A divided Cooperative Baptist Fellowship recently upheld a ban on hiring homosexuals and on funding organizations that "condone, advocate or affirm homosexual practices." A divided Cooperative Baptist Fellowship recently upheld a ban on hiring homosexuals and on funding organizations that "condone, advocate or affirm homosexual practices."   Persons attending the moderate/conservative group’s 10th anniversary meeting voted 701 (58.3 percent) to 502 (41.7 percent) to uphold the homosexuality policy.   But the action came after the issue generated considerable discussion and debate.   The issue dates back to last year. At the 2000 General Assembly, the Alliance of Baptists and the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America hosted exhibits with pro-homosexual materials. Also, some criticized the Fellowship for including funding for the Baptist Peace Fellowship in its budget.   In October, then, the Fellowship’s Coordinating Council adopted a policy statement described as "welcoming but not affirming" homosexuals.   It reads:   "As Baptist Christians, we believe that the foundation of a Christian sexual ethic is faithfulness in marriage between a man and … [Read more...]

While many adults were packing up the kids and heading to getaway spots this summer, a host of Southern Baptist families went on mission to share the good news of Christ. While many adults were packing up the kids and heading to getaway spots this summer, a host of Southern Baptist families went on mission to share the good news of Christ.   Ministering side-by-side, the mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, husbands and wives and grandparents and grandchildren united in Central Arkansas to take part in FamilyFEST 2001.   Louisiana Baptists were among them.   FamilyFEST is a national project of Woman’s Missionary Union that brings families together to work with local volunteers in support of ongoing missions projects.   Last month’s effort in Little Rock, Ark., was the first-ever FamilyFEST event - and it drew more than 100 volunteers.   The families represented 11 states as they participated in various outreach and witnessing projects in several Little Rock metro areas. Missions activities included backyard Bible clubs, prayerwalking, light construction, block parties, reading clubs and hunger ministries. Other projects targeted nursing homes and needy … [Read more...]

Mary Jane Welch SBC International Mission Board   It has been called the Dark Continent, exotic and mysterious, a place of adventure and of intrigue. It has been called the Dark Continent, exotic and mysterious, a place of adventure and of intrigue.   Yet, far from dark, it is multihued, colorful and populated with people facing serious challenges and embracing a hope that will last through eternity.   Zacchaeus is one of those.   He no longer can do many things he once did. He must count on church members to meet his family’s basic needs. Even walking and breathing are difficult. But one thing the church music leader can do. He can sing praises to God.   Look into his eyes while he sings - the illness goes away. "When I stand up to sing words to Jesus Christ, I feel just as strong as anyone," he says.   Like many Africans, Zacchaeus is wasting away from a disease some governments fear to name. But unlike many around him, Zacchaeus has hope - the hope found in Jesus.   Can all of Africa sing with the same hope?   Some facts seems to say no. For instance:   •An estimated 25.3 million children and adults in … [Read more...]

Recent reports of scientists creating human embryos or attempting to clone embryos for research with their stem cells has stirred widespread condemnation from pro-life advocates. Recent reports of scientists creating human embryos or attempting to clone embryos for research with their stem cells has stirred widespread condemnation from pro-life advocates.   The critics decry the fact that the embryos must be destroyed in order for the stem cell research to continue.   The revelations of such controversial work came on successive days. The Washington Post reported on July 11 and 12 that:   • Researchers at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Norfolk, Va., have taken stem cells from embryos created by in vitro fertilization for experimentation. In doing so, the scientists became the first in the world to procure such cells from embryos created exclusively for research purposes, The Post reported.   • Scientists at Advanced Cell Technology, a biotechnology firm in Worcester, Mass., have initiated experiments to clone human embryos for the purpose of deriving stem cells for research.   Pro-life ethicists called the reports evidence of a cultural slide … [Read more...]

Christians experience true freedom in Christ only through a disciplined, lifetime commitment to renounce whatever holds them in bondage, Elizabeth Luter said. Christians experience true freedom in Christ only through a disciplined, lifetime commitment to renounce whatever holds them in bondage, Elizabeth Luter said.   Pride, fear and a failure to seek forgiveness are common sources of bondage among Christians, explained Luter, whose husband, Fred, is pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans.   "I didn’t think I was guilty of false pride, because I wasn’t boastful with it," Luter said, adding that God nevertheless showed her where she had problems and guided her in addressing them.   And while people sometimes say fear makes a person humble, Luter disagreed during her presentation at a Southern Baptist gathering for black church leaders.   "Fear paralyzes us and keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God," she said.   Failure to trust God to forgive and forget sin represents another stronghold on the lives of some Christians, Luter continued. "Daily, we have to denounce things that trap us. For years, I believed in God, but I didn’t believe … [Read more...]

President George W. Bush’s desire for the federal government to help fund faith-based social improvement efforts seem to be on a fast track to congressional approval, having already been approved by two House committees. President George W. Bush’s desire for the federal government to help fund faith-based social improvement efforts seem to be on a fast track to congressional approval, having already been approved by two House committees.   President Bush and the congressional handlers of the bill that would establish a bureaucracy to get federal money to faith-based organizations have made several revisions to the initial proposal. These revisions have helped relieve the concerns of some of those who had reservations about the initial proposal. To this editor, the revisions point out the problem of the entire idea of federal funds going to religious or faith-based activities.   The House Judiciary Committee included the following among the amendments it added to the original proposal:   • No funds provided by the government may be used for religious "instruction, worship or proselytization."   • Recipients of aid from government-funded organizations cannot be required to … [Read more...]