The following guest commentary is offered in scheduled observance of Cooperative Program Day in Southern Baptist churches on April 18. It was written by John Kyle, director of Cooperative Program development for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. Note: The following guest commentary is offered in scheduled observance of Cooperative Program Day in Southern Baptist churches on April 18. It was written by John Kyle, director of Cooperative Program development for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.   The story is told of a little boy who badly wanted $100 and prayed for two weeks, but nothing happened. He decided to write God a letter requesting the money.   When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to God, U.S.A., they decided to send it to the president. The president was so impressed, touched and amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5 bill. The president thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a boy.   The little boy was delighted with the $5 and sat down to write a thank you note to God. It read: "Dear God, Thank you very much for sending the money; however, I noticed that for some reason you … [Read more...]

Come on, honey, let’s help little Jake and Jessica plant a little tree. They will be able to come back when they are adults and see how it has grown." Come on, honey, let’s help little Jake and Jessica plant a little tree. They will be able to come back when they are adults and see how it has grown."   There must have been a lot of Jakes and Jessicas living in my neighborhood 35 or so years ago.   Our neighborhood is blessed with boulevards divided by 8-feet wide, curbed, dirt-filled mediums. The effect helps one notice less he or she is in a featureless subdivision and not a countryside.   The mediums serve several purposes, the main one of which is being a receptacle for all kinds of odds and ends that people put on them. There is the understanding that if anyone finds them usable, they can pick them up. All they need do is beat the garbage trucks to them. Sort of like a free garage sale.   The mediums served another purpose years ago. If some homeowners had plants left over, rather than waste them, they could plant them in the mediums. So, the mediums have stuff growing in them. The forestry service must have had an abundance of pine seedlings left over one year a few … [Read more...]

For the week of April 29, 2004 ‘Golden’ anniversary Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary recently marked 60 years of preparing ministers for churches in the West. Chancellor William Crews said the seminary "exists and thrives today because of a compelling dream, articulated by visionary leaders and pursued by literally hundreds of men and women who have given their lives to the pursuit of that dream, a dream that came true." During recent Founder’s Day ceremonies, Crews noted, "When we see what God has done with this vision in the past 60 years, who knows what he will do in the next 60 years," Crews commented. Golden Gate was launched in Oakland and Berkeley before moving to Mill Valley in 1959. It has opened additional campuses in Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Arizona and Colorado. It also has established ethnic leadership centers serving more than 600 students in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Arkansas. Missouri lawsuit A Missouri judge who recently dismissed a lawsuit against five Missouri Baptist agencies will not allow the plaintiffs to amend the suit. Judge Thomas Brown ruled March 11 that the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board … [Read more...]

The math seems wrong. Most Southern Baptist churches are smaller in membership. Yet, most Southern Baptist pastors say their preferences are not to pastor churches smaller in memberships. The math seems wrong. Most Southern Baptist churches are smaller in membership. Yet, most Southern Baptist pastors say their preferences are not to pastor churches smaller in memberships. One result is that smaller churches often have a difficult time finding pastors who want to serve them beyond a short term as a stepping stone to a larger pastorate. To date, this has not caused a crisis for smaller churches, but in the years not too far in the future, it likely will.   Why pastors prefer to serve larger churches is not that difficult to explain. One of the major reasons is practical - smaller churches generally do not pay a large enough salary to support a pastor at an acceptable level. If a man serves as pastor of a smaller church, his wife usually must work to supplement the family’s income to a level that provides the basics. Her job must often provide benefits such as healthcare insurance. If the pastor has younger children - and, most smaller churches have pastors the ages to have smaller children - the wives … [Read more...]

Time of transition: Preparing for the departure of their school president, Louisiana College trustees elected an interim leader last week and affirmed their policy on selection of classroom materials Time of transition: Preparing for the departure of their school president, Louisiana College trustees elected an interim leader last week and affirmed their policy on selection of classroom materials   Four months after adopting what has been a somewhat controversial policy on selection of classroom materials, Louisiana College trustees revisited the issue to defend their decision.   "There’s been a lot of misinformation (regarding the policy), ..." trustee Tim Johnson of Choudrant said. "This resolution ... helps better inform the people as why we’ve taken the steps we’ve taken ... and helps to clarify the issue."   In December, school trustees approved a new policy on selection of textbooks and classroom materials. Until that action, faculty member had control over what materials were used in their courses.   However, under the new selection policy, materials must be approved both by department coordinators or chairs and the vice president of academic … [Read more...]

Louisiana College trustees last week elected longtime Louisiana Baptist minister John "Bud" Traylor of Monroe as interim president of the school. Traylor, 76, will assume duties when President Rory Lee leaves office in mid-May to become executive director of the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village. Louisiana College trustees last week elected longtime Louisiana Baptist minister John "Bud" Traylor of Monroe as interim president of the school.   Traylor, 76, will assume duties when President Rory Lee leaves office in mid-May to become executive director of the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village.   In addition to that action during their called session, trustees approved a two-page resolution that seeks to explain and clarify the policy adopted last December regarding the selection of classroom materials.   Essentially, the resolution seeks to specify that trustees acted within their authority and did so in a way consistent with the goals and intents of the Louisiana Baptist school.   The two actions were the only ones taken during the called session, which lasted about two hours. For half of that time, trustees met behind closed doors in executive session to discuss … [Read more...]

Resolution on Choice of Classroom Content, Texts and Materials Resolution on Choice of Classroom Content, Texts and Materials   Whereas much discussion has occurred recently on the college campus and in the surrounding community concerning authority for choosing classroom content, texts and materials and   Whereas the faculty has been given freedom to make those choices under the supervision of department coordinators and the vice president of academic affairs and   Whereas no freedom ever can be absolute but must be exercised by giving careful consideration to the goals, policies and rules of the group to which the person belongs or by which the person is employed and   Whereas when an individual chooses to ignore the expectations or decisions of the group to which he or she is responsible, that person must be prepared to face the consequences of his or her choice.   Therefore, be it resolved that the board of trustees of Louisiana College firmly calls on all faculty and staff involved in choosing classroom content, texts and materials to give earnest attention and due submissions to The Identity and Mission of Louisiana College, Beliefs and Values (1) … [Read more...]

Having followed closely the issue of whether and why the Southern Baptist Convention should withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance, I read with interest.. Having followed closely the issue of whether and why the Southern Baptist Convention should withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance, I read with interest and surprise the letter by Bro. Raspberry, which offered such sweeping generalizations as, "(The BWA) demonstrate(s) a callous disregard for God’s Word and his principles. Biblically conservative Southern Baptists would not allow those who lead the Baptist World Alliance to preach more than once in their churches."   Really.   Let me give one strong Southern Baptist example why we do well to question, if not reject, such generalizations.   Three months ago, Lewis Drummond died. Former professor of evangelism at Southern Seminary. Former president of Southeastern Seminary.   Baptist Press ran three articles wherein numerous Southern Baptist leaders - some of whom helped draft the proposal to withdraw from the BWA - eulogized Drummond as a biblically-conservative evangelist and scholar. One article mentioned in passing Drummond’s association in the BWA. Only … [Read more...]

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees took a step aimed at promoting the Cooperative Program among a new generation recently. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees took a step aimed at promoting the Cooperative Program among a new generation recently.   Trustees officially established the Cooperative Program Chair for Southern Baptist Convention Studies during their recent spring meeting. They also approved a required graduate course to promote Cooperative Program awareness. (See Page Five for additional coverage of the recent meeting)   "The ‘lifeblood’ of Southern Baptists at every level and in every ministry is the Cooperative Program," seminary President Chuck Kelley noted. "The genius of the Southern Baptist Convention is that we have learned we can do things together that none of us could do individually."   By giving through the Cooperative Program, churches of all sizes are able to participate in kingdom ministries that touch all areas of the world, Kelley said. Through the recent actions, he said he hopes the seminary will be able to instill an attitude of cooperation and Southern Baptist Convention support in each of its graduates.   "The … [Read more...]

The decision about exactly how New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary will tie itself to the Southern Baptist Convention apparently will be decided by annual messengers in 2005. The decision about exactly how New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary will tie itself to the Southern Baptist Convention apparently will be decided by annual messengers in 2005.   Seminary trustees recently approved a motion to present two alternatives to convention messengers at next year’s annual meeting - a so-called "sole membership" option and a yet-to-be-determined alternative.   Seminary trustees easily approved the plan, with only a handful of members opposed. Their decision is the latest development in a process that stretches back several years and has divided some conservative leaders.   Since 1997, Southern Baptist leaders have sought to tie convention entities more closely to the denomination. Their motivation has been to ensure that no entity could follow the lead of some state agencies and choose to leave the control of the convention.   Their chosen tool for accomplishing this is a legal structure in which an entity alters its charter to make the Southern Baptist Convention the … [Read more...]