NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) met its Cooperative Program (CP) budgeted goal of $188 million, but ended its fiscal year 1.92 percent below last year’s contributions, SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page has announced. “The federal government may be facing a shutdown this week,” Page said, “but Southern Baptist missions and ministries are open for business.” The SBC received $188,001,275.70 in CP gifts during the fiscal year Oct. 1, 2012-Sept. 30, … [Read more...]
Oct. is Cooperative Program Month
BY STAFF JEFFERSON CITY – October is Cooperative Program (CP) Month, and here are eight simple ways to help your church members learn more about the eternal impact of CP. Visit mobaptist.org/cp to download the online resources or to place an order. All materials are free. Show a CP video. Choose from nearly a dozen videos, including “From you to eternity” and the “Because you give” series, all produced by Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) videographer Sean McMackins. Show how CP works. … [Read more...]
San Antonio ordinance may affect conventions
SAN ANTONIO (BP) – A new San Antonio nondiscrimination ordinance likely will prevent the Southern Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention from holding annual meetings in the city’s convention facilities, according to an attorney who represents both conventions, referencing the law’s requirement that contracting parties not discriminate on sexual orientation or gender identity. James Guenther, general counsel for the SBC and SBTC, told the Southern Baptist TEXAN, … [Read more...]
Iowa Convention looking for executive director
The Executive Director Search Committee of the Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI) has begun seeking candidates to fill the position of executive director/treasurer, which was left vacant by the retirement of Jimmy Barrentine in September of 2011. During this time the BCI has been led by Interim Director Thomas L. Law, III as the convention has undergone restructuring. The Baptist Convention of Iowa began as an association of 25 churches in 1965. The state work grew to a Fellowship status in … [Read more...]
Exec. Committee addresses Scouts, Great Commission
NASHVILLE (BP) – Less than three weeks after the Boy Scouts voted to permit openly homosexual youth as members, a messenger to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) moved that an alternative organization be sought. The motion during the June 11-12 SBC annual meeting called for a special task force to explore “any available youth programs as well the possibility of offering a substitute program for those desiring to find an avenue for their boys to learn leadership skills and moral … [Read more...]
GuideStone going to court over contraceptive mandate in controversial Obamacare
NASHVILLE (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources has renewed its vow to fight the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive/abortifacient mandate, now looking to court action alongside efforts in Congress and before federal agencies. The need to fight arises from the Obama Administration’s requirement that all employers who provide health benefits also must cover contraceptives. The mandate covers all FDA-approved contraceptives, including those that cause early abortions. “Our plans have strict … [Read more...]
Trustees: GuideStone expands participants
SAN FRANCISCO (BP) — O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources, reported on the continued growth in the number of the entity’s expanded ministry participants at a meeting of the trustees in San Francisco. Trustees also were updated on GuideStone’s long-range plan and on health care reform efforts. Expanded ministry participants, Hawkins said, help provide stability and strength to GuideStone’s insurance program. “Each year, we see value from our efforts to reach out and … [Read more...]
GuideStone prepares for re-enrollment season
DALLAS – As employers nationwide – including most churches – prepare for 2014, the year that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act becomes more fully applicable, questions are understandably arising from pastors, business administrators and church personnel and finance committees. GuideStone Financial Resources continues in its role as an advocate for church plans in general and for pastors and others in ministry it serves specifically. “Since the enactment of ObamaCare in 2010, … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists seeing like a camera
JACKSON, Tenn. (BP) – “OK, I know it’s here somewhere. I know I took it! I pulled the car over, rolled down the window, and CLICK! The beautiful field, mountains in the background and that fabulous elk standing right there in front of me!” Undaunted, you begin going through your pictures again, and then on the third time through, you find it. But somehow, the elk seems so much smaller. In fact, he’s a tiny little thing, hardly even noticeable in the picture. It’s just not how you remember … [Read more...]
Success without love for God is failure
FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS) – Great academic and ministerial success without a burning, genuine love for the Lord will ultimately result in failure, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president Paige Patterson told a bumper crop of new and returning students, Aug. 22. Patterson’s remarks came during Southwestern’s convocation chapel service on the first day of fall classes. “If you came to seminary and you learned everything that every professor knows until you could recite it in your … [Read more...]
SBC President Fred Luter on marriage: ‘We cannot compromise Scripture’
INDEPENDENCE – With the recent Supreme Court rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8 in California, now more than ever, Southern Baptists must be united under Christ and in accordance with His Scripture, Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Fred Luter said during a June 28 question-and-answer session with members of Mount Washington Baptist Church here. “If there was ever a time for the body of Christ to come together it is now,” said the pastor of Franklin … [Read more...]
A cooperative ministry resurgence?
JASON Allen/MBTS president On eight occasions Southern Baptists have convened their annual meeting in Houston, with none of these gatherings more consequential than 1979’s Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). In that year messengers elected Adrian Rogers president, demonstrated the Pressler-Patterson coalition was a force with which to be reckoned, and birthed what would come to be known as the Conservative Resurgence. Though no Houston convention is likely ever to rival 1979 in … [Read more...]