into Churches, could be understood in two ways — with the church either doing or receiving congregational ministry. the teaching. Such “intentional ambiguity” raddock, the retired preaching profes - fits well with the writings of Paul, he noted, sor from Emory University’s Candler with translations often giving a footnote to C School of Theology who has made explain a possible second meaning. rare public addresses in recent years due to “Paul could do that intentional ambi - Fred Craddock (left) with Dean Alan Culpepper health concerns, identified a few practices guity to a tee,” said Craddock. “Paul wants of Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology that he believes should be removed from con - to make it clear that we are … partners in gregational life: “Condescension in the pulpit. the gospel. And he strains the language to Talking about rather than to each other.” make that happen.” N.C. journalist DeVane In a sermon based on Luke 4:16-30, Commending greater imagination in Craddock said he would like to see the dis - the task of preaching, he affirmed: “I can now writing for BT tance between theological education and tell you, there’s a lot of good stuff in the teve DeVane is the new part-time churches collapse. Bible.” BT contributing writer for Baptists SToday . He will provide North Carolina-based stories for both the national and N.C. editions of the news journal. DeVane lives in Lillington, N.C., and is a staff writer for The Fayetteville Observer . A gradu - ate of Campbell University and Steve DeVane Southeastern Seminary, he was managing editor of the Biblical Recorder , the historic newspaper of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina news - paper, from 1997-2009. He won the Frank Burkhalter Award from the Baptist Communicators Association. It is the association’s top prize for news writing. DeVane is a deacon, member of the contemporary praise band and chair of the denominational relations committee at Memorial Baptist Church in Buies Creek, N.C. He and his wife, Cherry, have three children. BT

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 11 FEATURE BY ROBERT HAMBLIN

Longtime missionaries to Taiwan and China, Ina and Ron Winstead (center), now enjoy the company of Chinese students and professors visiting Southeast Missouri State University. They are helping these international guests to connect with the First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau, Mo., where they receive a warm welcome and a better understanding of the Christian faith. The Chinese Connection Former missionaries to China now witnesses to Chinese in Missouri

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. —Ron Brenda Shupert, participates in the music than 200 from China, the largest number and Ina Winstead retired in 2001 and education ministries. of Southeast Missouri students from any The Winsteads and Shuperts became a country outside the United States. after 30 years of missionary serv - ministerial team, as they had been years Since 2005 the university has had stu - ice in Taiwan and China and earlier in Taiwan, when Mike and Brenda dent exchange programs with two Chinese served for two years with the Winsteads on universities — Sichuan Normal University, returned to their native Missouri. the mission field. in Chengdu, and Hunan Normal They looked forward to joining a At the Cape Girardeau church, Ron, University, in Changsha — whereby church, spending time with chil - who had taught Bible classes in Chinese Chinese students spend up to two years in seminaries, quickly signed on as a Sunday Missouri. dren and grandchildren, and school teacher and leader of a Wednesday In addition, since 1989 Southeast settling into a leisurely pace for night Bible study group. Ina joined the Missouri State University has owned a choir and volunteered to coordinate the world-class collection of William Faulkner their golden years. Wednesday night church dinner and other books, manuscripts and documents, But the Lord had other ideas. fellowship activities. In 2008 she was thereby attracting scholars from all over the The Winsteads bought a home in ordained as a deacon. world to visit its Center for Faulkner Jackson, Mo., not far from the Missouri But the Lord still had more plans in Studies to study and conduct research on Bootheel where they grew up, and they store for them. the Nobel Prize-winning author. joined the Cape Girardeau First Baptist Cape Girardeau is the home of Chinese literary scholars are greatly Church, where their son-in-law, Mike Southeast Missouri State University, which interested in American authors, especially Shupert, is pastor and their daughter, numbers among its 11,000 students more Faulkner, and each year two or three

12 | Baptists Today • May 2011 FEATURE

Chinese professors spend from three to 12 “Knowing Chinese Christians accepted Christ but has to be a “closet months studying in the Faulkner Center. Christian” back in China, since, as a col - With this ever-increasing influx of reminds us that the Kingdom of lege administrator, he is required to be a Chinese students and professors to the God is bigger than the local member of the Communist Party and is Southeast campus, quite a few of these visi - prohibited from participating in public tors come to First Baptist Church, where church and does not end at worship services. they are welcomed by a friendly congrega - Internet connections enable church tion — and surprised to be greeted by a a national boundary, … and members to maintain contact with their Chinese-speaking former missionary. On a Chinese friends once the latter have given Sunday as many as 10-12 Chinese that’s a truth all Christians returned home. They exchange emails, attend the morning worship service, and need to recognize.” family photographs and updates on their several of these also regularly participate in Christian experiences. Dr. Ron Winstead’s Sunday school class. One convert wrote that the nearest “For 30 years we traveled 10,000 miles Ina, a former teacher, serves as a Chinese church to her is an hour away, and to China,” Ron notes. “Now the Chinese friendly counselor and “American Mom” that she has to arrive early to get a seat at travel 10,000 miles to us.” He adds, joy - for many of the Chinese visitors. One of the worship service. Those who are late fully, “The Lord truly does work in those visitors, Ginny Su, had worked with must crowd into the church and stand for surprising and miraculous ways.” the Winsteads and other Cooperative the entire service. Pastor Mike Shupert said he is thrilled Baptist Fellowship personnel in Nanning, “Knowing Chinese Christians reminds by the church’s relationship with the China, during the last five years of the us that the Kingdom of God is bigger than Chinese visitors. Winsteads’ tenure in China and sub- the local church and does not end at a “Our church community has embraced sequently came to the Faulkner Center as a national boundary,” Winstead said, adding, this Chinese connection with open arms visiting scholar. “and that’s a truth all Christians need to and adopted these individuals as part of Ginny’s daughter, Wendy Tang, is now recognize.” our fellowship,” he said. “Some of the a student at Southeast Missouri and an Both Ron and Mike envision further Chinese come initially to practice their active member of the First Baptist congre - growth among the Chinese and Chinese English language skills, to learn about gation. Americans attending First Baptist and the American and Heartland culture, and just “We try to provide a home away from Baptist Student Center Bible studies. to observe a western Christian worship home for all of the Chinese scholars and “We have a steady stream of Chinese experience. But they quickly become a part students,” said Ina. coming through our church and the perfect of our church family, and some of them Visitors are very grateful for the resource people to minister to their needs become Christians.” friendly reception they receive from the and share the love of Christ with them,” Some also become church workers, Winsteads. said Mike. “We would be happy to see the singing in the choir, reading Scripture “The Winsteads are a perfect couple,” numbers increase to the point that we (sometimes in their native language) and said Xiumei Wang, a visiting professor could sustain an alternate Chinese- giving their testimonies in worship serv - from Jinan. “They are so considerate, so language service.” ices, helping in Vacation Bible School, and knowledgeable in the Bible and so faithful The Winsteads believe that God has a taking their turns with other church mem - to God. With their help, my life here is plan for every individual’s life — and bers in working in the kitchen. colorful and interesting.” sometimes a change of plan as a person The growing presence of the Chinese Professor Tingting Zhu, from moves from one phase of life to another. contingent in the church’s worship services Nanjing, said: “I’ll always remember those For even back in the United States, they are has led a number of local Chinese Saturday evening Bible studies with the still Chinese missionaries. Americans to attend the church. Ron and Winsteads who so patiently answered all Ron adds: “God is up to something Mike have performed baptisms and wed - the inquiries I had. They are just the most big in China, and we are grateful for the ding ceremonies among this group, and gentle people I’ve met in my life.” opportunity to have a small part in his one of those baptized served for a time as In recent months three of the students work there through these scholars and stu - the church pianist. and two of the visiting Chinese professors dents who return to China with at least a In addition to interacting with the at the Faulkner Center have accepted better understanding of the Christian faith, Chinese visitors to the church, Ron leads a Christ and been baptized during their stay and for some a commitment to Christ as Chinese-language Bible study every in Cape Girardeau. The baptismal services Lord.” BT Saturday night that is held at the Baptist were conducted in both English and Student Center on the Southeast campus. Chinese, with Ron handling the Chinese —Robert Hamlin is a poet, the director of Those involved are also invited to portion of the ordinance. the Center for Faulkner Studies and English participate in mission activities and other Another visiting student has returned professor at Southeast Missouri State programs sponsored by the campus to China while considering full-time University, and a deacon at First Baptist ministry. Christian service, and another professor Church of Cape Girardeau, Mo.

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 13 INFORMATION

Schuller says he wouldn’t have OK’d Chaplains offered exit plan after gay ban repeal church’s gay covenant (RNS) — Crystal Cathedral founder Robert WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Army has Mass Resistance, an anti-gay group based H. Schuller said in March he never would started training chaplains on the repeal of in Waltham, Mass. have approved a recent covenant that choir the ban on openly gay military members, President Obama signed a law repeal - members were asked to sign urging them to saying those who are unable to follow the ing Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell last December, be Christian and heterosexual. forthcoming policy can seek a voluntary but the new policy will not take effect until “I have a reputation worldwide of being departure. 60 days after Obama and military leaders tolerant of all people and their views,” “The Chaplains Corps’ First are assured that it will not harm military Schuller told The Orange County Register. Amendment freedoms and its duty to care readiness. “I’m too well-educated to criticize a certain for all will not change,” reads a slide in the Lt. Col. Carleton Birch, a spokesman religion or group of people for what they PowerPoint presentation, released to for the Army chief of chaplains, said about believe in. It’s called freedom.” Religion News Service March 24. “Soldiers half of the military service’s 2,900 chaplains The covenant describes choir members will continue to respect and serve with oth - had received the training, which started in as people who confess Jesus as their savior, ers who may hold different views and February and was expected to conclude in consider the Bible “authoritative and infalli - beliefs.” April — and that only one Army chaplain ble,” and understand the cathedral’s position Critics familiar with the Army presen - has left the service over the pending repeal. that marriage is “between one man and one tation, however, say the military is “Our training is an opportunity for woman.” essentially telling chaplains who are theo - our senior chaplains to have an honest and Schuller told the newspaper he agrees logically conservative that they are not open conversation about the repeal policy, with the covenant’s stance on homosexuality welcome. its effects on them and their ministry,” but “that doesn’t mean that we are going to “U.S. Army now warning chaplains: If Birch said. “And it’s going very well. ... In start a crusade against homosexuals.” you don’t like the homosexual agenda, get no way are we giving the message, shape up In a statement on its website, the out!” reads a headline on the website of or ship out.” Southern California church, now led by his daughter and senior pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman, described the covenant as an Millionaire buys paintings so church can keep them attempt to explain expectations of ministry leaders. It apologized to those that might be CANTERBURY, England (RNS/ENInews) hurt by its language. — A self-effacing multimillionaire has become a local hero after buying a series of More U.S. colleges adding 17th-century religious paintings and then donating them back to the Church of Muslim chaplains England in a bid to help boost art tourism. ITHACA, N.Y. ( USA Today /RNS) — When Jonathan Ruffer, 59, paid 15 million Jainal Bhuiyan attended Cornell University, he pounds (about $21.3 million) for a series of and his fellow Muslim students were mentored paintings of the biblical patriarch Jacob and and led in religious prayers by a collection of his sons by Spanish artist Francisco de Muslim professors, graduate students and staff. Zurbaran, according to ENInews. “That was our network that filled the The eight-foot paintings, completed void,” said Bhuiyan, 28, and now senior vice between 1640 and 1645, have been housed at president at the New York investment bank Auckland Castle, the official residence of the Rodman & Renshaw. Anglican bishop of Durham, since 1756, after Cornell soon could join the growing a bishop bought them for a little less than ranks of universities with full-time Muslim 125 pounds (about $200). chaplains working alongside the Christian and Earlier this year, the managers of the Jewish chaplains already common on college Church of England’s £5 billion investment campuses. Bhuiyan and other Muslim alumni portfolio proposed selling the paintings at have created the Diwan Foundation, which auction in hopes of using the proceeds to Ruffer, who co-founded the successful launched last month to raise money to estab - fund church ministry in poorer parts of Ruffer Investment Management in 1994, lish such a position at Cornell. England. stepped in to buy the paintings. Talks have No one keeps official numbers, but more Thousands of people in northeast started between the National Trust, a British than 30 Muslim chaplains work on college cam - England signed a petition asking that the historic preservation charity, and the Durham puses or at private high schools around the paintings remain at the castle, and supported County Council to open the castle to greater nation, most of them part time, said Tahera a campaign organized by Member of public access. Civil leaders hope the ongoing Ahmad, who started at Northwestern University Parliament Helen Goodman to keep them in presence of the Zurbaran paintings will boost in Evanston, Ill., last fall as associate chaplain Britain. tourism. and the university’s first Muslim chaplain.

14 | Baptists Today • May 2011 INFORMATION

Report: Small churches feeling financial squeeze Study suggests young adults (RNS) — Almost all U.S. churches witnessed Smaller congregations were more likely a change in the financial giving they received to see a decrease in giving, said Matt can get fat at church in 2010 compared to 2009, with smaller Branaugh, an editor at Christianity Today (RNS) — Thou shalt not serve pizza? churches feeling the squeeze but larger International, which helped gather the data Young adults who regularly attend churches faring relatively better, according to for the State of the Plate for the past two religious activities are 50 percent more a new report. years. likely to become obese when they reach Only 12 percent of churches reported The report found that about 40 percent middle age than their nonreligious peers, unchanged giving from 2009, according to of churches with fewer than 249 attendees a new study shows. the State of the Plate survey released March experienced a drop in giving. Only 29 percent Based on their findings, researchers 30, while 43 percent of churches experienced of megachurches, with an average weekend at Northwestern University’s medical a giving increase and 39 percent reported a attendance of more than 2,000, reported a school think congregations should be a decrease. decrease in giving, according to the report. focus in the fight to prevent obesity. “It’s possible that getting together Christians question conventional wisdom on divorce stats once a week and associating good works and happiness with eating unhealthy (RNS) — It’s been proclaimed from pulpits study conducted by the National Opinion foods could lead to the development of and blogs for years — Christians divorce as Research Center at the University of habits that are associated with greater much as everyone else in America. But some Chicago, and found that Christians, like body weight and obesity,” said Matthew scholars and family activists are questioning adherents of other religions, have a divorce Feinstein, the study’s lead investigator the oft-cited statistics, saying Christians who rate of about 42 percent. The rate among and a fourth-year student at the school. attend church regularly are more likely to religiously unaffiliated Americans is The research, released in March, remain wed. 50 percent. marks the first time a longitudinal study “It’s a useful myth,” said When Wright examined the of obesity has been linked to religious Bradley Wright, a University of statistics on evangelicals, he found involvement, the university said. Connecticut sociologist who worship attendance has a big influ - The study, which tracked 2,433 recently wrote Christians Are Hate- ence on the numbers. Six in 10 people for 18 years, compared men and Filled Hypocrites ... and Other Lies You’ve evangelicals who never attend had been women who attended a religious activity Been Told . “Because if a pastor wants to divorced or separated, compared to just 38 at least once a week to those with less preach about how Christians should take percent of weekly attendees. participation. It found that young adults their marriages more seriously, he or she can Wright questions the approach of The ages 20 to 32 with normal weight who trot out this statistic to get them to listen to Barna Group, evangelical pollsters based in were frequent attenders were 50 percent him or her.” Ventura, Calif. David Kinnaman, Barna’s more likely to be obese in middle age. The various findings on religion and president, said the statistical differences The researchers noted that their divorce hinge on what kind of Christians are reflect varied approaches, with Wright look - findings do not indicate that people with being discussed. Wright combed through the ing more at attendance and his research firm significant religious involvement are General Social Survey, a vast demographic dwelling on theological commitments. likely to have worse health overall than nonreligious people. For example, reli - gious people, who often smoke less than Crime-fighting pastor gets carjacked nonreligious people, generally live longer. NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) of gun violence and carjackings. At that — A prominent pastor time, James was concerned that parish - who’s been recognized ioners, especially those from outside the for his efforts to combat city, would be fearful of attending church violence in Newark, had services. his truck stolen as he James said he was pushed to the ground Jethro James opened the church park - as he got out of his car to unlock the gates ing lot for Bible study of the church parking lot. He turned around Wednesday evening March 16. to see two men, between the ages of 16 and “That is the last thing I would have 25 get into his truck, back up and take off expected, especially with all the folks I’ve with smoking tires. helped in this community,” said pastor James said he was not injured, but was Jethro James of the Paradise Baptist Church. stunned and disoriented. “If they are going Last December, James helped organize a to carjack me at a church, what will happen summit of law enforcement officials, politi - next. God forbid something will happen on cians and citizens to discuss a recent increase a Sunday morning.”

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 15 INFORMATION BY CATHY LYNN GROSSMAN , USA Today Biblical treasure trove New Bible museum coming to D.C. will feature significant artifacts

ASHINGTON (RNS) — A new multimillion-dollar, high-tech, Highlights of the Green W interactive museum of the Bible Collection include: was announced amid 130 artifacts of the Good Book at a private exhibition at the Vatican • The Codex Climaci Rescriptus, one of Embassy in late March. the world’s earliest surviving Bibles. The exhibit was a sample of Jewish, Using a new technology developed by Roman Catholic and Protestant treasures from the Green Collection in collaboration with Oxford University, scholars have the future museum’s 10,000 manuscripts and uncovered the earliest surviving New texts, one of the world’s largest biblical collec - Testament written in Palestinian Aramaic tions. — the language used in Jesus’ house - Some were as old as pages of the gospel in hold — found on recycled parchment. the Aramaic of Jesus’ time; as political as the • One of the largest collections of only Bible edition ever authorized by the U.S. cuneiform clay tablets in the Western Congress; as treasured as first editions of the Hemisphere. majestic King James Version (KJV), displayed • The second-largest private collection near the king’s own seal. Using a new technology developed by The These will form the basis for “a public Green Collection in collaboration with Oxford of Dead Sea Scrolls, all of which are University, scholars have uncovered the earli - unpublished and likely to substantially museum designed to engage people in the his - est surviving New Testament written in contribute to an understanding of the tory and the impact of the Bible,” said Palestinian Aramaic found on recycled parch - earliest surviving texts in the Bible. museum sponsor Steve Green, an evangelical ment under a layer in this rare manuscript called the Codex Climaci Rescriptus. Religion • The world’s largest private collection businessman and owner of the Oklahoma News Service photo courtesy of The Green City-based craft chain Hobby Lobby. Collection. of Jewish scrolls, spanning more than 700 years of history, dating to the The Green family has amassed the world’s Spanish Inquisition. largest collection of ancient biblical manu - can deepen — or alter — “our understanding scripts and texts including his favorite: the of the word of God. The Bible didn’t come • Previously unpublished biblical and 1782 Aitken Bible authorized by Congress. from the sky as tablets handed to Moses on classical papyri, including surviving texts While the location, architecture and even Mount Sinai and then wind up in a hotel desk dating to the time of the now-lost Library of Alexandria. the museum’s name are still in the works, 300 drawer,” Carroll said. highlights of the Green Collection will go on “The Bible is not in a lockbox. It changes • The earliest-known, near-complete tour beginning at the Oklahoma Museum of across time,” he said, pointing to the earliest translation of the Psalms to (Middle) Art on May 16. The traveling exhibit, called known manuscript fragment of Genesis, a sec - English. Passages, will move to the Vatican in October tion of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a Jewish Torah • A number of the earliest printed texts, and New York City by Christmas. (the five books of Moses) from the time of the including a large portion of the The announcement was made at the Spanish Inquisition, and more. Gutenberg Bible and the world’s only Vatican Embassy to highlight Catholic contri - Passages will also address the dramatic complete Block Bible in private hands. butions to the best-loved English text, the struggles behind the texts, as translations are a • Early tracts and Bibles of Martin 400-year-old KJV, which draws about 80 per - matter of life, death and eternal fate to believ - Luther, including a little-known letter cent of its majestic language from an earlier ers. The illustrated frontispiece of one King written the night before Luther’s excom - translation by a Catholic priest. James Version shows the king flanked by peo - munication. Meanwhile, scholars at 30 universities ple who would be burned at the stake within • Numerous items illustrating the contri - worldwide are burrowing into rare texts from 10 years. However, Green and Carroll say their bution of Jews and Catholics to the King the collection and pioneering technology that museum, opening by 2016, has no theological James translation of the Bible and other enables them to bring out the ancient words in agenda. historical effects. the most faded and printed-over manuscripts, “Think of the great new science museums said Scott Carroll, director of the collection that take you inside how things work, or the “The Bible didn’t come from the and research professor of manuscript studies at Folger Library’s public and scholarly center for sky as tablets handed to Moses Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Shakespeare,” Carroll said. “This will be our on Mount Sinai and then wind Carroll’s primary focus has been finding approach to the Bible. It’s a museum, not a up in a hotel desk drawer.” and authenticating ancient manuscripts that ministry.” BT

16 | Baptists Today • May 2011 IN MEMORIAM Gaustad kept us reminded of ‘Roger’s crazy ideas’

By John Pierce founding of the First Baptist Church in to pay. America and Brown University in Rhode Among the “crazy ideas” advocated by When news came that respected historian Island. Roger Williams were that faith is an individ - and author Edwin Gaustad had died (on One spring Sunday evening in 2006, I ual choice that cannot and should not be March 24), my first thought was that we had spoke to the historic Mt. Zion Baptist coerced by government and that there should lost one of our finest observers of religious Church in Macon, Ga., on “Roger’s crazy be room for dissent and diverse opinions life in America. My second thought was ideas.” It was my way of sharing some of the without repression. about the many jewels that can be mined jewels from Dr. (Also Williams made a pretty good case from his wonderful biography of Roger Gaustad’s fascinating for the unpopular idea that baptism should Williams biography of be reserved for professing believers.) Those not attuned to reading biogra - Williams. So I honor the memory of Dr. Edwin phies, especially about historical figures, may It was also my Gaustad, 87, a fine Baptist scholar who be unconvinced. But I assure you that this attempt to show — as taught at Shorter College in Georgia (1953- book will be an enjoyable and enlightening Gaustad did so well 1957), the University of Redlands in read. — how the widely- California (1957-1965) and the University of The freedoms we cherish and seek to held understandings California at Riverside, where he retired in preserve in this nation did not just pop into of individual and reli - 1989 and was named professor emeritus. the heads of our founders when they sat gious freedom that we And I highly recommend for your read - down to draft a constitution. embrace today were once minority opinions ing his book, Liberty of Conscience: Roger They were hammered out in a struggle and outlawed practices. Getting a hearing Williams in America . After reading it, I hope against controlling powers — by those like for unfettered religious liberty came at a cost, you have the chance someday to stand in Williams who founded Rhode Island as a one that Williams and others such as sight of the much-oversized statue of refuge of religious freedom for Jews, Quakers, Obadiah Holmes (who was beaten by Williams on a hillside overlooking Baptists and other suspect groups as well as Massachusetts authorities for his illegal Providence, R.I., and thank God for Roger’s those of other or no faith. He also led in the Baptist religious practices) were willing “crazy ideas.” BT

Unlike Ford, Edwin Gaustad knew the value of history

By James M. Dunn or as Gaustad put it, “why presidents should Some politicians took up the fight. not be popes.” A member of the U.S. House of Represent- “History is more or less bunk,” said Henry The five reasons included that “a decla - atives from Oklahoma, Ernest Istook, took it Ford in 1916. Edwin Gaustad’s life refutes ration of a religious day… can never be upon himself to rewrite the First Amend- the nutty notion of a man who did know anything but a mere recommendation, and ment. His version was to replace the how to make cars. an advisory government is a contradiction in marvelous economy of Madison’s 16 words History was simply the jumping-off terms,” and that such with more than 70. place from which Gaustad flung himself into proclamations “seem to Gaustad sent a postcard to the Baptist a long and productive career as scholar, his - imply and certainly Joint Committee saying, “It seems that torian, writer, teacher and activist. For him, nourish the erroneous Istook is Mistook.” Promptly a BJC intern history has not been “just the facts” or idea of a national had hundreds of buttons made that boldly flights of fantasy and spin. He did history religion.” read ISTOOK IS MISTOOK! with flesh on the bones. Gaustad understood The buttons took Capitol Hill and A good example is found in a Gaustad profoundly the history beyond by storm. Who would have sus - lecture, “Religion, The Constitution, and and meaning of the sep - pected America’s leading colonial historian the Founding Fathers,” delivered as the aration of church and state. His humility, as the ultimate source for the cheeky slogan? Whitworth-Muldrow Lecture at Shorter humanity and humor came through also in Ed Gaustad was a historian for all sea - College in 1987. his activism. sons. And, no, Henry Ford, history is not At the beginning of the War of 1812, After Supreme Court decisions in bunk. BT Congress passed a resolution calling on 1962 and 1963 struck down government- President James Madison to set aside a sponsored public school prayer, the —James M. Dunn, former executive director national day of prayer. In his lecture Religious Right sought political opportunity of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Gaustad unpacked Madison’s reasons why and President Reagan played politics by Liberty, teaches at Wake Forest Divinity religious or civil religion should not be often saying “God has been banned from School and serves on the Baptists Today handed down from government leaders — the schools.” Board of Directors .

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 17 PERSPECTIVE guest commentary Bell on Hell By Leroy Seat

Rob Bell is a pastor and a best - while the rest of humanity spends forever Not surprising, some conservative/ in torment and punishment in hell with no fundamentalist Christians have staunchly selling author. Love Wins: A chance for anything better” (p. viii). criticized Bell’s views on hell and related Book About Heaven, Hell, and “Hell” is the title of Bell’s third chap - matters. One of the strongest criticisms ter, and there he acknowledges that “God came from R. Albert Mohler Jr. His blog the Fate of Every Person Who gives us what we want, and if that’s hell, posting on March 16 was a strong repudia - we can have it.” This is due to “the free - tion of Bell’s ideas. Ever Lived , his latest book pub - dom that love requires.” As for me, I am favorably impressed lished in March, has created a Eric Rust, one of my seminary profes - with Bell’s book. At the very least, it gives sors, used to say that hell is us a lot that we need to lot of discussion, not only in “love’s rejection of the think about seriously and Christian circles but also in the rejection of love.” to discuss widely. The lack of love, I wondered, though, secular world. among other things, often why he did not deal with creates hells for others now. the position known as he Wall Street Journal published a And Bell observes, “Often annihilationism. I write review of Bell’s new book in its the people most concerned about that idea and other March 18 issue, and he was also T about others going to hell matters related to hell in interviewed on Good Morning America , when they die seem less my book, The Limits of Morning Joe , and other TV programs. concerned with the hells on Liberalism. Bell (b. 1970), a graduate of Wheaton earth right now, while the I first heard about College and Fuller Theological Seminary, is people most concerned annihilationism during my the founding pastor of the Mars Hill Bible with the hells on earth seminary days, mostly Church in Grand Rapids, Mich. His first right now seem the least from Dale Moody. No book, Velvet Elvis (2005) was a bestseller, concerned about hell after doubt partly because of his and the week after his death.” Bell prefers the latter position. influence, I came more and more to new book was pub - After posting much of what is in this embrace that view, which is also linked to lished it debuted on the article on my blog and putting a link to it belief in “conditional immortality.” USA Today “Top 150” on Facebook, I received the following com - That means that everlasting life is con - at number 15. It was ment from an American friend who has ditional, dependent upon receiving God’s also as high as number long lived in Japan: “I find the whole issue salvation, and that those who do not attain four among all books of what is hell as being rather remote from everlasting life experience everlasting death. sold on Amazon.com. the concrete situation we face in post-3.11 The former means continued existence Much of the inter - Japan.” with God; the latter means the complete est in, and criticism of, Bell’s book is He concluded, “Reading your post this cessation of existence. because of what he says about hell. He time around made me think of how This position is far more consistent thinks there is a hell, but his understanding parochial theological debates can appear with the biblical view of God, and a reason - of hell is quite different from the tradi - when transferred to another living, social able view of God, than the traditional tional idea held by most conservative/ context.” doctrine of hell on the one hand or belief in evangelical Christians and by most I responded by saying, “Of course that universal salvation on the other. It does not Catholics. is part of Bell’s point: since many people embrace the harshness of the traditional Bell views hell primarily as the suffer - like those in northeast Japan are going view, but still it takes sin and its conse - ing people experience now because of the through ‘hell’ now, that is the kind of thing quences much more seriously than the bad choices they, or others, make. we Christians ought to be interested in position held by most Christian liberals. BT From the very beginning of his book, rather than being so concerned about the Bell calls into serious question the idea that fate of people after death, which we may —Leroy Seat is a retired missionary to “a select few Christians will spend forever not have the correct view of anyway. And Japan who lives in Missouri and blogs at in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, he is probably right.” www.theviewfromthisseat.blogspot.com. 18 | Baptists Today • May 2011 LESSONS FOR: Sunday, June 5-26, 2011

Written by Kelly Belcher, 2011 a minister living in Spartanburg, S.C., and Bible Studies vice chair of the Board of Directors of Baptists Today These lessons follow the adult Formations studies from Smyth & Helwys Publishing www.helwys.com

June 5, 2011 Discuss: When have you been surprised to scripture to support a new and opposing learn an issue was being reconsidered that you tradition. Listening in community had thought was resolved? Do we tend to keep Discuss: Think of a time your own experi - Acts 15:1-2, 6-21 issues constantly unresolved by avoiding the ence changed your mind about an issue. Have practice of healthy confrontation? you ever chosen a course against strong opposi - Maybe you are preparing to attend within the This issue was thought resolved way back tion because your experience differed from that month a large Baptist gathering of messengers in Acts chapter 11, but in light of the at a convention or general assembly, where of people you trust? How has this occurred in Judaizing band’s insistence on Gentile circum - amid the education and worship sessions, a the history of your family, of your church, of cision Peter makes a case from his experience vote on a particular issue will be called in a Baptists? with Cornelius. He recalls his vision of the business meeting. If you have never partici - The final part of James’ speech seems to great sheet lowered from heaven that included pated in such a gathering, you have missed undermine what he has just said. He places all animals fit to eat, convincing him there feeling the greatest sense of Christian commu - four legal requirements other than circumci - were no foods and metaphorically no people nal love and grace possible for a human. sion on Gentile converts: They must avoid unqualified for God’s kingdom. All are accept - You’ve also missed being disappointed and idolatry, unacceptable sexual practice, eating able to God because God sees the heart of stunned by the abject failure of people you blood (kosher meat was drained of blood), and admire to enact what was desperately needed. people and doesn’t need to see them jump eating a strangled animal (similarly improperly Within our churches’ histories we can through legal hoops to prove their faithfulness. prepared). These restrictions were the typical The crux of Peter’s assertive argument is the read accounts of votes taken on particular Mosaic requirement of all aliens, and anyone bane of the existence of establishment-loving issues, such as whether to ordain a woman, familiar with Jewish practice would have traditionalists everywhere: personal experience which went favorably one year and the oppo - known them already. But this distinction to the contrary. site way when another vote was taken within a drawn between Jewish Christians and Gentile Peter uses very strong words — “putting few years’ time. Why would we ever imagine ones is deflating in light of the more universal God to the test,” which would have been we Baptists could decide an issue once and for message of salvation he has just preached. interpreted as a shameful lack of trust to the all time? Free faith groups are apt to revisit Scholars suggest that James was hoping the legalists — in describing the refusal to see issues as times change and ideas progress. new converts would do what the Jews do and uncircumcised Gentiles as qualified fellow The issue reconsidered in today’s avoid pagan practices, and in this way he was Christians. When he refers to the yoke of law Scripture is whether to include Gentiles as placing them all in the same category as fellow baptized Christian believers without requiring as a burden even Jews can’t bear, he implies non-pagans. concurrent circumcision. On one side of the that not only is the law unnecessary for the Notice in the debate in this passage the debate are conservative pharisaical Jews con - salvation of Gentiles, but it is also unnecessary way each side had a voice in the argument, the verted to Christianity, who do not believe for the salvation of Jews. This would have assumption that they lived together in com - conversion mitigates their requirement to keep been a difficult revelation for those listening munity with each other regardless of their Mosaic Law. These folks had scripture and tra - who had already undergone the circumcision. disagreement, the lack of vilification on either dition on their side when they taught at After Paul and Barnabas confirm Peter’s Antioch that Gentile converts to Christianity speech with their own experiences, the next side, the accountability they took, the care were required to be circumcised to keep Jewish section of the passage is the witness of James, with which they discussed traditions sacred to law as well. a second member of the official Jerusalem del - others, and their desire to be inclusive of one So Paul and Barnabas and other represen - egation, who is not identified by the writer as another as brothers and sisters in Christ. tatives, including Peter and James, are sent to Jesus’ brother. James provides the second half Discuss: Why do we have so much trouble take up the other side of the debate and to of the one-two punch in their argument: he with other people getting salvation from our clarify that the conservatives do not speak for backs up Simon Peter’s experience of inclusive - God? Why do we resist the grace that goes to the leaders in Jerusalem. Christians there are ness with Scripture, citing Amos 9. He those who are different from us? Can you think remarkably harmonious in their agreement explains that God’s acceptance of those who of someone who belongs in a category very about Gentile inclusion. The ones advocating do not follow the Law is nothing new. He unlike your own, and imagine passing a circumcision are a small group. cites the pharisaical Christians’ own prophetic communion plate and cup to that person?

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship provides these Bible study resources to church leaders through this supplement to Baptists Today . For more information on how CBF is “serving Christians and churches as they discover their God-given mission,” visit www.thefellowship.info or call 1-800-352-8741 BIBLE STUDIES

June 12, 2011 writer had access to a diary or log from one of Lydia and her household were baptized Paul’s travel companions. immediately upon her confession after hearing Listening to circumstances How long did the trip take? The travelers Paul preach. Our modern individual identity Acts 16:6-15 could have taken a day sailing to Samothrace, differs from that of the ancients, who identi - an island about halfway to the mainland of fied themselves collectively along family lines Have you found that when you have a cum - Macedonia, so that Paul’s entire trip across the and who followed the head of the household bersome or dreadful task at hand, you can find Aegean Sea could have been accomplished naturally as part of the group. It seems ran - lots of other worthwhile things to do instead? within two days if sailing conditions were dom, but because of their presence in the It’s amazing the amount of work you can get favorable. Once landfall was made at Neopolis, home of a convert, they too were baptized into done in the service of avoiding that one bur - it was another 10 miles inland to Philippi, the Christian discipleship. densome task. Even when the priority task is target city. Scholars propose that from there he Discuss: In the recent movie The desirable and not a burden, we can allow our - went to a creek named Crenides, a few miles Adjustment Bureau , the characters’ small, ran - selves to become distracted from it by other outside Philippi, a distance of travel allowed dom and unimportant choices are seen to have perfectly worthy work that just gets in the within the Sabbath laws, looking for a place to disproportionately huge effects later. What cir - way. According to Luke, the Holy Spirit didn’t pray and also to preach. cumstances caused you to become a disciple of allow this to happen to Paul. We have no clue why Paul might have Christ? What small decisions did you make that The exact route of this part of Paul’s sec - thought there would be a synagogue at the led to that event, which might have easily been ond missionary journey is a bit confusing river, but there is a bend in this river whose different? What role does random circumstance according to writers of commentaries. Going banks create a little natural amphitheater. play in the salvation history of God’s people? How in a northwesterly direction, Paul must have have your decisions been shifted individually traveled through Asia Minor (today’s Turkey) There was a Sabbath group gathered there, because you were part of a larger faith group? in order to reach Mysia there. The conclusion where Jewish worshippers might have gone is that God’s spirit prevented Paul’s preaching from the city for privacy for lack of a syna - in Asia even though he was present there. gogue, so Paul spoke to the women. June 19, 2011 Some conclude the forbidden area was Discuss: From Baptists’ earliest days mission around Ephesus, south of where the port city has been our priority. Many people have gone to Listening through creation of Troas was located. It was in Troas that Paul considerable lengths to get the gospel to new lis - Acts 17:22-34 dreamed of the Macedonian man urging him teners, and Paul’s journeys are our leading to come and preach there. The Holy Spirit did example. But mission means more than field In the discipleship class taught to our church’s not allow Paul to be distracted from the goal: personnel and clergy. As Baptists, we confess that sixth graders as they move from the children’s getting across the Aegean Sea and furthering we are priests as believers. Most of us have not department into the youth group, we begin a the spread of the gospel into Greece and “to had a dream such as Paul’s. How do you discern theology lesson by discussing how they would the ends of the earth.” He was not even the ways you have been compelled by the Spirit explain their God, their Christ, and their way allowed by the Spirit to be distracted by doing to go or do something particular, to find your of worship to the inhabitants of a planet in a more perfectly good preaching in other places. direction, or to choose one path over another? galaxy far away. We can ask the same question Discuss: On church committees, among What would you say is the mission of your life so now: If you disembarked from the space ship deacons, in ministry teams, in political life or far? Can you see ways the Spirit has not allowed and met intelligent beings unlike humans, how in our personal lives, can you discern a time you to be distracted from your would you go about sharing the gospel? Would you have been distracted from difficult goals by calling? you want to know about their worship first? other tasks, even worthy ones? When have we Lydia was a seller of purple cloth, dyes This information could win you valuable gotten ourselves weighed down with complexities and textiles from an area noted for this indus - common ground on which to base your wit - that do not further our priority mission? How try, Thyatira, within the region that bore her ness. If scientific progress allows, perhaps one could we change things if we listen to the Holy name. Purple was a rare dye color and difficult day humans will find themselves in this situa - Spirit and free ourselves? to produce — from marine snails — thus its tion. We will meet fellow children created in You might notice in the Bible version you association with royalty and the wealthy, who the image of God, our own siblings, and are reading that between verses 8 and 10 the could afford it. Purveyors of purple could together we will ponder life, saving grace, and pronoun changes from “they” to “we.” These become well-heeled merchants themselves, the Spirit of the God to whom we all belong. “we passages” are one reason scholars have movie-star posh and upper-crust. Scholars say Paul found himself in this situation con - wondered if the writer of Luke and Acts was Lydia would have been influential politically stantly as he does in the present discourse, personally present with Paul on his trip to and socially. She had a house large enough to which ranks as one of the climaxes of his mis - Philippi. Commentaries say the use of “we” invite Paul and his entourage to stay with her sionary preaching. Though Christian mission can also be a literary device used to lend cre - later, and an inclination to hospitality that and witness was a pretty new thing in the dence to the tale, or it could be the sign of an marks magnanimity and faith. Don’t we all world, Paul was sensitively skillful in preaching eyewitness account by someone other than the wish for exactly her sort of potential church to people groups he hoped to win with the writer of Luke-Acts. The nominative plural member? She was not Jewish, but she was gospel, as portrayed by the writer of Acts. In was a common way of narrating stories of sea familiar with Jewish custom and belief and Athens, Paul stands to speak before the meet - voyages as well. Or maybe the Luke-Acts open to listening. ing of the council Areopagus, because

20 | Baptists Today • May 2011 BIBLE STUDIES

Hellenistic orators typically would stand. He in all our Baptist glory tend to believe we have standing of the faith, knowing only the begins his presentation with ideas that are cornered the market on the truth about God? baptism of John. common between Greek philosophical Scholars trace as a common theme within Scholars explain that this could refer to a monotheism, his own Jewish tradition and the the book of Acts the ignorance we humans water baptism rather than the accompanying new Christian gospel he brings — ideas that suffer. Paul points up this ignorance now and Spirit baptism of true Christianity. That would scholars note are similar to writings of warns his listeners that God has heretofore mean Apollos had not received Christian bap - Euripides and Seneca. pardoned our ignorance, but now God will tism; but scholars note that none of those in Discuss: As living witnesses to Christ, we judge the world “by the man he has attendance at Pentecost are said to have been must take Pauline-like care so that we might appointed.” Though Jesus goes unnamed baptized either, and they did fine receiving the share a gospel without becoming overbearing to either by the preacher or the writer of Acts, Spirit and comprehending Christian faith. the point of losing our audience. Have you been the allusion to resurrection does cause imme - Luke confirms that Apollos was filled with the the object of overbearing witnessing? Or when diate concern among some of Paul’s listeners. Spirit even though he knew only John’s bap - in Rome, trying to do as the Romans do, have This is a new idea with no matching Greek tism, so we may surmise that a little you been frustrated by cultural differences and thought to back it up. This sounds like pure, information was enough to convict Apollos. found yourself at a loss to bridge them? radical Christianity. Some of them rejected it Though his understanding is accurate — Paul presents a challenging idea in the out of hand. Some of them were open to hear - he has obviously received instruction previ - kindest way he can. Scholars are not clear ing more. And some of them eventually ously — and he has an energetic attitude, whether there actually existed in Athens an altar believed and became converts. Priscilla and Aquila determine that Apollo “to an unknown God.” There is some literary, Most of us must hear an idea more than needs a better understanding of Christian but no archaeological, evidence to indicate such once for it to sink into our awareness. faith, and they undertake to teach him. a thing. There could have been an altar erected Marketing experts say a person must encounter Exactly what was comprised in their lessons is that was never dedicated to a specific god, or an idea seven times before it becomes a solid not clear; perhaps it was information about there could have been many that the writer of part of knowledge. You probably hear your baptism. Luke is clear that both Priscilla and Acts has compressed into one for the purpose of minister announce the budget and finance Aquila served as teachers for Apollos, which Paul’s speech. Paul uses the altar to his advan - meeting slotted for Wednesday night at 7:30 in stands in direct contrast to the prohibition tage to appeal to the Athenians that, ironically, the fellowship hall for weeks ahead of time, so against women teaching men from 1 Timothy. they do know who God is, so having that altar she can make sure you will remember. North The lessons he learns at the feet of these two is beneath their intelligence. Americans live in a culture saturated by equip him to be included as an official teacher He shares the concept of God as creator, Christianity from the time we’re born. If any of in the Christian church. common to Christian and Greek thought, to us had heard the gospel only one time, chances Luke does not give a reason for Apollos’ explain that something made by humans — are good we would be like most of Paul’s audi - decision to go to Achaia, which is modern shrines — could never contain God. God does ence and would not have taken the Greece. Scholars note some textual evidence not need anything, and when Paul preaches opportunity to discern the truth of Christ. that there were natives of Corinth visiting in this his Athenian listeners might have heard Discuss: Do we ever sneer at other people’s the congregation at Ephesus, who heard echoes of Greeks such as the Stoic philosopher religious ideas? Have you suffered the sneers of Apollos preaching and invited him to travel to Zeno. The Greek word Paul uses to say that we others? Have we been guilty of a patronizing or their home. Luke tells us they wrote a letter seek after God carries the connotation of some - condescending stance toward those with unusual recommending him, which he carried. one stumbling and feeling around in the dark faith stories to tell? Will we make more disciples Discuss: North Americans send mission to find something. God is always hoping that by arguing them down or by inspiring people in field personnel around the globe, and we are humans will want to find God. a way that takes their own ideas into considera - thrilled to receive them from the same places. But the highlight of this speech is the tion, as Paul did? Why aren’t we satisfied to preach in our own memorable theological gold nugget of verse 28: backyards, and avoid all this traveling? Is it “In God we live, and move, and have our June 26, 2011 easier to hear the gospel with fresh ears from the being.” Stunning and beautiful in its profound perspective of someone new? simplicity, this idea has become the underpin - Listening to God’s Word The job of preaching and converting new ning for much Christian theological thought. Acts 18:24-28 disciples had to be a daunting prospect for all As Paul was saying it, scholars suspect the of these people. Armed only with snail mail, Athenian audience might have recalled similar Paul’s second missionary journey is ending, ancient modes of conveyance and their own words from Epimenides of Knossos, a 6th- and his third one is beginning during the wits, the earliest Christian field personnel real - century BC philosopher, or Seneca’s idea of period Luke describes when Priscilla and ized right away an important fact about faith: God in us, with us, and within us. When Paul Aquila meet Apollos at Ephesus. He is a it is learned in the context of a personal rela - alluded to Greek poets, they might have Jewish convert from Alexandria, the cosmopol - tionship. From the Jerusalem Christians to remembered a poem much like Paul’s speech by itan city known as a seat of learning because Paul, to Priscilla and Aquila, to Apollos, to the Aratus of Soli. of its extensive library with valuable holdings. believers at Corinth, the Word from the begin - Discuss: God cannot be contained by any - Though Apollos is a person of culture, Luke ning was spread one person at a time. The thing human-made, not even an idea. Yet do we indicates that he possesses a partial under - Holy Spirit is a pretty good travel agent.

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 21 INFORMATION

in the know a gift to Baptists Today has been received Keeping up with people, places and events in honor of …

Sylvester T. Acevedo , a former commissioned tion at Wingate University and with the Randall Lolley missionary for American Baptist Home Foreign Mission Board of the Southern From William H. Crouch Jr. Mission Societies, died March 27 at age 92. Baptist Convention.

' Ka thy Gore Chappell is leadership develop - Gustavo Parajón , former American Baptist a gift to ment coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Foreign Mission Society missionary who Fellowship of North Carolina. Earlier she had served in Nicaragua, died March 13 at the age Baptists Today served as associate vice-president for advance - of 75 in Managua, Nicaragua. has been received ment and community life at Baptist in memory of … Theological Seminary at Richmond and in John Peterson , a former vice president of the ministerial positions at Forest Hills Baptist Baptist World Alliance (BWA), died on March William Greenhaw Church in Raleigh and the First Baptist 22. He was pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist From Barbara Carp Churches of Cary and Asheville. Church in Alexandria, Va., from 1964 until his retirement in 2006. Hannah Ruth Marshall Coe was ordained to ministry March 20 by First Baptist Church of Charles Douglas West was honored April 2 at Athens, Ga. She was active in the church dur - First Baptist Church of High Point, N.C., welcome ing her childhood and youth and served youth during a celebration of his retirement after 50 ministry internships during two summers. years of ministry in North Carolina and NEW GROUP SUBSCRIBERS After graduating from Berry College in 2008, Virginia. He served with Buncombe Baptist she became full-time youth minister and a stu - Association in his hometown of Asheville as First Baptist Church dent at Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology. well as several congregations. Also, he has Eatonton, Ga. been an active missions volunteer and a Keithen Tucker, interim pastor Ken Giacoletto will retire Dec. 31 as president reserve chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. of Green Lake Conference Center in New Haven Church Lawton, Okla. Wisconsin. He has led the America Baptist Jonathan Blose, pastor retreat center for 18 years. Advertising ministry positions in Baptists Today opens the Sugar Land Baptist Church, Jerry F. Jackson , president of Chowan right doors. Sugar Land, Texas University from 1989 to 1995, died April 2. Phil Lineberger, pastor He had also taught at Campbell University in [email protected] Buies Creek, N.C., and served in administra -

BIBLE STUDIES steep steps, past the partition gate and up the talent of the preacher. endless aisle to the front, where I and a sea of Discuss: The exact reasons we perceive other people were received by volunteers. who Christ is, discern a Spirit moving us, and When I was about 10 years old I went Backstage the gospel was shared briefly to become capable of answering are a mystery. with my family, all life-long church members, confirm my profession of faith, there was Can you remember, as the hymn “Amazing to the city coliseum to attend an evening of prayer, and then I left with my parents. It felt Grace” says, the hour you first believed? What the Bill Glass Crusade. We sat near the top of good, but I never did get to meet Bill Glass. was it that caused conviction in you? Have the arena, and from that vantage point the The traveling evangelist can bring just there been multiple occasions of conversion for gathering of thousands of people in front of the right culminating moment for a person you? the giant dais was an impressive sight to who has internalized the gospel already, when behold. To a 10-year-old it looked like a big it is the week-in week-out ministry of the Sources deal for a very important person. church that has brought her to that moment. Baird, William. “The Acts of the Apostles.” The At the end of the long passionate ser - Perhaps this is a good way to understand Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary on the mon, as the invitation was given and the Apollos, who wanted to preach in Greece, Bible . Abingdon Press, 1971. music swelled, I was suddenly compelled to and of whom the writer of Acts says that “he Chance, J. Bradley. Acts . Smyth & Helwys go. I don’t know what it was. I had to go spoke with great fervor” and “he was a great Publishing, 2007. help to those who by grace had believed.” We down there and answer the call to believers. Dillon, Richard J. and Joseph A. Fitzmyer. “The For some reason my parents allowed me to must all remember that, when belief comes, Acts of the Apostles.” The Jerome Biblical get up alone and walk past them, down the it always comes by grace regardless of the Commentary . Prentice-Hall, 1968.

22 | Baptists Today • May 2011 CLASSIFIEDS

Senior Pastor: First Baptist Church of Morehead City, N.C., located on the central coast, is seeking a senior pastor. Accredited seminary or divinity school graduate and at least 5 years pastoral expe - rience are required. Our church is dually aligned with CBF and SBC, and associated with BSCNC and Atlantic Association. We have a strong com - mittee structure with each chairperson participating on the church council. The deacons work closely with the pastor to provide spiritual leadership and to minister to all members. Current average atten - dance is 282 in worship and 211 in Sunday school. Send résumé by May 30 to: Pastor Search Committee, 810 Bridges St., Morehead City, NC 28557, or [email protected].

Pastor: Beaver Dam Baptist Church is a historic church at the heart of a small, rural community in western Kentucky. BDBC is widely known for both its music ministry and youth ministry, led by two full-time ministers, and a growing Christian educa - tion ministry, including a preschool and K-6 elementary school. In 2010, BDBC contributed more than $100,000 to local, state and international missions, with $660,000 in undesignated receipts. BDBC affirms the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message . For more information, or to submit a résumé, please contact: BDBC Pastor Search Committee, P.O. Box 242, Beaver Dam, KY 42320, or [email protected].

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 23 INFORMATION

Methodists shun the bottle, open conversation Adventists grow as (RNS) — Pastor James Howell knew he had a following Howell’s lead and has been pushing a other churches decline problem on his hands when several teenagers church-wide Alcohol Free Lent campaign. (RNS) — Rest on the Sabbath. Heed Old arrived at a church dance drunk and had to be For decades the church strongly supported Testament dietary codes. And be ready for taken from the church by ambulance for treat - temperance. The father and son who founded Jesus to return at any moment. ment for alcohol poisoning. the Welch’s grape juice company weren’t only If these practices sound quaint or So starting in 2009, he urged his good Methodists, but also savvy business - antiquated, think again. They’re hall - flock at Myers Park United Methodist men who saw a huge market in marks of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Charlotte, N.C., to give pushing juice for Communion to Church, the fastest-growing Christian up drinking for Lent and donate temperance-minded churches. denomination in North America. the money they would have spent In the years since, Methodists Newly released data show Seventh- on booze to a “spirit fund.” The have trended toward a more liberal day Adventism growing by 2.5 percent in church has raised more than stance. While the UMC still encour - North America, a rapid clip for this part $34,000 for local substance abuse pro - ages abstinence, in 2008 the church’s of the world, where Southern Baptists grams, and seven parishioners have sought Social Principles were revised to allow for and mainline denominations, as well as treatment for alcoholism. “judicious use with deliberate and intentional other church groups are declining. “It isn’t that alcohol in and of itself is bad; restraint, with Scripture as a guide.” Adventists are even growing 75 percent Jesus drank wine,” he said. “We emphasize the “This is a campaign that opens the doors faster than Mormons (1.4 percent), who role it plays in our lives.” to conversation, a way to talk about alcohol, prioritize numeric growth. Unlike prohibition-minded Mormons or about drinking, its impact on young people, on For observers outside the Seventh- Catholics who belly up to the bar at a Friday our own perspectives and to dialogue about day Adventist Church, the growth rate in fish fry, Methodists — the nation’s second- what that means for us as a church today,” North America is perplexing. largest Protestant denomination — have a said Cynthia Abrams, who works on alcohol, “You’ve got a denomination that is more ambiguous stance. Now, the denomina - addictions and health care issues for the basically going back to basics ... saying, tion’s General Board of Church and Society is Washington-based UMC social policy agency. ‘What did God mean by all these rules and regulations and how can we fit in to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre reads KJV Bible over Holy Week be what God wants us to be?’,” said Daniel Shaw, an expert on Christian mis - LONDON (RNS/ENInews) — William to the observance. “The playwrights listened sionary outreach at Fuller Theological Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre marked the to the clerics in church, the clerics sneaked in Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. “That’s just 400th anniversary of the King James Bible to listen to the plays in the theater. Between totally contrary to anything that’s happen - with a cover-to-cover reading between Palm the two of them they generated an energy, a ing in American culture. So I’m saying, Sunday and Easter Monday. fire and wit in the English language.” ‘Whoa! That’s very interesting.’ And I Twenty actors took part, reciting all The theater’s 2011 season will also can’t answer it.” 1,189 chapters of the historic Bible in the include the story of the creation of the King Despite its North American roots, theater built as a replica of the place that saw James Bible in the play Anne Boleyn , by the church is growing more than twice as many of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. Howard Brenton. The story looks at the fast overseas. With Saturday worship serv - “Four hundred years ago, a set of church legacy of King Henry VIII’s second wife, who ices and vegetarian lifestyles, Seventh-day scholars sat in Stationer’s Hall by St. Paul’s conspires with the exiled William Tyndale to Adventism owns a distinctive niche out - Cathedral and put the finishing touches to the make England Protestant forever. side the Christian mainstream. But being King James Bible. Across the river, a set of Starting 70 years after her death, the play different is turning out to be more of an playwrights, Shakespeare foremost amongst examines how King James united England’s asset than a liability. them, entertained a town,” artistic director religious factions with a common Bible, and Dominic Dromgoole told ENInews leading up the debt he owed to Anne.

Most Americans don’t blame God for disasters (RNS) — We may never know why bad gered a tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan. things happen to good people, but most Nearly six in 10 evangelicals believe Americans — except evangelicals — reject God can use natural disasters to send mes - the idea that natural disasters are divine sages — nearly twice the number of punishment, a test of faith or some other Catholics (31 percent) or mainline sign from God, according to a new poll. Protestants (34 percent). Evangelicals (53 The poll released March 24, by Public percent) are also more than twice as likely as Religion Research Institute in partnership the one in five Catholics or mainline with Religion News Service, was conducted Protestants to believe God punishes nations a week after a March 11 earthquake trig - for the sins of some citizens.

24 | Baptists Today • May 2011 PERSPECTIVE guest commentary ‘A Decade of Promise’ — a decade later By Walter B. Shurden

Editor’s note: In June 2001 Walter B. Shurden right and they are wrong!” … I am calling on us to confront our gave an address titled “A Decade of Promise” Mark my words. One day the Southern own inward primitivism, our own thorny self- during the 10 th anniversary banquet of the Baptist Convention will apologize to women. serving aspirations to control in however so Cooperative Baptist Fellowship held in Atlanta. They will apologize to women for some of the subtle ways. You and I have not yet begun to With CBF’s 20 th anniversary celebration to be same reasons that they and all the rest of us live out the radical meaning of Baptist free - held next month, this brief excerpt from that had to apologize to African Americans. They dom under the Lordship of Christ as it relates earlier address is offered here. The full address will apologize to women for the same reasons to our individual lives, our local churches or may be read at www.baptiststoday.org/promise. that some of us have had to apologize to CBF. We yet have work to do. women. As our great-grandchildren look back on hat many have said about our Another principle for which we con - us from the vantage point of the year 2101, struggle is true. It was a power tended was the equality of the laity. That was the cardinal question will not be: did CBF live W struggle. If, however, that some - not simply a bid for power; it was a serious and survive? The only important question is: what crass interpretation is the only spin put theological issue. In terms of the Baptist vision did the principles endure? BT on the story, you miss the essence of the story. of Christianity, we’re right and they are wrong. It was not only a struggle for the gold and The Priesthood is universal; it belongs to —Church historian Walter B. Shurden the silver and the artifacts all believers. Baptists never, ever intended to is the author of many books including of imperial denomina - be clergy-dominated people. After working The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms. tional power. It was also a with some of the gifted laity of CBF for the In retirement he wears the title of Mercer struggle for principles. last 10 years, one understands why. University’s Minister at Large. I have heard many Another of the principles underlying calls in the last 10 years much of the controversy was the nature and admonishing us to forget mission of the church of Jesus Christ. The the past, to stop fighting Kingdom of God is not solely about handing the fundamentalist- out tracts or personal witnessing, but it is cer - moderate war, to cease tainly about some of that; but the Kingdom of bashing the fundamentalists. And, believe me, God also has to do with the struggle for justice I understand fully that call. and mercy and peacemaking as part of the But my fear is that if we forget the strug - mission of the church. And many of you came gle, we may forget the reasons for the struggle. to CBF because you understood the mission of The Passover and July 4 and Bastille Day are the church to include, not exclude, acts of not observed annually in order to bash the mercy and justice. Egyptians and the British and the royalty; they Yet another principle in contention was are days to recall the price people paid for the the nature of biblical truth — its breadth and struggle of freedom. depth. We were saying, “Our little systems If it were only a struggle for buildings have their day, they have their day and cease to and offices and endowments, surely we must be, they are but mere broken lights of Thee, forget that. If all we were discussing was who and Thou, O God, art more than they.” They was to be in charge — sure, that’s petty and were saying, “We have the truth, the whole somewhat sinful stuff — unless who is in truth, and nothing but the truth.” And we are charge also has something to do with princi - right and they are wrong. ples espoused. And I contend that it was a These principles, for which many of you struggle for principles, and we will forget that … contended, made it a decade of promise for at our peril. us. But we have our sins, too. And our sins — One of those principles was gender equal - real sins not feigned sins, sins we have com - ity. That was not simply a bid for power; it mitted and sins we omitted — do not permit was then and it is now a moral issue. And in smugness or arrogance on our part. the words of James Carville, that wholly objec - Repentance toward God, not contempt tive and nonpartisan political pundit, “We’re toward others, is our needed response. May 2011 • Baptists Today | 25 PERSPECTIVE guest commentary Is cooperative missions dead? By Mark Wingfield

ooperative missions among Baptists is program to promote in our churches, with 10 missionaries serving on foreign fields. on life support, and I know why. But our own roster of missionary all-stars who Because of this wider vision of the world, C first, a true confession. Somewhere became role models for our children — not church leaders aren’t as willing to commit around 1983, when I was a student at the to mention the power of a unified coopera - tens of thousands of missions dollars to University of New Mexico and a member of a tive missions funding mechanism. “cooperative” missions causes they’ve not Southern Baptist church in Albuquerque, I So what’s gone wrong today? Why is the handpicked. threatened to leave my single adult Sunday Cooperative Baptist Fellowship gasping for You can argue all you want that undesig - school class. In the mind of this lifelong air to keep its not-a-denomination denomina - nated giving managed by experts in missions Baptist boy, something so dreadful, so tional mechanism funded? is the most efficient way to ensure equity in unimaginable was happening that I could no Four explanations come to mind, and all our global work, but efficiency and reality longer stay in the class in good conscience. are united around one word: “disconnect.” don’t live on the same continent anymore. The offense? Our teacher was planning First, there’s a dis - Few denominational entities are flexible to stop using the Sunday School Board cur - connect between the enough to allow the kind of á la cárte fund - riculum and instead use literature from a old days and the mod - ing most churches want to offer today, and so para-church organization. Which one, I can’t ern days. Remember churches are left to make up their own plans, recall now; perhaps it was Navigators or when flying an airplane to the detriment of the denominations. Campus Crusade. was exotic? In those This is where the para-church ministries This story seems laughable today, which days, international won before the battle ever started. They are indicates how far the landscape has shifted in travel was rare, and the specialists, not generalists, which makes them nearly three decades. After all, I’m a minister world seemed larger perfect for á la cárte funding. at a Baptist church that not only has aban - than one could imagine. If you care about evangelism on college doned what once was the Southern Baptist We could “see” other countries only campuses, you might support Campus Sunday School Board but hardly uses denom - through missionary slide shows and National Crusade. But if you don’t support Campus inational literature at all. And we’re Geographic magazine. Because we could not Crusade, you’re not going to defund an considered traditionalists in most other ways. go, we sent our money, blindly perhaps, to orphanage in Asia. As a Baptist teenager in the 1970s, I the general bucket of missions for others to Second, there’s a disconnect between the remember vividly hearing about the dangers determine how best to apply it. aspiring influencers and the funders. of the “para-church movement” as a threat to Today, more than a few members of most Faced with this new world, a younger our denominational identity and unity. Baptist congregations have traveled to parts of generation of leaders within the CBF has Campus Crusade, Navigators and the like the world that once were considered exotic advocated new models of mission strategies. were considered competitors to the “official” mission fields. And most of us get on air - That’s not necessarily bad, except that it has ministries of Southern Baptists. Cooperative planes as easily as we used to get on church created a gulf between their vantage point churches supported denominational agencies buses. One of my 18-year-old sons has been and what pushes the buttons of an older gen - and programs and looked with suspicion on on 14 airplane flights in the past nine eration, the one that still is most likely to non-denominational programs that weren’t months, including two international trips. fund the missions enterprise. part of our officially sanctioned whole. It’s hard to remember a time before A few years ago, based on a motion from The news flash for 2011 is that the para- CNN, but the reality of 24-hour cable news the floor of a general assembly and without church movement has won the day. That is, has changed not only our view of the world broad input from its churches, the CBF radi - in fact, old news. but also the reality of the world itself. cally altered its missions strategy to follow So why are Baptists willing to admit this Consider the live images of the Japanese earth - the Millennial Development Goals of the in every area except global missions? Both quake and tsunami as evidence. Faced with United Nations. Southern Baptists and Cooperative Baptist these changes, what church among us is going Nothing is wrong with those goals, but Fellowship Baptists still want us to behave to welcome a missionary with a slide show? to most of us older than 40, the immediate like it’s 1961, not 2011. Most every Baptist church today has at question was, “Could CBF not come up with I’ll confess that I’m guilty of this longing least a few members who have served as its own mission goals?” for the missions past. It was just so much international mission volunteers. Most also I recently tried to explain this turn of easier to have a fully prepackaged missions have personal ties to anywhere from one to events to a longtime friend who once was a

26 | Baptists Today • May 2011 PERSPECTIVE

Baptist, now is a Methodist and currently A few years ago, I had the unfortunate What’s missing in today’s Baptist life is works for a government-funded agency work - experience of serving on the BGCT’s Future the ability of denominational structures to ing with the Millennial Development Goals. Focus Committee, a group that was supposed serve as connectors rather than direct She was dumbfounded and confused. to craft a new strategic vision for the conven - providers. One of the strengths of the para- I’ll speak confessionally again at this tion’s future, one that acknowledged the church ministries has been that they are juncture to say I’ve been like this friend. I declining revenues and changing expectations equippers and connectors more than paid have not been able to figure out how to con - of churches. doers. vey to my own congregation a cohesive and In two years of work, we accomplished This image came home to me recently compelling story about CBF missions. It did precious little because those of us who argued when visiting the Georgia Aquarium in not seem right to say, “Give to the Offering for simplification of missions, scaling back Atlanta. This magnificent place is the world’s for Global Missions so we can support the and sharpening the focus were simply beat largest aquarium, with more than 8.5 million goals of the United Nations.” down by the bureaucratic powers that be. gallons of marine and fresh water housing Yet that was the only message we were Again, getting past the all-things-to-all- 120,000 animals of 500 species. given by CBF. There was no other com - people model that so well worked in 1961 The aquarium was made possible by the pelling, cohesive vision as with the founding was more change than the institutional lead - vision and lead gift of an individual donor, days, when CBF charted a clear territory ership could bear. And so we kicked the can Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home working with unreached people groups. That down the road a bit farther. Depot. His $250 million gift lit the fire, but was a compelling story we could tell in our But through this experience, I did learn that alone was not all that was needed for the churches that moved people to give, pray and the fourth disconnect that afflicts not only aquarium to open debt-free in 2005. Marcus go. the CBF and the BGCT but all denomina - used his gift and influence to leverage contri - It was simple, like the message of a para- tional structures. butions from others who had specialized church ministry because, in those days, CBF Joining the denominational bureaucrats resources. was a para-church ministry. in their opposition to streamlining were the For example, how do you move four That leads to the third problem, a dis - representatives of small churches. The gigantic whale sharks from Taiwan to Georgia connect between CBF’s infancy and young denominational structures are perceived dif - and keep them alive? It turns out, you call adulthood. Like many others still active in ferently by leaders in smaller churches than UPS. Marcus presented to UPS a challenge Baptist life today, I was physically present at by leaders in larger churches that are more they were eager to meet, doing what they do the creation of CBF. I remember why we self-sufficient. best. And so special crates were created, planes formed this new organization. At its best, a denominational structure were committed, and the seemingly impossi - The initial reason was simple: missions. evens the playing field by bringing churches ble became possible through a strategic Churches and individuals disaffected by the of all sizes together on a shared mission. partnership in which UPS donated the equiva - SBC wanted a way to channel their missions What has evolved instead in Baptist life is a lent of $200,000 in services. giving that would not be controlled by the kind of welfare state. It’s not that larger On my visit to the aquarium, I talked fundamentalist takeover of the mother ship. churches are personally helping smaller with one of the 2,000 volunteers who staff Once that snowball got rolling down the churches by being on mission together, but the place. He said Bernie Marcus was a hill, however, it picked up other laudable that larger churches are expected to feed the genius at creating partnerships and leveraging causes: theological education, Baptist history finances of the denominational machines that resources. That’s probably why this volunteer and heritage, resourcing for basic church pro - in turn individually resource the smaller and his peers save the aquarium more than gramming, social concerns, and so forth. churches. $400,000 annually in personnel costs. While still claiming to be not a denomina - So while from a larger church perspec - What would it look like for an organiza - tion — and therefore more like a para-church tive, I may say, “Streamline the structure and tion like the CBF to overcome its disconnects movement — the CBF was drawn increas - focus only on a targeted missions program,” by instead becoming an expert in connec - ingly into satisfying constituents who wanted leaders of smaller churches may respond, tions? Might there be a future for a to replace wholesale the denomination they “But who are we going to call for help with denominational hub that operates more like had (sort of) left behind. Sunday school training and pastor search an old-fashioned switchboard than a vending Unfortunately for CBF, this drama has committee support and deacon training?” machine? This would be a leaner enterprise played out at a time when denominational What no one is acknowledging is that that could put more money toward missions structures of all types have been losing the Internet works just as well in a small — the founding purpose. relevance nationwide. church as a large church. We all have access I think people and churches would give Here’s an illustration from the other side to the same resources, and we all may be as to such an enterprise — and give not only of the coin. In addition to CBF, our church puzzled by how to sort through the array of their money but also their time, knowing affiliates with a state entity, the Baptist options. someone is sounding a clear call to which General Convention of Texas. The BGCT What if CBF, for example, could become they can march. BT was a behemoth of a denominational bureau - a reviewer and recommender of resources cracy long before CBF ever existed. Although rather than trying to recreate what others —Mark Wingfield is a longtime Baptist a state entity, it was larger than a number of already are doing better? That would help journalist who now serves as associate pastor other national denominations. churches small and large. of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas.

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 27 PERSPECTIVE the lighter side Pomp and circumstances By Brett Younger

or the next few weeks people with last Churches have almost come to allowed noisemakers. names like mine will be wondering As the graduates’ names are called, spec - F why alphabetical order is so popular. blows over whether God is better tators will shriek, screech and squeal as We are about to begin graduation season. Ivy though they are shocked to hear their loved League schools will have ex-presidents, Nobel heard in an organ or a guitar. one’s name called, as though their child is the laureates and European heads of state giving bring noisemakers or balloons to a solemn next contestant on The Price is Right . their graduation speeches. Major college foot - ceremony like graduation.” You will be It will not be a bad graduation, but it ball powers get billionaires, TV anchors and wrong. The metal detector will also be a clue may not be exactly what you would have cho - American Idol winners. Baptist colleges get that this is not your father’s graduation. sen. At the last few graduations I attended, I unknown novelists, retired astronauts and The gym, which is normally the home have felt like an old man. Back in my day Baptist preachers. for less rowdy events like basketball games, there were more men in suits and ties than Commencement speakers try to say will be filled with signs celebrating Victoria, baseball caps and earrings. We waited quietly something memorable. Graduates hear that Teddy, Luz, Doogie, Little Jelly and a host of for the first strains of “Pomp and there is happiness waiting for them and there other 18-year-olds. Try not to sit behind Circumstance.” The students acted as though is danger waiting for them. They need to someone with a banner. The students, even they were not surprised to have graduated. embrace the old values and throw out the old the ones wearing sunglasses indoors at eight We listened solemnly as the speaker values. The world needs more poets and at night, will be better behaved than the par - droned on about how the word commence - dreamers, and the world does not need any ents who scream through the choir’s anthem. ment means to begin and so this is not the more poets and dreamers. The person seated directly behind you end of something but the beginning of a life - If you have a high school graduation on will have a special talent for ear-piercing long journey, a time of marching to the beat your calendar and have not been to one whistling. This is a skill he loves to share. of our own drummers, taking the road less lately, brace yourself. You may be surprised to Someone you will wish ill will bring a plastic traveled, lighting candles rather than cursing see a sign over the entrance that says, “No clapper — which is even more irritating than the darkness, and following our hearts. We noisemakers. No balloons.” You may naïvely the air horns and cowbells. You will imagine applauded politely at the end. The ceremony think, “That’s unnecessary. No one would how bad it would have been if they had was dignified, serious and meaningful in its way. Shouting may be a fun way to celebrate a graduation, but it is not the way some of us best experience important rites of passage. In a couple of weeks my son Graham will graduate from Davidson College. My guess is that it will be a fine ceremony — less serious than I might choose and less jubilant than Graham might want. While I am sitting quietly giving thanks for the end of this sea - son of tuition bills — Caleb is a high school junior, call if you have an extra scholarship — I hope I will remember that solemnity and joyfulness are both good gifts of God. Churches have almost come to blows over whether God is better heard in an organ or a guitar. Sometimes worship is fast and loud — a fine way to celebrate God’s good - ness. At other times, worship is solemn and thoughtful — also a fine way to celebrate God’s goodness. Some of us feel like God whispers more than God shouts. Maybe that is worth shouting about. BT

28 | Baptists Today • May 2011 REBLOG — Selections from recent blogs at BaptistsToday.org PERSPECTIVE

Often the churches that I visit have a mixture of styles with some attendees Ties that and ministers in traditional coats and ties while others require less change time before hitting the links after the bind — last Amen. Congregations in warmer cli - mates sometimes announce a “no ties and those that just between Memorial Day and Labor Day” policy. In others, the suggestion is not needed to be heeded. hang in the closet During the late ’80s and early ’90s, when supervising seminary interns, I By John Pierce would tell the males: “Professionalism is www.baptiststoday.org/johndpierce-blog not wearing a tie, but knowing when to wear a tie.” eckties serve no important function Most offensive are polyester or pre-tied Now I’m as confused about the sub - N— like belts. At mealtimes, they are ties. (Law enforcement officers get a ject as anyone. Going into professional eager targets for the slightest stray drop pass on the clip-on versions since wear - settings today requires asking the youth - of salad dressing, gravy or barbecue ing your own noose when apprehending a ful question of a colleague or peer: sauce. criminal is unwise.) “What are you wearing today?” Perhaps that’s why we see fewer of While alert to gender inclusion and Personally, I have learned to go with them worn in professional work environ - equality, this is a male issue. But then it the flow. Dressing in a formal or informal ments on weekdays and in churches on is not an issue for many male ministers way depends on the daily schedule. Sunday. Unlike some who get enraged or other professionals. They have simply Perhaps all of this is just a natural result over this fashion shift, I do not have a decided to not wear ties with as much of increased individualism. strong opinion on the matter. But, as conviction as others wrap them around Many years ago I had a friend who usual, I have some observations. well-starched white shirts on a regular didn’t dress as formally on a daily basis Finding that uniquely attractive, silk basis. as most of his colleagues. Seeing him in a tie among the ugly ones on a sales table Once tie-wearing was a common and tie one day caused me to inquire — and has long been an enjoyable discovery for expected part of church attendance for to discover his unique fashion philosophy. me. And since my student days of selling men — and even boys, who thought “I wear a tie when meeting with men’s clothing, I have sought to tie a their mothers were secretly trying to someone who thinks he’s important,” he good knot and to match ties properly choke them on the first day of every said. Then after a pause, he continued: with dress shirts. new week. Yet, today there are churches “And I wear a coat and tie when meeting There are a lot of mismatched ties where open-collared shirts are common - with someone I think is important.” and just plain ugly ones around. And it’s place and the presence of a dimpled Since no suit or sports coat was in easy to tell which guy chose to wear a double-windsor knot is as rare as a sight, I followed him a bit to see which tie and which one did so under pressure. perfect attendance pin. office door he entered. BT

for doctrinal instruction but ignores teach in divinity school: with all the No going back important questions about the text? honesty and insight I can muster. I have We agreed that reading the Bible found that folks generally appreciate By Tony W. Cartledge devotionally may be different, but cer - the opportunity to learn new things, www.baptiststoday.org/cartledge-blog tainly remains possible. Having some explore different approaches and ask understanding of context, form and the hard questions of the text. student stopped by my office to talk nuances of language can make devotional Starting with the June issue, A about reading the Bible — go fig - reading a richer experience, if anything. Baptists Today will be providing new ure. But how does one find enjoyment in Bible study resources that will make He was dealing with a question that a Bible study class where critical such encounters with the text available divinity school students often face: insights or hard questions are either to classes anywhere. I’ll be spending a once you’ve learned to dig beneath the unwelcome or simply not understood? lot of time writing Bible studies suitable surface and read the Bible with an aca - Does one speak up at the risk of alien- for use by Sunday school classes or demic eye, how do you go back to ating the teacher or fellow class other groups. reading the Bible devotionally? members, remain silent and frustrated, We hope you’ll consider letting How do you sit through a Sunday find another class? Baptists Today help you “dig the Bible” school class in which the curriculum or My philosophy has always been to as you might not have done it before. the teacher (or both) uses proof texts teach Bible studies the same way I You may not want to go back. BT

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 29 FEATURE BY BRUCE GOURLEY , Online Editor

in their own words slaves sympathized with the South, while most of those with small homes ostilities now official, the month of and no slaves were for the North. May is occupied with preparations Hfor coming battles. North and South, Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Mo., the war is the talk of the citizenry rural and city. Second Baptist Church is divided. In late The uncommitted Border States remain April, the church’s pastor, Dr. Galusha critical to the fortunes of both the United Anderson, had preached the first pro-Union States and the Confederate States. Nowhere sermon in the Border State city. are citizens more divided than in Kentucky. Church members in the weeks following Pulpits and churchyards are not unaf - take sides on the issue, as some southern fected by the war talk. On the first Sunday of sympathizers in the city resort to violence. A the month, members of Kentucky’s Old Cane church window is broken and a deacon shot. Spring Baptist Church (located in Madison One city newspaper editor writes scorn - County, south of Lexington) gather for a day fully of Galusha’s sermon under the headline, of worship and fellowship. A participant “The Devil Preaches at Sixth and Locust.” records the day’s events: Galusha remains resolute. Some families leave the church never to return, although in Old Cane Springs appeared to be a the coming years the church emerges stronger God-fearing and God-loving commu - than ever. nity. There was preaching at the May 1861 Southward, the Southern Baptist Cane Spring Church as usual. Rev. Convention convenes in Savannah, Ga. The William Rupard, a young Baptist “lawless reign of terror at the North,” dele - preacher from Clark County, had When the services were over, those gates proclaim, are waging “a warfare of been engaged as minister. The first who had heard the sermon came out savage barbarity, to devastate our houses and Sunday in May was expected to be a either lauding or condemning the hearths with hosts of ruffians and felons.” big day, and the usual preparations preacher, who had spoken of the peo - Southern Baptists pledge to fight back. were made to entertain those attend - ple of the South as Rebels, bent on Summoning “every principle of religion, of ing who might live at a distance. dissolving the Union of the States. patriotism, and of humanity,” messengers Lambs, pigs, and chickens had been His utterances on this point were soon pledge their “fortunes and lives in the good slaughtered by the dozens, and when known by the crowd on the outside, work of repelling an invasion designed to the congregation began to assemble, some of whom received them with destroy whatever is dear in our heroic tradi - it was evident that no unnecessary condemnation while others approved; tions; whatever is sweet in our domestic preparation had been made. and excitement ran high. One man hopes and enjoyments; whatever is essential said in a loud voice, “No more of his to our institutions and our very manhood.” In a very short time the church was preaching for me. No true preacher Therefore, “we commend to the filled with ladies, except the “amen knows anything in his pulpit but churches represented in this body, that they corner” and the extreme rear of the Christ and Him crucified.” constantly invoke a holy and merciful God to church. The yard was about as full as cover their [soldiers] head in the day of bat - the church. Men gathered in various Most all of the members who owned tle, and to give victory to their arms.” parts of the yard, and as one passed slaves were grievously offended at the At the same time, Southern Baptists among them he heard nothing but preacher’s remarks. Major C. F. remain committed to evangelizing their war and preparation for war being Burnam, an attorney from slaves. “There is no class of people among us discussed … The opposing views of Richmond, who was present, congrat - that more sincerely appreciate the efforts of the North and South were freely ulated the preacher on his defense of our missionaries than the slaves that work advocated and it was evident that the Union. His statement, however, our soil. Let us, then, give them the pure the peace-loving and law-abiding cit - was overheard and caused him to be Word of Life that has elevated them so far izens of Old Cane Springs and condemned as much as the preacher. above the condition of their race in the vicinity were ready to take up arms mother land.” BT in defense of one or the other of the … Men of the community were fast sections. taking sides and excitement ran high. For a daily journal along with references to Those with much property and many source material, visit www.civilwarbaptists.com.

30 | Baptists Today • May 2011 FEATURE

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles in which various participants respond to the same six questions from Baptists Today Editor John Pierce SIX QUESTIONS about their involvement in and understanding of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that is celebrating its about the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 20th anniversary in June.

Deane and Bert Langdon Later he spent 28 years of three churches in Germany. met in junior college following his service as an associational mis - Deane spent 46 years writing curricu - in World War II. A year later they married sionary for the Pacific lum materials for the Baptist Sunday School and transferred to Oklahoma Baptist Southern Baptist Board/LifeWay and led teacher training con - University where Bert sensed a call to min - Association through the ferences in all states west of Texas and in istry. He was ordained by First Baptist California Southern Canada and Europe. She also edited a news Church of Wynnewood, Okla. Baptist Convention and journal for European Baptists. Following graduation from Golden the SBC Home Mission Board. The Langdons live in Lompoc, Calif., Gate Seminary in 1955, Bert became asso - After retiring in 1988, he served enjoy travel and have found “special joy” ciate pastor at 12th Avenue Baptist Church two years with the European Baptist in leading worship services aboard cruise in Sacramento, Calif., and then pastor. Convention as treasurer and interim pastor ships. BT

BT: What was your first whom we saw as leaders were seemingly not than think. I do not believe that we should experience with CBF? involved in “building a kingdom” around deliberately attempt to “steal churches,” but I themselves. think that perhaps some church members Bert: I first attended the 1990 meeting [that operate out of habit rather than thinking led to forming of CBF]. I have only missed BT: How do you explain CBF to others? through their choices. one meeting since. That was the one at I wish we [Baptists] could find a way to Deane: This is sometimes difficult. I do not Greensboro, N.C. become less judgmental about some issues. want to “explain CBF” as an organization Where does teaching biblical values leave off Deane: which “is against whatever.” CBF is involved We attended the [first assembly] in and becoming legalistic with the right to tell in offering help for churches and individuals Atlanta in 1991. I’m not sure how we everybody else how to live pick up? received information about the meeting. We who are trying to learn to live as Jesus taught had returned from serving almost two years in Matthew 25. Bert: New church starts, especially in the in Europe with the Southern Baptist Foreign West, so that we can reach unreached people, Bert: I live 125 miles from the nearest CBF Mission Board. [The SBC] de-funding the and finances are generated. seminary in Switzerland was a pivotal issue church, so am an associate member of a that caused us to look at some alternatives. Methodist church. They accept BT: What hopes do you that, and I don’t have any have for the Fellowship’s explaining to do. BT: What is it about the CBF that future? caused you to get and remain I have breakfast with the engaged? ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Bert: I will be glad to see it grow Eating Out) every Tuesday. number wise and, as a result, be Deane: The open attitude and willingness The other six or seven are all able to have more field represen - members of our former to struggle with finding some ways of cooper - tatives to reach around the world. Southern Baptist church. I ating with integrity in sharing our faith and And we need to continue inter - mention meetings that I relating to fellow believers with respect. faith relationships with other religious attend. We don’t get into differences. groups. Bert: They are affirming and accepting. I respect the fact that everyone can have an BT: What are the biggest challenges Deane: We would hope that starting some opinion and not be criticized or put down. I facing CBF at age 20? CBF churches in the West could become a don’t have to use the same words that some - Deane: goal. Bert and I are really past the age for one else uses to express my faith and Of course, the present economic cli - that kind of assignment. opinions. mate is a huge challenge. (I served on the CBF Coordinating Council finance group Again, finding ways of telling our stories BT: What was a significant “CBF when things were great.) to people who need to know about a loving, moment” for you? One big challenge is finding ways to tell accepting, open place where they can learn to our story to some people in Baptist churches become better followers of Christ. We are still Deane: I guess when I realized that those who choose to react to circumstances rather learning. BT

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 31 MEDIA BY KIM LAWTON , Religion & Ethics News Weekly

Fed up with Hollywood, churches make their own films

YORBA LINDA, Calif. — This Christian tone, and the upcoming Courageous continues that. year’s Oscars may have been Sherwood’s efforts have inspired other passed out, but for some congregations. “You’ve got these church media directors churches across the country the and their pastors going, ‘Hey, why can’t we major motion picture season was do that?”’ Joseph said. At Calvary Church of the Nazarene in just getting started. Cordova, Tenn., optometrist David Evans rustrated with the movies Hollywood wrote and directed the church’s annual pas - has been releasing, more and more con - sion play for 15 years. He says after watching F gregations are making their own Fireproof , he came away believing Calvary feature films. should make a film too. One is Friends Church in Yorba Linda, a “I realized that God had been preparing Quaker congregation with an evangelical us for the last 15 years to do something far megachurch worship style where members are greater than we could ever imagine, and that’s finishing production on a film called Not what set off the course of actions for me to Today . begin writing the basic story of The Grace “I still hear people say it in the church, Card ,” he said. ‘What are we doing? We’re making a movie? The Grace Card , which Evans also What are you talking about?’” Jon Van Dyke, directed, is a story about forgiveness and Friends Church’s media director, told the PBS racial reconciliation. Although many in the show Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly . cast are Calvary Church members, the film Van Dyke is director of Not Today , stars Academy Award winner Louis Gossett which tells the story of a spoiled young then go and do things, in whatever genre, Jr., and it has several Hollywood partners, American who goes on a partying trip to whether it’s politics, or media or whatever,” including Samuel Goldwyn Films. India and gets pulled into the search for a lit - said Mark Joseph, a film producer with the “We want, number one, for God to be tle girl sold to human traffickers. The film MJM Entertainment Group who writes about glorified through this movie,” Evans said. was partly shot in India and centers around religion and pop culture. “We want to plant seeds that result in people Dalits, the so-called “untouchables” on the “I’m not sure about church as film stu - demonstrating forgiveness and extending lowest rung of the traditional caste system. dio or church as commercial enterprise,” he grace. That’s something we all need to do on Friends Church connected with Dalits during said. “But that’s, I think, the danger down a larger scale.” mission trips. this path.” At Friends Church, filmmakers said they “I had never heard of the Dalits until I The church filmmaking trend began at tried to incorporate their characters’ faith went to India,” said Brent Martz, producer of Sherwood Baptist in Albany, Ga., where asso - into the story in a natural way. Not Today and pastor of creative ministries at ciate pastors and brothers Alex and Stephen “This isn’t a Christian movie,” Martz Friends Church. Kendrick have released three feature films said. “It’s a movie about human trafficking Friends Church committed to help free since 2003. They are finishing the fourth that happens to be (seen) through the experi - Dalits who had been trafficked and to build one, Courageous , about policemen struggling ence of a couple of Christians who are really 200 schools for Dalit children. And, because to be good fathers. struggling to live a good Christian life.” the congregation is in the backyard of In Sherwood films, volunteer church Friends Church intends to deliver Hollywood, members decided to make a members make up nearly all the cast and Hollywood quality with Not Today , and they movie as well. crew and do everything from catering to have an advantage over other churches. “It wasn’t just to make a movie, because building sets. Sherwood teamed with Director Van Dyke spent more than 22 years we’re not in the movie business; we’re a Provident Films, a division of Sony, and working in Hollywood, and other church church,” said Matthew Cork, the congrega - found a very receptive audience. Their third members are in the business as well. tion’s lead pastor. “But as a church, we do film, Fireproof , starring Kirk Cameron, was He says it’s important the film, which have an obligation and a responsibility to tell made on a $500,000 budget, and it took in the church hopes to release early next year, the message, and we believe that this was the more than $33 million at the box office, not be perceived as a “B” movie. best way for us.” making it the highest-grossing independent “Clearly, there’s tons of talent in the Some experts question whether this is film of 2008. church, so why are we making crappy home something local churches should be doing. Sherwood films have a specific message, movies? I mean ... Hollywood should be fol - “I guess I have an outdated notion that and making their own movies allows them to lowing us. They should be going, ‘Wow, look churches are there to inspire parishioners to express it. The films have an overtly what the church is doing.’” BT

32 | Baptists Today • May 2011 BY JOHN PIERCE FEATURE

The Pickin’ Preacher Alabama pastor finds joy, new contacts through musical avocation

IRMINGHAM, Ala. — Every minis - ter needs a constructive way to deal B with stress. Gary Furr went back to a tried-and-true approach from his youth. Shades Mountain Air is an acoustic-bluegrass band that recorded a self-titled CD in 2000 and “About 30 minutes with a guitar will get another, Sky’s A Clearing , in 2004. The group has performed on college and university campuses anything out of you,” he said with a smile. as well as at churches, coffee houses, festivals and conventions. Members (left to right) Greg Womble (banjo and vocals), Don Wendorf (mandolin and hammer dulcimer), Gary Furr (guitar Around Birmingham, Furr is known as and vocals) and Nancy Womble (bass and lead vocals) recently welcomed fiddle player Melanie the longtime, strong-voiced pastor of Vestavia Rogers to the band. Fans whose musical tastes range from Bill Monroe to James Taylor will find something to their liking in SMA’s unique style, said Furr. Photo by Butch Oglesby of Blue Moon Hills Baptist Church, a congregation that Studios. Used by permission. enjoys a scenic view of the city each time they gather. But in recent years, his musical roots “I stopped playing golf and started sermon or a song, the communicator asks: from the hills of North Carolina have been cruising music stores,” he recalled. “What’s the hook?” The message, he said, showing through more. He met talented people from various cannot be heard unless you get the listener’s “I grew up in a musical family,” said backgrounds and, in turn, found ministry attention. Furr. “I was playing ‘Orange Blossom Special’ opportunities that would have never been Therefore, he thinks his work at song - before I was 16, and writing my own songs.” discovered in his usual pastoral activities. writing has positively impacted his preaching His Uncle Paul was a fiddle player, and “It’s its own little world,” said Gary of ministry. But he cautions against allowing a his dad — with whom he still picks guitars Birmingham’s music community. “I get to needed outlet to consume too much of a — enjoyed playing with Gary and his broth - know people that I’d never get to meet as a minister’s time. ers. So bluegrass music around the house was preacher in a suit.” “It can become obsessive,” he confessed. a familiar sound, and the talent came natu - For example, one music store owner, “You have to keep it in balance because it’s a rally. with no church connection, asked Gary to very consuming kind of thing.” A few years ago, however, Gary brought conduct the funeral for his mother. “I’ve But when kept in balance, he said, his his picking and singing out more publicly found you can be a pastor everywhere you musical interests positively impact all aspects with the formation of an acoustic-bluegrass go,” he said. of his life and ministry. band called Shades Mountain Air. Unlike the And what does the Vestavia congregation His increased interest in music has also band he formed in college — that lasted one think about having a publicly pickin’ enriched his family ties. He and his father week — SMA has staying power. preacher? spent a week together at a “guitar camp” in The group performs in a variety of set - “The church has not only allowed me to Maryville, Tenn. And Gary said he and his tings from universities to music festivals. do this, but are proud of it in a weird way,” dad never leave each other’s company — Gary said joining talents with Nancy and he said gratefully. whether his parents have come to Greg Womble was easy and enjoyable. When granted a sabbatical a few years Birmingham or he is visiting them at their “The first time we ever played together ago, Gary grabbed his guitar and headed to Atlanta area home — without picking a tune was on stage,” he noted. Nashville. He spent time with seasoned song - together. Ministers need an outlet away from con - writers exploring the similarities in their craft “It’s just been life giving for me,” said gregational demands. So in the mid-’90s, to that of sermon preparation and preaching. the pastor who finds more balance when his Furr decided a return to his musical roots was “You paint a picture that the listeners preaching and other pastoral duties get mixed the one for him. can fill in,” said Furr. Whether crafting a in with a little picking. BT

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 33 FEATURE BY ELIZABETH EVANS HAGAN

Many expressed amazement that an imam, a rabbi and a couple of pastors could get along and serve others together.

A JOURNEY, NOT A JOKE — “My journey to the Holy Land began like the start of a bad joke,” said Baptist pastor Elizabeth Hagan (second from left), shown here with (left to right) her husband Kevin Hagan, Rabbi Rob Nosanchuk, Pastor John Moyle and Imam Yusuf Saleem. A highlight of her pilgrimage in diversity, said Hagan, was a visit with children in a poor Palestinian town on the border with Syria. The Virginia clergy brought gifts and joy to a community that had been vandalized recently. .

region that were esteemed in each of our ‘A , an and two religious traditions. We would seek to expe - rabbi imam rience the spirituality of one another’s traditions and learn from each other’s preachers go on a trip …’ experiences. Second, we would intentionally engage Israel journey reveals challenges, opportunities of diversity the Israeli and Palestinian conflict from the perspective of as many viewpoints as possi - ble. We would travel both with a Jewish tional evangelical pastor and a Baptist pas - iversity: it’s something most of us Israeli guide and a Muslim Palestinian tor get together and decide to go on a trip. say we support and want more of guide, and share in as many home meet - Planning for this adventure began two D in our lives. Most of us desire ings as possible in both the nation of Israel years ago, when Rabbi Rob Nosanchuk racial diversity, ethnic diversity and cultural and the Palestinian territories. from the synagogue in Reston, Va., diversity in our churches, and will do most Our experience with diversity began attended an interfaith clergy meeting with anything to diversify our membership, our with an unexpected openness to the move - a great idea. Rabbi Rob and his good staff or our denominational offices. ment of the Spirit. What excited us most as friend, Imam Magid of the Adams Center Such an “I want more diversity” motto we began the trip was the anticipation of in Sterling, Va., desired to go on an inter - has long been at the top of my vision for seeing our “own” sites. life and ministry. Before seminary, I taught faith delegation of peace and reconciliation Though never spoken aloud, most of 5th grade in an inner-city school and went to Israel. us assumed that we’d just “bear with” the on service trips throughout Africa and Asia. “Would any Christian clergy be inter - visits to sites of faith traditions outside our I am currently the pastor of a church ested in participating in the group?” he own. Yet, as we opened our spirits, God that considers itself theologically diverse asked. gave us exactly what we did not expect: As and multicultural in membership. Yet dur - I was intrigued from the beginning. I we each let go of our own preconceived ing a recent 10-day pilgrimage to Israel, I knew this would be unlike the typical Holy notions about this experience, God met us learned that I’m only just beginning to Land tour. each in the most unlikely of places. understand the scope, cost and sacrifices of A shared goal what diversity truly means. Through human lens My journey to the Holy Land began The goal of our trip was twofold. First, we One of the most powerful days for the like the start of a bad joke. A Reform would travel together as clergy to holy sites rabbi came in Ramallah, a thriving rabbi, a Muslim imam, a non-denomina - in Jerusalem and throughout the Galilee Palestinian town near PLO headquarters

34 | Baptists Today • May 2011 FEATURE

that was a site visit unheard of for a Jew. was separate and not nearly equal. expressions of happiness had not been seen Yet, for the rabbi, seeing the Palestinians After reuniting outside the Tomb, we among the children for a long time before through a human lens, rather than one set out to walk around the town but our coming. stemming from political propaganda, quickly learned there were more rules for Many expressed amazement that an birthed in him deep compassion for people our diverse group. A large dividing barri - imam, a rabbi and a couple of pastors living lives far closer to his own than he cade was placed in the middle of the street, could get along and serve others together. expected. with the narrow portion on the side of the In that moment, beauty flooded all of our The imam, a Muslim convert from road for Muslims by foot only and the souls as our trip drew to an end. The mes - Christianity with a Baptist pastor for a wide portion of the road reserved for sage resounded clearly: Yes, God was father, tapped into deep joy at the Church everyone else. present among us. of the Holy Sepulchre, a site many My heart ached for the brokenness in Christians believe is the location of Jesus’ Hebron — brokenness that affected both Daily diversity burial. As he remembered his parents’ wit - the city and the tourists. I could only imag - Back home in Reston, Va., as I serve my ness, their strong faith, and what his first ine what horrible flashbacks the imam was church and seek to lead them in gospel- pilgrimage to Israel would have meant to having to a horrible time of inequality dur - centered ways, diversity’s call continues to them, he felt at home in a way he had ing his formative years. Here he was in challenge me. never known before. Israel, being persecuted in a similar way — I can no longer simply be friends with For the other pastor and myself, it was this time for his religion. people who are just like me. Our church the Western Wall — the site believed to be cannot, either. the remains of Solomon’s temple — that Shared beauty and joy I can no longer avoid the discomfort, captured our attention in a way that no Yet diversity, as we experienced it, also misunderstandings and extra time that Christian site did. became a moving experience of beauty. On diverse friendships take to bring about. As we prayed on our respective sides of the last day of our adventure, we traveled Our church cannot, either. the wall with men and women from all to a poor Palestinian town on the border I can no longer be limited by what I languages, nations and faiths, we were in a with Syria to spend time with a group of have known of God in my past, for the state of awe. For when the Spirit shows up, children who were deemed lower class by Spirit might be leading me into what can - our individual words aren’t enough. We their society because of their darker skin. not be imagined now in the present. Our were glad to have our colleagues from other Before visiting this elementary school, church cannot hold on to such a past, traditions join in our prayers. we learned that its facilities had recently either. In each of these instances, we found been vandalized. The children were left There is so much more of God to that experiencing diversity often meant without many necessary materials, and fear experience if time, space and energy are being uncomfortable, yet going with it had gripped the neighborhood. given to the difficult practice of diversity. It because the Spirit was present there. As we offered small gifts of soccer is my prayer that we, as God’s church, will balls, Hula Hoops and painting supplies not just give lip service to being shaped by Sharing pain with others we had purchased, joy beamed from the diverse voices, but in openness of God’s Diversity, as we experienced it, also children’s faces and their laughter became Spirit, learn to embrace one another in all required willingness to witness others’ contagious. of our brokenness and beauty. BT pain. On the fourth day of our journey, we After spending the afternoon teaching traveled from Jerusalem to Hebron, the games and organizing art projects, we were —Elizabeth Evans Hagan is pastor city of Abraham and the Tomb of the told countless times by school officials and of Washington Plaza Baptist Church Patriarchs. even the mayor of the town that such in Reston, Va. Each of us was eager to visit this holy place together as children of Father Abraham and of Isaac and Ishmael. Hebron, however, met our peace- making efforts with less than enthusiastic support. On several occasions our van was searched at security checkpoints with scrutiny. Even though we were American tourists, the Muslims in our van signaled trouble to the guards. Then, at the Tomb of the Patriarchs, we found that we would have to use sepa - rate entrances. From an overlook on a We found that experiencing diversity often meant being uncomfortable, balcony, I saw my dark-skinned Muslim friends being harassed, searched carefully, yet going with it because the Spirit was present there. and endlessly interrogated. Our treatment

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 35 Coming in June! An expanded, newly designed Baptists Today

hen the June issue of Baptists Today lands in your hand, you will see and feel SOMETHING DIFFERENT . But don’t be alarmed: you are simply getting MORE THAN BEFORE . The expanded, newly designed news journal will have all the fea - W tures of the current publication along with new Bible studies and other resources for churches — and a fresh look. Expect it to be noticeably different, yet recognizably Baptists Today !

WHAT’S THE SAME? The mission of Baptists Today remains So what’s new ? Big Launch Party unchanged: to provide churches with a Thanks to helpful feedback from readers, a long featuring singer/songwriter Pat Terry reliable source of unrestricted news, analy - creative process and the generous support of sis and features about relevant issues. friends, the June issue will have a fresh look and Sunday, May 22, 7 p.m. As always, the news journal enjoys feel. Cox Capitol Theatre unthreatened autonomy and edito - Most noticeably, the publication will have an 382 Second Street rial freedom that is boldly protected by an updated design with full color and more pages Macon, Georgia independent Board of Directors. of content. The focus of Baptists Today is broad, An expanded new center section titled Food, fun and a sneak preview of the not limited by state or convention lines. “Nurturing Faith” will feature Bible studies new Baptists Today . Bring a group from Attention is given to the larger Baptist written by Dr. Tony Cartledge — as well as other your church. family. church resources. Extensive teaching materials will PREVIEW THE The qualities that have made Baptists be provided online, including lesson plans by Rick NEW BAPTISTS Today unique for 28 years will remain Jordan of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of unchanged. North Carolina. TODAY!

Studying the tarting in the June issue (with lessons that begin in Bible with July), Baptists Today will provide weekly Bible study S lessons written exclusively by contributing editor Tony Dr. Tony W. Cartledge and sponsored by CBF Congregational Life. Dr. Cartledge, who also teaches at Campbell University Cartledge Divinity School, has a scholar’s mind, a pastor’s heart and a writer’s pen. His ability to provide solid biblical scholarship with practical applications of faith has long been appreciated. FAITH ELEMENT BIBLE STUDIES These lessons for Sunday school classes and other FOR YOUTH weekly Bible study groups will follow the biblical texts found Sponsored by the Eula Mae and John Baugh in the Revised Common Lectionary. Unique and abundant Foundation, these new weekly Bible lessons teaching resources (such as video overviews, lesson plans and will be produced in partnership with David commentaries) will be easily accessible online at the Baptists Cassady and Faith Lab. Video and other teach - Today web site. ing aids will be available online at no extra Group or bulk subscriptions to Baptists Today will pro - cost. vide a full year of high-quality Bible studies from a trusted source with a Baptist perspective — along with relevant PLACE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION news, analysis and features. ORDERS NOW Individual subscriptions are $20 for one year and $35 for two years. Baptists Today goes on tour PREVIEW THE NEW BAPTISTS TODAY ! Group orders (to different mailing addresses) The news journal staff will hit the road May 23-26 to introduce the redesigned, expanded or Bulk orders (to a single address) are just $18 publication, with stops in Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Asheville each for a full year (minimum of 25). and Greenville. (See tour schedule on opposite page, or updated information at www.baptists To order, visit www.baptiststoday.org today.org .) Additional tours and special events will follow soon in many other cities. or call 1-877-752-5658.

36 | Baptists Today • May 2011 INFORMATION New online teaching resources coming next month Lesson plans, videos, commentaries to be part of ‘Nurturing Faith’

When the newly redesigned and others want to be chal - they are challenged to live in a different way lenged to intersect the than before,” said Jordan. expanded Baptists Today arrives in June, it Bible with their daily A former pastor and church educator, will carry Bible studies by Tony Cartledge lives.” Jordan ([email protected]) is also available to To those ends, lead retreats or other events for teachers, dea - as well as lessons for youth and children. Jordan has developed FIT cons or other church leadership. And teachers of these lessons will find — a model for teaching The new Bible studies in the “Nurturing that begins with an inter - Faith” section of Baptists Today , as well as the abundant and easily accessible resources active exercise to create Rick Jordan online resources, are being coordinated by at www.baptiststoday.org. Fellowship , then moves Baptists Today’s church resources editor, David into the Information stage Cassady, an experienced Christian educator ne helpful resource will be printable of biblical exploration and curriculum developer. weekly lesson plans written by Rick and concludes with a “I’m excited about the way this new cur - O Jordan as part of an ongoing collabo - Transformational riculum both offers solid printed materials and ration between the Cooperative Baptist experience. innovative online resources,” said David, who Fellowship of North Carolina and Baptists “When the students is also president of Faith Lab, which provides Today . leave the classroom, they media services to churches and church-related “Those who attend Sunday school or know something about groups and is developing the Faith Element other Bible study groups have different inter - each other they didn’t Bible studies for youth. ests,” said Jordan, church resources director for know before, they’ve David Cassady “My hope is that churches will find it to CBFNC. “Some want to build relationships gained some important be a fresh and relevant way to enhance learning while others want in-depth Bible study and biblical knowledge they didn’t have before and and help persons grow in faith,” he added. BT

2412 Ball Camp Byington Rd. No charge. THE ROLL-OUT TOUR — MAY 23-26 Call the church at (865) 693-1641 for Baptists Today editors to preview newly designed, expanded news journal reservations.

Get an early look at the NEW Baptists Today BIRMINGHAM, AL — A dinner coordi - ASHEVILLE, NC — Regional preview pres - entation sponsored by the Western North with its fresh design and expanded church nated by Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Details, including reservation Carolina Baptist Fellowship and hosted by resources including new Bible studies by information, will be posted at www. First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St., Tony Cartledge as well as lessons for youth alabamacbf.org when completed. at 6 p.m. in the chapel. (Those wishing to come earlier for the $6 fellowship meal may and children. make reservations by calling the church at Tuesday, May 24 Discuss these added features in the news [828] 252-4781 or online at www.fbca.net.) journal and abundant online resources with HUNTSVILLE, AL — A luncheon coordi - Baptists Today editors John Pierce, Bruce nated by Alabama Cooperative Baptist Thursday, May 26 Gourley and David Cassady. Fellowship. Details, including reservation GREENVILLE, SC — A noon luncheon Additional events will be scheduled in information, will be posted at www. hosted by Pelham Road Baptist Church at other locations in the months ahead. Please alabamacbf.org when completed. 1108 Pelham Rd. (See Baptists Today contact invite Baptists Today to your area. CHATTANOOGA, TN — A 6:30 p.m. information below for reservations.) Monday, May 23 dinner hosted by First Baptist Church of Chattanooga at 401 Gateway Ave. No charge. INFORMATION: This schedule is being ATLANTA, GA — A luncheon hosted and (See Baptists Today contact information updated at www.baptiststoday.org as plans are sponsored by Bo Prosser, Coordinator for below for reservations.) completed. Unless otherwise noted, please Congregational Life of the Cooperative Baptist contact the Baptists Today office at Fellowship. No charge. 11:30 a.m. at the CBF [email protected] or 1-877-752-5658 Wednesday, May 25 Resource Center, 2930 Flowers Rd., South, to attend one of the tour events that includes Atlanta. Email Christa at csfameni@ KNOXVILLE, TN — An 11:30 a.m. lunch - a meal. Please identify the city in which the thefellowship.info for reservations. eon hosted by Ball Camp Baptist Church at lunch or dinner will be held. BT

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 37 FEATURE STORIES BY PEGGY FLETCHER STACK , Salt Lake Tribune

Musical, politicians On stage put Mormons in American spotlight Book of Mormon musical called surprisingly sweet

EW YORK (RNS) — A Ugandan In one powerful number, “I Believe,” villager in a new Broadway musical Price belts out a string of peculiarly Mormon N offers a plaintive love song about teachings — that ancient Jews sailed to paradise — and the object of her yearning is America, that God lives on a planet called none other than Utah’s capital. Kolob, that in 1978 “God changed his mind “Salvation has a name — Salt Lake-y about black people” and that the Garden of City,” croons Nabalungi (played by Nikki M. Eden was in Jackson County, Mo. James) in The Book of Mormon , at the Later, Price begins to doubt those sto - Eugene O’Neill Theater. ries, which triggers a “spooky Mormon hell The lyrics are ironic, of course, as is dream,” in which he sees serial killer Jeffrey much of the story written and directed by Dahmer and Genghis Khan, among other fig - South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt ures. Price is also haunted by two giant cups Stone, in conjunction with Robert Lopez, of coffee, which is prohibited by the church’s who helped compose the award-winning health code. musical Avenue Q . That leaves Cunningham, who has a Sure enough, the production is bawdy “problem” with lying, alone to convert the and irreverent. Many believers would see it as Ugandans and leads directly to some hilarious a blasphemous assault on scriptures, much antics and miscommunication. The Book of Mormon , opened March 24. like the pair’s animated TV series. But the Somewhat surprisingly, the satirical musical is Chris Bono, a spokesman for the pro - satire and tone were not as hostile as many getting rave reviews from Mormons, but not ducers, said that “this is not just a spoof of Mormons feared. everyone is amused. Religion News Service Mormons, and it’s not cynical.” file photo courtesy Joan Marcus. “I was expecting to be offended,” said In response to media requests before the Anne Christensen, a 22-year-old LDS New For the next two hours, these young musical’s preview, the LDS Church released Yorker, “but was pleasantly surprised by how men sing about temptation, sexuality, guilt the following: “The production may attempt incredibly sweet it was.” and fear, and about believing sometimes- to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Her mother, Janet Christensen, added: ludicrous doctrines. They deal with differ - Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will “It’s not G-rated, but they treated us with ences and egos and doubt. change people’s lives forever by bringing them affection. And they did their homework.” One mismatched pair, Elder Price closer to Christ.” The play is a story about faith and (played by Andrew Rannells) and Elder Parker and Stone have said they love doubt, with actions and themes that will be Cunningham (played by Josh Gad), is sent to Mormons “and it showed,” said Graceann familiar to most Utahns, no matter their Uganda, where AIDS has decimated the pop - Bennett, a Mormon from Chicago. “It was religious tradition. ulation and the locals believe having sex with like loving teasing. I don’t think you could The set includes the outside frame of an a virgin is the only cure. A local warlord is get to that sweetness in today’s world without LDS temple, with a spinning Angel Moroni threatening to attack and circumcise all the a serious dose of irreverence.” on top. There are brief appearances by LDS women. Bennett especially liked the fact that the Church founder Joseph Smith, his successor, Price, a by-the-book leader who thought characters were “real Mormons,” not fringe Brigham Young, Book of Mormon figures Orlando, Fla., would be a perfect place to do groups such as polygamists. There was not a Mormon and Moroni, and Jesus himself. his two-year stint, is convinced that he can single mention of plural marriage, “Big The main characters, though, are LDS change the world by baptizing the most Love,” Mitt Romney or Proposition 8. And, missionaries in white shirts, ties and those people. He is confident and cocky. though there is a glimpse of “Mormon under - ever-present nametags. Cunningham, a geeky but eager misfit, wear,” there are no jokes about it. The first scene shows about a dozen mis - just wants to be liked. He hasn’t actually read “Americans think Mormons are all the sionaries happily ringing doorbells and the Mormon scripture but loves the stories of same,” Bennett said. “This shows diversity claiming all answers “are in the book,” hold - Star Wars and Lord of the Rings and mixes and that Mormons can grow and change in ing up copies of The Book of Mormon . them into his preaching. their faith.” BT

38 | Baptists Today • May 2011 FEATURE

Will high-profile politicians help or hurt Mormons?

ALT LAKE CITY (RNS) — Amid the scientist at the University Notre Dame and a Mormons) on the part of the general public.” prospect of presidential runs by Jon Mormon. Yet he said the same underlying attitudes S Huntsman Jr. and Mitt Romney, “It would mean we were entering the that created difficulties for Romney remain: reporters were bombarding the Church of mainstream of American society. white evangelical Protestants — Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with calls After all, we would have not just one a force in the GOP — view the about the potential candidates and their but two candidates — plus Harry Mormon doctrines with suspicion Mormon faith. Reid (the Senate majority leader, a and its missionaries as “competitors” So much so, in fact, that the Utah-based Democrat from Nevada).” for converts. Such evangelicals are LDS Church decided it needed to reiterate its Campbell and co-author Robert especially influential in states such as longstanding stance of political neutrality. Putnam of American Grace: How South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, “The church is strictly neutral in matters Religion Divides and Unites Us , Green said, and would pose a large of party politics and will not comment at all ranked Mormonism among the hurdle for any Mormon candidate. on the personalities and platforms of candi - nation’s least-popular faiths. Jon Huntsman Jr. Kelly Patterson, a Brigham dates, whether or not they are members of the Romney’s first run at the White Young University political scientist, is church and irrespective of their party affilia - House “did not change attitudes more optimistic about his church tion,” the church said in a statement released toward Mormons, either among and possible Mormon candidates. in February. those who liked him or didn’t,” “The second time around, it The novelty of two high-profile Campbell said. “Attitudes about won’t be as important,” he said of Mormons possibly competing for the nation’s Mormonism were fixed.” the earlier scrutiny given to highest office guaranteed the 14 million- John Green, an expert in reli - Romney’s Mormon faith. “Clearly, member faith group a place in the national gion and politics at the University of with some elements of the spotlight. But experts are divided about Akron in Ohio, said: “If we have Mitt Romney Republican Party and the media, whether that would help or hurt the church. two Mormon candidates in the race, there is a level of familiarity and “In the long run, it would be good for (Mormonism) becomes less of an anomaly. understanding of Mormonism that didn’t exist the church,” said David Campbell, a political You may see somewhat greater acceptance (of in the 2008 cycle.” BT

May 2011 • Baptists Today | 39 P.O. Box 6318 Macon, GA 31208-6318

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