For the week of December 4, 2003
Correction
In the Nov. 13 issue of the Baptist Message, a cutline referred to Alexandria
attorney Jean Pharis as “retired.” Pharis actually continues an active
law practice with Pharis Law Offices in Alexandria.
Convention finances
A third of state Baptist conventions this fall reduced their budgets for next
year in order to address declines in giving by churches. Financial cutbacks
were approved by messengers in Georgia, Illinois, Kansas-Nebraska, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, the Baptist General Convention
of Texas, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, New England, New York
and West Virginia. Despite the budget decrease in Louisiana, messengers voted
to raise the Southern Baptist Convention allotment for the first time since
1988 by a quarter-percent. Others raising the national convention allotment
included Nevada Baptists (quarter percent), New York Baptists (half percent)
and Pennsylvania/South Jersey Baptists (0.1 percent). Meanwhile, California,
lowered the portion it will send the national body from 30 percent to 27 percent.
Vote against materials
During their recent annual meetings:
Messengers to the Baptist Convention of New England went on record
against supporting the 2004 Vacation Bible School materials from LifeWay Christian
Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, recommending an alternative LifeWay
resource for the coming year. Messengers voted against the “Rickshaw Rally”
materials after being contacted by Asian Americans and having numerous meetings
on the issue. A state convention leader said Asian Americans have found the
theme and symbols used insensitive.
Messengers to the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware annual
meeting approved an operating document affirming churches that adopt the “Baptist
Faith and Message 2000 or 1963 or other similar statement in accord with the
beliefs expressed in those Southern Baptist documents.” Messengers rejected
an amendment to strike the phrase “or other similar statement” from
the proposal.
Dakota Baptists celebrated their 50th year in Southern Baptist
life by unanimously approving a move to state convention status and a name change
from the Dakota Southern Baptist Fellowship to Dakota Baptist Convention.
Bush remarks
In an answer likely to upset evangelicals and other members of his Christian
base, President George Bush recently said Christians and Muslims worship the
same God. Speaking at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Tony
Blair, Bush was asked his thoughts on how the war on terrorism and his promotion
of freedom intersects with his Christian faith. He also was asked how he reacts
to those who say the God of Islam is not the same as the God of Christianity.
“I do say that freedom is the Almightys gift to every person,”
Bush answered. “I also condition it by saying freedom is not Americas
gift to the world. Its much greater than that, of course. And I believe
we worship the same God.” Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty
Commission President Richard Land said that while he respects Bush he believes
the president is wrong. “We should always remember that he is Commander-in-Chief,
not theologian-in-chief,” he said. “And when he says that he believes
that Muslims and Christians worship the same God, he is simply mistaken.”
The Scripture is very clear at that point, Land emphasized.
Internet downloads
LifeWay Christian Stores has launched its new digital music downloading service,
offering single songs via the World Wide Web for 99 cents and complete albums
for $10 to $12. The service is the first of its kind available through a Christian
retailer and may be accessed at www.lifewaystores.com.
LifeWays service requires no monthly subscription fee or special software
to download. All songs are offered in Windows Media format. Leaders praised
the new service as a real solution to the problem of music piracy via the Internet.
LifeWay Christian Stores are operated by LifeWay Christian Resources of the
Southern Baptist Convention.
Pro-marriage Web site
A national Christian organization has established a Web site to help in its
effort to mobilize 50,000 pastors against same-sex “marriage.” ChurchCoalition.com
was established by the American Family Association with the goal of lining up
thousands of pastors across the country to defend the traditional definition
of marriage. The Web site promises occasional e-mail updates about various pro-family
issues and promises that subscribers will not be “spammed.” On the
Web site, pastors are asked to sign a pledge that reads: “I oppose homosexual
marriage. I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman
only. In addition, I oppose giving the benefits of marriage to civil unions
between members of the same sex. I pledge to defend the Biblical concept of
marriage as between one man and one woman only.”
Grandparent care
Nearly 6 million grandparents live in the same household with their grandchildren
in the United States, and 40 percent of those grandparents are the primary care-givers
for their grandchildren, 2000 Census figures indicate. One third of grandparent
care-givers live in “skipped generation” households, where neither
parent of the grandchildren is present. The census also found that 19 percent
of grandparent care-givers were living in poverty in 1999. The highest proportion
of grandparent care-givers in poverty was in the South (21 percent). In addition,
the census showed that grandparents younger than 60 were more likely to be grandparent
care-givers than were grandparents age 60 and over. Non-white grandparents were
at least three times more likely to be live-in care-givers than non-Hispanic
white grandparents.
Freedom concerns
Some observers have expressed concern that a new constitution for Afghanistan
may do little more to protect religious freedom than did the oppressive Taliban
government. While setting up a government that mirrors the United States
system in structure, the proposed constitution also declares Afghanistan an
“Islamic Republic” and names “the sacred religion of Islam”
as the official religion of the country. It follows that clause by saying, “Followers
of other religions are free to perform their religious ceremonies within the
limits of the provisions of law.” However, observers note the proposal
does not explicitly ensure neutrality between religious groups. The proposed
document also insists no law in Afghanistan “can be contrary to the sacred
religion of Islam and the values of this constitution.” It allows political
parties to form and operate only if they are not contrary to the principles
of Islam and requires members of the countrys highest court to support
Islam.
Under God
The U.S. Supreme Court was given more than 700,000 reasons recently to keep
the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Representatives
from Grassfire.net, a conservative grass-roots organization, recently delivered
petitions to the high court signed by citizens who want to preserve the pledges
traditional wording. “The effort to remove under God from the
pledge strikes a blow to the very heart of our American understanding of freedom,”
said Keith Fournier, president of the Common Good Foundation, a Christian activist
group. Next year, the high court will consider the case of Jeffrey Newdow, a
California atheist who does not want his 9-year-old daughter to hear the pledge
in school.