Senator Grassley spoke at this morning’s plenary session of The New Baptist Covenant on the challenges of public policy and feeding the hungry world. Grassley discussed the need for the dissemination of scientific ideas towards increasing food production and the positive effects of trade liberalization on ending world hunger. You can watch that Video here. And please, watch these videos before you (non-NBC supporters) make sweeping accusations and unfounded claims.

Here’s a quote from Grassley’s speech:

“Each of us here today is unity by an even greater bond, our faith – here today we Celebrate Unity in Jesus Christ….Our faith can help bridge differences…As Baptists, we’re committed to promoting equality, peace and justice in the world…The New Baptist Covenant offers a chance for us to bear witness for Jesus Christ’s Love For All”

As most know (blogged about here and here), Senator Grassley has launched an investigation into the ministries of six prominent televangelists for possible financial misconduct. These six Prosperity Gospel peddlers include Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Grassley is trying to determine whether or not these ministers and their ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.

Thoughts and Notes from the Press Conference, Video here.

Frank Lockwood of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (and Bible Belt Blogger) asked Grassley how he – as a Christian – felt about political fundraisers being held in a church sanctuary. A good question and I hoped for Grassley to give a personal answer. As a graduate student in Church-State Studies and as a Baptist, I hoped Grassley would retort that such fundraisers are unethical and an inappropriate mix of religion and politics.

Grassley did not do that. Sounding more like a lawyer (which he isn’t), Grassley noted that whether said fundraiser violated non-profit status is a legal matter. True. Though, that’s not the type of response that the question was intended to produce. Although just a bit later in the press conference, Grassley declared that his rule of thumb on these type of important church-state issues is: “Any minister ought to {be able} to do anything that Jesse Jackson can do!”

On the subjection of the investigation, Grassley pointed out that except for Jack Abramoff (who is in prison), every single time that he has asked for info from non-profits, his request was granted. Currently, two of the six ministries have not complied with Grassley’s request for their financial records. The Rev. Creflo Dollar of Atlanta has stated that he will not comply with the request unless a subpoena is issued.

Grassley also claimed to have no personal grudge. He claimed to not even know the names of the televangelists targeted by his investigation. While that’s actually rather hard to believe, I believe the man. He called Creflo Dollar by the wrong name and didn’t seem to realize that Creflo’s World Changers ministry is located here in the ATL. Grassley also referred to Joyce Meyer as Patricia. He even claimed to have no understanding of the Prosperity Gospel. Either the Senator is accomplished at playing dumb or he really is no theologian and not the most informed person. However, Grassley is dead wrong on at least one point. His investigation is not simply an issue of tax law. If Grassley overreaches in his inquiry, there could be far-reaching consequences for church-state issues. All religious liberty advocates should continue to keep a close eye on Grassley’s investigation.

*Grassley grew up in a Baptist congregation aligned with the General Association of Regular Baptists. He is now a member of Prairie Lakes Church which until 1998 was affiliated with ABC-USA and is now affiliated with the Baptist General Conference. Grassley cracked that while some in his church saw fit to remove Baptist from the church sign out front, he was not embarrassed of being a Baptist.

Labels: Chuck Grassley, New Baptist Covenant

 Due to problems with Google Blog Search, I am reposting all of my New Baptist Covenant posts here.  Please see my blog, www.thebigdaddyweave.com for complete coverage.

I saw an Inconvenient Truth when it first came out in 2005. I was inspired then – but left feeling like I hadn’t heard anything new from when I was an environmental studies major at Baylor University.

At the Stewardship of the Earth luncheon today with Al Gore at the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant, I had a much stronger reaction – what I would term a response to the call to action, a renewing of my faith and my resolve that Creation Care is the appropriate response to the Gospel.

Gore told us that in Japanese, there are two characters for the word “crisis”: danger and opportunity. In the few years since the movie came out, the climate change has become a greater crisis.

We have the great opportunity, then, to do things better. Climate change is a moral and ethical issue. It is not a theory to debate philosophically.

I was an environmental studies major. I am an environmentalist. For two main reasons:

One) I believe that God created the heavens and the earth and said it was GOOD. And God created us to be stewards of the Creation.

Two) Stewardship of the earth, care of creation, means care of all creation: including those created in God’s OWN IMAGE.

This is what I was convicted of again through Al Gore’s presentation: Climate Change affects the poor and downtrodden the most significantly, and they are LEAST responsible for it.

If we are to love our neighbor, then we MUST be engaged in changing policies and attitudes towards the global climate. The world is waiting for us, the ONLY developed country not to join in the Kyoto Protocol, to be the world leader we claim to be. A new world compact on climate change is in the works, and the US can choose to be a partner to help reverse the impacts of global climate change. If you don’t think that policies on climate change matter, look at this picture of the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. You can see the complete devastation of deforestation in Haiti (where the per capita GDP is $713 and civil unrest due to poverty is rampant) on the right. On the left is the Dominican Republic where they have chosen to use their environmental resources as an economic asset, thus preserving their forests. This is an example of exposing the fallacy that protecting the environment and economic success are at odds (another theme Gore touched on).

Al Gore presented the scientific facts (you can look them up, watch the video, watch an Inconvenient Truth). But he also presented Biblical foundations and facts about the effect of climate change on humanity. Over 70% of the world gets its water supply from the 7 rivers whose source is the Himalayan glaciers. These are melting, changing the availability of water, creating alternate drought and flood events, and significantly impacting the ability of the poor of these areas to access water.

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. The environment is not a singular issue that we can choose to avoid if it doesn’t fit our particular ‘mission’. Creation care affects every single other aspect of our lives and our ministries. To ignore the Creation and the effects of humanity on it (and on the rest of humanity), I believe significantly hinders the Gospel.

This is a problem that is solvable- the money, the technology, the commitment. Well, mostly on the commitment. We need the political will- as Americans we are responsible for 30% of the CO2 emissions in the world, which is more than the rest of the world except for Europe combined. Since we are part of the problem, we CERTAINLY must be part of the solution. We need to respond to this call—to be stewards of the Creation, entrusted to us by the Creator.

This guest commentary was written by Alexis Cooper, Young Adult Coordinator, Texas Baptist Young Professional Network, BGCT Christian Life Commission

You can watch the Video HERE. Below are a few snippets from her sermon.

On Our Big Baptist Tent:

“Friends, that is no small accomplishment, we do have some diversity. At least this week we have racial diversity. Thank You Jesus!

We have other differences as well. Theological differences. We Baptists are People of the Book. We look to the pages of this Book, looking for guidance on every subject: War, Women in Church Leadership, Borrowing Money, Creation Care, Alcohol Consumption, Peacemaking, Speaking in Tongues, Role and authority of pastor in the church, miracles, interfaith relationships, abortion, immigration, death penalty, and human sexuality.

Some of our differences are small and some of our differences are substantial but as Baptists we agree to respect each other in our diversity.

A question jogging her mind:

Is this really the gift we came so far to give each other this week? Respecting diversity? Diversity. It’s a fine word. When we’re respectful of each other, God is in that. But truthfully, when you and I open the box and peel back the tissue, is respectfulness the gift we most wanted to find? Or is it something else?

Respect in the end has no power to change something that is fundamentally broken in you and me and between you and me. Only love can do that. Respectfulness is not a bad gift. It’s just that it runs out of steam at the 50 yard line. But love runs all the way down the field like Forest Gump – Out the Endzone and Into the Parking Lot!

The thing that gives me trouble is this. See I know, I have it in my power to be respectful of our differences and can keep you at arms length and even secretly harbor this prideful satisfaction that I am not like you. Love won’t do that. Love doesn’t give a hoot about propriety. And of course Jesus is the face of Love. And when He was here, didn’t he show us that?

It’s love y’all. Why is that so hard for us? And what they often find instead is pews full of people who seem to have figured out everything about Christianity except that it’s about Love. Above us, let’s not doubt that the love of Jesus Christ in Us and Throug Us has the power to change the world. We’re talking about real power.

Friends, there is power just as free and just as frightening running through your church and this room tonight. The power of love wants to blow a hole in our assumptions about each other. Love will uproot you. Love will dislodge you from the place you’ve been living. It’s love – that’s the gift!

“When Church And State Go To Bed, They Don’t Make Love, They Don’t Create a Child, One Rapes The Other”

Or try this link:  http://us.share.geocities.com/aaronweaver21/BillSelf.mp3

Due to problems with Google Blog Searc, I am cross posting all of my posts here at WordPress. Please see www.thebigdaddyweave.com for full news and commentary from The New Baptist Covenant

Today’s luncheon with former Vice-President Al Gore began with a presentation to Gore from Robert Parham, Executive-Director of the Baptist Center for Ethics also known as EthicsDaily.com.  Parham presented Gore with a GREEN BIBLE!

Gore thanked President Carter & Mrs. Carter for “being the spirit” behind the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant.  He then introduced himself:

I am Al Gore and I used to be the next President of the United States of America.  That’s not funny to me.  I flew on Air Force 2 for 8 years and now I have to take off my shoes to get on an airplane!

Gore on the Climate Crisis:

“Here we are the beginning of the 21^st century facing a Climate Crisis, a word that conveys a sense of alarm.  In every crisis, there is an opportunity for a new awakening and a reassessment and change of course and an opportunity to do things better.  That’s what the Climate Crisis is all about.”

“I think there is a distinct possibility of one of the messages coming out of this gathering and this New Baptist Covenant is Creation Care –  that we who are Baptists of like mind in attempting to glorify God are not going to countenance the contempt on God’s Creation.”

“This is not a political issue.  It is a moral issue.  It is a spiritual issue.  It is about our duty to our planet and our children.  What about the rest of us?  Do we have what it takes to do difficult things?…We brought forth freedom in this world.  If we make up our minds to do it – WE CAN DO IT!”

Don’t tell me we can’t solve this Climate Crisis.  If we had just one weeks worth of the money spend on the War in Iraq, we’d be well on our way to solving it!… Come let us reason together, inconvenient it may be!”

We’ll have more on the Al Gore luncheon later with guest commentary from Alexis Cooper of the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Tony Campolo

Marian Wright Edelman

From Sam Hodges of the Dallas Morning News:

Here’s my Recap of President Carter’s speech which you should watch HERE.

Carter was introduced as the husband of the most famous Baptist deacon in the world; President Carter cracked a smile and commented on it. He looked at the crowd and said that earlier in the day he was worried when he saw the big auditorium and its empty seats but he looked out tonight and thanked the crowd for filling the seats.

Carter proclaimed that this even, the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant was the most important of his religious life. After recounting an effort to unite Southern Baptists in the early 1990s that did not work, President Carter asked the crowd to please focus on unity and not criticize others

President Carter asked a series of questions and said that they had been used to divide Baptists. He asked the crowd to refrain from answering them as he asked them. They included: do you believe that women should be given equal opportunity in the church, including opportunities to be a deacon or pastor? Do you believe that women should be submissive? Do you believe that the world was created in 4004 BC? Do you believe that the world was created 15 million years ago? Do you believe that gays and lesbians should be allowed to participate in the life of the Church? Do you believe that homosexual sin is so horrible that gays and lesbians should be excluded from the church?

Then Carter asked people to answer the next question? Do you believe that we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ? The crowd said “yes.”

Carter’s point was that while he recognized that the first set of questions were important, that they were not as important as the question of our common salvation that unites us. We shouldn’t allow different interpretations of individual Scripture passages to divide us.

Carter said that the world’s picture of Christians is one of division. We need to change that and present a picture of unity around the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And now a few thoughts from my pops, Dr. Doug Weaver, Baptist Historian and professor of religion at Baylor University. BDW Sr. is the author of the upcoming book being released by Mercer University Press entitled In Search of The New Testament Church: A History of Baptists.

Each of the early speakers referred to the fact that this type Baptist wide meeting (different races, different geographical regions) had never occurred before. This is simply the most important reason for being here. To be part of a meeting that combines white and black Baptists, Baptists from the north and the south, and to see representatives from Baptist groups worldwide (Mexico, European Baptist Federation, BWA) was simply awe inspiring. To be a “child of the South” and not understand and not appreciate the significance of this kind event for the future is beyond my comprehension.

This meeting easily shows that being Baptist still has relevance in the 21^st century. New types of cooperation are being developed; groundbreaking and barrier breaking progress is possible when the best of the Baptist tradition flourishes– freedom for the individual conscience, freedom for the local church to practice autonomy AND cooperation, freedom to affirm soul competency without being charged with hyper-individualism, freedom to practice community in a congregational worship setting that values the voice of each person and the corporate voice of the group as a body of Christ, freedom to advocate for religious liberty and the separation of church and state, freedom to be a Bible believing people who regard Jesus Christ as the ultimate criterion for interpreting Scripture, and freedom to accept the grace of God and receive salvation through Jesus Christ.

And All The Baptists Said? Amen.

For more commentary, see also:
New Baptist Covenant – Day 1
For God’s Sakes Shut Up! – Recap
Bold Confessor – NBC, Day 1 (Check him out)
Mainstream Baptist – Strong Beginnings

Also, if you enjoy the quality of the pictures on my blog post – know that they did not come from my camera. I had the privilege of “borrowing” them from a girl taking pictures for BAPTIST PRESS!

Labels: Jimmy Carter, New Baptist Covenant

The New Baptist Covenant Celebration opened up earlier tonight. According to Lance Wallace of CBF Communications, the World Congress Center seats 15,000. The place was near capacity.

Bill Underwood, President of Mercer University opened up the Celebration with a powerful message. The website of the New Baptist Covenant (www.newbaptistcovenant.com – click on Videos) will be showing the plenary sessions. Watch Underwood’s WELCOME there.

Here are a few snippets from President Underwood:

“After generations of cleaning up wrongs between us. After generations of separation. After generations of division. Divisions by geography. Divisions by theology. But most of all divisions by race. A new day has dawned. Today in this place from the North and the South, from Canada, from Mexico, from throughout the United States and around the World – Baptists who are Black and Baptists who are White, Baptists Who Are Brown, Baptists who are Conservative, Baptists who are Moderate, Baptists who are Progressive. Today we all sit down together at the table of Christian brother and sisterhood. By coming together here in Atlanta, we acknowledge that the things that have divided us should not and these thigs must not obscure what we share in common…and that is our commitment to follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Today we Celebrate a New Day. We Celebrate A New Baptist Covenant. A Covenant that We Will United Together To Create An Authentic and Genuine Baptist Voice in These troubled Times. A Covenant that we will Unite In Our Commitment to Traditional Baptist Values including sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and its implications for public and private morality. We will unite and honor the commandment of our Lord and Savior that we will love our neighbor as God has loved us.”

Now, that’s some good stuff!

After President Underwood began the Celebration by reading Luke 4, Sonny Perdue, the Republican Governor of the State of Georgia and a Southern Baptist Sunday School Teacher, addressed the crowd. Representing the “Bald Baptists” (his joke), Perdue proclaimed to the audience his “joy to stand up in front of you as a Baptist.”

Dr. David Goatley who serves as the President of the North American Baptist Fellowship of the Baptist World Alliance offered a few encouraging words. He said, “never before have Baptists…sought to explore possibilities of cooperation for missions and ministries – something that has never happened before. We’re glad you’re here.

Babs Baugh of the Baugh Foundation (Texas) was also recognized for her contribution of over 500,000 dollars to make the Celebration possible! So, thebigdaddyweave.com gives a big thank you to the Baugh family who is always generous especially in the arena of religious liberty!

Shirley Franklin the mayor of Atlanta also spoke. Franklin who I had the privilege of meeting a few times during my time with Congressman John Lewis is in her second term and is considered by TIME Magazine as one of the five most effective big city mayors in the United States. She was the first woman elected mayor of Atlanta and the irst African-American woman elected as mayor in any major city in the South.

The Scripture readings were:
Isaiah 9:6-7
Micah 4:3-4
Romans 14:17-19

Charles Wade, the outgoing Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, gave a stirring prayer that really excited the audience. Amens were heard from every corner of auditorium. Wade denounced “evil men and women who exploit children” and “religious leaders who suppress conscience and the soul as though they are not aware that you God are Lord of the soul.”

See my next post for commentary and snippets from Dr. William Shaw and President Jimmy Carter.

Labels: Bill Underwood, Jimmy Carter, New Baptist Covenant, William Shaw