Baptist Briefs
___ Mohler sees threat in librarians. In an article published in the January issue of Jerry Falwell's National Liberty Journal, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler identifies professional librarians as purveyors of "radical" ideology. "Most Americans are unaware of the radicalism of the nation's professional librarians," he writes, citing a survey of librarians that found 91 percent had read the book "The Joy of Sex," 82 percent believed Anita Hill told the truth in the Clarence Thomas hearings and "only 6 percent believe AIDS is a punishment from God."
___ Pastors hope to recoup lost funds. Urging Southern Baptists to "take care of their own," a group of Arizona pastors has formed a coalition to raise more than $400 million, the probable loss by investors in the bankruptcy of the Baptist Foundation of Arizona. Larry Deskins, pastor of Gateway Fellowship Church in Gilbert, Ariz., is a founder of "Restoring Our Integrity." Deskins' plan calls for Arizona Southern Baptist congregations to pledge 1 percent of their operating budgets to form an entity to administer the payouts. He said any money collected in Arizona exceeding administrative costs, and 100 percent of money collected outside the state, will be used to repay investors and cover the Baptist Foundation's apparent $400 million shortfall.
___ NAMB names Texans. Two couples with Texas ties recently were appointed to missionary service by the Southern Baptist Convention's North
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BENNETTS
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MCQUITTYS
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American Mission Board. Michael and Vicki McQuitty will continue their ministry in central New York, where they have been Mission Service Corps volunteers in student ministry. McQuitty is a former staff member of North Richland Hills Baptist Church in Fort Worth, University Baptist Church in Fort Worth and The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson. Both he and she are Fort Worth natives. Clifford and Virginia Bennett will serve as church planters in Centreville, Va. A Victoria native, he has been a church planter intern, schoolteacher, minister of music and chaplain in the Air Force Reserves.
___ NAMB launches magazine for teens. The Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board has launched a new bimonthly magazine for youth called "Go!" The first issue will be sent free to youth leaders and others. For subscription information, call (770) 410-6250.
___ Southwestern begins on-line journal. "Equipping U," the journal of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's school of educational ministries, is now available on the seminary's website at www.swbts.edu/equippingu/index.htm. The electronic publication is designed to provide practical help for people in the field of educational ministries and will feature articles from faculty, practitioners and students.
___ White House spokesman apologizes. White House spokesman Joe Lockhart has apologized for his comments linking the Southern Baptist Convention to organizations that "perpetuate ancient religious hatred." That's not enough for some critics of Lockhart, including Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, who called on President Clinton to demand Lockhart make a stronger public apology. Lockhart later reiterated his apology.
___ Pastor killed in fall. A former Texan serving as pastor of First Baptist Church of Lenoir City, Tenn., was killed on New Year's Eve when he lost his balance, tumbled off a rocky, 200-foot cliff and fell into Fort Loudon Lake. Doug Alexander, 49, was camping with his three sons when the accident occurred. A native Texan, he was a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Seminary.
___ Former Texan shot in Miami. Keith Blakley, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Miami, was fatally shot at his home in Kendall, Fla., Dec. 26 by John Erik Carter, 19, a former high school friend of Blakley's daughter, Angela, 19. The Blakley family befriended Carter about three years ago, and Keith Blakley and his wife had attempted to counsel with him, according to the Miami Herald. Carter reportedly showed up at the pastor's home Dec. 26, attempted to shoot Angela Blakley, wounded Keith Blakley's parents, Frances and Billie Blakley, and then fatally shot the pastor. Carter allegedly shot and killed another former friend at a different location the same day before killing himself. Blakley was a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and Southwestern Seminary.
___ Emeritus missionary Bruce dies. Shirley Plumlee Bruce, emeritus Southern Baptist missionary to Central America, died Dec. 25. She was 55. She grew up in Fort Worth, then served as a missionary journeyman to Ghana, West Africa, from 1966 to 1968. She and her husband, Joe, were appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board as missionaries to Central America in 1971. They retired in 1998. Mrs. Bruce was a graduate of Howard Payne University and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is survived by her husband; three daughters, Garon Renee Wennik, Shannon Lisette Worth and Joanna Marie Bruce, all of Fort Worth; and two grandchildren.
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