Issue Date: 2005-05-26
Volume: 184
Number: 11

News

State Supreme Court rules in favor of GBC
Three-year struggle; 4-3 vote
By Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 26, 2005

Atlanta - The Georgia Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision on May 23 that Shorter College acted illegally in 2003 when it took action to sever ties with the Georgia Baptist Convention. The ruling affirms the state convention's argument that the college did not have legal grounds to separate itself from Georgia Baptists.

Calhoun Church turning bikers into missionaries
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published May 26, 2005

Riding motorcycles since he was seven, David Bryant didn't feel he fit in with the church scene.

State youth win at Bible drill, speakers tournament
Top finishers to compete in national competition
Published May 26, 2005

Winners of the 2005 Georgia Baptist State Youth Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament were announced at the conclusion of the event held May 14 at the GBC Conference Center in Norman Park.

Watters chosen to become church-minister relations specialist for Georgia Baptists
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 26, 2005

Danny Watters, who has served as pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Douglasville for almost 22 years, will assume duties as specialist for the Church/Minister Relations Department of the Georgia Baptist Convention in June. Watters will fill the position vacated by Leonard Dupree, who retired last December.

Eight Georgians graduate Southwestern
Published May 26, 2005

Eight Georgians received degrees at Southwestern Seminary's 209th commencement ceremony May 6.

Revival Report
Published May 26, 2005

Thirteen with Georgia ties graduate from NOBTS
Published May 26, 2005

Thirteen graduates with Georgia ties received degrees at New Orleans Seminary's commencement May 14.

State youth compete while drilling in lessons for life
Bible drill and speakers tournament held May 14
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published May 26, 2005

NORMAN PARK - Olivia Neeley has a fear of public speaking.

Evangelism, 'Everyone Can Kingdom Challenge' is focus of Nashville meeting June 21-22
Published May 26, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - The Music City is no stranger to Southern Baptists and this June, Nashville will host thousands of SBC church messengers and their family members who will gather for ministry, evangelism and worship and to conduct the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Georgia Baptists among SBC Disaster Relief workers honored at annual conference
By Lee Weeks
Published May 26, 2005

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - Ten Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers have been recognized for their commitment and sacrifice in disaster relief efforts across North America and the world.

Georgia Newsbriefs

Georgians nominated for service on various SBC committees
Published May 26, 2005

A number of Georgia Baptists were nominated to serve among several national committees by the 2005 Southern Baptist Convention Committee on Nominations recently. Nominees will serve if elected by messengers at the SBC annual meeting June 21-22 in Nashville, Tenn.

Index seeking Crossover Nashville participants
Published May 26, 2005

The Index is seeking to interview Georgia Baptists who plan to participate in Crossover Nashville prior to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in mid-June. To be interviewed for the article please contact Managing Editor Joe Westbury at westbury@christianindex.org or at (770) 936-5590.

Charles Drummond named ministry resource consultant in East Central Georgia Region
Published May 26, 2005

Charles Drummond, who has served as pastor of Shorter Avenue Baptist Church in Rome since 1990, will begin his duties as the new ministry resource consultant in the East Central Georgia Region on June 13.

Baptist News Summary

Billy Graham Assoc. relocates to 63 acres in Charlotte
Published May 26, 2005

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP) - The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has moved its international headquarters from Minneapolis to Graham's old hometown of Charlotte, N.C., where a $27 million facility on 63 acres of land off Billy Graham Parkway was dedicated April 23.

Former Georgia pastor named dean at NOBTS
Published May 26, 2005

NEW ORLEANS (BP) - New Orleans Seminary trustees elected four new faculty members during their April 13 meeting. The board also granted tenure to eight professors and gave promotions for 13 faculty members.

Names in the News
Published May 26, 2005

Oklahoma Baptist University has announced the launching of the Avery T. Willis Center for Global Outreach.

Southern Baptists pull support from houses of worship free speech bill
Published May 26, 2005

(RNS) - The Southern Baptist Convention's public policy commission has withdrawn support for a bill that would allow religious institutions to endorse candidates without threatening their tax-exempt status.

First diplomas for Spanish studies awarded by Seminary Extension
Published May 26, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - Seminary Extension, a ministry of the six Southern Baptist seminaries, has awarded four Spanish-speaking students diplomas in pastoral ministries - the entity's first such diplomas for coursework taught entirely in Spanish.

LifeWay International initiative training LifeWay leaders throughout 58 countries
Published May 26, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - More than 22,000 churches in 58 countries have been strengthened in a discipleship initiative by LifeWay International, a division of LifeWay.

Southeastern raises $16.9 million, reaching initial fundraising goal
Published May 26, 2005

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) - Southeastern Seminary's capital fundraising campaign "Scholarship on Fire!" has exceeded its first-phase goal, with more than $16.9 million in gifts and pledges received.

Baylor regents unanimously select law professor as interim president
Published May 26, 2005

WACO, Texas (BP) - Baylor University's board of regents unanimously chose William D. Underwood, one of the school's law professors, to serve as interim president, effective June 1.

Religious Newsbriefs

Black religious leaders announce October 'Millions More Movement'
Published May 26, 2005

WASHINGTON (RNS) -- Dozens of black religious leaders gathered May 2 to announce plans to bring African-American men, women and children to the nation's capital for a massive Oct. 15 rally on the National Mall.

Uzbekistan added to persecutors of religion list
Published May 26, 2005

WASHINGTON (RNS) An independent federal watchdog group announced May 11 that Uzbekistan has been added to its annual list of countries that have "engaged in or tolerated systematic and egregious violations" of religious freedom.

PETA belatedly apologizes for comparing animal slaughter to Holocaust atrocities
Published May 26, 2005

(RNS) - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has apologized for a controversial exhibit and ad campaign in which it compared the slaughtering of animals for meat to the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Fake photo of 'Nazi Pope' stirs controversy
Published May 26, 2005

ROME (RNS) - Italian authorities who ordered a Web site shut down because of a photomontage of the German-born Pope Benedict XVI in a Nazi uniform came under attack May 5 for allegedly endangering freedom of expression.

People and Places

Retirements
Published May 26, 2005

Anniversaries
Published May 26, 2005

Dedications
Published May 26, 2005

Ministerial Moves
Published May 26, 2005

Obituaries
Published May 26, 2005

Ordinations
Published May 26, 2005

Cooperative Program Stories

Spiritual freedom emerging in confinement
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published May 26, 2005

Roger Pollard’s new living quarters are "the icing on the cake."

Bible Study

Life Begins at Reception
By Danny Cochran, Pastor, Holly Creek Baptist Church, Chatsworth
Published May 26, 2005

When does life begin? That question has been the subject of intense debate during the past thirty years. Most pro-life advocates, including this writer, firmly believe that physical life begins at conception.

Not Guilty by Association
By Danny Cochran, Pastor, Holly Creek Baptist Church, Chatsworth
Published May 26, 2005

In the legal world it is possible to be guilty of a crime by being associated with someone while the crime is being committed. In Christianity it is possible to be declared not guilty through one's association with Christ.

Columns

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published May 26, 2005

I was having dinner in a restaurant located on a large cove along the Pacific coast. A large picture window was in front of me perfectly framing the view that was unforgettable. A young couple entered the restaurant and was ushered to a table adjacent to mine. I would later learn that this near-30 couple was on a first date.

Have You Hugged Your Pastor Today?
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 26, 2005

Having served as a pastor for more than forty years I know a little about the trials and tribulations, the struggles and stresses, the pains and problems pastors experience in the course of their ministries. I have a great affinity for pastors, and I love pastors.

Parents fear and cherish the terrible twos
By James Dobson
Published May 26, 2005

Repent or Resign - what to say and not say from the evangelical pulpit
By Matt Friedeman
Published May 26, 2005

"Let me just say this right now: If you vote for John Kerry this year, you need to repent or resign."

Letters

Reach every one
By Kenneth Aycock, Senoia
Published May 26, 2005

Jesus gave us the Great Commission so that we would go out and reach each and every person that we could for His glory. If some churches use Awana as one way to fulfill the Great Commission, and boys and girls and moms and dads are getting saved because of it, why would anybody feel the need to call that into question?

SBC and Awana compatible
By David M. Hagan, Pastor, Rehoboth Baptist Church, Claxton
Published May 26, 2005

Some of the letters in the May 12th edition of the Index opposed the Awana program because it is not a Southern Baptist ministry.

GAs, RAs alive and well
By Susan Allen, Minister to Children, First Baptist Statesboro
Published May 26, 2005

Having just read the recent letters in The Christian Index I feel compelled to write and say that GAs and RAs are alive and well in our church.

Prefers Awanas over RAs, GAs
By Carol Crow, Cartersville
Published May 26, 2005

I would like to respectfully disagree with the writer of the letter in the May 12 issue of the Index who expressed his displeasure with churches that choose Awana Clubs. If he thinks Awana Clubs are not missions-based, then he hasn't researched the Awana Clubs.

Modern Christianity
By Cassie Jones, Palmetto
Published May 26, 2005

"Christians are so 'high and mighty,' they always think down on everyone who is not like themselves, and they never think they do anything wrong." "They make society sick. Every time they are near they just want to talk about their God and how if everyone refuses to accept Him that they will go to Hell."