Re: The Southern Baptist Convention proposal to leave the Baptist World Alliance, beginning in September. Re: The Southern Baptist Convention proposal to leave the Baptist World Alliance, beginning in September.   I wish to applaud those who are willing to stand tall and make difficult decisions. The Southern Baptist Convention leadership has shown that the theology of those we work side by side together with is important. The financing of such organizations, while they demonstrate a callous disregard for God’s Word and his principles, is a sinful waste of his resources.   Most Southern Baptists are biblically conservative and would not allow those who lead the Baptist World Alliance to preach more than once in their churches. Why should we provide the funds to keep them solvent?   Mike Rasberry, Pastor Immanuel Baptist Church Slidell, La. … [Read more...]

I have no doubt when (LBC Executive Director) Dean Doster said recently there had been no secret meeting regarding the future of the associational directors of missions, he was speaking the truth. I have no doubt when (LBC Executive Director) Dean Doster said recently there had been no secret meeting regarding the future of the associational directors of missions, he was speaking the truth. However, he was speaking the truth from his experience. You see, he was at the meeting with five other chosen men. For those, it certainly was not a secret. However, the associations made decisions after their "meeting" that were rendered null and void, and the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s annual meeting was not privy to the "non-secret" meeting. Again, these men would honestly defend their motives and deny the secrecy of their meeting. It all depends on one’s definition of secret. Unless the meeting’s time, place and purpose had been announced to all affected by it, it was a secret.   I was taught as a child that I must avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing. Can anyone deny that, at the very least, this meeting appears to have been a secret? Now, rather than seeking peace and unity, there are some saying … [Read more...]

Late last year, months after the landmark Texas decision striking down anti-sodomy laws, two Utah polygamists filed suit, asking that their relationships with multiple wives be validated by the government. Late last year, months after the landmark Texas decision striking down anti-sodomy laws, two Utah polygamists filed suit, asking that their relationships with multiple wives be validated by the government.   Laws against polygamy are unconstitutional, they said.   "Everyone should be free unless there’s a compelling state interest that you shouldn’t be," lawyer John Bucher argued in presenting the suit.   "The state is not able to show that there’s such an evil to polygamy that it should be prohibited."   As the nation continues to debate same-sex "marriage," some have begun examining the logical extension of its legalization. If the legal benefits of marriage are awarded to homosexual men, then why should they not also be given to others - like polygamists?   "There isn’t a single argument in favor of same-sex marriage that isn’t also an argument in favor of polygamy - people have a right to marry who they love; these relationships already exist; ... we have … [Read more...]

The Federal Communications Com-mission recently overruled its own staff and decided an obscenity for male-female relations violates federal law covering radio and broadcast television. The Federal Communications Com-mission recently overruled its own staff and decided an obscenity for male-female relations violates federal law covering radio and broadcast television.   Last year, Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2, used the word at a live broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, saying winning an award was "(expletive) brilliant."   After a complaint was filed, the FCC’s enforcement bureau ruled the word did not violate the ban on broadcast indecency. Bono’s use of the word was non-sexual, as well as fleeting and isolated, the bureau said.   After granting a request for a review of the ruling, the five-member commission struck down its bureau’s decision.   It said not only did Bono’s use of the word qualify as profane under the law but other uses of the word would as well.   In its order, the Federal Communications Commission warned broadcasters they are "on clear notice that, in the future, they will be subject to potential enforcement action for any broadcast … [Read more...]

It was a spring tradition when he had been smaller - a backyard Easter egg hunt. This was years ago, when kids actually dyed the hard-boiled eggs - with a little parental help. He remembers that. It was a spring tradition when he had been smaller - a backyard Easter egg hunt.   This was years ago, when kids actually dyed the hard-boiled eggs - with a little parental help. He remembers that.   There are times he still can remember the smell of the dye as it simmered on the old stove, remember the twisted wire holders used to dip an egg into the dye, remember trying to balance the egg so it would not fall.   One or two always did and had to be fished out of the pot with a spoon. And some had to be dipped several times - first in this color, then in that, half in this one, too.   He remembers that.   He remembers the hunt as well.   The kids were closed away so they could not watch the adults placing the eggs in the yard. There, they would wait anxiously, bragging about who would find the most, guaranteeing themselves as the winners.   And the time finally would come when they were allowed to emerge, baskets in hand, "Easter grass" padding the … [Read more...]

In 1991, John Baker approached his senior pastor about the need to help thousands in their area overcome a variety of hurts, habits and hang-ups. Pastor Rick Warren had three words to say to his fellow minister - "go for it!" In 1991, John Baker approached his senior pastor about the need to help thousands in their area overcome a variety of hurts, habits and hang-ups.   Pastor Rick Warren had three words to say to his fellow minister - "go for it!"   Together, they did, creating a Christ-centered recovery program based on the Beatitudes of Jesus.   Since its founding, more than 7,500 people have gone through the Celebrate Recovery program at Saddleback Church in Lake Valley, Calif. In 12 years, more than 150,000 people have participated in the program from prisons, rescue missions and more than 2,500 churches.   President George Bush even recently praised the Celebrate Recovery program as a ministry that does what government cannot - change hearts. Bush’s comments came in a speech to the 11th White House Faith-Based and Community Initiative Conference in Los Angeles.   "It was a recognition I never expected, ..." Baker says of the president’s remarks. "When … [Read more...]

The following unedited letter was submitted by Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster in response to a request by a group of associational moderators during a March meeting. During the meeting, moderators expressed a need for information and public relations efforts regarding the decision to discontinue funding for associational directors of missions in 2005. The following unedited letter was submitted by Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster in response to a request by a group of associational moderators during a March meeting. During the meeting, moderators expressed a need for information and public relations efforts regarding the decision to discontinue funding for associational directors of missions in 2005.   The decision to recommend to the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention the change in funding and management of the Directors of Missions may have left someone with unanswered questions. As most Louisiana Baptists know, my policy as your Executive Director has always been to follow administrative protocol, give as much information as possible and do what I believe is in the best interest of all Louisiana Baptists.   Since LBC … [Read more...]

Working in the same building with the president of the United States may be a dream for some Americans - but for Louisiana College junior David Stokes, it was a recent reality. Working in the same building with the president of the United States may be a dream for some Americans - but for Louisiana College junior David Stokes, it was a recent reality.   Last fall, Stokes served alongside 69 other college students as White House interns. The interns attended Ivy League, public and small-private universities.   While they served in roles ranging from communications to legislative affairs, Stokes worked for Ruben Barrales, director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.   "The coolest part was giving tours to constituents," says Stokes. "I would get to tell them about the paintings and history of the White House."   Since Barrales spent a great deal of his time traveling and speaking with groups around the country, Stokes was responsible for his travel arrangements. Stokes researched policies of interest to the various groups as well.   He also wrote articles for his department’s newsletter that was distributed to 13,000 local and state officials throughout … [Read more...]

The decision by our executive director and the Executive Board has precipitated one of the worst polity crises in Louisiana Baptist Convention history. In spite of the explicit vote of the messengers of the LBC regarding the funding of associational directors of missions, they decided to overthrow the vote and go the opposite way. The decision by our executive director and the Executive Board has precipitated one of the worst polity crises in Louisiana Baptist Convention history. In spite of the explicit vote of the messengers of the LBC regarding the funding of associational directors of missions, they decided to overthrow the vote and go the opposite way.   If we allow this to stand, we are well on our way to giving all power and control to the executive director and the Executive Board. Every layperson should take note; the annual convention will become nothing more than religious entertainment because the vote of the messengers will mean nothing.   The executive director took unilateral action against the wishes of the convention. Instead of bringing what he thought was a crisis to the convention, he withheld the information and acted against the convention in January - and the … [Read more...]

The change in the employment of the directors of missions will affect Louisiana Baptist Convention agencies if previous budgeting procedures hold. The change in the employment of the directors of missions will affect Louisiana Baptist Convention agencies if previous budgeting procedures hold.   Churches are being encouraged to "reallocate" Cooperative Program (CP) gifts to the association, so they can assume the employment of their DOMs. The cost of employing DOMs is estimated at about $1.5 million per year. If churches reallocate that much, that will reduce the amount of money that goes to every convention agency, as well as to the Southern Baptist International and North American Mission boards. While, technically, the convention does not budget just by percentages, that has been a defacto practice for years and will not likely change significantly.   If state CP receipts are reduced by $1.5 million, that would mean, based upon previous budget percentages, Louisiana College would receive $204,450 less in the following years, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home $34,000 less, the Baptist Message $29,100 less, the Baptist Foundation $18,150 less and the general convention $21,600 less. Also, … [Read more...]