Tuesday, May 12, 2009

• Trump criticizes media, lets Miss Calif. keep crown

  by Michael Foust, posted Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (15 years ago)

  NEW YORK (BP)--Capping a three-week media and blogosphere firestorm, Donald Trump let Carrie Prejean maintain her role as Miss California USA, saying Tuesday the 21-year-old has taken "a tremendous amount of abuse" following her publicly stated opposition to "gay marriage."

        "You should be ashamed of yourselves," Trump, the owner of the Miss Universe organization, told the news media during a press conference.

        Officials with the Miss California USA pageant said Prejean was in danger of losing her title because of what they said were violations of her contract, including her appearing at her church and in a National Organization for Marriage press conference and ad opposing "gay marriage." A racy but non-nude picture of her taken at age 17 also surfaced, which Miss California officials said should have been disclosed before she entered the pageant.

        Her supporters, though, said she indeed was being targeted for her views, with some of her backers calling it a "character assassination." What happened to Prejean, they warned, will happen to all opponents of "gay marriage" if it is legalized.

        Trump, in fact, used much of Tuesday's press conference defending Prejean. He and Prejean each noted that her position was also the stated position of President Obama. Trump said she "gave a very, very honest answer when asked a very tough question."

        "It's the same answer that many people give," Trump said. "… She gave an honorable answer. She gave an answer from her heart, and I think for that she has to be commended."

        The co-executive directors of the Miss California pageant had been highly critical of Prejean's partnership with the National Organization for Marriage, saying that in the history of the pageant no title holder had so "readily committed her face and voice to a more divisive or polarizing issue." Ironically, one of those co-executive directors, former Playboy model Shanna Moakler, has since been featured in a pro-"gay marriage" ad calling for the overturning of California Proposition 8. Read More

• 'Great Commission Resurgence' must be fueled by relationship, Henry Blackaby says

  by Mark Kelly, posted Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (15 years ago)

  

  BP file photo

  ATLANTA (BP)--If Southern Baptists want to see a "Great Commission Resurgence," Henry Blackaby believes they need to focus on the relationship between disciples and the living Lord Jesus, not launch a new emphasis on evangelism. Read More

• Chicago's diversity is his mission field

  by Mickey Noah, posted Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (15 years ago)

  

  Photo courtesy of the North American Mission Board

  CHICAGO (BP)--Michael Allen could have been the guy who comes to install or repair your computer. Originally, that was what he was trained to do. Read More

• Ky. leader to be 1st VP nominee at SBC

  by Todd Deaton, posted Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (15 years ago)

  

  LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Kentucky pastor John Mark Toby will be nominated for first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the June 23-24 annual meeting at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Read More

• EDUCATION BRIEFS: Dallas Baptist Univ., Anderson Univ. and Okla. Baptist Univ.

  by Staff, posted Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (15 years ago)

  DALLAS (BP)--Dallas Baptist University is initiating a "Patriot Veteran's Opportunity Program" in conjunction with the new Post-9/11 GI Bill that goes into effect Aug. 1.

  The DBU initiative includes a Patriot Veteran's Opportunity Scholarship and assignment of university personnel to assist veterans in academic planning, G.I. benefits and financial aid.

  If a veteran has served at least 36 months of active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, the new GI Bill will provide up to 100 percent o... Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: The church's message for men

  by Jason Cruise, posted Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (15 years ago)

  FRANKLIN, Tenn. (BP)--This is a true story. It happened years ago on a Sunday morning, right during the middle of the church service for everyone to see. Read More