Baptist Briefs: BJC leader blasts religious bigotry.

Brent Walker talks to reporters at a press conference at “The Gathering of Faith Leaders of Major Religions” Oct. 23 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. (Facebook photo)

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The head of a Baptist organization dedicated to upholding religious liberty for all Americans joined Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in a pledge signed Oct. 23 in Washington denouncing all forms of religious bigotry. Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, added his signature to a pledge to “uphold and defend the freedom of conscience and religion of all individuals by rejecting and speaking out, without reservation, against bigotry, discrimination, harassment and violence based on religion or belief.” Shoulder to Shoulder, a coalition of 31 religious denominations and organizations committed to ending anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States, sponsored the initiative.

Mission news pioneer Stanley dies. bob stanley130Bob StanleyBaptist missionary journalist Bob Stanley, 86, died Oct. 21 in Fort Smith, Ark., after an extended illness. Born in Denton, Stanley was a veteran news reporter—editor for the Dallas Times Herald and journalism professor at North Texas State University—when he became a Southern Baptist missionary to the Philippines in 1966. In the decades that followed, he used his experience and insight to train a generation of mission communicators. As director of news and information for the Foreign Mission Board from 1977 until his retirement in 1994, Stanley greatly expanded the agency’s scope of reporting and mission storytelling. He built and trained a staff of Richmond-based writers, and, working with colleague Robert O’Brien, created a network of missionary correspondents based around the world. Stanley is survived by his wife, Nora, two children and two grandchildren. 

Religious liberty agency sponsors essay contest. The Religious Liberty Council of the Baptist Joint Committee has announced the topic for its annual essay contest for high school juniors and seniors: “What happens when elected or appointed officials have religious objections to job duties?” Essays not only should examine the conflicts that arise when the personal religious beliefs of elected or government-appointed officials clash with their job duties, but also should propose a solution that addresses the rights of all parties. The contest offers a grand prize of $2,000 and a trip for two to Washington, D.C. Second prize is $1,000, and third prize is $250. Essays should be between 800 and 1,200 words. Entries must be postmarked by March 4, 2016. Essays will be judged on the depth of their content, mastery of the topic and the skill with which they are written. Students should develop a point of view on the issue and demonstrate critical thinking, using appropriate examples, arguments and other evidence to support their position. Winners will be announced by next summer, and the grand prizewinner will be recognized at the Baptist Joint Committee board meeting next October. For complete contest rules, call (202) 544-4226, email [email protected] or click here

Tennessee Baptists to relocate offices. The Tennessee Baptist Convention will move its offices from Brentwood to a 600-acre mixed-use development adjacent to Interstate 65 in south Franklin in 2017. The convention’s executive board signed closing documents Oct. 26 for 2.3 acres in the Berry Farms business development just north of State Route 840. The Nashville Tennessean reported the purchase price as about $1.15 million. Construction of the 32,000-square-foot building, less than half the size of the 88,000-square-foot building constructed in Brentwood in 1969, is scheduled to begin in March and be completed in a year. About 60 Tennessee Baptist Convention executive board employees have been working out of temporary space at LifePoint Health’s Hospital Support Center in Brentwood since the state convention’s 48-year home at Maryland Way and Franklin Road in Brentwood was sold in 2013 for about $8.75 million. Tennessee Baptist Executive Director Randy Davis expects construction of the new property to be completed debt free.


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