
The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-04/22/2009

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Churches find 'green' ways to cut utilities, save money
by Michael Foust
Date: April 22, 2009 - Wednesday

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP)--Some call it "going green," but churches big and small are discovering that examining utilities usage also can translate into significant savings.

More than a year ago, First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark., which has about 6,000 attendees on Sunday mornings, began a partnership with the company Energy Education to cut into its electric, gas and water bills -- a significant endeavor because the church was spending roughly $1 million annually on its utility bills for its two campuses in Springdale and Rogers and its private school, Shiloh Christian.

In the ensuing year, the church didn't do anything dramatic but simply tried to take common-sense approaches to saving energy: switching off lights when not in use, turning off computers when leaving for the day and paying close attention to thermostat settings, particularly Monday through Saturday. The church examined every point of energy consumption.

The result? The church estimates it saved $268,000 during the first year of its initiative, which ended in February. The figure is a "cost avoidance" calculation that uses, among other things, degree days.

The money saved is money that can be spent elsewhere, such as on missions.

"I think biblically, you're called to be good stewards of what God blesses you with, and I think that's the underlying reason why you do it," Ben Mayes, the church's executive leader of finance, told Baptist Press. "This has helped us focus on being good stewards. It's a great program, and so far we've enjoyed it."

The thermostat setting during Sunday morning worships services remained unchanged, although the thermostat during the rest of the week was tweaked a bit, and significantly so at nights when no one is there. But everyone has remained comfortable, Mayes said.

"We tell our &#91;staff&#93;: Hey, act like you're at home," he said. "That's the easy way of reminding them to turn their lights off.... When you go home at night, turn off your computer, turn off your printers. It's doing what you do at home. You don't go out and leave things on. If you're going for an hour-long lunch meeting, then turn your lights off when you leave."

There were few up-front costs. The church didn't install new air conditioning and heating units or light motion sensors. The church also didn't overhaul the entire lighting system with more energy-efficient florescent lights. Instead, it's doing it little by little. Energy Education recommended that instead of changing all the lighting at once, the church replace each light with a florescent light as the old one burns out.

James Maxwell, the church's energy manager who is in charge of the day-to-day monitoring of the church's energy consumption, said leaving a computer on for an entire month costs $10 in electricity -- which can quickly add up in a facility that has dozens of computers. He attends four Energy Education conferences each year to learn about new ideas to save money.

"You can do it at home," he said. "There's a lot of people who have noticed what we do here, and took it and went home with it."

But even though First Baptist Springdale is what some would consider a mega-church, Mayes and Maxwell said a church of any size can do what they have done and save money.

Roger S. (Sing) Oldham, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Martin, Tenn., who currently serves as the vice president for convention relations with the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, said his former church implemented some common-sense approaches to cutting its utilities when he arrived there in 1986. The congregation, which had about 1,000 resident members at the time, took three steps: 1) closed off various parts of the building and restricted usage in those sections to Wednesdays and Sundays; 2) installed programmable thermostats, in part to stagger the times the air conditioning and heating units would turn on, to cut down on what is known as electrical demand; and 3) replaced single-pane windows with energy-efficient windows.

Oldham's church took other practical steps. They put together a "master calendar" of what church groups were using what part of the building and when, to determine if energy was being wasted. They also had deacons walk through the building after Sunday School to make sure the lights had been turned off and the thermostat settings had not been moved.

"Through the combination of the zoning, the programmable thermostats and the more efficient windows, we saw a significant reduction in our utility costs," Oldham said. "... Any church can do this."
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Michael Foust is an assistant editor of Baptist Press.


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Panel OKs Sebelius despite Tiller donations
by Tom Strode
Date: April 22, 2009 - Wednesday

WASHINGTON (BP)--A U.S. Senate committee approved April 21 the nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services in spite of her underreporting of campaign contributions from the country's most notorious abortion doctor.

The Finance Committee voted 15-8 to forward Sebelius' nomination to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. Two Republicans, Sens. Pat Roberts of Kansas and Olympia Snowe of Maine, joined all 13 of the panel's Democrats in support of Sebelius.

The Senate is expected to confirm Sebelius despite the efforts of leading pro-life advocates. National organizations that have opposed Sebelius' nomination include the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), National Right to Life Committee, Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America, American Family Association and Americans United for Life.

Most pro-life leaders opposed President Obama's nomination of Sebelius upon his announcement March 2, citing concerns about her potential impact as secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on abortion and other life issues, as well as on the conscience rights of health-care workers.

Some Republican senators appeared to join the opposition to the Democratic governor's nomination when it was revealed that Sebelius had significantly understated the political donations she had received from late-term abortion doctor George Tiller. 

After Sebelius originally reported $12,450 in contributions from Tiller and others affiliated with the doctor, it was disclosed that total donations actually were $39,600, according to The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal. Almost two-thirds went to her political action committee, the newspaper reported. After the disclosure, Sebelius told the Finance Committee it was "an inadvertent omission," according to the report.

Two pro-life organizations, Family Research Council and Operation Rescue, later reported they had obtained a letter from Tiller showing he had contributed an additional $200,000 to a political action committee seeking defeat of Sebelius' pro-life opponent in her first race for governor in 2002. She also hosted a reception at the governor's mansion that included Tiller and his staff.

After her nomination, Sebelius acknowledged mistakes on past income tax returns and paid nearly $8,000 in taxes and penalties.

ERLC President Richard Land said in response to the committee's vote, "It's disappointing the president would choose someone for Health and Human Services who has been a recipient of such large donations from Dr. Tiller, perhaps the most infamous abortionist in the country, and a nominee who would hold a reception at the governor's mansion that included him."

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R.-Utah, a Finance Committee member, said he re-examined his support for Sebelius after learning of "her inexplicable omission" of contributions from Tiller.

"My service in Congress has always been based on the conviction that life is sacred," Hatch said in a written statement after the panel's vote. "My strong beliefs in the sanctity of life simply made it impossible for me to support &#91;her&#93; nomination."

Sen. Jon Kyl, R.-Ariz., explained to the committee his vote against Sebelius was based on her refusal to support patient rights. She failed to give him any assurance HHS would not use "comparative effectiveness research" (CER) to deny coverage. Critics of CER say it will lead to health-care decisions based on cost effectiveness instead of clinical effectiveness, thereby leading to the withholding of health care for some patients.

Tiller's Wichita clinic, Women's Health Care Services, is a major reason Kansas has been described as "the late-term abortion capital of America." It advertises on its website that it has "more experience in late abortion services over 24 weeks than anyone else currently practicing in the Western Hemisphere, Europe and Australia." Women travel to his clinic from throughout the United States and various foreign countries in order to have late-term abortions.

Tiller was acquitted in March of 19 misdemeanor counts stemming from a charge of failing to obtain another independent doctor's opinion before performing a late-term abortion.

Americans United for Life, a leading pro-life legal organization, said after Sebelius' nomination she is "unfit to serve" as secretary of HHS because:

-- She vetoed in both 2003 and 2005 legislation that would have regulated abortion clinics, thereby providing safety and health protections for women.

-- She vetoed in 2008 a bill that would have bolstered Kansas' parental notification law.

-- She vetoed during the last three years measures that would have: mandated clear medical reasons be provided for late-term abortions; required doctors to explain the basis for post-viability abortions; and strengthened the prosecution of violators of current bans on late-term abortions.

As a state representative from 1987-95, Sebelius "voted to weaken or eliminate even such modest abortion-related measures as parental notification, reflection periods and informed consent," according to AUL.

In both 2007 and 2008, Sebelius, a Roman Catholic, was urged by her archbishop, Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., not to present herself for communion because of her support for abortion rights.
--30--
Tom Strode is Baptist Press Washington bureau chief.


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Ind. weighs rules for abortion doctors
by Staff
Date: April 22, 2009 - Wednesday

INDIANAPOLIS (BP)--The Indiana House of Representatives has passed a bill to require doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges.

The House voted 73-20 for the bill April 15. The legislation also would mandate that a doctor inform a woman that her unborn child may feel pain during an abortion, according to The Indianapolis Star.

The measure will return to the Senate, which previously passed it on a 44-6 vote but will need to act on the new version containing House-approved amendments, according to LifeNews.com.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana said only one of the seven doctors in the state who perform abortions has admitting privileges, The Star reported.

Supporters of the bill said it was needed in order to protect women who have problems after abortions.

"This bill is about patient safety," said Rep. Matthew Bell, R.-Avila. "I think it's the right statement to make when we care about the quality of care received by the patients."
--30--
Compiled by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode.


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Okla. targets sex-selection abortions
by Staff
Date: April 22, 2009 - Wednesday

OKLAHOMA CITY (BP)--The Oklahoma state Senate has approved legislation to ban sex-selection abortions and require women seeking abortions to fill out a questionnaire.

Senators voted 34-10 for the bill April 15. The measure will go to a conference committee of members of both houses. The House of Representatives has passed a different version of the legislation.

The questionnaire component of the bill seeks to collect accurate information about abortions performed in the state, including the reasons women are seeking the procedure, said Sen. Todd Lamb, R.-Edmond, majority floor leader and the measure’s sponsor, according to The Daily Oklahoman.
--30--
Compiled by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode.


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TRUSTEES: Southern Seminary combines two schools, creates Church Ministries School
by Jeff Robinson
Date: April 22, 2009 - Wednesday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's trustees have approved the creation of a new school combining the School of Church Music and Worship with the School of Leadership and Church Ministry to better meet the changing needs of local congregations.

The new School of Church Ministries, approved by trustees April 21, aims to better equip church staff members who fill such positions as music minister or youth pastor and increasingly are carrying additional roles in local congregations, SBTS President R. Albert Mohler Jr.

"The creation of the new School of Church Ministries allows us to combine in one school the best way of serving the churches of our denomination by training and educating those persons who will serve in a variety of ministry fields other than that of pastor," Mohler said.

"For the first time we will have a unified curriculum and we will be able to combine the resources of faculty and the entire institution in order to make certain that we are training real people for real ministry in real churches. The reality is that the vast majority of those who will lead music in our churches have other responsibilities as well."

A task force of faculty members and deans from Southern's four schools, trustees and school of church music and worship alumni conducted research in local churches and discovered that associate-level ministers increasingly are wearing several ministerial hats, said Russell D. Moore, senior vice president for academic administration and dean of the seminary's School of Theology.

Thus, the new school will train its students in a variety of disciplines from music and worship to family ministry and leadership.

"We spent much time talking with pastors and ministers of music to find that music ministers are, in the vast majority of cases, doing everything from discipleship to evangelism leadership to Christian education to family ministry," Moore said.

"This new school will provide a pioneering curriculum, training ministers to serve in multiple roles at once. It will also create a new faculty synergy, combining their strengths to train multi-competent ministers who are leaders in family ministry, worship ministry, men's ministry, women's ministry, youth ministry, children's ministry, Christian education and discipleship."

The task force, after completing its research, recommended combining the two schools, Moore said.

Instead of four schools, Southern will now have three: the School of Theology, the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism and the new School of Church Ministries.

Faculty members from both the School of Church Music and Worship and the School of Leadership and Church Ministry will serve within the School of Church Ministries, which will launch this fall.

Randy Stinson will be the dean of the new school while Greg Brewton will serve as coordinator over music and worship. Stinson is dean of the School of Leadership and Church Ministry, while Brewton is coordinator of the church music department of Boyce College, the seminary's undergraduate school.

"We want to bring faculty and educational resources together in one school to be able to train those who will serve in these fields in a situation that is more like the local church," Mohler said.

"We are very proud of the history of both the School of Church Music and Worship and the School of Leadership and Church Ministry. Both have served well, both have distinguished histories and both bring a great deal to this new school. The reality is that we are experiencing vast changes in the landscape of higher education and these reflect similar changes in the lives of our churches.

"We are absolutely determined that Southern Seminary be on the front lines of innovation and making certain that we are best serving the needs of our churches," Mohler said. "Our determination is to do no less. This new School of Church Ministries puts Southern Seminary in the best position to serve the needs of all of our churches with a theological education marked by deep conviction, unquestioned excellence and an unwavering focus on the local church."

Ron Turner, who serves as Carolyn King Ragan Professor of Church Music, agreed that the change will enhance Southern's ability to serve churches in the Southern Baptist Convention.

"For the 70 percent of SBC churches that want 'cross-trained' staff ministers, we will now have a greater variety of combination programs of majors and minors for training multi-capable ministers," Turner said.

"For the first time, we will now even have church music minor programs, which is a distinct gain. And for those students called into a more specialized music ministry and for the churches who need them, we retain the Master of Church Music degree program and our doctoral music programs. All in all, it appears ultimately to be a win-win situation."
--30--
Jeff Robinson is director of news and information for Southern Baptist Tbheological Seminary.


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Top bookstore mngr. looks to 'impact lives'
by Russ Rankin
Date: April 22, 2009 - Wednesday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Texas native William McGregor returned home in 2006 to assume leadership of the Hurst (Texas) LifeWay Christian Store. Three years later, the retail chain has honored McGregor by naming him the 2008 Store Manager of the Year.

LifeWay Christian Stores, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, annually selects a recipient for the Store Manager of the Year award based on criteria including financial performance, customer service feedback, leadership and operational efficiency.

McGregor joined the LifeWay Christian Stores management team in 2004 already with a decade of experience in Christian retail. His leadership was immediately put to the test at his first LifeWay store on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In the days following Hurricane Katrina, McGregor remained at the store and was open for business when the seminary reopened following extensive repairs.

The next year, McGregor moved to serve as manager of the newly opened LifeWay Store in Texarkana, Texas, before moving again to Hurst.

"Being from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, this was like coming home," he said.

McGregor said his approach to serving the community is complemented by his background as a pastor.

"The reason we exist is to provide ministry solutions that impact lives," he said. "But the day-to-day ministry opportunities -- touching the lives of the people who come in our store -- cannot be overlooked. As a store manager, I've done immensely more ministry in the bookstore than I ever did as a pastor."

David Pigg, western region director for LifeWay Christian Stores, said McGregor has strong leadership skills and an "incredible drive for excellence with the desire that God receive glory in everything he does."

"This drive filters down to his staff and together they provide strong customer service," Pigg said. "He is proactive in his management, anticipating needs and addressing problems in order to provide the best experience possible for each customer."

McGregor said a major part of the Hurst store's success can be attributed to the high standards of service and ministry by which the staff operates.

"This &#91;Dallas-Fort Worth&#93; market demands excellence in customer service and sales initiative," he said. "But more than anything, we are successful because we know our products change lives and we stand behind not only the product but also the people who come in the stores. We know that our ministry continues when they leave."

McGregor said receiving the Store Manager of the Year award is "confirmation of a job well done. It's gratifying to know my peers and my leadership are pleased with my performance, but more than that, knowing that the Lord is pleased."
--30--
Russ Rankin writes for LifeWay Christian Resources.


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Should we rename Sunday School?
by David Francis
Date: April 22, 2009 - Wednesday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--I responded recently to a blog entry question that went something like this: "Our Sunday School needs to be revitalized, so we're thinking about changing the name. What do you think?" Here is the essence of my response:

1. What you call it isn't my top priority. As the program leader for Sunday School in our denomination, it really matters more to me that churches operate their Bible study ministries using good Sunday School principles than that they call the ministry "Sunday School." As long as the ministry is built on a foundational strategy of ongoing, open, organized, evangelistic Bible study groups, it is functionally equivalent to Sunday School -- whatever you call it. By the way, even if you rename it, it can be counted as "Sunday School" on the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Church Profile (ACP).

2. Two deficiencies of the term "Sunday School." I often joke that there are only two things wrong with the name "Sunday School:" 1) It's not just on Sunday, and 2) It's not a school. When executed with excellence, Sunday School is really a 24/7/365 network of care, communication and outreach that assembles once a week for Bible study. But that Bible study session is not all there is to Sunday School. Certainly the teaching of God's Word is the foundation of Sunday School, but the weekly group meeting is the occasion for witnessing the fruit of the previous week's work and launching the work for the following week. So, if you have a better name that captures that dynamic, go for it.  

3. "Sunday School" enjoys huge brand positioning. The above notwithstanding, the term "Sunday School" enjoys tremendous brand recognition -- and brand loyalty. The weekend Bible study ministry in my church has not officially been called "Sunday School" for more than a decade, but what do people call their small group leaders? Sunday School teachers. 

Here's a test: Do you often use the term "Sunday School" to explain whatever it is you call your Bible study ministry? I tried for more than 13 years to change the name of the sanctuary to "worship center" in a church where I served. I changed the signs, labeled locations "WC" in the bulletin, etc. Want to guess what people call it today? That's right -- the sanctuary.

4. Sunday morning does not make it "Sunday School." The reverse is true, as well: A weeknight small group can be functionally equivalent to Sunday School. These are curious days in church practice. Some churches are confusing the occasion of Sunday School -- typically right before or right after the primary weekend worship service -- with the ministry of Sunday School. They use that time predominantly for closed groups that are primarily for believers. In essence, these churches are doing what Southern Baptists have typically called "discipleship training" during the Sunday School occasion. 

There's nothing wrong with having a strategy to mature believers and equip them for ministry. My point is simply that churches need to understand the difference between when and what, when planning their disciple-making strategy and their Sunday School time.

5. Are small groups functionally equivalent to Sunday School or discipleship training? Churches that operate small groups often ask this question -- well, at least once a year when they prepare to submit the Annual Church Profile. In fact, many don't report small group participation at all, simply because they don't use the traditional labels "Sunday School" and "discipleship training." But most small groups are functionally equivalent to one or the other. If the groups are closed and primarily for believers, participation can be reported as "discipleship training." If the groups are ongoing foundational Bible studies open to believers and nonbelievers, they are functionally equivalent to Sunday School and can be reported as such.
--30--
David Francis is director of Sunday School at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.



