March 24, 2003
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| MISSIONARY Taylor Field stands in front of the new home for Graffiti Baptist Center under construction in Manhattan. Field and the New York ministry are featured in this year's Easter missions emphasis by the North American Mission Board. (Gibbs Frazeur/NAMB Photo) |
___ Tennessee church hires lesbian. A Nashville, Tenn., church faces possible ouster from its local association because members hired a lesbian minister. A Jan. 26 article in The Tennessean, Nashville's daily newspaper, reported that Glendale Baptist Church in Green Hills called April Baker, a professed lesbian, as associate pastor for children and families last May. According to the article, Glendale hired Baker out of a field of candidates of which all were women and two were lesbians. But the church denied Baker's hiring was an attempt to make a statement. Nashville Baptist Association has taken exception to the hiring. The association's executive board voted Feb. 17 to recommend withdrawing fellowship from the congregation if Glendale fails to reverse its action by September.
___ Midwestern to move funds. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees voted unanimously March 10 to remove about $877,000 from the Missouri Baptist Foundation and invest them instead through the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma. Officials said the move was made because the Missouri Baptist Foundation last year amended its charter to create a self-perpetuating board, removing control from the Missouri Baptist Convention. The Oklahoma foundation has "a vital and acceptable relationship with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. This makes the partnership workable for Midwestern and satisfies our bylaws," said seminary President Phil Roberts.
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