By Gregory Tomlin Christian Examiner ORLANDO, Fla. – Trail Life USA, the organization founded as an alternative to the Boy Scouts of America after that organization voted to accept gay scouts in 2013 has issued a warning to churches in advance of the BSA's formal vote next Monday to accept gay adult leaders. The warning, in the form of a lengthy legal memorandum describing the legal challenges that will face churches enforcing a conservative Christian membership policy, was sent in an email to Trail Life USA supporters July 23. It was also posted to the group's website. In a note accompanying the memorandum, the organization's CEO Mark Hancock said his organization's board, staff and members have "no desire to dishonor the tremendous legacy of the Boy Scouts of America." "However, our love for God's church and our concern for the welfare of boys compels us to release the following statement and accompanying position paper," Hancock said. The statement Hancock referenced included comment from John Stemberger, Trail Life's chairman of the board and an attorney in Orlando, Fla. Stemberger was instrumental in founding the BSA alternative. He said the organization was greatly saddened by the BSA's resolution, which will be the … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2015
Boy Scouts of America await decision regarding homosexual leadership
By staff reports *DISCLAIMER* As of right now, the Boy Scouts of America executive committee has yet to reach an agreement on the allowing of homosexual male adults as leaders within the BSA. DALLAS -The Boy Scouts of America is expected to end its ban on gay adult leaders on Monday, dismantling a policy that has deeply divided the membership of the 105-year-old Texas-based organization. The Boy Scouts National Executive Board will consider a resolution that was unanimously approved by the organization’s executive committee on July 13. The organization is urging an end to the ban because of "sea change in the law with respect to gay rights." The decision would follow the landmark ruling in late June by the U.S. Supreme Court allowing same-sex marriages nationwide. In May, the Boy Scouts' president, former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, called the ban "unsustainable" and said it needed to change. The Boy Scouts of America is expected to end its ban on gay adult leaders on Monday, dismantling a policy that has deeply divided the membership of the 105-year-old Texas-based organization. The Boy Scouts National Executive Board will consider a resolution that was unanimously approved by the organization’s … [Read more...]
TX Supreme Court: Repeal or vote on Houston ordinance
By Bonnie Pritchett, Southern Baptist Texan HOUSTON (BP) -- The Texas Supreme Court has directed the Houston's city council to abide by its own charter and repeal the controversial Equal Rights Ordinance or put it up to a city-wide vote this November. The city has until Aug. 24 to comply or be compelled to do so by the high court. In a rare move, the Texas Supreme Court conditionally granted a writ of mandamus stating "the legislative power reserved to the people of Houston is not being honored." Last year, Mayor Annise Parker and then-City Attorney Dave Feldman declared "invalid" a referendum to repeal the controversial city ordinance. Petitioners -- a racially and politically diverse group of pastors and civic leaders -- sued, alleging the mayor and attorney manufactured signature requirements in order to defy the city charter mandates. The court agreed with the petitioners July 24, stating the city secretary, not the city council, is obligated to evaluate petitions. Enforcement of the ordinance is suspended. "Simply put, the City Secretary's certification started the process outlined in the Charter for reconsidering ordinances following a referendum petition, invoking the Council's ministerial duty to carry out its … [Read more...]
Former NFL kicker Chris Boniol comes home as Louisiana College’s new special teams coordinator
By Staff Baptist Message What’s more important … winning football games or building men? “They are both important,” according to Alexandria native and former NFL kicker Chris Boniol, who was formally introduced as Louisiana College’s new special team’s coordinator and running backs coach July 24 at a press conference at the school. “Chris is a great fit for our coaching staff, and I have every confidence in what he brings to the game as a special teams and running backs coach,” said Louisiana College’s Athletics Director and Head Football Coach Dennis Dunn. “But more than that, I am thankful to God a man of this caliber -- professional and personal -- will be a role model not only for our athletes, but for anyone else whose life he touches. “Louisiana College’s Athletic department is grateful to have someone like Chris Boniol join the Wildcats football coaching squad,” said Dunn. “His NFL record speaks for itself, and we couldn’t be happier about that. He is taking over for Josh Bonadona, who left to become the video coordinator at Southeast Missouri State. “I’m driven to succeed,” said the 43-year-old Boniol. “I want to see the fruits of our labor and hard work pay off. I want to see results. There are no … [Read more...]
Interview with new Louisiana College special teams coach, Chris Bonial
by Norm Miller Louisiana College Media Responding to his new assignment at Louisiana College, Coach Chris Boniol, who was named the Wildcats’ new special teams coordinator and running backs coach, sat down with LCNews and shared his thoughts in the following interview. “As a kicker in the NFL, I was judged on results only,” Chris Boniol said. “If you miss a big kick, there won't be much forgiveness from the critics. Jesus Christ, on the contrary, gave us a life-long contract of forgiveness when he died on the cross.” “For me, it is not about a Super Bowl ring; it's about my wedding ring. It is not about treasures on earth; it's about treasures in heaven. It is not about adoring fans; it's about my adoring family,” Boniol said. “Every year there is a new Super Bowl Champion,” he added. “Jesus Christ was crowned our Eternal Champion when he died for our salvation. I pray that others find the same unfailing peace that I have found in Christ.” LC president Rick Brewer said, “Chris Boniol fits the model of a Louisiana College professional. If you want to talk about relevant, relational and rigorous, then Coach Boniol has to be part of that conversation. Few things are more relevant to college life and the fabric of … [Read more...]
Georgia Barnette Conference Center progressing well
By Joe Dupree Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH - The building infrastructures of the new Georgia Barnette Conference Center are looking well as the weeks go by. Volunteers from across Louisiana and Texas have worked tirelessly through the summer heat on the campus of Tall Timbers Conference Center. We are still looking for some construction volunteers to help us build the Georgia Barnette Mission Conference Center at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth, beginning July 20 through August 28. Volunteers will be needed throughout the year until the building is completed. If youcan help between now and August 28, please contact Tall Timbers at (318) 445-6797 for more information. You can help build for the future! Meals will be provided for the volunteers as well as 24 RV hook ups will be available with limited housing at nearby Camp Brewer and/or The Wesley Methodist Center in Woodworth. Housing at Tall Timbers will be available in limited quantities after August 8 (no cost). Hotels/motels are also available in Alexandria. For cost and availability of housing, contact Julia Parker at Julia.Parker@LouisianaBaptists.org or Bill & Joyce Temple, on-site construction coordinators, at BJTemple71241@AOL.com. … [Read more...]
Johnson: Christians need to prepare for the approaching storm
By Karen Pearce, Regional Reporter BOSSIER CITY – “You are what’s left of Christianity in America.” These sobering words were spoken by Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier City, July 20 to a standing-room-only crowd at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, where more than 200 church leaders gathered to learn next steps after the Supreme Court’s recent marriage ruling threatening religious liberty. Johnson said recent polls indicated that Louisiana is the most Bible-literate and most church-attending state in the nation, which leads to greater responsibility. “I really do feel like Louisiana Baptists have a particular responsibility. We shouldn’t take for granted what we have,” he said. “We need to be aware, but not afraid.” His legal organization, Freedom Guard, is ready to assist any organization that comes under fire. “On June 26th, five of the nine-member Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges to usurp the authority of the people and force same-sex marriage on all 50 states by judicial fiat,” Johnson said, expressing the outrage of his fellow conservative legislators as they watched years of hard-earned court victories disregarded and over-ruled. Johnson warned this latest ruling changed the playing field and … [Read more...]
Transgender politics prove ‘the emperor is wearing no clothes’
By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – The mainstream media are adoring toward Bruce Jenner’s “courageous” transition to “Caitlyn;” schools are introducing curriculum teaching sexual identity is a fluid concept and not a biological construct; and, the U.S. military has announced it is studying “the policy and readiness implications of welcoming transgender persons to serve openly … with the presumption that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness, unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified.” Remarkably, this push toward redefining sexual identity as “ambiguous” comes as homosexual activists just won legal recognition for gay marriage from the U.S. Supreme Court. And, ironically, it contradicts what Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in justifying the majority decision—that “sexual orientation is both a normal expression of human sexuality and immutable” (in other words, “fixed”). Even more incredibly, such social re-engineering is moving ahead in our country despite bodies of scientific research that conclude transsexuality is a psychiatric disease and, particularly with children, often is a transient condition that is best … [Read more...]
Abraham’s altar: Worship must be a priority in our lives
By Steve Horn, President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Pastor of First Baptist Church, Lafayette LAFAYETTE – Abraham’s story in Genesis 12 is a model story of what it means to take God at His word and obey. I have always been amazed at Abram’s faith depicted in this account. As I have often summarized about this story, “God said to Abram ‘Get up and go,’ and Abram got up and went.” The part of the story that I want to isolate is not Abram’s journey to the land of Canaan, but instead what he did when he got there. He built an altar. In fact in Abram’s case, we see a series of altars. In Chapter 12, we have two initial altars: 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to Yahweh there, and he called on the name of Yahweh. In chapter 13, we see the indication of additional altars. The first is the return to the altar between Bethel and Ai: 1 Then Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, … [Read more...]
Planned Parenthood, in new video, prices baby parts
By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – A second undercover video released July 21 by the Center for Medical Progress appears to show a Planned Parenthood doctor negotiating the price of baby parts obtained through abortion and discussing the possibility of varying abortion procedures to harvest intact organs. At one point in the video, a woman identified as Mary Gatter, former president of the Planned Parenthood Medical Directors’ Council, speaks of using “a less crunchy technique” of aborting babies to preserve “more whole specimens.” She also jokes, “I want a Lamborghini,” when negotiating the price of baby parts, though she also says, “We’re not in it for the money” and “we don’t want to be in a position of being accused of selling tissue.” Gatter appears to settle on a price of $100 per “specimen” but says she wants to investigate what other abortion providers are receiving. The video includes text stating it was shot Feb. 6 by investigators posing as a fetal tissue procurement company. David Daleiden, senior investigator for the Center for Medical Progress, told LifeSiteNews CMP’s latest video suggests Planned Parenthood violated federal laws that prohibit profiting from the sale of human remains and altering … [Read more...]
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