For the week of March 6, 2003
Court decision
The U.S. Supreme Court declared last week that the federal Racketeer Influenced
and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute was wrongly used against the pro-life
movement. The law was designed to combat drug dealers and organized crime. “This
decision is a tremendous victory for those who engage in social protests,”
said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice.
“The Supreme Court forcefully rejected the argument that pro-life demonstrators
were racketeers engaged in extortion. … The ruling clearly shuts the door
on using (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act) against the
pro-life movement. The decision came as the nations high court reviewed
a case involving the Operation Rescue pro-life organization. Lower courts had
ruled pro-life demonstrators were liable for “extortion” and “racketeering”
under the federal statute and awarded damages to abortion businesses. The high
court said, while some coercion may have been involved in the protest, extortion
and racketeering did not exist.
Agricultural fellowship
The Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship recently held its annual
meeting, where members heard a trio of Southern Baptist missionaries. Jerry
Bedsole spoke of his 26 years of work in Ethiopia, while Harold Watson told
of 30-plus years in the Philippines and Asia. Jim Wagoner outlined missions
programs in the Oaxaca region of southern Mexico, urging Louisiana Baptist involvement.
Needs include small funding for poultry, quail, indigenous gardens, swine and
sheep production. Wagoner also stressed the need for construction work on a
rural life center in the area. For details, Wagoner may be contacted via e-mail
at jbwagoner@prodigy.net.mx. The
state agricultural fellowship was organized to help promote and sponsor agriculturally-related
missions projects. Fellowship officers for 2003 are President Nelson Philpot
of Homer, Vice President Ken Tipton of Baton Rouge, Secretary Charlie Johnson
of Baton Rouge and Projects Coordinator Billy Nutt of Arcadia. For details,
contact Louisiana Baptist Mens Ministry Director Buddy Day at (318) 448-3402
or (800) 622-6549 or via e-mail at Buddy.Day@lbc.org
or Nelson Philpot at (318) 927-2388 or via e-mail at Philpot@homerla.com.
Response to proposal
The proposal by Southern Baptist Convention leaders to reduce funding to the
Baptist World Alliance “could not come at a worse time in world history,”
alliance General Secretary Denton Lotz said. Lotz said he was disappointed to
learn Southern Baptist leaders have recommended redirecting $125,000 from the
alliance to fund their own world network of “like-minded Christians.”
The move comes amid complaints that the alliance is considering accepting the
moderate/conservative Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as a member. “This
SBC decision actually is reducing funding for our brothers and sisters around
the world who are suffering from religious persecution, lack of human rights
and generally all the prejudices of a minority movement in a clash of civilizations,”
Lotz said. “If ever Baptists needed unity and to work together, it is now.”
Lotz said he fears the message being sent by Southern Baptists is that they
do not need other Baptists. “We love Southern Baptists and want them to
participate in all of the life of the Baptist World Alliance,” Lotz said.
“Baptists of the world need you and want you to continue to support us
to the fullest extent.”
Walk Like a Wildcat
Louisiana College has scheduled a “Walk Like a Wildcat” preview weekend
for high school students for March 20-21. The weekend is designed to give high
school students an opportunity to become acquainted with the Pineville campus.
Participants will have the opportunity to spend the night in a residence hall
and participate in various activities with current Louisiana College students.
“We want the students to be free to roam about campus and to be able to
take in student life in their own time,” LC Director of Admissions Mary
Wagner said. “They will attend classes on Friday morning and will be able
to speak with professors in the major field of their choice.” Check-in
is set for March 20 at 5 p.m. Programming will end March 21 by noon. To register,
call (318) 487-7259 or (800) 487-1906 or visit www.lacollege.edu/campusvisit.
Program challenge
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has charged a successful
faith-based Christian prison program violates the First Amendments ban
on government establishment of religion. A pair of suits challenges the InnerChange
Freedom Initiative in Iowa. Prison Fellowship Ministries operates the InnerChange
program. Americans United said InnerChange is guilty of religious indoctrination
of prisoners, religious discrimination in hiring staff members and favoritism
toward inmates who participate. Prison Fellowship describes InnerChange as a
“revolutionary, Christ-centered, faith-based prison program supporting
prison inmates through their spiritual and moral transformation.” It operates
in cooperation with the state. The program has shown evidence of reducing the
number of released inmates who return to prison. A Prison Fellowship spokesperson
said the program “in no way” violates the Constitution. Observers
say the cases could provide a forecast for how President George Bushs
faith-based initiative will stand up in court.
Southwestern departure
For 53 years, Jack MacGorman, 83, taught New Testament at Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary. Now, he has left the school, saying he cannot continue
in good conscience. MacGorman said he left because he cannot sign the 2000 Baptist
Faith and Message, a document all seminary faculty members are required to affirm.
MacGorman said he cannot sign “any confessional statement which is elevated
to the Word of God.” MacGorman said the Southwestern administration has
been gracious to him. “It is not true that I have been dismissed. I was
given every courtesy. … It is true that I disqualified myself. I could not
continue to teach … when my brothers and sisters in Christ are disqualified.”
Some younger faculty members at Southwestern have not had contracts renewed
for refusing to sign the Baptist Faith and Message. Others who could not sign
the statement have resigned and taken jobs elsewhere or have retired. Officials
insist they merely are holding the seminary accountable to the Southern Baptist
Convention.
Top honors
Louisiana College student Beth Carr of Bryan, Texas, has been named Louisianas
Championship IPDA Debater for 2003 by the Louisiana Intercollegiate Forensic
Association. Carr earned the title by winning the Varsity IPDA Division at a
recent tournament in Monroe. Louisiana College only entered four debaters in
the tournament, attended by 13 schools from four states. All four Louisiana
College students finished in the top 10. In the debate sweepstakes for Louisiana,
the Pineville school finished third behind Louisiana State University in Baton
Rouge and Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. Louisiana College student Chris
Joffrion of Daphne, Ala., was named Louisiana champion in extemporaneous speaking,
while Chris Orr of Alexandria was named novice champion.