For the week of August 8, 2002 Religious freedom bill Two high-profile senators from opposite ends of the political spectrum have come out in support of a proposed law aimed at giving religious freedom a boost in America’s workplaces. U.S. Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) announced their co-sponsorship of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act during a June 26 press conference at the U.S. Capitol. The bill has the backing of a diverse coalition of liberal, conservative and moderate religious leaders. The bill would clear up questions about how far workplaces have to go to protect the religious rights of employees. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 required employers to accommodate the religious practices unless doing so imposes an "unreasonable" burden. A 1977 Supreme Court ruling, however, said that workers can be denied accommodation of any religious practice that creates more than a "minimal" hardship on the employer. Labor groups initially opposed the concept behind the Kerry-Santorum bill, but have dropped their opposition, the senators announced. Homelessness ruling A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a New York church that has permitted homeless persons to sleep … [Read more...]

For the week of August 14, 2002 Florida voucher ruling Despite a court ruling overturning Florida’s three-year-old voucher program, Gov. Jeb Bush and other state officials appealed the Aug. 5 ruling. Florida Circuit Judge Kevin Davey of Tallahassee ordered an immediate halt to a program offering state-funded scholarships, which students may use to pay for tuition at private religious schools. The scholarship program is intended to provide educational alternatives to children in chronically failing public schools. Florida’s Constitution says, "No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution." Davey said the voucher program violates "the clear mandate of the people as enunciated in the constitution." Fewer than 50 students received vouchers last year, but parents of 702 children have notified the state that they expect to take part in the program this fall. Pakistani school shooting Gunmen who attacked a boarding school for the children of Christian missionaries and diplomats in Pakistan Aug. 5 left a note saying the assault was in … [Read more...]

Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and the president and CEO of his father’s evangelistic association, continues to discover that speaking one’s convictions about Islam without receiving severe public criticism gets more and more difficult.   Nothing has placed Islam on the modern-day front-burner of America’s religious and philosophical consideration as did 9-11. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and the president and CEO of his father’s evangelistic association, continues to discover that speaking one’s convictions about Islam without receiving severe public criticism gets more and more difficult.   Nothing has placed Islam on the modern-day front-burner of America’s religious and philosophical consideration as did 9-11. The hijackers/murderers said Islamic convictions motivated their terrorist acts. Their words and actions not only called for but demanded examination of Islam as would have happened to Christianity if a group bombed the Saudi Arabia capital and said they did it in the name of Christ. If Moslems can show that only severely misconstruing the teachings of Mohammed could have given rise to the terrorist acts of 9-11, then they could and should fully distance themselves from … [Read more...]

Melissa Motley dropped out of high school when she became pregnant with her first child. She married and then had two more children, but within a few years her marriage dissolved.   "I just felt like nobody cared about me," Motley says, even though she pulled her life together enough to earn her GED. Then a friend suggested she visit the Christian Women’s Job Corps site in Marshall County, Ala. Melissa Motley dropped out of high school when she became pregnant with her first child. She married and then had two more children, but within a few years her marriage dissolved.   "I just felt like nobody cared about me," Motley says, even though she pulled her life together enough to earn her GED. Then a friend suggested she visit the Christian Women’s Job Corps site in Marshall County, Ala.   "I needed some computer skills but didn't know where to get them," Motley explains. "But I got more than just computer skills at CWJC.   "I realized that I am more than nothing," she continues. "God put me here for a reason, and I will be somebody someday by the grace of God."   Motley plans to transfer to Jacksonville (Ala.) State University after her initial studies at … [Read more...]

Nestled in the heart of Acadiana are the remains of a man known as one of the movers and shakers of bringing the gospel to South Louisiana. A native Alabamian, St. Clair H. Bower came to the Bayou state when only a few Baptist churches existed in Acadiana.   His story is chronicled in the self-published book "Bower on the Bayou." Nestled in the heart of Acadiana are the remains of a man known as one of the movers and shakers of bringing the gospel to South Louisiana. A native Alabamian, St. Clair H. Bower came to the Bayou state when only a few Baptist churches existed in Acadiana.   His story is chronicled in the self-published book "Bower on the Bayou."   "These 56 years in Louisiana have been good ones," said Bower in his autobiography. " ... As I look back over these 56 years, I feel that God has always put me at the right place at the right time."   The oldest of seven children, Bower spent his early years in Troy and Ozark, Ala. His first job was selling newspapers.   "When I was 10, my father told me that if I ever had anything I would have to work for it, as he made a small salary and had a house full of children," said Bower. "So I went to work selling … [Read more...]

Two associations that are heading up a Cenla/Korea Mission Partnership are looking for participants to help with an urgent need for volunteers. Louisiana Baptists have a long-standing relationship with the South Korean mission.   The Korean Home Mission Board and the Korea Baptist Mission have requested 10 teams consisting of a preacher and "two or three other team members," to conduct Partnership Evangelism Crusades, October 20 through November 2 of this year, according to Charles Lowry who is heading up the partnership. Two associations that are heading up a Cenla/Korea Mission Partnership are looking for participants to help with an urgent need for volunteers. Louisiana Baptists have a long-standing relationship with the South Korean mission.   The Korean Home Mission Board and the Korea Baptist Mission have requested 10 teams consisting of a preacher and "two or three other team members," to conduct Partnership Evangelism Crusades, October 20 through November 2 of this year, according to Charles Lowry who is heading up the partnership.   "Each team would conduct two four-night crusades," according to Lowry. "Preparation and training of the Korean pastors and leaders will be done … [Read more...]

The Christian Growth Study Plan celebrates 100 years of ministry this year. One of the ways the Christian Growth Study Plan is improving its ministry to the local church is by launching an improved website. It is located at www.lifeway.com/cgsp. The Christian Growth Study Plan celebrates 100 years of ministry this year. One of the ways the Christian Growth Study Plan is improving its ministry to the local church is by launching an improved website. It is located at www.lifeway.com/cgsp.   The catalog that has been so familiar to us in the past will be replaced by a brochure which will have the who, what, when, where and how information of the Christian Growth categories.   You will find the resources available for each diploma on the website.   LifeWay will not be sending a copy of the brochure directly to each church. In the future, you must request a copy of the brochure.   Kenneth Mooney Discipleship Development Director Louisiana Baptist Convention … [Read more...]

For the week of August 14, 2002 Potpourri • WINNFIELD - First church: Higher Faith in concert; Aug. 25, 6 p.m.; John Holland, minister of music; Lindsey Burns, pastor.   • SULPHUR - First church: Randy Miller in concert; Aug. 25, 6 p.m.; Donald W. Dukes, music minister; David Holder, pastor.   • FARMERVILLE - Crestview church: "Victorious Christian Living" seminar; Aug. 25, 6 p.m.; Aug. 26-28, 7 p.m. nightly; Lee Thomas, seminar leader; Wayne Whiteside, pastor.   • MORGAN CITY - Bayou Vista church: Gulf Coast Associational Sunday School Training and Workshop; Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m. meal; 7 p.m. conferences; Bobby Powell, Sunday school director; Charles Gilder, pastor.   • DERIDDER - DeRidder High School auditorium: Beauregard Associational area- wide crusade; Aug. 15, 6:30 p.m.; Brock Gill, illusionist, guest speaker; Johnny Johnson, director of missions.   • LAKE CHARLES - First church: Associational Sunday School How-To Clinic; Aug. 29, 7 p.m.; J. P. Miles, director of missions; Lynn P. Clayton, interim pastor. Revivals • SULPHUR - Olivet church: "The Drug King with an Empire" revival; Aug. 18, 10:40 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Aug. 19-23, 7 p.m.; nursery provided for … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist and other pro-life leaders applauded President George Bush’s signing of a measure providing legal protection to fully delivered babies, even when abortion is intended.   The president signed into law the Born-alive Infants Protection Act in an Aug. 5 public ceremony in Pittsburgh, Pa. Southern Baptist and other pro-life leaders applauded President George Bush’s signing of a measure providing legal protection to fully delivered babies, even when abortion is intended.   The president signed into law the Born-alive Infants Protection Act in an Aug. 5 public ceremony in Pittsburgh, Pa.   The act clarifies a newborn child fully outside his mother’s womb is a person to be protected under federal law. This includes every human infant "born alive at any stage of development," according to the new law.   The legislation especially targeted an abortion method in which newborns who survive are allowed to die. The procedure, which nurses testified is used at Christ Hospital in Chicago, is called live-birth abortion. In the method, delivery is induced. If the baby survives the procedure, he or she is left unattended to die.   Richard Land, president of the … [Read more...]

A question that divides many Baptist congregations is"who runs the church?"   In healthy churches, experts say, secure pastors and lay leaders share a common vision of mutual leadership. But when either the pastor or lay leaders attempt to tip the balance in their favor against the wishes of the other party, conflict often results. A question that divides many Baptist congregations is"who runs the church?"   In healthy churches, experts say, secure pastors and lay leaders share a common vision of mutual leadership. But when either the pastor or lay leaders attempt to tip the balance in their favor against the wishes of the other party, conflict often results.   Control issues are the No. 1 reason for forced terminations of Baptist pastors, according to research by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   The number of ministerial firings by Baptist churches has grown to alarming proportions, says Jan Daehnert, director of minister/church relations for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.   In a majority of these cases, disputes over pastoral authority play a significant role in the conflicts that led to termination, Daehnert … [Read more...]