By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – After more than 20 consecutive losses in the federal courts, traditional marriage finally posted a win on Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman ruled in New Orleans on Wednesday that Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage can stand. The ruling is the first time a ban in a state on lesbian and gay marriages has been upheld since the Supreme Court ruled against part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 2013. “The Court find that Louisiana’s definition of marriage as between one man and one woman and the limitation on recognition of same-sex marriages permitted by law in other states found in Article XII, Section 15 of the Louisiana Constitution and article 3520(B) of the Louisiana Civil Code do not infringe the guarantees of the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the United States Constitution,” Feldman wrote in his summary judgment. “The record reveals no material dispute: the defendants have shown that Louisiana’s decision to neither permit nor recognize same-sex marriage, formed in the arena of the democratic process, is supported by a rational basis. The Court further finds that plaintiffs have failed to establish a genuine dispute regarding a First … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Sonny Steed has retired after 61 years in the ministry. A graduate of Louisiana College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he has served through Louisiana and Texas including Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge (three different times.) Madeline Willis new as music director and Brian Nichols new as youth director at St Clair Baptist Church, Boyce. Monty Rowse new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Hackberry. David Fusilier new as pastor at Magnolia Baptist Church, Vinton. REVIVAL/HOMECOMING Emmanuel Baptist Church, Denham Springs: Revival and 64th Anniversary. Revival (Sept. 10-14). Speaker: Paul Taylor. Sept. 14 Homecoming and celebrate 64th Anniversary. Pastor: Max Landry. First Baptist Church, Oil City: 100th anniversary celebration, Sept. 14, 9:30 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the service. Pastor: Jessie Colston. Cook Baptist Church, Ruston: Revival, Sept. 14-17, 6 p.m. A corresponding children’s event (Willie’s Redneck Rodeo) will be held each evening from 6 -8 p.m. in the youth room as well. Speaker: Steve Hale. Pastor: Mike Holloway. Sandy Bayou Baptist Church, Columbia: 97th homecoming celebration, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. Speaker: Sandy Reardon. Music: The Sanctuary Quartet.  Dinner on … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 09/05/2014 - 11:10 Former Louisiana College president Joe Aguillard (right) was recognized for his years of service to the school in the college’s first chapel service of the 2014 academic year on Aug. 28. Aguillard was presented a medallion and a plaque by Tommy French, LC Chairman of the Board, in recognition of the honorary title of president emeritus the college’s trustees recently bestowed him. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5   … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor PINEVILLE – In a June 19 news release, Louisiana College announced the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges (SACS-COC) had placed the college on probation. A letter dated July 9 from the accrediting agency to the college detailing the reasons for the school being placed on probation was recently made available to the Baptist Message. Argile Smith, LC interim president, released the accrediting agency’s letter to the Message with the approval of the Executive Committee of the LC Board of Trustees. In the letter, SACS-COC cited six areas where LC was deemed to be in non-compliance with the accrediting agency’s principles. The areas specified are as follows: Principle of Integrity; External Influence; Personnel Appointment; Administrative Staff Evaluations; Control of Finances; Title IV Program Responsibilities. The Principle of Integrity garnered most of the attention in the SACS-COC report. Concerning this area, the letter states in part: “The documents provided by the institution disclose: 1) a pervasive culture of avoidance of transparency in the intuition’s operations; 2) multiple cases of conflicting documentation of ‘facts;’ 3) the apparent unauthorized use of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 09/19/2014 - 10:02 Tommy French and Jay Adkins By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor PINEVILLE – An anticipated contentious fall meeting on Sept 16 of the Louisiana College Board of Trustees never materialized. While the proceedings did begin with some measure of drama with the resignations of three of its members, it quickly transitioned into a deliberate discussion of LC’s probationary status and reports dealing with the current state of the school. The resignations came shortly after the meeting began and followed the re-election of Tommy French, trustee from Baton Rouge, for a second, one-year term as the board’s chairman. Argile Smith, LC interim president, addressed a variety of issues in his report to the board. He gave most of his attention to plans for addressing issues raised by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in putting the school on probation.  He also addressed the release of the SACS-COC letter to the board and touched on enrollment and answered questions posed by members of the board. Smith indicated Bob Agee has been hired as a consultant to assist LC with addressing its probation. Agee was president of Oklahoma Baptist University from 1982 to 1998. He also … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 09/19/2014 - 10:15 Pastors pray with Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn during a special called day of prayer at First Baptist Bossier City on Sept. 11. Horn, who also serves as pastor of First Baptist Church of Lafayette, was among several pastors who offered thoughts and prayers that day. Prayers included spiritual awakening, the nation, parents, repentance, revival in churches, Louisiana College, the next generation, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and the President’s 2020 Commission. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – On a day when the nation remembered the events of Sept. 11, 2001, more than 40 Louisiana Baptist pastors and laymen gathered for a focused day of prayer for the nation and much more. “You came because you, like so many others of us throughout the nation, know that if God does not act we are hopeless,” Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn told the men gathered at First Baptist Bossier. “Whatever today is about, wouldn’t it be something if we were able to look back at this day, this moment, those of us who are gathered here today, we would be able to say we were eyewitnesses to the day when the Lord burst … [Read more...]

by Kelly Boggs, Message Editor PINEVILLE – Three Louisiana College trustees resigned from the board during the Sept. 16 meeting held on the Pineville campus. Two others tendered their resignations shortly after the meeting. The five resigned, in part, in response to the trustees re-election of Tommy French, trustee from Baton Rouge, as chaiman of the board. Lonnie Scarborough, Jay Adkins and Roxane West all resigned immediately following the election of Tommy French of Baton Rouge to a second term as chairman of the board. Scarborough was nominated in opposition to French. Following the announcement of the results of the election, which was conducted by secret ballot and fell in favor of French 20-10, the three trustees resigned in rapid succession: Scarborough first, then Adkins and finally West. Adkins and West were in the final year of their trustee terms and attending their final meeting. Scarborough’s term was schedule to conclude in 2015. Though each made brief statements at the time they departed the meeting, Scarborough released a statement and asked the Baptist Message to print it in its entirety. Space considerations will prevent Scarborough’s statement from being printed in its entirety; however, the full … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 09/19/2014 - 10:27 Trustee Resignation Letters Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5   … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Judging by the schedules of two Louisiana Baptist singing groups, there’s a whole lot of singing going on through early 2015. The Louisiana Baptist Singing Ministers – a group of 52 music ministers and laymen – and the Louisiana Baptist Singing Women – a compilation of around 70 women from various areas of the state – kicked off their 2014-15 concert season in mid-September and will travel throughout the state until the spring of 2015. Highlights of the tour include a performance at Angola State Prison on Feb. 19, 2015, by the Louisiana Baptist Singing Ministers and a combined concert by both groups on April 16 at First Baptist Lafayette. During each performance, the two groups collect an offering for needy students. The Louisiana Baptist Singing Men collect money to fund BB McKinney scholarships for students at Louisiana College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary who are preparing for serve as worship leaders. The Louisiana Baptist Singing Women collect an offering that goes toward the Teresa Thomason Keyboard Scholarship, which is awarded to Louisiana students who have participated in the State Piano Festival and are furthering their collegiate studies. To prepare for the … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor Quick, name a player who is on a National Football League practice squad other than Michael Sam. Unless you are a professional football geek, or a player from your college alma mater is on a 10-member scout squad, you don’t know any. Now ask yourself this question, “Why do you know Michael Sam?” It is because he publically announced his homosexual lifestyle following his senior season at the University of Missouri. It was reported that Sam told his teammates prior to the beginning of the 2013 season. I submit to you if Sam were heterosexual, most of America would not know his name. The news would not track his progress and, of course, no activist organization would trumpet his story. If it were not known he is homosexual, you certainly would not know that the Dallas Cowboys recently placed Sam on their practice squad after he was released by the St. Louis Rams. Sam is not really to blame for all the hoopla. He is just being used by those who want to promote the notion that homosexuality is natural, normal and healthy. Sam was taken by St. Louis in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was the 249th player selected. While he did have a stellar career at Missouri, many pro football experts … [Read more...]