
The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-11/12/2009

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N.Y., N.J., groups race to pass 'gay marriage' by year's end
by Michael Foust
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

ALBANY, N.Y. (BP)--Having faced stinging losses on Election Day, supporters of "gay marriage" in New York and New Jersey are looking to regain momentum and are racing to legalize such relationships by year's end.

The clock is ticking.

In New York, Democratic Gov. David Paterson is pressuring the Democratic-controlled Senate to send him a bill by year's end, before the calendar hits 2010 and legislators become less prone to pass a controversial bill in an election year.

In New Jersey -- which just held an election -- supporters of "gay marriage" are rushing to send outgoing Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine a bill before he leaves office Jan. 19. Corzine says he would sign such a bill, while governor-elect Chris Christie, a Republican, has promised to veto it.

A win for homosexual activists in either state -- particularly New York -- would be huge. Thus far, "gay marriage" legalization has been limited to relatively small states: Four of the five states where it is recognized are ranked 29th or lower in population. The largest, Massachusetts, ranks 14th. New Jersey ranks 11th and New York -- America's media capital -- ranks third. Unlike some other states, New Jersey and New York don't allow citizen-driven initiatives, so if a law is passed, it likely will stand.

Yet the political winds are blowing against "gay marriage" backers. Maine, a liberal state known for its libertarianism, passed a law banning "gay marriage" on Election Day, while New Jersey, another left-leaning state, elected Christie, a conservative. Additionally, New York's 23rd congressional district saw liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava drop out of the three-way race due to a lack of support. She backs "gay marriage." The Democratic candidate apparently edged the Conservative Party candidate in that race, although because of the closeness of the vote the election has not been certified. 

Paterson called New York's legislature into a special session Tuesday (Nov. 10) to address not only "gay marriage" but also the state's deficit. The Senate, though, adjourned without debating the marriage bill, which passed the Assembly in May. Another special session is scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday. Democratic leaders and Paterson did reach an agreement, though, whereby the Senate will give the bill a vote by year's end. 

As it stands now, bill supporters are several votes short.

"We have to be ready every day the Senate is in session to think that this could be the day it could receive a vote," Jason J. McGuire, executive director of the Christian conservative group New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, told Baptist Press. McGuire's group opposes the bill and has been urging citizens to call their senators.

McGuire said the election results have made an impact on the bill's prospects. The National Organization for Marriage -- the same group that helped defeat "gay marriage" in California and Maine -- released a poll Nov. 3 of voters in New York's 23rd district showing that half of the Conservative Party candidate's voters said Scozzafava's support for "gay marriage" was one reason they didn't back her.

"Maine, a state that's blue and really quite liberal, even there the people vetoed the legislation and said, 'No, marriage is between a man and a woman.' That was significant," McGuire said, adding he believes New York is more conservative than Maine. "But perhaps even more significant was the way that &#91;traditional&#93; marriage advocates came out in support in New York 23 for the Conservative Party candidate. It demonstrated that they will back a candidate of principle and not necessarily party. So now we have Democrats in conservative districts and Republicans that may have been considering themselves to be moderate that have said, 'I can't vote for this. There's too much on the line in 2010.'"

Homosexual groups like Empire State Pride Agenda believe they are entitled a vote on the bill because they helped Democrats win back the majority in the Senate in 2006. They also want a vote even if the bill loses, simply to put senators on record. Democrats hold a 32-30 edge there, but not all Democrats are on board. At least five Democrats publicly have stated their opposition, with one of them -- Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a Pentecostal minister -- leading the opposition.

"The people of the nation don't want gay marriage," Díaz told The New York Times. "They didn't want it in California; they didn't want it in Maine. And the people of upstate New York, after what happened to the candidate in the 23rd Congressional District, they sent a message they don't want gay marriage. Forget about it. People don't want it."

The bill is believed to have at least 25 or 26 votes. With Democratic defections, some Republican voters are needed. But McGuire said GOP senators are worried that what happened to Scozzafava could happen to them. 

"There are a number of senators that are in conservative-leaning districts that would be committing political suicide if they were to vote for this legislation," McGuire said. "... There are a lot of senators here who are saying they don't want to come under the 'Dede effect.'"

The National Organization for Marriage says it will build a $500,000 "war chest" to fund primary challengers to any GOP senator who votes for the bill.

The New Jersey bill is being pushed by Garden State Equality, which has launched TV ads and is asking its constituents to spend three minutes each day calling legislators on the issue. Democrats control the Assembly by a 47-33 margin and the Senate by a 23-17 edge. A bill has yet to pass either chamber. 

Steven Goldstein, the chairman of Garden State Equality, gathered supporters the night after the election and told them, "We have about two and a half months to win marriage equality. It's not over," the Montclair News reported. Goldstein is pushing for a lame duck session to send Corzine the bill. New Jersey already recognizes civil unions, which grant same-sex couples all the legal benefits of marriage minus the name.

By contrast, Len Deo, president of the Christian conservative New Jersey Family Policy Council, is telling citizens to contact their state senators and oppose the bill. He is targeting eight specific senators who are leaning toward supporting the bill or are undecided. (The list is available at http://bit.ly/mLLF4.) 

"I think in the Assembly it may not be as close as we would hope," Deo told Baptist Press. "I think it's going to be very close in the Senate."

The National Organization for Marriage says it will work with like-minded groups and legislators in New Jersey and New York. Maggie Gallagher, president of the organization, told Baptist Press "gay marriage" likely has a better chance for passage in New Jersey than in New York.

"In New Jersey it's a very serious problem," Gallagher said. "It's a serious problem in spite of the fact that the people of New Jersey just defeated a pro-gay marriage governor. So we're going to be working hard to see if we can persuade the legislators in New Jersey that they shouldn't be imposing gay marriage against the will of the people."
--30--
Michael Foust is assistant editor of Baptist Press. For more information about the National Organization for Marriage (www.nationformarriage.org), New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (www.nycf.info) or the New Jersey Family Policy Council (www.njfpc.org), visit their websites.


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ERLC, 100-plus groups oppose United Nations 'defamation of religions' resolution
by Tom Strode
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

WASHINGTON (BP)--The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has joined more than 100 other organizations in a statement opposing "defamation of religions" resolutions being promoted in the United Nations.

The "defamation of religions" movement, which is led in the United Nations by the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, urges the condemnation of messages that defame religions and can lead to violence. Such a measure approved by a U.N. body earlier this year cited only Islam as a specific target and urged countries to protect "against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general."

The new statement endorsed by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and others says the "defamation of religions" concept is "incompatible with the fundamental freedoms of individuals to freely exercise and peacefully exercise their thoughts, ideas and beliefs." Such resolutions, the statement says, "punish the peaceful criticism of ideas" and do not protect the rights of individuals as affirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the U.N.'s founding documents.

"Defamation of religions" resolutions undergird laws in some countries that prohibit blasphemy and are used to oppress religious or political beliefs that are out of favor with the government, according to the statement. The document makes no direct reference to Islam, though some Muslim-dominated states enforce anti-blasphemy laws.

"It is vitally important for governments to combat violence motivated by bias and hatred and to encourage respectful speech and civil dialogue, while at the same time affirming that freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience and religion are integral to the health of free societies and the dignity of the human person," says the statement, which was officially released Nov. 10.

In addition to the ERLC, the 103 signers include the American Center for Law and Justice, Baptist World Alliance, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Congress, American Islamic Congress, American Islamic Forum for Democracy, Open Doors, ChinaAid, Concerned Women for America, Advocates International, The Rutherford Institute, Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute and the American Humanist Association. 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her disapproval of the "defamation of religions" movement Oct. 26, saying, "&#91;S&#93;ome claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies that would restrict freedom of expression and the freedom of religion. I strongly disagree."

The American experience shows "the best antidote to intolerance is not the defamation of religion's approach of banning and punishing offensive speech but, rather, a combination of robust legal protections against discrimination and hate crimes, proactive government outreach to minority religious groups and the vigorous defense of both freedom of religion and expression," Clinton said.

The U.N. General Assembly is expected to consider a "defamation of religions" resolution in December, CNSNews.com reported. 

The U.N. Human Rights Council adopted in March a "defamation of religions" resolution with a plurality, not a majority, of its 47 members in support. The non-binding resolution named Islam alone as an object of defamation.

The new document, "A Common Statement From Civil Society on the Concept of the 'Defamation of Religions,'" may be accessed online at www.whatisdefamationofreligion.com.
--30--
Tom Strode is the Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press.


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TRUSTEES: <br> IMB budget shortfall could affect 600 positions
by Mark Kelly
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

SHREVEPORT, La. (BP)--In a day of unprecedented global missions opportunity and great harvest, Southern Baptists will be forced to draw down their overseas missions force in 2010 by as many as 600 missionaries, International Mission Board trustees were told Nov. 10.

The trustees, meeting in Shreveport, La., adopted a $317.6 million budget for 2010 and learned that $7.5 million will be needed from contingency reserves to balance the budget. That unprecedented step leaves the organization with only six weeks of available reserves in case of major unexpected expenses. The funds will be needed in 2010 because projected revenue for the year is lower than projected expenses. The 2008 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering came in $9 million short of the previous year's receipts and $29 million short of its goal of $170 million.

Because of that shortfall, IMB was forced to suspend two short-term missionary programs, send fewer long-term workers and significantly reduce all aspects of its operating expenses. One of those short-term programs, the Masters Program, is being reinstated in a format that asks new personnel to provide part of their own support package. IMB will provide support in areas such as transportation, training and housing. The Masters Program offers those age 50 and older the opportunity to serve two to three years overseas.

The drawdown in the missionary force during 2010 will be accomplished through natural attrition, completion of service, retirements and limiting appointments, not by recalling any personnel, the trustees were told.

Because economic realities are forcing IMB to retrench its efforts, the organization must deliberately plan to have fewer missionaries -- with implications for a lost world that should distress Southern Baptist church members, said Gordon Fort, IMB vice president of global strategy.

"When doors are swinging open all over the world, when our work force is finding great harvest in some of the most difficult places in the world, we are drawing our force down from 5,600 to 5,000. It just shouldn't be," Fort told trustees. When Southern Baptists collected $11.1 billion in offering plates in 2008, according to the denomination's Annual Church Profile, and 2.77 percent "finally arrives to support the vision of reaching a lost world, and when &#91;Southern Baptists&#93; are structuring ourselves in a way that guarantees we will fail in our mission, it just shouldn't be." (See Editor's Note below.)

The IMB's 2010 budget anticipates $100 million in Cooperative Program funding (a decrease of $7.6 million from 2009) and calls for $175 million in Lottie Moon Christmas Offering receipts, said David Steverson, IMB chief financial officer. The operating portion of the 2010 budget is $23.2 million less than 2009, and the total budget represents a decrease of $2.2 million. The plan includes $29 million for capital needs that will not be spent unless the Lottie Moon offering surpasses its $146 million operating budget goal. 

The overseas portion of the new budget accounts for 85.3 percent of the total, while the portion for stateside administration and promotion amounts to 14.7 percent. As part of the belt tightening, benefits have been reduced for both missionaries and staff.

A statistical snapshot of work conducted in 2008 by IMB missionaries and their Baptist partners shows God continues to work in dramatic ways to push back spiritual darkness and advance His Kingdom, said Scott Holste, associate vice president for global strategy.

Among the report's highlights:

-- Church-planting strategies were implemented among 1,159 people groups, 886 of which are unreached. Of the 93 people groups newly engaged in 2008, 77 were unreached. Of the 208 urban centers in which church-planting strategies were implemented in 2008, 164 are unreached.

-- The number of churches worldwide increased globally to 204,192 -- more than twice the 95,383 reported in 2004. Church membership grew more than 390,000 to 10.7 million -- an increase of about 3.4 million since 2004. Although baptisms were down worldwide by 59,956 and the number of new churches was down 2,230, the numbers still represented one person being baptized about every minute and a new church every 22 minutes.

-- While the number of individuals enrolled in residential leadership training increased by 2,607 to a total of 24,453 -- an 11.9 percent annual growth rate -- the number of partner home missionaries decreased by 186 (6.5 percent) and the number of partner international missionaries dropped by 128 (6.1 percent). Those declines reflect the same pressure of economically forced strategic retreat IMB is experiencing, Holste said.

Without exception, however, the Gospel is eagerly received when taken to people who have never heard it, Fort said.

Mark Sauter, who along with his wife Vesta, leads work with deaf peoples worldwide for IMB, told trustees about sharing the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ with a man whose culture believes that death imprisons a person in a dark cell for eternity. For the deaf, being in darkness would mean being forever unable to use sign language to communicate with others, Sauter said.

After the man heard Sauter's witness about how he could spend eternity in a place of heavenly light, in the presence of a God who loves him -- instead of being eternally imprisoned in darkness -- the man said, "You know, that's the best news anyone has ever told me. I don't know why you Americans call it 'Good News.' You should call it 'Best News.'"

Sauter's story reflects the essence of what Southern Baptist international missions is about, Fort told trustees. Drawing back from the mission, he said, imperils not just organizational advance but the eternal destiny of human souls.

"Those who live in great darkness are seeing the Light," Fort said. "But you know, the best news that we have is Good News, but Good News is only good when it's received in time."

The next trustee meeting will be Jan. 18-19 in Richmond, Va. The next missionary appointment service will be held in conjunction with a March 2010 trustee meeting in Memphis, Tenn.
--30--
Mark Kelly, an assistant editor with Baptist Press, wrote this story for the International Mission Board. EDITOR'S NOTE: Southern Baptists' total tithes, offerings and special gifts of $11.1 billion included such items as Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong, world hunger and state missions offerings. Total undesignated receipts amounted to $9,013,807,646. Of that amount, churches retained 94 percent and contributed $548,205,099 through the Cooperative Program, of which $204,385,593 was forwarded by the states to support national causes. The CP Allocation Budget apportions 50 percent to the IMB, 22.79 to the North American Mission Board, 22.16 to theological education, 3.40 percent to facilitating ministries and 1.65 percent to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. The IMB also received $141 million through the 2008 Lottie Moon offering.

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Fla. messengers approve GC task force
by Barbara Denman & Joni B. Hannigan
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

PENSACOLA, Fla. (BP)--While persevering through the rain and winds of Tropical Storm Ida which cut short the Monday night session, the Florida Baptist State Convention approved overwhelmingly a motion authorizing its president to appoint an "Imagine If ... Great Commission Task Force" to study how Florida Baptists "can work more effectively and more efficiently together in following Christ in fulfilling the Great Commission."

"Imagine If" was the theme of the FBSC's 146th annual meeting Nov. 9-10 at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, which drew 895 registered messengers from 419 churches and 226 visitors. A crowd of least 1,200 -- including guests from the surrounding community -- attended the Tuesday closing session featuring contemporary recording artists New Song, Rush of Fools and BlueTree and the testimony of former missionary Carrie McDonnall. 

The Great Commission task force motion was approved with only a handful of votes in opposition after messengers rejected an amendment that would have empowered the Committee on Nominations to appoint the group rather than the president. The vote on the amendment was not close enough for a ballot vote.

After the nearly 40-minute debate on the amendment and motion, the sponsors of the competing proposals -- David Uth of Orlando and Rodney Baker of Lake City -- joined with President John Cross for a time of prayer to show their unity in the desired outcome that Florida Baptists would be more effective in the Great Commission.

Uth, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando, presented the motion. Baker, pastor of Hopeful Baptist Church in Lake City, attempted to amend Uth's motion. At the end of the business session, both men stood on the platform with their arms across Cross' shoulders and Baker prayed for the men and the convention and that there would not be a day that passes that "we didn't tell someone about Jesus."

Earlier in the day, Cross, pastor of the South Biscayne Church in North Port, was re-elected without opposition for a second term as president. Also re-elected without opposition were Wayne Briant, pastor of Southside Baptist in Sarasota, first vice president; Gail Adams, layperson from First Baptist Church in Terra Ceia, second vice president; and Randy Huckabee, pastor of First Baptist Church in Okeechobee, recording secretary.

Convention officials said the threat of the hurricane likely dampened attendance as well as forced the cancellation of keynote speaker Ed Young Jr. A reception to honor long-term pastors serving the state also was cancelled and several program adjustments were made throughout the two-day meeting. The Monday night session was cut short to allow volunteers and messengers to travel before area bridges were closed due to high winds.

The storm came ashore in the early hours of the morning.

And despite Tuesday's blustery weather, hundreds of youth attended the heavily publicized concert and McDonnall's testimony.

The former IMB missionary along with her husband David and others went to Iraq to further humanitarian efforts in the war-torn country in 2003. Journeymen who had served previously, they had returned in spite of the dangers. "We were all five excited about what had taken place," she said. "We wanted to return there and invest our lives in theirs."

McDonnall, her husband, and three other international missionaries were ambushed by men with automatic weapons on a street in Mosul in northern Iraq in March 2004.

McDonnall and her husband were transported to a medical unit for emergency treatment, where the young woman underwent 10 hours of surgery before being transported back to the United States. When she awakened eight days later, she learned that her husband had died.

McDonnall spent about a month in the hospital and has since gone through numerous surgeries and extensive occupational and physical therapy. "It's a medical miracle that I'm here tonight," said the woman who is reminded of her experience every time she looks at her left hand, where she lost three fingers.

People ask her, she said, why she and her husband went into such a dangerous place for their mission work.

"The Lord clearly called us" to Iraq, she said. "We did not take the decision lightly."

She challenged those in attendance, "God is calling us to live our lives in a much different way." Saying that some believers are still "sitting with grave clothes on," she emphasized that "God's love compels us to go into the darkness of the world."

Following a call to commitment by FBSC President Cross, a number of spiritual decisions were made, including 12 professions of faith, seven rededications and 35 decisions to vocational ministry or mission service. 

In convention business, messengers adopted a Cooperative Program budget for 2010 of $35,443,008, with 53.75 percent designated for Florida Baptist State Convention causes; 40 percent to Southern Baptist Convention causes; 2.75 percent for church planting assistance; and 3.50 percent to the church annuity program. Percentage distributions between Florida Baptist and SBC missions and ministries remain the same as the prior year.

The 2010 budgets represents less than a 1 percent increase over the 2009 actual budget of $35,150,000, which twice was trimmed and revised by the state board of missions from the $39.2 million budget approved at last year's annual meeting.

In other business, messengers approved state board of missions bylaw revisions to permit the board's administrative/personnel committee to act as an executive committee should the need arise.

In resolutions of appreciation, two retiring staff members were honored: Gary N. Nichols of the leadership and life development department, for 26 years of service, and William F. Montgomery of the convention's stewardship department, who served 11 years.

Prior to the convention meeting, Pensacola Bay Baptists sponsored Crossover 2010, offering sports outreach clinics, block parties, food distribution and a Hispanic festival that drew nearly 5,500 participants. The Gospel was presented nearly 1,400 times with 160 professions of faith.

Next year's FBSC annual meeting will be Nov. 8-9 in Tampa.
--30--
Barbara Denman is director of communications for the Florida Baptist Convention (www.flbaptist.org); Joni B. Hannigan is managing editor of Florida Baptist Witness (www.goFBW.com).


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Ind. Baptists refuel for the journey
by Staff
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (BP)--Indiana Baptists celebrated the theme "Fuel for the Journey," based on Acts 1:8, during their 51st annual meeting at the Radisson Star Plaza Hotel in Merrillville Oct. 26-27. 

A total of 230 messengers and 130 guests representing 92 churches were challenged to participate in simultaneous "Crossing Indiana" rallies statewide March 1 as part of the North American Mission Board's "Find It Here" evangelism campaign.

Kevin Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., and president of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference, led the theme interpretations for the three sessions.

"There is always fuel available and abundant. The problem is not in the fuel, but in the vessel the fuel occupies," Ezell said. "Indiana may not have the number of churches as other states or the same budget as other states, but the last time I checked, we have the same fuel." 

In another theme interpretation, referencing the conversion of the Apostle Paul, Ezell reminded messengers how the Holy Spirit works. "God can change anyone, blend anyone into His family, and use anyone," he said.

Alan Scott, president of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana, challenged messengers from Revelation 2:1-7, reminding that Jesus is walking among them and watching what they do. Jesus also is mindful of their motives, wanting them to return to their first love.

Mac Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., preached from Mark 5, citing some barriers believers must overcome in reaching hurting people for Jesus. They must move past positions, traditions and interpretations, Brunson said, and leave behind a fickle faith that succumbs to distortions, distractions and dissension. 

"We must submit to the overcomer, Jesus, who overcomes death, doubt and any deficiency," Brunson told Indiana Baptists.

Steve Davidson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Sellersburg, delivered the convention sermon, based on Luke 10:1-3.

"It's not much of a journey if you stay put," Davidson said, adding that Jesus sent His disciples out as sheep among wolves. "We will not become a Great Commission state until we are totally dependent on the Shepherd."

Stephen Davis, executive director of the Indiana convention, urged messengers to evangelize rather than fossilize, referring to Ezekiel 37. While some Indiana churches may be declining or plateaued, Davis pointed to some bright spots in the state convention.

Indiana Baptists, Davis noted, have a missions partnership with the Florida Baptist Convention and assistance from the Mississippi Baptist Convention as well as a statewide church planting emphasis called "Indy Needs to Know," which has an 85 percent success rate. He also said a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources in the Minister of Education Project has seen some churches double and one church quadruple in Sunday School attendance. 

Davis reminded messengers that only 20 percent of Indiana residents are in any Christian church on any given Sunday, and he challenged churches to prayerwalk every street and road in the state with a goal of sharing the Gospel with every household as part of Find It Here. 

"We must pray for every household and against every stronghold," Davis said.

During the business portion of the annual meeting, messengers approved a 2010 budget of $4.8 million, a 2.8 percent increase over the current year. Of the $3,020,740 in anticipated Cooperative Program receipts from Indiana churches, 36.5 percent will be forwarded for Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries, marking a 1 percent-of-budget increase over 2009. Indiana Baptists have a goal of increasing CP giving by 1 percent of their budget each year until a 50/50 split is reached.

All officers were re-elected: president, Alan Scott, pastor of Oakhill Baptist Church in Evansville; first vice president, Scott Hobbs, pastor of First Baptist Church in Griffith; second vice president, Bobby Pell, pastor of Northwoods Baptist Church in Evansville; and recording secretary, Jayne Nichols, a member of Halteman Village Baptist Church in Muncie.

Messengers adopted a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the state's Woman's Missionary Union, organized first at Washington Avenue Baptist Church in Evansville.

The resolution said missions education provided by WMU has been the starting point for recognizing the needs of the state and the world, and the faithful service of Baptist women through WMU has greatly empowered all Indiana Baptists to fulfill the Acts 1:8 challenge.

"By their labor of love and dedication this historic milestone has been reached and we lift their work up to the Lord," the resolution said. "By their continued efforts long-lasting results have been achieved that will reap an eternal harvest of souls; and in that spirit, we commend the many dedicated WMU leaders and members, asking that God would continue to glorify His name and build His Kingdom by blessing the WMU membership with wisdom and strength in their mission endeavors."

Before the annual meeting, the Indiana WMU gathered at Eastlake Baptist to celebrate the 50th anniversary Oct. 25-26. They heard from Kaye Miller, national WMU president, who encouraged the women to look for ways to reach out to others and share the love of Christ. 

Teenagers from Eastlake Baptist and Barrington Ridge Baptist Church in Hobart connected history to the future as they led the celebration's worship, as well as modeling vintage dresses representing Indiana WMU's history. Mary Fullhart was elected Indiana WMU president, and Cynthia Ray was re-elected recording secretary.

"As Indiana WMU looks to the future, it is evident that never before has there been a greater need for missions education and involvement in the church," Allison Kinion, state WMU director for Indiana, said in her report. 

"Indiana WMU strives to challenge men, women, boys and girls to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God. Since its beginning in 1888, WMU has been true to its basic purpose: missions," Kinion said. "If the church is going to reach the world with the Good News of Christ's love, teaching and training people to go is vitally important. Who will be the next missionaries to go? Will it be you, your children, or your grandchildren?"

Indiana has 369 churches and 46 missions with nearly 88,000 members.

Next year's annual meeting will be Oct. 25-26 at Parkside Baptist Church in Columbus.
--30--
Based on information provided by the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana staff. 


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Ky. Baptists form GC task force
by Todd Deaton
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (BP)--Messengers approved the formation of a Great Commission Task Force during the Kentucky Baptist Convention's annual meeting.

Meeting at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown Nov. 10, the 840 registered messengers also elected a Bowling Green evangelist as president; adopted a $23.5 million budget; considered a bylaw change to reduce the size of the KBC mission board; and adopted a constitutional amendment that further defines what constitutes a "cooperating church."

During the mission board's report, KBC President John Mark Toby presented a recommendation calling for the creation of a Great Commission Task Force to study "how Kentucky Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission." Coming on the heels of the formation of a Great Commission Resurgence Task Force by the Southern Baptist Convention in June, the 15-member Kentucky task force will be led by Frankfort pastor Hershael York.

Don Mathis, staff evangelist at Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green, became the first two-time convention president in nearly 50 years. A full-time evangelist since 1999, who earlier served as pastor of five churches in the state, Mathis previously was KBC president in 1985-86. He also served as executive director of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists from 1991-94.

Serving with Mathis will be Adam Greenway, assistant professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as first vice president and Rick Hatley, pastor of High Point Baptist Church in Mayfield, as second vice president. All officers were elected by acclamation for the third consecutive year.

Messengers adopted a $23.5 million Cooperative Program budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year, a 4 percent reduction from the current budget. Funds passed along to support Southern Baptist Convention causes will increase by 0.68 percent to 38 percent, while 62 percent will be retained for KBC missions and ministry.

The convention's evangelism growth team leader, Ross Bauscher, reported that Kentucky Baptist churches have ordered more than 1.4 million bags containing a Gospel presentation as part of the upcoming "Find It Here" evangelism campaign. Associational organizers anticipate that church members will distribute the bags to all of the state's estimated 1.5 million households in March, Bauscher said.

A proposed bylaw change, which will be voted on during next year's annual meeting, will reduce the membership of the state mission board from 171 members to 118 over the next five years. Following a study conducted by an ad hoc committee, the recommendation essentially changes the method for determining associational representation on the board from being based on total church membership to resident membership. Reducing the mission board's size will both reduce expenses and allow for more meaningful service, according to KBC officials.

By approving a constitutional amendment, messengers defined a cooperating KBC church as a congregation of baptized believers who are in general agreement with any of the historic Baptist confessions of faith. The definition also calls for churches to voluntarily report data to the state convention on a regular basis.

Among five adopted resolutions were statements encouraging participation in the Find It Here campaign, pledging to pray earnestly for the national and state Great Commission task forces, and calling on Congress to ensure that the sanctity of human life will be respected in any health care legislation.

The 2010 KBC annual meeting will be Nov. 16 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington.
--30--
Todd Deaton is editor of the Western Recorder (www.westernrecorder.org), newsjournal of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.


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N.C. Baptists pare budget by $5M
by Norman Jameson
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP)--North Carolina Baptists approved a budget $4.8 million smaller than 2009, while increasing the percentage of Cooperative Program funds forwarded to ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention during their Nov. 9-11 annual meeting in Greensboro.

Attendance of 2,055 messengers and guests was 13 percent below the previous year, which was itself the smallest meeting since 1956.

Ed Yount, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Conover, was elected BCNC president, with Mark Harris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, elected as first vice president, both without opposition.

In the only contested election, C.J. Bordeaux, pastor of Gorman Baptist Church in Durham, was elected second vice president over Ray Davis, pastor of Forbush Baptist Church, with 53 percent of the vote.

Yount has been first vice president of the convention and Harris second vice president for the past year.

Yount, a North Carolina pastor for 30 years, holds an M.Div. degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His son Eddie is pastor of Mount Hebron Baptist Church in Taylorsville.

Messengers adopted for the second year numerous, although minor, changes in the convention's articles and bylaws. Structurally, nine committees have been reduced to four and the terms of service for all will be three years, rather than varying between four and one.

Messengers also finalized the change in relationship with Baptist Retirement Homes, now defining the entity's new status with the convention as "historical social services institution," indicating a former cooperative relationship.

Since 2005 when Baptist Retirement Homes exercised a provision of the articles to begin naming its own trustees in exchange for gradual elimination of CP support, relationships between BRH and the convention have been strained. BRH received tentative approval of their action by the BSC executive committee. But upon review by the convention's lawyer, the action was deemed a "severance" of relationship. The articles provide for a severance process and BRH was asked to start over to follow the process more precisely. They refused, saying they already had approval for their action from the BCNC executive committee, and nearly four years of study, dialog and some acrimony ensued. BRH has been receiving no CP funds for two years and North Carolina started a new non-residential ministry to aging adults, called North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM).

Articles and bylaws changes also eliminated the positions of recording secretary and assistant recording secretary, since modern video recording equipment provides accurate recording of proceedings. Reporting the proceedings for the BSC Annual Report will be done by the executive board's secretary.

North Carolina Baptists increased the percentage of Cooperative Program gifts to the Southern Baptist Convention by one-half percentage point -- the fifth consecutive year marking an increase. The division of their $34.8 million budget is 65.5 percent for North Carolina ministries, 34.5 percent for SBC causes, with no preferred items isolated before that division is made.

The budget is the first since 1991 without optional giving plans. North Carolina had four giving plans with different allocation formulas that a church could choose from and still have gifts count as Cooperative Program gifts.

Messengers instructed the budget committee last year to revert to a single plan.

Budget committee chairman Steve Hardy, missions pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, said the budget process included dealing with decreasing income, incorporating a new ministry group in the staff structure, eliminating recipients that were in alternate plans, calculating the budget position of recipients from the several giving plans into one and providing increases to convention priorities.

"When people ask you about the budget, I want you to say we are prioritizing three things," Hardy said in his presentation: "more money to our Southern Baptist ministry partners; evangelism; and church planting."

Baptist State Convention of North Carolina receipts from churches trails 2008 by $1.6 million or 5.7 percent through October. This will mark the fifth year of the past seven that income has been lower than the preceding year. The 2010 budget is the smallest since 2000.

In a meeting marked by unity and admonition to reach the lost, no motions were introduced and the only resolution was one of appreciation for host city and venue.

Next year's annual meeting will be Nov. 15-17 at Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.
--30--
Norman Jameson is editor of the Biblical Recorder (www.biblicalrecorder.org), newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of North Carolina.


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Okla. Baptists partner with East Asia
by Bob Nigh
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

MOORE, Okla. (BP)--Nearly 900 messengers to the 103rd annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma embraced the meeting's theme of engaging the world with the Gospel by endorsing a new three-year partnership with East Asia as they gathered Nov. 9-10 at First Baptist Church in Moore.

Messengers, officially totaling 895, also approved a $26 million Cooperative Program budget for 2010, up from the current $25.2 million budget. The convention will continue to forward 40 percent of CP receipts to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministry.

Resolutions were unanimously approved as submitted by the resolutions committee on Christian citizenship and responsibility, support of the U.S. military, the sanctity of life, the covenant of traditional marriage, recognition of state legislators, freedom of speech and biblical stewardship.

In a resolution on the Cooperative Program, the word "biblically" was added in the final sentence by an amendment offered by Robin Foster of Immanuel Baptist Church in Perkins prior to its unanimous approval. An amendment proposed by Delmer Allen of Center Point Baptist Church in Wilburton was added to a resolution on opposition to gambling, which also was approved unanimously. 

Allen's amendment urges churches to participate in protests against gambling on Anti-Gambling Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention. His amendment read, "We agree to support and promote Anti-Gambling Sunday, September 19, 2010. We further urge our churches to participate in a silent stand on that afternoon near the businesses, similar to the silent stand done on Life Chain Sunday." 

"It's time we do more than just put this on a piece of paper," Allen said, "and stand up and do something about it."

In a time set aside for miscellaneous business, Allen also offered two other motions. One read: "I move that each yearly Baptist Resource Handbook contain the latest revised BGCO Constitution and Bylaws." That motion passed with only one audible no vote.

The other, a motion concerning the semiannual report on Cooperative Program contributions as printed in the Baptist Messenger newsjournal, took almost half an hour to resolve.

Allen's motion read, "I move that churches not contributing to the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma work during the twelve months prior to the Cooperative Program Report printed in the Baptist Messenger, whether semi-annually or annually, be taken from the list of contributing churches."

After lengthy discussion, the motion was soundly defeated.

ASIA PARTNERSHIP

Sam Porter, a BGCO partnership missions specialist, said the goal of the new East Asia partnership is to send 70-100 teams from Oklahoma to the region each year. Porter said some 40 churches already have signed on as partners in the venture. Ideally, each team would have about six people, he said.

In line with the theme of "Engage," BGCO Executive Director Anthony Jordan said in his annual address that Southern Baptists are not going to have a Great Commission resurgence unless they get out of the pews and go tell someone about Jesus.

Jordan said Baptists run the risk of investing a lot of dollars in the wrong direction.

"This is not a convention made up of denomination structures but of churches," he said. "The greatest day is when we hit the streets and meet people who are lost. We have to get spectator Christians on the street with the Gospel."

Jordan said Baptists needed to get out of the confines of church buildings and grounds and instead get into the streets where lost people are. He said on Sundays there are far more people in the streets, in homes and in parks who are dying without the Gospel of Jesus Christ than will come inside what essentially are fortresses of faith.

"Typically, we have said we need to get these people into church," Jordan said. "I find it refreshing to spend time with rank and file sinners."

Referring to John 4, where Jesus confronts the woman from Samaria, Jordan said people like her are everywhere.

"Jesus said, 'I must go to Samaria,'" Jordan said. "Where must you go?"

There are races and groups in every community who are ostracized, he said, and if someone doesn't go to them, they will never be reached for Jesus.

"There is nobody out of the reach, mercy and love of Jesus Christ," Jordan said. "You know how I feel about abortion, but I am not against women who have had an abortion. I'm opposed to homosexuality because the Bible is, but I'm not opposed to homosexuals."

Jordan said it's easy to engage people in conversation, and he told of meeting a woman on an airplane who was flying home for her father's funeral.

"It was easy to move that conversation into the spiritual realm," he said. "I ended our conversation by praying with her as the plane landed. She reached over and kissed me on the cheek.

"You may not settle the nation's health care bill, but you can settle someone's eternity," he said. "If you want resurgence, get out of the pew, sit down and talk to someone about Jesus." 

Emerson Falls, pastor of Glorieta Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, was re-elected by acclamation as president of the convention, while Blake Gideon, pastor of First Baptist Church in Inola, was elected first vice president in a three-way contest with Greg Hall, pastor of First Baptist Church in Cleveland, and Rusty Canoy, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lexington. Mike Williamson, pastor of New Covenant Community Church in Lawton, was elected second vice president.

The annual meeting's closing session began with a 45-minute concert of praise by the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony, the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma and the Singing ChurchWomen of Oklahoma.

Next year's annual meeting will be Nov. 15-16 at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee as the university celebrates its centennial.
--30--
Bob Nigh is managing editor of the Baptist Messenger (www.baptistmessenger.com), newsjournal of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.


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WORLDVIEW: Where gang rape comes from
by Erich Bridges
Date: November 12, 2009 - Thursday

<i>EDITOR'S NOTE: Visit "WorldView Conversation," the blog related to this column, at http://worldviewconversation.blogspot.com/; listen to an audio version at http://media1.imbresources.org/files/100/10023/10023-53806.mp3.</i>

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--A 15-year-old girl steps outside of a school homecoming dance and guzzles alcohol in a hangout spot on campus. 

She collapses. She is robbed, beaten, stripped. She is raped -- not once, but again and again, allegedly for at least two hours. More than 20 people reportedly participate or watch. Nobody tries to stop the attacks. Nobody calls the police. 

You've probably heard about the incident, which occurred Oct. 24 outside Richmond (Calif.) High School. It made national headlines because of the sheer cruelty of the assault -- and the fact that so many bystanders did nothing, or joined in.

"There's something about the coldness of it ... the attitude of both the people involved and the people who saw or knew about it," said Dara Cashman, of the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office, after the Oct. 29 arraignment of three young suspects in the attack. 

"It's just very cold."

When a crime this chilling captures the attention of a society already saturated with violence, explainers get into the act. Why didn't a bystander or witness call the police? Communities ruled by crime and fear don't tolerate "snitches," law enforcement officials say. Liberals often point to the brutalization caused by generations of poverty and racism. Conservatives tend to talk about the breakdown of law and order, families and traditional values. 

Such explanations often "presuppose that humans are basically good before society messes them up," observes Collin Hansen in Christianity Today. "So we need to identify and fix those dimensions in our society that lead people astray. Surely factors such as the bystander effect, poor schools and broken families testify to what happens when cultures forsake common goods that restrain sin. But the Bible depicts a more realistic view of human nature."

The Old Testament, in fact, frankly recounts several gang rapes (read Judges, chapter 19, for one heartbreaking instance). "The biblical writers do not seem surprised" by such abuses, Hansen notes. "Rather, they identify the crimes with rebellion against the Lord...."

Sin, in other words. 

Willful rejection of God's commands leads to worship of self above all else and evil against others. It's an old, old story. It was the main problem then. It's the main problem now.  

The vicious abuse of a 15-year-old girl for group entertainment is cold, to be sure. But it's no colder than trafficking a child into the sex industry for profit, or ignoring the cries of the poor, or systematically destroying someone's life with whispers and lies. 

If all the bloodbaths of the last century have taught us anything, it's that the more things change (technology, social mores), the more human nature stays the same. We are sinners -- individually and collectively -- and the only solution to sin is Jesus Christ.

Simple? You bet. Simple truth. You don't need an advanced degree to understand the Gospel. Here it is: The world is lost in sin. We need to repent and return to God. He offers mercy and redemption, through Christ alone, to all who worship and follow Him as Savior and Lord. 

Charles Mwangi is staking his life on that truth. A Christian in Nairobi, Kenya, he believes God has called him to reach hurting people in the tough slums of the city. 

"Charles has remained faithful in the face of intense persecution from a local gang," reports a Southern Baptist missionary in Nairobi. "His house has been vandalized and one of his Bible 'storying' groups was recently attacked, resulting in the robbery of the attendees' cell phones."

Charles prayed he would have a chance to share the Gospel with those who mistreated him. The opportunity came, Charles shared -- and two of the gang members repented and accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. They now attend the same Bible group they robbed.

Law enforcement didn't change the gang members' hearts. Nor did community programs (although local believers and missionaries participate in social ministries in Nairobi). Jesus changed their hearts. 

When enough hearts change, communities change. Whole societies and cultures change. 

We need to remember that in a hyper-political age. I occasionally tune in to certain Christian radio programs that used to offer inspiration, teaching and global missions information along with a biblical perspective on social issues. Now it's all politics, all the time, with barely a nod toward missions and evangelism. Even if I agree with the politics, the single-minded emphasis bothers me.

Don't get me wrong: Christians have a sacred responsibility to speak out for what they know is right in an increasingly hostile public square. But we need to keep our priorities straight. We are citizens, first and foremost, of the Kingdom of God. 

His priorities are as simple as the Gospel: Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Glorify Him in your community and among the nations by proclaiming His salvation. Make disciples among all peoples. 

I sat recently in a church association meeting and heard a shocking statistic. In a representative survey of the almost 500,000 people who live in the region where my church is located, a grand total of 14 percent affirmed this statement: "My faith is important to me." That's right, 14 percent -- in central Virginia, home of Lottie Moon, guiding star of Southern Baptist missions.

I'm a lot more concerned about that statistic than who's voting for whom.
--30--
Erich Bridges is global correspondent for the International Mission Board.



