For the published week of February 19, 2004
NOBTS preview
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has scheduled a Preview Weekend for
prospective seminary students on March 4-6, 2004. Preview weekends are designed
to provide students the opportunity to experience seminary life first-hand.
Prospective students will tour the campus; meet faculty and staff; and learn
more about admission requirements, degree programs, cost of attendance, financial
aid, scholarships, housing, student organizations, and other information about
seminary life. Scheduled activities include opportunities to attend classes,
a special chapel service, meetings with professors, a reception and a dinner
on the town. Registration is set to begin March 4 at 4:30 p.m. Students must
pre-register by February 26. The cost is $25 per person, which includes two
nights lodging and five meals. Call 800-662-8701, ext. 3303 or visit www.nobts.edu/enlistment/preview.shtm.
Missions video
A video update on the Southern Baptist North American Mission Boards
efforts to reach the United States and Canada is available as a free Internet
download. The segment is intended for use during Southern Baptists North
American Missions Emphasis, set for March 7-14. The emphasis includes the Week
of Prayer for North American Missions, the North American Mission Study and
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. The video is available
through a link on the www.AnnieArmstrong.com
Web site. The Web site also includes a variety of resources for churches participating
in the North American Missions Emphasis.
Decision to rescind
The National Football League has rescinded a fine that had been levied against
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna for wearing a baseball-style
cap with the Christian cross. The NFL had fined Kitna $5,000 for wearing unauthorized
head gear too close to game time during a television interview. Kitna did not
say why the NFL changed its mind. The cap in question became a cause celebre
in mid-December, when like-minded fans throughout the Cincinnati area showed
their support for the Pro-Bowl quarterback. The same day the NFL announced that
Kitna had been named to the Pro Bowl team, it notified the Bengals he also was
in violation of a rule that requires all merchandise worn by players and team
personnel must be approved and licensed by the league. The cross cap was not
a licensed item.
Pilot investigation
An American Airlines pilot is under investigation after he suggested Christians
on a recent flight should discuss their faith with non-Christians traveling
with them, the airline said. “It falls along the lines of a personal level
of sharing that may not be appropriate for one of our employees to do while
on the job,” airline spokesperson Tim Wagner said. The incident occurred
Feb. 6 on American Flight 34. Wagner said the pilot asked Christians on the
plane to raise their hands. The pilot then recommended other passengers to use
their time onboard to talk to the Christians about their faith, Wagner said.
The pilot also informed passengers he would be free to talk with them at the
end of the flight. Passenger Amanda Nelligan said that the pilot called non-Christians
“crazy” and that his statements “felt like a threat.” She
said she and several others were worried enough that they sought to call relatives
on cell phones before attendants told them they were safe and on-ground officials
had been told of the pilots comments.
Discussing The Passion
Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Morris Chapman recently
defended upcoming “The Passion of The Christ” film on CNN, saying
the film is not anti-Semitic because people who love Christ love the Jewish
nation. Chapman was a guest along with Rabbi Marvin Hier of Los Angeles on “CNN
Live Today” on Feb. 6. During his comments, Chapman characterized the new
Mel Gibson-directed movie as “the most graphic, dramatic portrayal of what
our Lord Jesus Christ went through than anything I have ever seen.” Meanwhile,
Hier criticized the film for what he called a “negative portrayal”
of Jews. “They never have an intelligent thing to say in a two-hour film,”
he said, warning the film will stir anti-Semitic feelings. In turn, Chapman
stressed that Jesus died for all persons and himself was a Jew. “People
who love Christ love the Jewish nation,” he said. Chapman also stressed
the Jews alone are not to blame for the death of Jesus. “Christ died for
all our sins,” he said. “We are all responsible for putting Christ
on the cross. … And so the Jewish people didnt put him to death, the
Romans didnt put him to death. We all put him to death.” The film
is set to open Feb. 25.
Bush on prayer
Americans are a “prayerful people” who have petitioned God many times
in the last year, President George Bush said at the National Prayer Breakfast
earlier this month. Bush suggested Americans have prayed for their troops, their
leaders, the families of soldiers wounded or killed and the people of Iraq and
Afghanistan. They also have offered prayers of gratitude to God, he said. “We
recognize our dependence on God and pray with one voice for his blessings on
our country, …” Bush said. “We recognize the limits of all earthly
power. God serves his own purposes and does not owe us an explanation.”
For the transcript of Bushs speech, visit www.whitehouse.gov.
Super Bowl lawsuit
Terri Carlin of Knoxville, Tenn., has filed a class-action lawsuit against
Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, MTV, CBS and Viacom, seeking compensation
for herself and millions of viewers who were “injured” by the lewd
behavior of the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII. Carlin filed suit in federal
court. She claims: “All of the defendants knew that the Super Bowl, the
preeminent sports event in the United States, would be watched by millions of
families and children. Nevertheless, defendants included in the halftime show
sexually-explicit acts solely designed to garner publicity and, ultimately,
to increase profits for themselves.”
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments are back on display in Alabamas judicial headquarters,
but a key figure in the state reportedly is not happy about it. On Feb. 5, workers
installed a display containing a manuscript of the Commandments, as well as
other historical law documents in the rotunda of the states Judicial Building.
The display is located near where the states now-deposed chief justice,
Roy Moore, had installed a different display of the Decalogue. That display
was a 5,280-pound granite monument that was at the center of the rotunda and
was removed by federal courts last summer. The new exhibit is located away from
the center of the rotunda and features the Commandments alongside seven other
historical legal documents. Federal courts have said such displays are constitutionally
permissible. Moore reportedly is dissatisfied with the arrangement. “First,
they hid the Word of God in a closet, and now, they tried to hide it among other
historical documents,” he said. “Neither is an acknowledgment of God.”
An editorial in the Huntsville (Ala.) Times said Moores own words betray
his true motives. “Did you need any more evidence that Moores goal
throughout all this has been to promote his particular brand of religion?”
it asked. Moore has appealed his dismissal from office and has filed suit to
regain his position.
Tax guide
The Southern Baptist Annuity Boards annual Ministers Tax Guide for 2003
Returns is now available in print and online at www.absbc.org. Free printed
copies are available by calling (800) 262-0511. The guide is designed to supplement
Internal Revenue Service materials and focuses on tax issues most likely to
affect active and retired Southern Baptist ministers. It provides a thorough
guide for preparing ministers tax returns, including sample tax returns.
A tax highlights section also gives a review of tax changes during 2003. The
guide includes a special section about important federal requirements for churches
as well. It also details how churches can structure ministers pay to help
them keep more of their income.
Marriage amendments
Two prominent pro-family groups have endorsed different constitutional marriage
amendments, highlighting a split among family leaders on the issue. The Family
Research Council endorsed the Federal Marriage Amendment, while Concerned Women
for America endorsed the Institution of Marriage Amendment. Both amendments
ban same-sex “marriage,” but the Institution of Marriage Amendment
goes a step further by banning civil unions and other marriage-type contracts.
While pro-family groups generally are united in opposition to civil unions and
such, some leaders say a strongly-worded amendment like the Institution of Marriage
Amendment will be impossible to pass. The Federal Marriage Amendment reads:
“Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man
and a woman. Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any state, nor
state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the
legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.”
The Institution of Marriage Amendment reads: “Marriage in the United States
shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither the United States
nor any State shall recognize or grant to any unmarried person the legal rights
or status of a spouse.” The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty
Commission supports the Federal Marriage Amendment.
Same-sex milestone
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft recently signed a defense of marriage act, making his state
the 38th in the nation with an explicit ban on same-sex “marriage.”
Tafts signature means three-fourths of the states now have passed defense
of marriage acts – a significant milestone in the battle for a marriage
amendment to the U.S. Constitution. An amendment would require ratification
by three-fourths of the states – after passing Congress on a two-thirds
vote. In signing the Ohio law, Taft said it is needed in light a Massachusetts
ruling that same-sex couples there could not be denied marriage licenses. “As
a result, Ohio could have same-sex couples who were married in Massachusetts
taking legal action in Ohio to recognize that marriage and to obtain the resulting
benefits,” he said. “Four judges in another state should not, and
cannot, hold the power to redefine marriage in Ohio. The Ohio law bans the recognition
of same-sex “marriage” as well as the recognition of same-sex civil
unions and domestic partnerships. The law prevents same-sex couples from receiving
marriage benefits as defined in state law.