The Southern Baptist International Mission Board should rid itself of "unbiblical" practices and alliances with Christian mission groups that do not enforce strict theological parameters, a Southern Baptist missions professor has urged. The Southern Baptist International Mission Board should rid itself of "unbiblical" practices and alliances with Christian mission groups that do not enforce strict theological parameters, a Southern Baptist missions professor has urged.   Keith Eitel is professor of Christian missions at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.. He outlined his concerns in an eight-page paper circulated by Paige Patterson, president at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.   Eitel alleges that because of inadequate training of some missionaries, "evangelism, church planting and discipleship are in the hands of theological novices." He also says women inappropriately are placed in positions of authority over men.   An International Mission Board spokesperson called Eitel’s criticisms "groundless accusations." Nonetheless, he said the matter will be discussed by mission board trustees when they meet this week.   Eitel’s document was … [Read more...]

Can I have a quarter?"   The five-year-old was a cinch to get the quarter he was asking his grandfather for. Apparently, this was a time of bonding with the two grandsons and grandparents. Pizza was the food of choice, and there was no need to wonder whose choice. The boys, although small in stature, ate two slices to one of their grandparents. "Can I have a quarter?"   The five-year-old was a cinch to get the quarter he was asking his grandfather for. Apparently, this was a time of bonding with the two grandsons and grandparents. Pizza was the food of choice, and there was no need to wonder whose choice. The boys, although small in stature, ate two slices to one of their grandparents.   The pizza gone, the grandsons’ attention immediately turned to the video game standing nearby. They examined it carefully, then moved on to examine the pinball machine. The pinball machine must have looked like a relic of the past–no blood, no guns, no decapitations, no excitement - just a large steel ball banging around under a piece of glass, flashing lights and clanging bells.   They went back to the video game.   Actually, the video game is tame. The person who inserts his … [Read more...]

For the week of November 20, 2003 Messenger registration   The convention opened Monday night with 748 messengers registered. By the second session on Tuesday morning, the total had climbed to 1,193. By the end of the convention, 1,235 messengers had registered for the annual meeting. That total is 166 (11.8 percent) less than last year. It also represents the lowest messenger registration since 1998, when 1,228 persons registered for the annual meeting in Baton Rouge. The last time the convention met in Lafayette was 1991, when 2,155 messengers registered, a record high at the time. It also met in Lafayette in 1982, with just 783 messengers registered. The last time registration was this low in a year when there was no sitting president involved in a reelection bid was 1985, when only 868 messengers attended the state convention. The highest convention registration ever came in 1996, when 2,600 messengers registered for the annual meeting. Convention registrations have topped the 2,000 mark five times. It has not fallen below the 1,000 mark since 804 messengers registered in 1986.   Tellers Committee   Thirty-one persons were appointed by Louisiana Baptist Convention … [Read more...]

If you were looking for controversy, the 2003 Louisiana Baptist Convention was not the place to find it. The convention went like clockwork with no If you were looking for controversy, the 2003 Louisiana Baptist Convention was not the place to find it. The convention went like clockwork with no   surprises, little debate and no controversy. For only the second time in this editor’s memory, an "open" election with no sitting president, each officer of the convention was elected by acclamation. Each of the men nominated for a convention office had been endorsed by the Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship and apparently, the more moderate Louisiana Baptists decided there was no reason to mount a nominee after having failed to win an election in several years.   One of the more significant actions of the messengers was voting to accept the recommendation from the Executive Board and the retirement center board to sell the state convention’s Arcadia retirement center. The action was not unanimous but it was overwhelming. Closing institutions never goes easily for Baptists, but Louisiana Baptists have shown through the years they are open to better, more frugal ways of ministering. Louisiana Baptists gave … [Read more...]

Rod Masteller reminded Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers last week that God has a great work for each of them to do. Rod Masteller reminded Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers last week that God has a great work for each of them to do.   "The question is can you see it?" asked Masteller, pastor of Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport.   The key is to have a vision for the church, Masteller said in delivering the convention sermon at last week’s annual meeting in Lafayette. He reminded convention messengers that without a vision, God has said his people will perish.   Citing Joshua 6, Masteller said that when Joshua arrived at Jericho, the city was all shut up. "No one came in and no one came out," he said.   The first six days, Joshua and others marched around Jericho once each day. On the seventh day, they circled the city seven times, blew the trumpet, shouted and the walls fell down.   God told Joshua he had given him Jericho. And just as God gave Joshua the city, he has given Christian leaders their city and area of service to make a difference, Masteller added.   He referred to Helen Keller, who developed blindness and deafness early … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers agreed to sell the Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia last week, marking a transition in the denomination’s ministry to senior adults. Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers agreed to sell the Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia last week, marking a transition in the denomination’s ministry to senior adults.   In approving the sale, messengers also named a committee to recommend how funds from the sale are to be used.   The decision to sell the facility passed easily on a show-of-ballots vote. It ended months of struggle by the Louisiana Baptist facility to address pressing financial needs.   The retirement center has been experiencing considerable financial pressures - and trustees announced plans earlier this year to try to return it to solid footing.   However, by August, pressure had increased - and center trustees voted to sell the facility instead. They emphasized the action was taken quickly because of fears that ongoing problems could lead to an exodus of residents from the center and result in a loss of value for the facility.   A tentative sales agreement for $5 million was signed with Danny Prince … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist convention messengers approved six resolutions last week, including four on key moral and social issues.   Messengers adopted all six without debate or opposition. Louisiana Baptist convention messengers approved six resolutions last week, including four on key moral and social issues.   Messengers adopted all six without debate or opposition.   In the convention’s opening session, messengers approved their traditional statements of appreciation for convention organizers and for the work of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. The latter statement again urges churches to support the foundation in their annual budgets with at least $1 per member.   In the convention’s closing session, messengers approved four other statements on a single vote.   While the statements are non-binding on local churches and individual Louisiana Baptists, they do reflect the sentiments of convention messengers and traditionally are seen as statements embraced by a majority of church members.   The four resolutions address key issues:   • Homosexuality and the church   The approved statement cites an increase in media images depicting … [Read more...]

Members of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board will continue to be chosen by the state convention - despite an effort to give control of selection to the associations themselves. Members of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board will continue to be chosen by the state convention - despite an effort to give control of selection to the associations themselves.   Messengers to last week’s annual state convention voted easily against a motion that would have allowed local associations to select their own board members.   It was one of three miscellaneous business items handled by messengers.   At the 2002 state convention, Jim Duck from University Baptist Church in Thibodaux had proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow local associations to elect their own Executive Board members. Currently, members of that board are proposed by the Committee on Nominations and elected by messengers.   As required, the motion was referred to the Executive Board, which voted during the year not to recommend the change, contending it violates Baptist polity.   The board then asked convention messengers to affirm their decision last … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers elected a trio of state officers for the upcoming year last week in Lafayette - all by acclamation. Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers elected a trio of state officers for the upcoming year last week in Lafayette - all by acclamation.   The new state leaders included Philip Robertson, who was chosen as convention president. He is pastor at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville and a former president of the LBC Executive Board.   Fred Luter nominated Robertson as a man of service. "He serves his church, ..." noted Luter, pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans.   "He also serves boldly and proudly this convention. ... Lastly, he’s a man who serves our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. ... He preaches and teaches, he walks and talks the Word of God. ...   "When it comes to who will serve our convention as the next president, I recommend only one - Philip Robertson."   Messengers agreed, choosing not to nominate anyone to oppose Robertson.   Later, they did the same for George Bannister, pastor at First Baptist Church of Scott. Bannister was elected first vice president of the state … [Read more...]

For the week of November 20, 2003 Potpourri   • ENTERPRISE - New Ouachita church: Harvest Day Service; Nov. 23, 10 a.m.; Kings Messengers in concert with service and lunch to follow; Alton Thompson, pastor.   • DERIDDER - New Life mission: "30 Days to a Better Marriage" seminar; Nov. 21, 6-9 p.m.; Nov. 22, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Mark Sutton, seminar leader; $10 per couple, includes two meals, child care and book/workbooks; to register, call (337) 463-6050; Lynn P. Clayton, pastor.   • WEST MONROE - New Chapel church: Testify in concert; Nov. 30, 10:30 a.m.; Greg Green, music director; Clyde Sanchez, pastor.   • HORNBECK - First church: Buddy Airhart, guest speaker; Nov. 23, 5:30 p.m.; Jerry D. Key, pastor.   • FRIERSON - Kingston church: Fall Gospel Concert; Nov. 22, 6 p.m.; C. W. "Doc" Lowery, pastor.   Youth   • NEW ORLEANS - Oak Park church: "For Unto Ya’ll: A Cowboy Christmas" dinner/theater; Dec. 6-7, 6 p.m.; $10 per ticket; for tickets, call (504) 392-1818; Ben Caston, minister of worship/youth; Paul Brady, pastor.   • HORNBECK - First church: Revival; Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 30, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Eric Geiger, evangelist; HandMade … [Read more...]