Arizona officials have alleged the Baptist Foundation of Arizona’s auditor "aided and abetted" fraud by giving the organization a clean bill of health despite warnings to the contrary.   Accounting firm Arthur Andersen has requested a hearing to answer charges by the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Securities Division that it knowingly or negligently helped Foundation officers mislead trustees and investors about financial losses. Arizona officials have alleged the Baptist Foundation of Arizona’s auditor "aided and abetted" fraud by giving the organization a clean bill of health despite warnings to the contrary.   Accounting firm Arthur Andersen has requested a hearing to answer charges by the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Securities Division that it knowingly or negligently helped Foundation officers mislead trustees and investors about financial losses.   Last year, securities officials alleged that officials of the Baptist Foundation conducted a "ponzi scheme" by making bogus transactions between various corporations to hide the fact that investments were losing money. The Foundation eventually collapsed and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last November. Thousands … [Read more...]

As the Baptist General Convention of Texas prepares for a decisive annual meeting, a war of words between state and Southern Baptist leaders continues.   State convention leaders have approved a proposal that would reduce drastically funding for Southern Baptist Convention seminaries and the national Executive Committee and would eliminate funding for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. As the Baptist General Convention of Texas prepares for a decisive annual meeting, a war of words between state and Southern Baptist leaders continues.   State convention leaders have approved a proposal that would reduce drastically funding for Southern Baptist Convention seminaries and the national Executive Committee and would eliminate funding for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.   The proposal still must be approved by messengers to the state convention’s annual meeting at the end of October in order to become effective. More than $4 million in funding is at stake in the issue.   Prior to the meeting, both state and national leaders are seeking to make their cases through mailings and other means.   Southern Baptist leaders have mailed a brochure entitled … [Read more...]

Thank you very much for your timely and extremely well-written editorial entitled "Bravo for war on tobacco - now regarding alcohol..." Thank you very much for your timely and extremely well-written editorial entitled "Bravo for war on tobacco - now regarding alcohol..."   I believe you hit the nail on the head when you wrote "Our government is addicted to the income from taxing alcohol and from the political contributions of its manufacturers."   I hope your editorial will help us all to realize that as bad as tobacco is for us - alcohol adversely affects, to a greater degree, the health of the user and an untold number of innocent people. It surely is time to go after the beverage industry with the same justification and zeal as we do the tobacco industry.   I appreciate your in-depth and substantive discussion of this important issue. Sam Lane … [Read more...]

The Search Committee of the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention has begun the process of finding an Executive Director. The Search Committee of the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention has begun the process of finding an Executive Director.   If you know of someone who would be qualified to serve in such a critical position, please encourage them to send a resume and cover letter to the convention office, attention Administrative Committee, P.O. Box 1347, Draper, Utah 84020. The committee will receive resumes through October 31.   Please continue for pray for our convention during the time of transition. Debbie Ward Acting Executive Director Utah-Idaho Convention … [Read more...]

As a Baptist minister and prison chaplain at Allen Correctional Center, I have been called to minister to and through the Criminal Justice System but also to lead and train fellow Christians to minister to this large group of people As a Baptist minister and prison chaplain at Allen Correctional Center, I have been called to minister to and through the Criminal Justice System but also to lead and train fellow Christians to minister to this large group of people. There is a desperate need for Baptists around the state to become involved in ministering to inmates, their families and victims. In our state, this group includes one half million people that are virtually untouched by any church. God loves them so we must reach out.   I would like to invite a pastor and or lay person from your church to Allen Correctional Center on Tuesday, Nov. 7. You should arrive at about 10:30 a.m. We will feed you like a king and treat you the same. All I ask for is an hour and a half to inform you about prison ministry and tour our facility.   The secretary of the Department of Corrections has opened the door to Christians to minister in the prison system around the state. Faith-based programs work to reduce … [Read more...]

There is nothing like a good cop show, whether it is on the big silver screen or the blinking eye of a television. Cop shows abound, and in some seasons, rule.   And why not? Cop shows are natural harbingers of drama, suspense, action, romance. There is not a better entertainment setting for the struggle of good and evil, right and wrong. There is nothing like a good cop show, whether it is on the big silver screen or the blinking eye of a television. Cop shows abound, and in some seasons, rule.   And why not? Cop shows are natural harbingers of drama, suspense, action, romance. There is not a better entertainment setting for the struggle of good and evil, right and wrong.   Since the early days of movies, good guys have struggled to overcome bad guys. Who can, to this day, resist stopping the channel flipping at a Humphrey Bogart kind of guy, a pompadour hat with the brim turned down, standing in the shadows, doing his detective work?   So, who is your favorite cop character? Humphrey Bogart whose storyline always had more romantic interest than struggle with a bad guy? Or maybe you are of the Dirty Harry generation. You still like to see Clint Eastwood do his … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists across the nation sit by and watch the battle of the Titans as officers of the Southern Baptist Convention and the leadership of the Baptist General Convention of Texas clash. What may very well be at stake is the future of the Cooperative Program, which has been the funding engine that has driven the work of national Southern Baptists and the Baptists of 34 state conventions since 1925. Southern Baptists across the nation sit by and watch the battle of the Titans as officers of the Southern Baptist Convention and the leadership of the Baptist General Convention of Texas clash. What may very well be at stake is the future of the Cooperative Program, which has been the funding engine that has driven the work of national Southern Baptists and the Baptists of 34 state conventions since 1925. In the last 22 years that the controversy has rattled the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist General Convention of Texas has gone its own way. While Texas Baptist churches have provided some of the key leadership of the movement to take the Southern Baptist Convention in a more conservative direction, the state convention overall has not been in lockstep with the national … [Read more...]

With the growth of technology, other issues are arising in the church office as well.   For instance, computer software is protected by copyright law just as any other original creation. Most programs sold through retailers come with a single-use license, said Dan Barry, an information services representative for the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. With the growth of technology, other issues are arising in the church office as well.   For instance, computer software is protected by copyright law just as any other original creation. Most programs sold through retailers come with a single-use license, said Dan Barry, an information services representative for the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.   Even so, it is common for users to install software on more than one computer – something that infringes on the copyright owner’s rights. By law, software that comes with a single-use license can be used only on one computer. Additional copies or licenses must be purchased to use the program on other computers.   "If you’re buying it out of a box, you have to buy it for each person," said Julie Bloss, an attorney for the Annuity … [Read more...]

Two Louisiana Baptist bodies have selected 85 persons as nominees to serve on state convention boards and committees. The Louisiana Baptist Convention Committee on Nominations and Committee on Committees agreed on their lists of nominees during meetings earlier this fall. The 85 nominees will be presented to messengers at the 2000 Louisiana Baptist Convention on November 14-15 in Alexandria. Nominees must be approved by messengers before they are eligible to serve as board trustees or committee members. (Two vacancies still must be filled prior to the annual meeting.) Two Louisiana Baptist bodies have selected 85 persons as nominees to serve on state convention boards and committees. The Louisiana Baptist Convention Committee on Nominations and Committee on Committees agreed on their lists of nominees during meetings earlier this fall. The 85 nominees will be presented to messengers at the 2000 Louisiana Baptist Convention on November 14-15 in Alexandria. Nominees must be approved by messengers before they are eligible to serve as board trustees or committee members. (Two vacancies still must be filled prior to the annual meeting.) This year’s nominees represent the range of Louisiana Baptist life and come … [Read more...]

Just six days after American voters engage in the business of electing a new president, Louisiana Baptists will gather in Alexandria to decide their own key items.   The annual Louisiana Baptist Convention is set for November 14-15 at the Riverfront Convention Center in Alexandria. As always, its schedule features fellowship, inspiration - and plenty of business. Just six days after American voters engage in the business of electing a new president, Louisiana Baptists will gather in Alexandria to decide their own key items.   The annual Louisiana Baptist Convention is set for November 14-15 at the Riverfront Convention Center in Alexandria. As always, its schedule features fellowship, inspiration - and plenty of business.   The list of items even includes election of a state convention president, although Louisiana Baptists certainly have not engaged in the type of contest seen on the national scene.   Indeed, current President Tommy French is eligible for re-election to a second one-year term. Traditionally, presidents are granted the second year without opposition - and French has no announced opponent this year.   Still, as a struggle continues for the … [Read more...]