October 28, 2002
___ Annuity Board expanding insurance options. In 2003, the Annuity Board will provide Southern Baptist ministers and denominational employees a lower-cost option for comprehensive medical insurance, new provider networks and well-baby-care. With the addition of the new option, the Annuity Board will offer four comprehensive medical plan levels--in addition to the HMO plans available in certain areas. The new plan will cost about 45 percent less than the level one plan and have a higher deductible, higher copay amounts and higher out-of-pocket maximums.
___ Training offered for children's workers. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary now offers a training program for laypeople serving in leadership positions in weekday, preschool and children's ministry programs in the local church. The program responds to a shortage of seminary-trained children's ministers in Baptist churches, said Marcia McQuitty, associate professor of childhood education. The certificate courses will be held on weekends once a month. Sixteen certificate courses will be offered over a two-year period. At the completion of 12 courses, participants receive a certificate in weekday/childhood education. For more information, contact McQuitty at (817) 923-1921 ext. 3870.
___ Book on missionaries and BF&M published. "Stand With Christ: Why Missionaries Can't Sign the Baptist Faith & Message 2000" is now available from Smyth & Helwys publishers. The book, edited by Robert O'Brien, includes chapters written by a number of current and former Texas Baptists, including Russell Dilday, Keith Parks, James Dunn, Charles Wade, David Currie, Bruce Prescott and Earl Martin.
___ Missouri agencies ask for dismissal. Attorneys for five embattled Missouri Baptist agencies will argue for dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the Missouri Baptist Convention in a hearing set for 9 a.m. Nov. 19 in Cole County Circuit Court. Convention leaders filed a petition in August against The Baptist Home, Missouri Baptist Foundation, Missouri Baptist University, Windermere Baptist Conference Center and Word & Way. The convention seeks to force the five agencies to rescind new charters that allow the institutions to elect their own trustees rather than allowing the convention to elect board members. On Oct. 21, Circuit Court Judge Thomas Brown denied a motion filed by convention attorneys to establish a schedule for the case because the motions for dismissal are pending. The agencies argue the convention cannot legally challenge the institutions because the convention is not a member or director of those agencies under current Missouri law. The judge is unlikely to rule on the motions to dismiss Nov. 19 but could set a schedule for the remainder of the case at that time.
___ Harlan steps down as music dean. Benjamin Harlan has stepped down as dean of the music school at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Executive Vice President and Provost Craig Blaising told trustees Harlan resigned as dean in order to pursue other ministry goals but will remain a faculty member. Before returning to the classroom, however, Harlan will take a sabbatical leave.
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