October 21, 2002
___ Falwell meant "no disrespect." Preacher/TV evangelist Jerry Falwell has apologized to "law-abiding" Muslims for recent comments he made regarding the founder of the Islamic religion. In an interview on the CBS news show "60 Minutes," Falwell said: "I think Mohammed was a terrorist." The Reuters news agency reported Falwell said he is sorry for the hurt feelings caused by his comments. "I sincerely apologize that certain statements of mine made during an interview ... were hurtful to the feelings of many Muslims," he said in a prepared statement. "I intended no disrespect to any sincere, law-abiding Muslim."
___ Louisiana considers SBC requirement. The Louisiana Baptist Convention will consider changing its constitution to define a "cooperating" church as one that supports both the state and Southern Baptist conventions through the Cooperative Program budget. Churches now qualify for messengers at the state convention if they cooperate "monetarily," meaning designated gifts also count. Other proposed changes to the constitution include adding the Baptist Faith & Message to its bylaws. A statement proposed for addition to the constitution would pledge the state convention to conduct all its work "in accord with the principle that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible word of God."
___ Missouri restricts access. The president of the Missouri Baptist Convention has directed that cards for registering messengers to the convention annual meeting not be sent to six churches that have dropped affiliation with the SBC. Last year, the Missouri convention unseated messengers from Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo., for the same reason, saying the state convention's constitution requires cooperating churches also align with the SBC. MBC President Bob Curtis said he made the decision so any messengers from the churches wouldn't be embarrassed.
___ Summer teachers needed in China. China Bound 2003, a ministry to support Christian believers in China, is seeking volunteers to teach conversational English July 1-Aug. 3, 2003, and college students to participate in a cultural exchange with Chinese university students July 16-Aug. 6. Participants will "have a chance to develop relationships that can result in sharing (their) faith," reported Ann and David Wilson, volunteer project assistants for the program, operated by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. For information, call (989) 835-1536 or e-mail cen29529@centurytel.net.
___ Do history at church. "A How-to Kit for Your Church's History," produced by the Baptist History and Heritage Society, will be released Dec. 1. The key item in the kit is a 120-page manual of suggestions for creating and maintaining a program of history in a local church. Kits are $24.95 before Nov. 30 and $27.95 thereafter. To order, call (800) 966-2278, e-mail cdeweese@tnbaptist.org or write Baptist History and Heritage Society, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, Tenn. 37024-0728.
___ Bryant returns to Criswell. James Bryant, the founding academic dean at Criswell College in Dallas from 1971 to 1973, has returned as vice president for academic affairs. Bryant also has been president of Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta, professor of religion at the University of Mobile, minister of evangelism and church organization at First Baptist Church in Dallas, pastor of Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth, and pastor of churches in New Mexico and Arkansas.
___ Gardner-Webb president resigns. Chris White has resigned as president of Gardner-Webb University, effective Oct. 25.
___White had been under fire for telling the North Carolina Baptist school's registrar to recalculate a star basketball player's grade point average. Some faculty members, trustees, alumni and students had called for White's resignation. The school's faculty gave White a 63-39 vote of no confidence the day his action was revealed in a local newspaper. The school's board of trustees, meanwhile, publicly affirmed his leadership while reportedly reprimanding him in private.
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
|