TBC Newsletter, January 2008

Author John Grisham Joins Lineup of New Baptist Covenant Speakers
. . . . . mega-author . . . will deliver a rare public speech

Texas Baptist Evangelism Conferences Are Back
. . . . . dates of state and regional conferences

Unity in Christ - New Baptist Covenant
. . . . . as many as 20,000 Baptists . . . will look for common ground under the theme “Unity in Christ”

What Part of 'Secular Nation' Don't We Understand? by Charles C. Haynes
. . . . . when a majority uses the government to promote the majority religion, conflict and oppression inevitably follow

Why I Support the New Baptist Covenant by Sarah Withers, Chair, Baptist Heritage Council Board
. . . . . because it bears the marks of the ministry of Jesus

BREAKING NEWS: FORMER BAYLOR COACH GRANT TEAFF JOINS LINEUP OF NEW BAPTIST COVENANT SPEAKERS

We have just learned that legendary retired Baylor University football coach Grant Teaff will be speaking at the New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta during the same plenary session as author John Grisham. This is truly exciting news, as Coach Teaff is a tremendous speaker and someone greatly admired by Texas Baptists.

RECOMMENDED BAPTIST SITES FOR YOU TO BOOKMARK & CHECK FREQUENTLY

Texas Baptists Committed
www.txbc.org

Mainstream Baptist Network
www.mainstreambaptists.org

Mainstream Alabama Baptists
www.alabamabaptistmainstream.org

Mainstream Missouri Baptists
www.missouribaptists.org

Baptist Standard
www.baptiststandard.com

Baptists Today
www.baptiststoday.org

Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies
www.baptistheritage.org

Mainstream Baptist Network Breakfast

(sponsored by Mainstream Baptist Network, CBF of North Carolina and Baptist Studies Program, Candler School of Theology)

February 1, 2008 • 7 a.m.
Sheraton, Atlanta Downtown
165 Courtland St. N.E.
Cost: $30

“The Historical Significance of The New Baptist Covenant Meeting”
Buddy Shurden, speaking

Randall Lolley will be honored for his service to Baptists

Make reservations by calling
Texas Baptist Committed at 325-659-4102 or emailing carolscott@txbc.org

Here are a few of the special-interest sessions that you can attend at the New Baptist Covenant Meeting in Atlanta:

Prophetic Preaching
Thursday, January 31
2–5 p.m.

Otis Moss - Pastor, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio
Ellis Orozco - Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, McAllen, Texas
Bill Self - Senior Pastor, Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia
Gina Stewart - Senior Pastor, Christ Missionary Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee

Friday, February 1
2–5 p.m.

Joan Parrott - Executive Minister, University Park Baptist Church, Charlotte, North Carolina
James A. Forbes, Jr. - President and Founder, Healing of the Nations Foundation, Senior Minister Emeritus, Riverside Church, New York, NY
George Mason - Senior Pastor, Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas
Julius Scruggs - Pastor, First Missionary Baptist Church, Huntsville, Alabama

Proclaiming God’s Good News (Evangelism)

Thursday, January 31
2–3:15 p.m. and 3:45–5 p.m.

Martha Simmons – President, The African American Pulpit, Atlanta, Georgia
Ronald W. Johnson - Assoc. Dean/ Professor, Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia

Friday, February 1
2–3:15 p.m. and 3:45–5 p.m.

Brenda Little – Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church of Christ, Morton Grove, Illinois
Ronald Bobo – Pastor, West Side Missionary Baptist Church, St. Louis, Missouri

Special-interest sessions (continued)

Faith and Public Policy

Thursday, January 31
2–3:15 p.m. and 3:45–5 p.m.

Suzii Paynter – Executive Director, Christian Life Commission, Baptist General Convention of Texas, Austin, Texas
Lois Mitchell – Canadian Baptist Ministries, The Sharing Way, New Brunswick, Canada
Deforest Soaries – Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Somerset New Jersey

Friday, February 1
2–3:15 p.m. and 3:45–5 p.m.

Gerald Thomas – Pastor, Lamberth Memorial Baptist Church, Roxboro, North Carolina
Melissa Rogers – Visiting Professor, Wake Forest University Divinity School, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Mark White – Former Governor of Texas

Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State
Thursday, January 31
2 - 3:15 p.m. and 3:45 – 5 p.m.

Brent Walker – Executive Director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Washington, D.C.
Cheryl Townsend-Gilkes – Professor, Colby College, Waterville, Maine
Cynthia Holmes – Co-chair, Religious Liberty Council, Baptist Joint Committee; Attorney, Clayton, Missouri

Friday, February 1
2–3:15 p.m. and 3:45–5 p.m.

Holly Hollman – General Counsel, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Washington, D.C.
James Dunn – Professor, Wake Forest University Divinity School,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Stan Lemons – Professor Emeritus, Rhode Island College, and Church Historian, The First Baptist Church, Providence, Rhode
Island
Jeffrey Haggray – Executive Director, D.C. Baptist Convention, Washington, D.C.

Can We All Get Along? Finding Common Ground with Other Faiths
Thursday, January 31
12–3:15 p.m. and 3:45–5 p.m.

Gerald Durley – Pastor, Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia
Neville Callam – General Secretary, Baptist World Alliance, Falls Church, Virginia
David Currie – Executive Director, Texas Baptists Committed, San Angelo, Texas

Friday, February 1
2–3:15 p.m. and 3:45–5 p.m.

Noel Erskine - Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics, Candler School of Theology, Atlanta Georgia
Faysel Sharif - People of the Book Ministry, Virginia Baptist Mission Board, Falls Church, Virginia
Welton Gaddy - President, Interfaith Alliance, Washington D.C.

For a complete listing of the Special Interest Sessions, please visit
http://www.newbaptistcelebration.org/

ARTICLES BY DAVID R. CURRIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A Meeting About Unity and Hope and Change	Celebrating a New Baptist Covenant