Thursday, November 03, 2005

• ELECTION 2005: Maine conservatives hope to 'veto' sexual orientation law November 8

  by Michael Foust, posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  AUGUSTA, Maine (BP)--When Maine citizens go the polls Nov. 8, they will have the chance to do something conservatives in other states can only dream about doing -- vetoing a "sexual orientation" law passed by the legislature. At issue is a new state law that gives homosexuality civil rights status by placing "sexual orientation" alongside age, religion, race and other classes in state law. Read More

• Religious persecution signals other abuses, Land says

  by Tom Strode, posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  On Georgetown panel Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land, in a panel discussion at Georgetown University, assesses the status of religious liberty globally while David Saperstein of Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center listens. Photo by Tom Strode

  WASHINGTON (BP)--The suppression of religious liberty signals that other freedoms are threatened in a country or region, Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land said at a bipartisan conference on human rights.

        Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, joined members of Congress and other experts in a Nov. 1 meeting at Georgetown University aimed at fostering unified efforts across political and ideological divides to solve the problems of religious persecution, human trafficking, genocide and refugees.

        Among the panelists at the half-day conference were Sens. Hillary Clinton, D.-N.Y., and Sam Brownback, R.-Kan.; Rep. Frank Wolf, R.-Va.; former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; and Wesley Clark, retired Army general and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate. Read More

• Wilma’s first responders include 36 Fla. convention staffers

  by Barbara Denman, posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  A time for sharing Maxie Miller, one of 36 Florida Baptist Convention staffers involved in Hurricane Wilma relief efforts, shares the Gospel using an “EvangeCube” in Miramar. Miller is the convention’s African American church planting coordinator. Photo by Ken Touchton/Florida Baptist Convention

  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)—Among the first responders to Hurricane Wilma: 36 Florida Baptist Convention staff members who were dispatched to assess damage and meet needs in South Florida.

  They have visited churches, contacted pastors and surveyed migrant communities. They have served as volunteer coordinators, spiritual counselors and radio communicators. They answered phones, set up commodity distributions, assessed damage, located housing for volunteers and dispensed emergency funds. Read More

• Southern Baptists dispute media reports & blogger claims as 'absolute falsehood' that disaster relief teams withheld water

  by Jennifer Davis Rash/Alabama Baptist, posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  Officials weigh in Contrary to media and blogger reports, disaster relief officials say cans of water from Anheuser-Busch did not cause volunteers to withhold water from Hurricane Wilma victims at a Florida feeding site.

  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)--No thirsty person went without water, and no water went to waste, Tim Bridges, pastor of First Baptist Church in Clewiston, Fla., said in response to media reports that claimed differently when a shipment of water distributed by Anheuser-Busch caused confusion Oct. 28.

        The inaccurate information also is circulating among Web bloggers.

        Keith Hinson, public relations associate for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said, “It is an absolute falsehood to suggest —- as many irresponsible bloggers have —- that the Baptist volunteers withheld the basic needs of life from Floridians impacted by the hurricane. Contrary to misinterpretations of news reports, no one was denied access to water.” Read More

• His veterinary practice yields ministry on Miss. Gulf Coast

  by Keith Manuel, posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (BP)--Ministering to people through their pets is a part of Walter Mullen’s everyday veterinarian medicine practice. Since Hurricane Katrina struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mullen’s efforts have quietly intensified. Read More

• Ind. Baptists urge state legislators to pass marriage amendment

  by Staff, posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  MUNCIE, Ind. (BP)--Among the resolutions passed at the 47th annual meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana at the Muncie Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Ind., Oct. 24-25 was a measure calling on state legislators to pass a marriage amendment for a second time so that the issue can be presented to voters. Read More

• N.M. Baptists emphasize ‘Building the Family’

  by John Loudat, posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  BLOOMFIELD, N.M. (BP)--Baptists from throughout New Mexico rallied around the theme “Building the Family” during the 94th annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: The weekly New Orleans pastors’ meeting

  by Joe McKeever, posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Each Wednesday, pastors/ministers in the New Orleans area have been meeting at First Baptist Church of LaPlace for fellowship and information. Around 50 of us gather there each time, but it's never the same group. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Homosexuality in theological perspective, part 4

  by R. Albert Mohler Jr., posted Thursday, November 03, 2005 (18 years ago)

  LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--How will evangelicals respond to the challenge of the homosexual movement? And how will the evangelical church respond to those persons struggling with homosexuality? These are critical questions that, when answered, will indicate the larger direction of the evangelical movement. Read More