Frank Page, pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., who was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June, talks about his views on women in ministry, concerns about narrowing boundaries of theological cooperation, an SBC resolution calling for abstinence from alcohol and the debate on Calvinism. TAYLORS, S.C. (BP) – In 1980, SBC President Frank Page completed a doctor of philosophy degree in Christian ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with the acceptance of his dissertation, “Toward a Biblical Ethic of Women in Ministry,” which strongly advocated unlimited roles for women in ministry, including serving as church pastors. In an extensive interview with the Florida Baptist Witness, Page said he recanted those admittedly “radical” and “extreme” views shortly after earning his Ph.D., and he has repeatedly asserted his support of the Baptist Faith and Message statement concerning the matter. Page, pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., who was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June, spoke at length in the interview about his views on women in ministry, concerns about narrowing boundaries of theological cooperation, an … [Read more...]
GuideStone resource helps
DALLAS (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources has released a new online resource, “Planning Financial Support,” for use by church personnel and finance committees in planning staff members’ compensation packages. DALLAS (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources has released a new online resource, “Planning Financial Support,” for use by church personnel and finance committees in planning staff members’ compensation packages. The presentation, along with a workbook by the same name, are being offered at no charge by the Southern Baptist entity. “Our goal with this new presentation is to help churches provide for their pastors in a comprehensive, holistic manner,” said Chris Elkins, a finanal solutions and services staff member at GuideStone. “Sometimes a church tries to pay its pastor in a lump-sum, or ‘package’ approach,” he explained. “That forces a pastor to absorb ministry expenses into his income, cutting his take-home pay.” The presentation’s launch comes on the heels of the release of the 2006 SBC Compensation Study, which showed the average salary and housing allowance for fulltime Southern Baptist pastors was $49,952, an increase of 7.4 percent since 2004. Income statistics for other … [Read more...]
LBC adds staff
ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Convention recently added two people to its staff: Alberto Rivera and R. Michael Stewart ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Convention recently added two people to its staff. New Orleans pastor Alberto Rivera (wife Romy) was called to serve as the New Orleans Metro regional missions strategist. Rivera is the first Hispanic in North America to serve in this capacity. “The rapid increase in the Hispanic population in the “new” New Orleans clearly justifies the call of Alberto Rivera to lead our church planting and church revitalization ministries in this region and the state,” said Mike Canady, LBC director of missions and ministry. Although Rivera’s position is focused on the New Orleans area, he will also be the state’s consultant for Hispanic outreach and church planting for the whole state. R. Michael Stewart (wife Joanna) was called as the Cooperative Program/Stewardship strategist. Stewart previously served Lake Charles, Trinity, as the minister of evangelism. The Cooperative Program/Stewardship strategist is part of the communications team led by John L. Yeats. “Stewardship directly impacts local church ministries and the Cooperative Program is the method … [Read more...]
Barnette helps church plant reach out
HAMMOND – Crossroads Church reaches out in an Acts 1:8 way with the help of the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions. Without the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions, Crossroads would not be able to conduct some of its ministries. HAMMOND – Six years ago, Chip Wheeler had a God-given desire to connect with a post-modern generation in Hammond. At the time, 95 percent of 18-30 year olds were un-churched in that college community. When the Northshore Baptist Association determined a need to plant a church to reach those young adults, Wheeler knew God was calling him to participate in the effort. The end result was Crossroads Church, which today reaches out in an Acts 1:8 way, with the help of the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions. Without the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions, Crossroads would not be able to conduct some of its ministries. Each month, the Louisiana offering provides funds for Crossroads. “It’s been an amazing story,” Wheeler said. “The church should have failed but God has been faithful to us.” Membership stands at 80-90, but they average much more in worship services each week. Since last year, the church has grown 120 percent and … [Read more...]
Middle East has long history that brings world to this point in time
A look at the past provides a roadmap of events leading to the current war raging between Israel and Hezbollah, who are Lebanese Shiites said to be undergirded by Persian Iran, and between Israel and Hamas, who are Palestinian. Both groups call for the complete eradication of Israel. … [Read more...]
Five reasons why we trust
As the publisher of a faith-based military news site, I’m well aware that there are some who consider faith and any form of government an oxymoron, but I have to disagree. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Pollsters continue to ask the question, but the result is the same – the majority of Americans still say they believe in God. And, despite the recent attempts we’ve seen by some to take God out of our schools, our pledge and even our national motto, God remains very much a part of our country’s makeup. As the publisher of a faith-based military news site, I’m well aware that there are some who consider faith and any form of government an oxymoron, but I have to disagree. There’s a reason why “In God We Trust” has been around for 50-plus years. In fact, I can think of five: 1. We trust in God because evil still exists. The media went crazy in the days after 9-11 when our president brought the term “evil” to the forefront, talking about the “axis of evil” and those in our world who are, well, evil. Hard to comprehend for people who refuse to believe that someone else could actually want to hurt and harm. After all, the “evil” people can’t help how they feel, right? And who am I to tell them they can’t do that? Let’s … [Read more...]
Georgia Barnett offering makes ‘special mission projects’ possible
The Georgia Barnette Offering is the thread that connects disaster relief, prison ministry, seafarers ministry, collegiate ministry, radio ministry, resort ministry, and more, across the state of Louisiana. Note: Leading up to the annual Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering (September 17-24), the Message will present reports on ongoing missions work across Louisiana. The Georgia Barnette Offering is the thread that connects disaster relief, prison ministry, seafarers ministry, collegiate ministry, radio ministry, resort ministry, and more, across the state of Louisiana. This year’s $100,000 allocation is designed to spread out and result in thousands of lives changed, just as these ministries have done in the past. Disaster Relief Even before Hurricane Katrina hit, Louisiana’s Disaster Relief unit was deployed to First Baptist Covington, and that was just the start of the outpouring of assistance that rolled over the state as churches and associations responded to the need. To date, no one has sat down and tabulated all that was done, said Gibbie McMillan, new as the LBC liaison with disaster relief efforts from the local church to the national level. … [Read more...]
Louisiana’s People, Places and Events
Reports from the churches: Potpourri OAK GROVE – First church: Bayou Bacon Associational Evangelism Conference; Aug. 20, 6 p.m.; Gene Douglas and Joe Aulds, guest speakers; Wesley Bennett, associational evangelism director; Jay Morgan, director of missions; Carl Gulde, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Kingston Road church: Cross Point Quartet in concert; Aug. 19, 7 p.m.; nursery provided; Trey Lewis, pastor. ZACHARY – Milldale church: Labor Day Weedend Camp Meeting; Sept. 1, 6:45 p.m. – Sept. 4; Bill Britt, Malcom Ellis, Jerry Chaddick, Danny Greig, Sonny Holland, Joe Murray, Danny Lovett, Luther Price, Philip Robertson, Sonny Simpson and Jerry Spencer; for information, call (225) 654-8168 or email gloriarogers@milldale.org; Jimmy Robertson and Danny Greig, co-camper directors. BATON ROUGE – Istrouma church: “Blitz on the Bayou” leadership training; Aug. 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Ken Hemphill, keynote speaker; $20 per person; for information, call (225) 274-8600; Stuart Rothberg, pastor. KEITHVILLE – Mansfield church: Crosspoint in concert; Aug. 20, 6 p.m.; Glenn Scruggs, pastor. WEST MONROE – Ridge Avenue church: “English as a Second Language” training; Aug. 18 and 25, 6-9:15 p.m.; Aug. … [Read more...]
No personal medical plan increase seen for ‘07
DENVER (BP) – No rate increase is expected to be enacted in 2007 in the personal medical plans of GuideStone Financial Resources, marking the third year in a row that the Southern Baptist entity has held the line on rates. DENVER (BP) – No rate increase is expected to be enacted in 2007 in the personal medical plans of GuideStone Financial Resources, marking the third year in a row that the Southern Baptist entity has held the line on rates. GuideStone trustees approved the annual re-rate recommendation during their July 31-Aug. 1 meeting in Denver. An update on GuideStone’s long-range planning toward its 100th anniversary in 2018 also was presented to trustees by Chief Operating Officer John R. Jones. Other than regular age increases, GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins noted in his report to trustees, 100 percent of personal medical plan participants will receive no rate increase and more than 40 percent will receive a rate decrease. Hawkins credited the good report to the continued improvements in the administration and design of GuideStone’s medical plans. “During the past several years, we have provided a greater variety of choices in our medical plans with varying deductibles and … [Read more...]
Kelley: Caregiving can be a blessing
when Rhonda Kelley began noticing she was meeting countless other women of her generation who like Kelley were dealing with hard decisions in helping their aging parents, Kelley decided to write Raising Moms. She wanted to help these women, aiming to provide a resource focused not only on the facts of caregiving but also on the biblical principles that should guide Christians. “What a privilege to tenderly care for parents in the way that they cared for you in childhood,” says Rhonda Kelley of New Orleans. “Yes, it is hard to juggle the demands of work and family while also supporting parents. But the sacrifice is worth it. In caring for aging parents, Christians are following the biblical principles of honoring parents, continuing the spiritual legacy, and training children to respect elders.” Kelley and her husband, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley, gained firsthand experience in the subject when they become caregivers for his parents. The experience led Rhonda to pen Raising Moms, released by the New Hope publishing division of Woman’s Missionary Union. When her father-in-law Charles Kelley Sr. began facing age-related health problems, the family began searching … [Read more...]
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