"Different Books, Common Word"

EthicsDaily.com has produced another timely documentary. If ever there was a time when Baptists and Muslims needed to begin genuine relationships and dialogue it is today. In 2007, 138 Muslim scholars and leaders issued an open letter to Christians. The letter was called "A Common Word Between Us and You," and it sought to improve relations between Muslims and Christians in all parts of the world. Click here to read the letter from Muslims. In 2009, the Baptist World Alliance, the largest body of Baptists, wrote a response to the letter. Click here to read the letter from Baptists.

The EthicsDaily.com website says, From Boston to the Bible Belt and from Beaumont to the nation’s beltway, Baptists and Muslims are changing history with the way they change each other. Tired of being defined by extremists, some Baptists and Muslims in the United States have sought and found common ground: the common word in both traditions to love God and love neighbor. The courageous Baptists and Muslims in “Different Books, Common Word” will surprise you.

I am grateful for the leadership of the EthicsDaily.com staff in producing this documentary. I hope you will watch your ABC listings for the times when it will air in your area. The program will be supplied to ABC-TV stations beginning in January 2010 through an arrangement with the Islamic Society of North America, the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission and ABC. You will also be able to order "Different Books, Common Word: Baptists and Muslims" on DVD in January 2010.

A Stewardship of Life

I wrote the following article for our Message page in the next issue of Word&Way:

I have always loved the fall with its cooler weather and beautiful autumn colors. Every year I wish it would last a little longer. It seems the leaves just reach their peak colors and then they fall and fade away. Bettie Jo and I have been riding bicycles on the Katy Trail this fall and the colors have been wonderful. I guess I also enjoy watching football games in the fall, too. I enjoy all the seasonal changes, but I must admit this is my favorite.

I also enjoy the weeks leading into a season of Thanksgiving. Incredible as it seems, we are only a few weeks from our annual Thanksgiving holiday. I am not sure how much time we spend “giving thanks.” When I was serving as a pastor I almost always shared a series of messages during November on Christian stewardship. Sometimes I even have a chance to preach on stewardship during an interim pastorate. I know it may seem strange, but I have always loved to preach on stewardship.

My father always preached on Christian stewardship. I was in seminary before I discovered that many pastors are hesitant to preach on stewardship. In reality stewardship is an outgrowth of Christian discipleship. To be a Christian means to bring our entire lives under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. Christian stewardship is a recognition that all of life is a “stewardship” given to us by God. We are accountable to God for how we use our lives—time, talents, energy, gifts, etc. I am pretty sure that includes our finances. I learned at an early age that God was not just interested in what I gave to my church through my tithes and offerings, but he was just as concerned about how I used the rest of my resources.

Each of us is a steward of life and responsible for our choices. Just as we hold the charitable causes we support accountable for how they use our gifts, we are also accountable. Churches are also accountable. Our convention is also accountable. We are accountable to the churches we serve and to all those who support our ministries. Ultimately, we are accountable to God. Maybe the best way to “give thanks” to God is to use wisely the resources he gives us. Given the difficult economic conditions we are confronting this year it is a particularly important time to be good stewards.

I regret that some believe using tithes and offering to fund litigation against faithful Baptist ministries in our state is a wise use of these resources. Our convention leadership has a different perspective. We want to invest our resources in these ministries rather than attempting to control them or harm their ministries. If you are looking for a way to channel your gifts, we are available to serve you. The Baptist General Convention of Missouri forwards all gifts as instructed by churches and donors. None of our resources are used for litigation. Our mission is to serve churches and church leaders as they fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. We would love to partner with your church as you live out your stewardship of life.

Understanding Religious Liberty

Ethicsdaily.com published an article by Zack Dawes. Zach is a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship ministerial resident at Trinity Baptist Church in Moultrie, Ga. The article was entitled "Christians Support Religious Liberty -- for Themselves." He points out "Christians ought to be the champions of religious Liberty, yet Christians often defend their religious freedom to the exclusion of others."

Dawes correctly says, "The First Amendment is intended to protect the freedom of religion (free exercise clause) and the freedom from religion (establishment clause). Yet one is left to wonder why the concept is so difficult for many Christians to grasp. Even if Christians happen to be the overwhelming majority in a community, this does not abrogate the First Amendment, which protects individuals from having religious beliefs forced upon them." He points out Christians might view things differently if they found themselves in the minority in their community.

Check out his article here.

Religious Liberty is God's Gift

I attended the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty Board Meeting earlier this week in Washington, D.C. It was a good meeting which concluded with a White House Briefing at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Tuesday afternoon. The briefing focused on areas related to both domestic and international religious liberty issues.

The U.S. Constitution, in the first amendment of the Bill of Rights, contains twin guarantees concerning religion. The first requires that there be no establishment of religion and, second, that the freedom of religious expression is protected. Taken together, and interpreted broadly, these clauses provide strong legal protections for religious freedom. I believe they provide protection for the freedom of conscious God gives to each of us. Religion should never be coerced. Rather it should be a free response to God.

Baptist have historically stood for Religious Liberty, and I am grateful we have the opportunity to support the BJC in it advocacy and educational work on behalf of all Americans. If you are not supporting the work of the BJC personally or through your church, I hope you join me in providing support for this work. Check out the BJC at www.bjconline.org.

Incredible Changes and Opportunities

Our Board of Directors approved a strategy planning process for our convention in June. A diverse Strategy Planning Leadership Team of 25 people from across our state is giving direction to the process. We are currently completing a data gathering stage which includes congregational listening sessions, an online survey, and leadership interviews with new paradigm ministry organizations. If you have not completed the online survey we encourage you to go to our website (www.baptistgcm.org) and click on the link on our home page. The survey only takes a few minutes, and your input is a valuable part of the process.

Our world is changing at an incredible pace, and our churches are confronted with hundreds of new challenges and incredible opportunities every day. Services and programs once provided by denominational organizations no longer seem relevant to the needs of many of our churches. Church leaders now face problems we could not have imagined only a few years ago. When I was a boy we received reports and updates from missionaries on the field slowly, and they seemed so far away. Today we talk with missionaries almost daily with voice over IP (internet provider) and video conferencing. Churches access training sessions via the internet and network with churches in another state or on another continent. Communication and technology seem to change almost daily. Churches now have Facebook pages and Twitter accounts to keep their members informed and to facilitate small group communication and dialogue.

All of these changes sometimes leave church leaders struggling with problems and concerns we did not have to address only a few years ago. Some churches need help with the transitions. Others need assistance in identifying and engaging the new opportunities they have to minister in their community. As incredible as it seems in the midst of these opportunities the overwhelming majority of Baptist congregations in our state are plateaued or declining in attendance. Some do not know how to adjust to the incredible pace of change in our society.

Our mission is to serve churches and church leaders as they fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. We desire to help churches they seek to lead to their members and others to love God and love each other. We serve them as they seek to make the rule and reign of Christ a reality in their world. One of our great advantages is we are a young and dynamic denominational organization which is not encumbered with large bureaucracies or traditions. We are lean and flexible servant organization. We can change to become more effective. Our current strategy planning process is designed to allow us to re-examine both who we are and how we approach our ministry to local congregations. We want and need your input. Help us know how we could best serve your church. Share your ideas and suggestions. I would love to hear from you at jimhill@baptistgcm.org or (888) 420-2426 extension 705.

While our world is changing the Gospel is not. God still loves every person. We still have the incredible privilege of sharing the Good News with those trying to find their way through this world. We hope our strategy planning process will help us prepare to more effectively serve churches committed to this task. We would love to partner with your church.

BGCM Strategy Planning Survey

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri stands at a special moment in the organization’s brief history. We are nearing the completion of our first five-year plan. Our convention organization, staff and ministry looks significantly different than when we completed our first planning cycle in 2004. It is important for us to explore ways we can expand the vision which began with First Priority. Our convention has the opportunity to take a fresh look at who we are as a people and what God desires us to be and do in our day. The foundation to making the vision for the Baptist General Convention of Missouri a reality is the updating of our strategy plan. As we begin the process a 25-member Strategy Planning Leadership Team with representatives from across our state is gathering data through congregational listening sessions, leadership interviews and an online survey. You can click the link below and complete a survey. Your answers will be confidential, and we are grateful for your input.

Click Here to Take the Survey