Based upon surveys by various groups, approximately 100 Southern Baptist ministers (one assumes the number is limited to pastors) are terminated each month. The surveys do not include the number of pastors who leave under pressure, or who are given no choice but to go to another pastorate. Based upon surveys by various groups, approximately 100 Southern Baptist ministers (one assumes the number is limited to pastors) are terminated each month. The surveys do not include the number of pastors who leave under pressure, or who are given no choice but to go to another pastorate. Perhaps there is no way to know how that number would compare percentage-wise with other professions. Regardless, the termination of a minister always leaves scars on the church that terminates the minister, its witness in the community and the minister and his family. Why are ministers terminated? Bob Sheffield, pastoral ministry specialists, Conflict Management/Mediation Division of Life Way Church Resources, recently shared what he thinks, according to his experience, the "Top Five Reasons for Forced Termination in the Southern Baptist Convention." They are: 1. "Who’s going to control the church?" 2. Poor people skills on the … [Read more...]

Providing love: In an isolated South Louisiana town, a group of Baptists are engaged in a caring ministry that is touching just about every single child in the community   Grand Isle, Louisiana sits on the end - or the beginning - of State Highway 1, depending upon which way one is headed. Providing love: In an isolated South Louisiana town, a group of Baptists are engaged in a caring ministry that is touching just about every single child in the community   Grand Isle, Louisiana sits on the end - or the beginning - of State Highway 1, depending upon which way one is headed.   Surrounded by gulf marshes, the pancake-flat island is home of a United States Coast Guard station, a state park filled with rabbits and commercial and sports fishing outfits.   There is an oil company outpost, some restaurants, a couple of convenience and bait stores, five churches and eight bars, plus 1,500 permanent residents.   There is not a lot to do for the children and young people who live on the one-mile wide, five-mile long strip of land surrounded by "water, water everywhere."   The closest Wal-Mart is 45 minutes away, and the nearest movie theater takes an hour to … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members handled fairly routine business during their recent scheduled meeting.   But they also learned of key motions to be presented in their September session. Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members handled fairly routine business during their recent scheduled meeting.   But they also learned of key motions to be presented in their September session.   Those include:   • A motion by Jeff Pardue of Livingston that "the current Baptist Faith and Message be included in the LBC bylaws under Article III, as Section 14." Article III deals with the composition and duties of committees and boards.   • A motion by Roy Davis of Shreveport that the following be added to the LBC Constitution, under Article II, as Section 5: "This convention will do all its work in accord with the principle that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God and is sufficient for all faith and practice and is truth without any mixture of error in every area of which it speaks (Matthew 22:29)." Article II of the constitution deals with the purpose of the state convention.   In addition, a pair of study … [Read more...]

Focus fell squarely on defining the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the new century during last week’s state Executive Board meeting.   But by the end of the two-hour session, state convention board members had decided nothing - except to decide later. Focus fell squarely on defining the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the new century during last week’s state Executive Board meeting.   But by the end of the two-hour session, state convention board members had decided nothing - except to decide later.   The business of the day set the stage for what could be a significant September session for the denominational board.   Matters discussed at last week’s meeting included what it means to be a cooperating Louisiana Baptist church, how associational directors of missions should be elected and function and how to ensure denominational agencies are tied to the state convention.   In addition, motions were introduced on the affirmation of the Bible in convention documents and the possible merger of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Baptist Retirement Center.   However, the bulk of the discussion in the meeting focused on an action approved - then … [Read more...]

Greetings in the strong name of Jesus. I am writing you about my dear friend and brother in Christ, Bansi Brahmbhatt and our ministry together in India. Greetings in the strong name of Jesus. I am writing you about my dear friend and brother in Christ, Bansi Brahmbhatt and our ministry together in India.   Bansi was born and grew up in India. His religion was Hindu. He accepted Christ and renounced Hinduism. As a result, he was disowned by his parents and family.   He and I met about 12 years ago, and we started a ministry to India called Friends of Asia. God has truly blessed.   We are planning to build a church, training center and a children’s home on land we have already purchased in India.   We have already seen a little over 6,000 people come to Christ. We want to disciple and train these in the Christian faith. We are asking our Christian brothers and sisters to help us in this all-important missions. Please pray about this.   Danny O’ Guin, Pastor Tower Grove Baptist, St. Louis … [Read more...]

For the week of May 16, 2002 Potpourri • FERRIDAY - Lake St. John Community church: Camp meeting; May 17-18; Mickey Bounds, cajun humorist, evangelist; Karl Wilson, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - First church: Choir and orchestra presents "Sweet Land of Liberty" at the downtown campus; May 26, 6 p.m.; free; Dorand Bugg, minister of music/media; Burn Page, pastor.   • BOSSIER CITY - Airline church: "Sweet Land of Liberty" patriotic musical; May 26, 4 p.m. with inside picnic to follow; Jerry Elkins, music director; Damon V. Vaughn, pastor.   • LIVINGSTON - Colyell church: Special crusade featuring John Jacobs and The Power Team; May 22-26, 7 p.m. nightly; May 22, 6:30 p.m., Christian motorcycle club; for information, call (225) 698-6243; Sanford Sherman, pastor.   • ALEXANDRIA - Calvary church: Associational Leadership Planning meeting for all associational leaders; May 21, 10 a.m.; David Brooks, pastor.   • LEESVILLE - Old Anacoco church: Kingdom Bound in concert; May 25, 7 p.m.; Homer Fondren, pastor.   • COLUMBIA - Welcome Home church: The Forgiven Choir in concert; May 19, 11 a.m.; Bill Gueringer, pastor.   • PLAIN DEALING - Plain Dealing … [Read more...]

Is "intelligent design" theory just old-fashioned creationism dressed up as science or is it a legitimate scientific challenge to Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theories?   That is the question currently facing the Ohio state school board. Patrick Rogers, Religion New Service   Is "intelligent design" theory just old-fashioned creationism dressed up as science or is it a legitimate scientific challenge to Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theories?   That is the question currently facing the Ohio state school board.   Board members will vote this fall on whether to allow 10th grade high school teachers to tell students about the intelligent design theory.   If Ohio okays intelligent design, the matter could be up for debate in other states, reigniting the battle between evolutionists and creationists.   Intelligent design proponents want Ohio’s high school science teachers to be allowed to tell students about what they say is a scientific debate concerning alleged flaws in Darwinian theory.   They claim Darwin’s evolutionary theories cannot explain the complexity in all the Earth’s biological systems. Intelligent design theory holds that some … [Read more...]

When it comes to being a golfer, I am not.   Oh, I play golf–but playing golf a golfer does not make.   Ideally, golf consists of striking a small dimpled ball with a small mallet attached to a small shaft, hitting the ball basically on a straight line to a small hole on a small yard at the end of a long pasture. That is golf at its best. When it comes to being a golfer, I am not.   Oh, I play golf–but playing golf a golfer does not make.   Ideally, golf consists of striking a small dimpled ball with a small mallet attached to a small shaft, hitting the ball basically on a straight line to a small hole on a small yard at the end of a long pasture. That is golf at its best.   For me, it is never at its best.   For me, golf is swinging at a tiny, textured ball with an incredibly small mass of steel or wood attached to an uncontrollable stick. While trying to strike the ball with the small club head, one must remember not to move one’s head, to shift one’s weight from the front foot to the back foot and, then, to the front foot again. One is to pull the club back in a precise manner, keeping the club head in exactly the right position and, then, starting … [Read more...]

Since Sept. 11, the questions have become widely discussed - Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? What does Islam and Christianity share in common? Are there essential differences between the two great religions that cannot be dismissed? Since Sept. 11, the questions have become widely discussed - Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? What does Islam and Christianity share in common? Are there essential differences between the two great religions that cannot be dismissed?   There are significant commonalities between the two great religions, acknowledged Timothy George, dean of the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. However, Islam’s rejection of the Trinity and crucifixion of Jesus pose unavoidable stumbling blocks for Muslims, demonstrating that the two religions cannot be said to worship the same God, George added.   Despite the tendency in American culture to reject exclusive truth claims and press for universal acceptance of all religions, George urged Christians to resist this pressure.   First, to do so is dishonest, as any true Muslim would agree, George explained during his recent lectures at The Baptist College of … [Read more...]

In the past 22 years, the Internal Revenue Service either has revoked the tax-exempt status of a church or religious organization or levied taxes on such a group for engaging in "prohibited political activities" fewer than 10 times.   However, some members of Congress say that is 10 times too many. In the past 22 years, the Internal Revenue Service either has revoked the tax-exempt status of a church or religious organization or levied taxes on such a group for engaging in "prohibited political activities" fewer than 10 times.   However, some members of Congress say that is 10 times too many.   The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight heard testimony May 14 on two bills designed to protect churches and other religious groups from the IRS.   The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act (H.R. 2357) is sponsored by Walter Jones, R-N.C.   The Bright-Line Act of 200l (H.R. 2931) is sponsored by Rep. Phil Crane, R-Ill.   Both measures would allow churches and other religious organizations to endorse political candidates. In addition, Crane’s measure would allow a church to spend up to 20 percent of its annual revenues on political … [Read more...]