GCRTF to report ‘as much as we can’ in February
Ronnie Floyd, chairman of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, said Oct. 27 the task force is not planning to wait until the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando next summer to release its report and recommendations. “Our avowed intention is to bring as much as we can to the February meeting of the SBC Executive Committee,” Floyd said. “This is a huge challenge, but we are pushing ourselves hard. Orlando is our ultimate deadline, but only for the final form of our report.” The next meeting of the task force will be Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the Renaissance Hotel in Atlanta.
LifeWay stores help with shoebox ministry
On Saturday, Nov. 14, LifeWay Christian Stores throughout the country will participate in a collection day for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts. Store employees will be available to suggest gift ideas to customers, and LifeWay will have a limited number of boxes and shoebox labels available at the stores so customers can pack boxes on site. Learn more at LifeWayStores.com/OCC.
James Dobson resigns radio post
James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, has announced his intention to step down from his role as host of the ministry’s flagship radio broadcast at the end of February. FOF president Jim Daly characterized Dobson’s departure as the “third chapter in a transition that began in 2003,” when Dobson resigned as president of the organization he started in 1977. Last February, Dobson resigned as chairman of the board at FOF. No plans to replace Dobson on air were announced.
October CP giving 5.25 percent below 2008
October contributions of $16,861,354 through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program were 5.25 percent below CP gifts received in October 2008. Cooperative Program gifts were $933,899 below the $17,795,253 received in October 2008. Meanwhile, designated giving of $4,522,672 during October was 15.78 percent, or $616,391, above gifts of $3,906,280 received last October. During the last fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2008-Sept. 30, 2009), Cooperative Program receipts declined 2.23 percent and combined CP and designated giving for the year declined 3.65 percent.
Health alerts issued for congregations
The National Council of Churches has released a checklist to assist congregations in avoiding the spread of germs, especially H1N1, in the coming months. “Members of congregations are urged to use hand sanitizers, clean door knobs and hand rails, and fill candy dishes with individually wrapped candies,” the Oct. 15 news release said. Church members also are encouraged to stop shaking hands and hugging one another during the traditional “passing of the peace,” NCC said, and instead they should acknowledge one another with a nod.
Vatican invitation could mean married priests
An invitation by the Vatican for Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of their liturgical heritage could mean an increase in the number of married Catholic priests, leading to a possible reexamination of the celibacy requirement altogether. During a news conference Oct. 20, the Vatican announced a desire for the Catholic Church to serve as a refuge of sorts for conservative Anglicans who disagree with the church’s recent acceptance of women priests and openly homosexual bishops.
Bev Shea gives Angola 100th birthday gift
The familiar voice of George Beverly Shea, still rich at 100 years of age, filled the prison chapel. Every eye in the 800-seat room at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola was on him. Shea, the musical face of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for six decades, was at the maximum security prison to pass along a Rodgers 3 manual-draw-knob organ he had received in honor of his 100th birthday Feb. 1. The organ was from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Franklin Graham presented it to Shea at his 100th birthday party and told him the organ one day would be given to the prison. Shea told the crowd he decided to go ahead and give the organ to the prison chapel because he didn’t want to miss out on the joy of giving it away. Inmates who are trained musicians will play the instrument during worship services.