Court refuses to legalize ‘gay marriage’
The highest court in Maryland refused to legalize “gay marriage” Sept. 18, handing homosexual activists another significant defeat in one of the nation’s leading cultural issues. In its 4-3 decision, the Court of Appeals ruled that the state has a “legitimate governmental interest” in “fostering procreation” by limiting marriage to one man and one woman. The ruling overturned a lower court ruling from last year that had sided with “gay marriage” supporters. It is the fourth consecutive time that a state high court has said there is no constitutional right to “gay marriage.” Courts in New Jersey, New York and Washington ruled similarly last year, although the New Jersey court did side with homosexual activists in ordering that the legal benefits of marriage be granted. Massachusetts remains the lone state to recognize “marriage” between homosexuals; high courts in California and Connecticut are considering such cases, and Iowa’s is expected to do so.
Judge continues suit against seminary
The judge in a federal employment lawsuit against Southwestern Baptist Seminary and its president has ruled the case may proceed with an amended complaint against the school. Also, in court documents filed Sept. 14 in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, Judge John McBryde noted that due to the additional complaint, the Texas seminary’s request for dismissal of the case is moot. The plaintiff, former professor Sheri Klouda, claims she was wrongly denied tenure because she is a woman after being hired for a tenure-track position teaching Hebrew in 2002. The seminary, which has changed leadership since Klouda’s hiring, said her tenure denial is consistent with a policy enacted after her hiring that, for doctrinal reasons, the teaching of men in theology classes should be done by men. The seminary argued in April that their action was “an ecclesiastical decision, which this Court is bound to accept out of deference for the free exercise of religion, protected by the First Amendment.” Seminary president Paige Patterson has stated that the seminary’s policy springs from its desire to “model the local church.” The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 states the role of senior pastor in local churches is limited to men. Patterson, according to the suit, believes the same standard applies to the seminary.
Breakaway entity trial moved to Feb.
A trial over the legality of Windermere Baptist Conference Center breaking away from the Missouri Baptist Convention has been moved from Oct. 12 to Feb. 1, 2008, after Windermere and two other breakaway entities filed a motion for a summary dismissal of the Missouri convention’s case Aug. 22. Cole County Judge Richard Callahan, in his ruling, also scheduled the summary judgment motion for a Nov. 20 hearing. The delay had been sought by Windermere attorneys asking that Callahan take at least 60 days to review the summary judgment motion, encompassing about 500 pages including exhibits filed by the conference center and two other breakaway entities, The Baptist Home retirement center and the Word & Way newsjournal. Two additional breakaway entities, the Baptist Foundation and Missouri Baptist College were not part of the summary judgment motion. The five entities changed their corporate charters in 2000-2001 to stop the Missouri convention from electing their trustees.
True Love Waits summit held in Africa
True Love Waits International officially launched its initiative to expand its abstinence-until-marriage message throughout Africa during a three-day summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, attended by representatives from eight African countries. The summit’s 43 participants were guided through a comprehensive True Love Waits International training manual with follow-up lessons. They also heard from leaders in Uganda and Kenya about successes in how the True Love Waits message has been implemented; most of the work True Love Waits has done on the continent has been in these two countries. “The participants came with a sense of expectancy that did not diminish throughout the week,” said Sharon Pumpelly, who serves as lead consultant for True Love Waits International, a ministry of LifeWay Christian Resources. Pumpelly and her husband Larry introduced True Love Waits to Uganda in 1994 while serving as missionaries with the International Mission Board.