
The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-04/23/1997

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Golden Gate trustees alter decision to end music school
by Cameron Crabtree
Date: April 23, 1997 - Wednesday

MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)--Trustees of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary have altered their April 8 decision to close the seminary's Dixon School of Church Music and opted instead to restructure the music school to make it a "financially viable" part of the seminary program.

The new action was prompted by the voluntary resignations of church music faculty members Craig and Beth Singleton in hopes of keeping the school of church music open. Both the Singletons, whose resignations from active employment at the seminary are effective July 31, did not wish to make a public statement about their actions.

"Such a turn of events has obvious impact on the long-term financial concerns of the music school and warranted reconsideration of the matter by our board," said seminary President William O. "Bill" Crews. "We want to honor the steps initiated by our faculty as they seek the best interest of the seminary and the benefit of the churches."

Trustees approved the new action by telephone poll over the April 18 weekend. "Their agreement was unanimous and a substitute motion was also unanimously adopted directing the president to restructure the church music program of the seminary in a way to make it financially viable," Crews said.

At their spring meeting April 8, trustees had declared a "financial emergency" in the school of church music and directed Crews to begin the process for closing the music school by July 31.

A financial analysis presented to trustees showed rising costs combined with falling revenue from years of declining enrollment led to the music program operating with deficits ranging from $35,820 in 1994-95 to $70,959 expected this fiscal year, without including overhead costs. With overhead costs, those deficits ranged from $181,036 in 1994-95 to $187,468 expected this fiscal year. The analysis also projected deficits in the music school annually through the 2001-02 fiscal year, even with budgets trimmed and enrollment increased slightly.

Seminary music faculty and about a dozen music students had urged trustees at their meeting on the Mill Valley, Calif., campus to delay the decision for further study or to turn down the action entirely.

Currently, 25 students are enrolled in the seminary's two church music degree programs. Since 1985, 60 degrees in church music programs have been granted by Golden Gate, according to seminary records.

"This new decision allows the music school to proceed with curricular and program changes that have been in the making prior to the decision to close the music school," said Gary McCoy, director of the music school.

"There's been significant work related to revenue development and in recruitment this past year that has the promise of showing dividends for the future," McCoy noted. The music school has more active student inquiries than any other time in recent history, he said. Also, "We are seeking to be as creative as we can in course scheduling and FTE production related to the teaching loads of faculty."

FTEs, or full-time equivalents, are the basic unit upon which funding from the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program to the six SBC seminaries is allocated. The 25 students currently enrolled in the music program are generating 17 FTEs.

"It was never the desire of anyone connected with Golden Gate Seminary that the church music program be stopped," Crews said. "Rather, it was the desire of all persons involved in this decision that the music program be both helpful to the churches and financially viable. We believe the future of shaping effective leaders for music and worship in the churches will be enhanced by these actions."

In addition to the Singletons and McCoy, the school of music employs one other trustee-elected faculty member, Max Lyall, professor of church music, elected 1974. Several adjunct faculty also are used to teach music courses. Patsy Yang, an adjunct instructor, also serves as the school's office administrator.

Crews said McCoy will work with these and others to develop "new ways in which men and women can be prepared for ministry in local churches, primarily of the West."

"The music school's advisory council -- made up of local ministers of music and convention-wide music leaders -- has been active in helping us search out new possibilities in program and curricular matters as well as in recruitment and promotion of the music school," McCoy added. "This group can play an important part during the restructuring phase in the music school."

Terry York, associate pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, chairs the advisory group.

"I deeply regret the personal hurt and misunderstandings that these measures have brought about," York said. "But even working through the pain of these difficult days ... we have to personally hold onto the hope that Golden Gate will continue to be a viable and vibrant force for training ministers of the gospel, whether they be musicians, pastors or education ministers. If the advisory council can play some part in that, that's good and I want to be a part of it."

McCoy also praised the activities of music school students throughout the process: "Our students during this time have shown leadership and competence in relating to the demands being placed upon them at a time of extreme difficulty. They have really proven themselves as capable and dedicated in their calling, to the school and to their studies."

Citing confidentiality in personnel matters, seminary officials said they did not want to announce details of the severance package being provided to assist the Singletons with their transition from the seminary.

"The Singletons will be greatly missed for the quality of their of their service, their expertise and their friendship," McCoy said.

Craig Singleton, former director of the music school, has taught at Golden Gate 17 years. His wife, Beth, was elected to the faculty in 1984, after serving as instructor in church music since 1980. In addition to their seminary duties, the Singletons are co-ministers of music at Tiburon (Calif.) Baptist Church.

Craig Singleton earned a bachelor of arts degree with majors in religion and music from Samford. He also holds master of church music and doctor of musical arts degrees from Southern Seminary and the master of music education degree from Holy Names College, Oakland, Calif.

He has served the National Association of Schools of Music as chairman of the ethics committee. In addition, he has served as vice president of the education division of the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference.

Beth Singleton holds a bachelor of music degree from Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., and a master of church music degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. She has done additional study at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.

"We are grateful to Craig and Beth Singleton for their deep devotion and tireless efforts in laying the groundwork for the future of the Dixon School of Church Music at Golden Gate Seminary," Crews said. "We wish them the very best of God's blessings in the future as he leads them to ministries where their talents will continue to bless others and bring glory to God."
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Israeli embassies feel pressure against anti-evangelism proposal
by Staff
Date: April 23, 1997 - Wednesday

TEL AVIV, Israel (BP)--Israeli embassies in several countries are feeling pressure over a proposed law that could severely limit freedom of religion in Israel.

Bill S757-1996 proposes to set a one-year jail term for printing, copying, distributing or sharing tracts, or advertising "things in which there is an inducement for religious conversion."

"In Finland ... we have just heard of 7,000 signatures to a letter of protest, and of a planned interview with the Israeli ambassador there," said Baruch Maoz, a Messianic Jewish pastor helping rally forces against the bill.

The governments of Norway and Denmark also have questioned the bill, Maoz said. "The Israeli ambassador to Norway has written home to say that this proposed law could wreak intolerable damage on Israel's relations with friends in Norway," he said.

The bill was introduced as a "private member's bill" after it failed to win support from the government committee that represents the ruling coalition in the Israeli legislature, said Baruch Binah, minister-counselor for public and inter-religious affairs at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

Binah said he understands from those knowledgeable about the bill that without endorsement from leaders in the ruling coalition, the proposal has only a remote chance of success.

Maoz, on the other hand, dismisses the statements from Israel's Foreign Ministry. Embassies are simply "seeking to orchestrate a response that will lull protesters into believing that their concern has been addressed and appropriately resolved," he said.

The coalition committee rejected the bill twice, probably "on its merits," Binah said. "I'm pretty sure they simply looked at it and decided it's a bill that shouldn't pass. While we don't welcome proselytizing, it's not illegal."

Although Jews in Israel generally resist evangelism -- and are even personally offended by it at times -- Israel has laws that protect free speech, Binah said. To validate such a law as the one proposed, legislators would have to change laws already on the books, he added.

The proposal, passed in the first of four readings, now is under consideration by a legal committee that -- among other things -- checks proposed bills to conform with existing laws.

But Maoz and other evangelicals fear this could be one of the dozen or so "private member's bills" -- from thousands introduced -- that do pass each year.

Maoz said the government's own press office has reported 78 of 120 Knesset members have said they support the bill. He also charged that some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's own staff, including the finance minister, have publicly backed the bill.

Without diplomatic pressure from outside of Israel, Netanyahu might be unwilling to take a stance against the law since he depends on the Jewish Orthodox minority that backs the law to preserve his governing coalition.

Messianic Jews fear the bill could curtail evangelism and might be used to ban even the Bible, severely restricting growth of some 60 Messianic Jewish congregations across Israel.

Recent incidents already show effects of the proposed law, Maoz said. For example, a believer in Eilat recently received a ticket for distributing religious literature "as if this were an illegal activity," Maoz charged. "A judge issued an illegal search warrant, allowing the police to enter the home of a believer and confiscate religious literature.

"Her grounds: 'Suspicion of a change of religion,' a crime nowhere mentioned in Israeli statute books," Maoz said.
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For those interested in opposing the law via the Internet, the Knesset web site listing e-mail addresses of Knesset members is http://www.knesset.gov.il/knesset/mk/14/mkindex_eng.htm. The Israeli Embassy e-mail address is ask@israelemb.org. Others may contact the Israeli Embassy at (202) 364-5500 or 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008.


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NASA retiree to lead emphasis on laypeople
by Jennifer Davis
Date: April 23, 1997 - Wednesday

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (BP)--A retired NASA senior manager now is delving into a new frontier of evangelism.

Max Croft, who has spent the last 10 years as a manager of communications and director of information systems for NASA in Huntsville, Ala., began April 1 as an associate in Alabama Baptists' evangelism department to lead a statewide emphasis on involving laypeople in evangelism.

A member of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, since 1961, Croft plans to share from his own experience as an active layperson.

"The goal is to equip laypeople with the ability to intentionally present the gospel to every person in the state of Alabama," Croft said, noting he will work directly with associational directors of missions and directors of evangelism and also will be available for local church conferences.

"I believe that is why I'm here -- as a layperson working to equip laypeople."

Croft said he was fortunate to have a job in which he usually could complete his weekly duties within 40 hours. "I made a concerted effort to get my job done," he said, "so I could do the things I wanted to do through the church."

Between serving as deacon chairman and Sunday school director and working as a Bible teacher at camps and a volunteer for mission trips, Croft worked to keep balance between his church and his job. "The church itself had a priority equal to my job," he said, noting God and family had top priority.

Even with his consistent church involvement, Croft said the 10 years he spent managing people who were designing and implementing communication networks for NASA was a key time of living out his Christian witness.

Living by example made an impression, he said. "Wherever you are, if you are living the life that shows that you believe in some moral standards and that you won't tolerate compromising those in your own life, that is an example to people," he said.

People notice a Christian witness and in times of need will come to those who exemplify it -- and that's when opportunities arise to share the Christian faith, he said.

Encouraging Alabama Baptists to be willing and able to give their witness whenever and wherever the opportunity arises motivates Croft in his new role.

The workplace is the best place of ministry because people spend most of their time there, he said, adding home and social groups also provide opportunities.

Lifestyle evangelism is sometimes a neglected concept among Baptists, Croft noted.

"The church needs to do a better job of equipping its members for everyday life and helping them understand that the workplace is a place of ministry," he said, adding that was something he realized at the end of his career. "I thought for a long time that I had a job where I could schedule time off in order to go to the church to minister, but found out later that my best place of ministry was right where I was."

Pastors can help church members understand how to be a "minister" by treating them like the ministers they are, Croft said. Pastors should accept laypeople as ministers and expect a lot out of them, he added.

"People want to be involved in the church, especially the younger people who are almost demanding it," he said.

Other ways pastors can equip laypeople for lifestyle evangelism are teaching them how to share their faith, giving them assignments and working alongside them.

While encouraging people to consider their workplace as a mission field, Croft also will promote volunteering for mission trips abroad. "Missions has always been a part of my life," he said. "Christians should share what they have."

Balancing his time between local church activities and foreign missions, Croft supports missions through praying, giving and going. A frequent volunteer for mission trips, Croft has participated in personal witnessing, preaching crusades and construction work. He has traveled to various states as well as to Columbia, Nigeria, South Korea, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh. "We need to be going a lot more than just sending," he said.

And going also means right inside one's local community, Croft said, citing apartments and mobile home parks.

"We are going to have to go to these areas right around the church," he said. "People are not comfortable because they don't know our rituals nor our language."

Croft, who worked with declining black congregations in the Madison Baptist Association for five years, said he believes reaching people also means planting new churches. "When there are people who don't have access to a church or won't go to the one that is there, then we need to plant a church in order to evangelize," he said, noting that church planting historically has been one of the primary avenues Baptists have used for evangelism.

Church planting, missions and evangelism are one and the same, said Croft, who recently received a master's degree in missiology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky. Croft also holds a doctorate degree in industrial engineering and management from Oklahoma State University, a master's degree from Georgia Tech and a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama. He also has taught engineering classes at the University of Louisville and The University of Alabama.

Croft said his engineering and management background prepared him for the next step. "I've really never felt called to full-time church vocational ministry, such as being a pastor," he said.

"I've been satisfied and fulfilled in my ministry as a layperson, but now I can do something different at a different level and a greater intensity."

Ministering at the state level is a unique opportunity, Croft said. "I never really wanted to retire," he said. "I just wanted to do something different, especially related to the mission of the church."

Now, Croft and his wife, Mary Ella, can be involved in partnership ministry full time. Describing Mary Ella as "a very devoted Christian believing in doing what God calls you to do," Croft noted his wife has always been supportive of his ministries.

Leaning much on his wife's thoughts and perceptions, Croft said he would not be where he is today without her.

Together, they plan to promote the idea that all Christians are called to the ministry. "The bottom line of any work related to God's mission is evangelism," Croft said.
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