By First Liberty Institute AUGUSTA, ME—Today, the Augusta School Department sent First Liberty client Toni Richardson an updated memorandum acknowledging Richardson’s protected First Amendment right to privately discuss religion among her co-workers. In May, First Liberty and Maine-based law firm Eaton Peabody filed charges of religious discrimination and retaliation against the school district with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Richardson’s behalf. Although school records show that Richardson has been an exemplary employee, last year the school district threatened her with disciplinary action or dismissal if she continued to privately discuss her faith with her coworkers in any manner at school, even among coworkers who attend the same church as Richardson. “It is important for each of us to defend the religious liberty of every American,” Timothy Woodcock of the Maine law firm of Eaton Peabody and lead counsel for Toni Richardson, says. “Toni’s case should be a reminder to employers everywhere that you cannot discriminate against employees who privately discuss their faith at work.” “The Supreme Court has been very clear on this: Neither students nor teachers lose their First Amendment … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2017
Gerald Long to keynote CENLA Pro-life Prayer Breakfast, Nov. 17
By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE (LBM) — Organizers for the CENLA Pro-life Prayer Breakfast have announced that Gerald Long, president pro tem of the Louisiana Senate, will be the keynote speaker for the annual event. Furthermore, they reported tickets still are available ($20 per person, or, $10 for students) for the Nov. 7 gathering which will take place 7:30 a.m. in the Granberry Conference Center on the campus of Louisiana College. Brian Gunter, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pollock, said the fundraiser will be a time to unite congregations across the region in the pro-life movement. “Gerald Long has been a longtime advocate for the unborn and their mothers,” Gunter told the Baptist Message. “I'm looking forward to hearing his perspectives on where we are now in our state, and, where he thinks we are headed.” Tickets may be purchased at the door. Or, you may order them in advance from Gunter, 318.312.9861, or bgunter3@hotmail.com. Additional information is available at http://www.prolifelouisiana.org/cenla. … [Read more...]
The next revival & Great Awakening
By Bill Stevens American Christians yearn for the Holy Spirit of God to move and usher in the next national Revival and Great Awakening, but it may not come. A group of hungry Kingdom seekers prayed and the Holy Spirit of God moved mightily across the colonies in the early 1700’s … [Read more...]
2,000-year-old sundial changes perceptions of ancient Rome
California NAACP calls Star Spangled Banner ‘racist’
Joe Biden says he should have run for president, but he feared Hillary Clinton’s ‘stop at nothing’ tactics
Experts offer safety & security tips against violent attacks
By Staff The devastating shootings at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, have raised awareness about the need for basic safety and security measures that churches of all sizes should consider in order to develop basic protections against such violent attacks. Brotherhood Mutual, the second largest U.S. provider of property and casualty insurance to churches and related ministries, has developed an extensive portfolio of risk management resources dealing with a wide range of topics covering emergencies, disasters and other dangers. The Baptist Message has collected a number of links to key checklists and guidelines relating to violent attacks on churches in an attempt to help churches start to answer the question of “What should we do?” in response to the tragedy at First Sutherland. Selected Articles: Overview of church security resources https://www.brotherhoodmutual.com/resources/church-security/church-security-resources/ 5 actions to help you survive violent attacks https://www.brotherhoodmutual.com/resources/safety-library/risk-management-articles/disasters-emergencies-and-health/violence-at-church/surviving-a-violent-attack-at-church/ Developing a prevention and response … [Read more...]
Gaines, Page gather with Sutherland Springs community to pray, heal
FLORESVILLE, Texas (BP) -- "We take care of our own," stated Frank S. Page, formerly a Texas pastor, as he and Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines and his wife Donna spent three days helping to serve families distraught over the Nov. 5 massacre of half of the congregation of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The broader Southern Baptist family -- from the Gaineses to Tony Wolfe, pastor/church relations director for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention -- demonstrated servanthood by visiting grieving families, and injured congregants and praying for area folks suffering from the tragedy. In the hours following the Sunday morning massacre by a deranged gunman from New Braunfels who eventually took his own life, local ministers accepted the SBTS offer to host a community-wide prayer meeting at nearby Floresville Independent School District's Eschenburg Field, setting local pastors free to minister to the flock of the targeted church and their extended family of God. A reported shooting incident at a nursing home a half-mile away, chilly temperatures and the threat of rain did not deter an estimated 2,500 or more area residents and more than 100 media representatives from attending the prayer … [Read more...]
Louisiana’s Johnson supports bill to spur economic investment, growth in Gulf region
By Ainsley Holyfield, Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Nov. 8, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 4239, the SECURE American Energy Act, to provide regulatory certainty and reliability to expand access to oil, gas and wind development in America’s outer continental shelf lands. Included in this legislation was Rep. Mike Johnson’s (LA-04) SEA Act, H.R. 3133, which reduces excessive government regulations developed under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and streamlines the lengthy permit approval processes that have caused setbacks and delays for those working to preserve America's rapidly deteriorating coastline, interrupted U.S. Naval operations and deterred offshore oil and gas exploration in the Gulf. Johnson also successfully amended this legislation to reduce bureaucratic barriers in how the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) regulations are implemented. The amendment clarifies that the Department of Interior has the sole authority for all marine mammals when the incidental take is from activities associated with operation authorized under OCSLA. Both of Johnson’s provisions will help spur economic investment in federal lands, expand domestic energy production, … [Read more...]
Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week scheduled Nov. 13-20
First Baptist Church in Monterey recently got in the Christmas spirit by packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, whose National Collection Week is fast approaching. Scheduled Nov. 13-20, National Collection Collection Week is a time when churches and other locations will open their doors for individuals to bring in the packed shoe boxes filled with hygiene items, school supplies and toys. From there, the boxes are shipped to a distribution site for processing before they are delivered to millions of children around the world, many of whom have never received a gift before and have very little to call their own. “A global movement begins this week across the US and seven other sending countries, millions are focused on making a difference in the lives of children facing difficult circumstances,” Operation Christmas Child Senior Domestic Director Randy Riddle said in a news release. “What a joy to be a part of something bigger than ourselves like Operation Christmas Child. Giving such simple gifts like those found in shoeboxes mean the world to children with great need and it’s something we can all do.” More than 100,000 volunteers including families, churches and other groups are joining forces to contribute to … [Read more...]
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