Show C2 --r- The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday September 19 2002 Bapttistts move l©1f£ om Somroday observamioe man esteems all days alike Let every one be fully convinced in his own ” mind This is a rare instance of America's largest Protestant group moving to By Richard N Ostllng AP Religion Writer Sunday isn't what it used to'be Observance of “The Lord's Day” rates a separate plank in the Southern ' Baptist Convention’s statement of faith the "Baptist Faith and Message” It's a touchy topic judging rrom telltale omissions in an Aug 26 article on the plank for the Baptist I’rcss service Author Hershael York an associate ' dean and preaching professor at Simihcrn Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville Ky discussed the text as revised in 2000 never mentioning the significant changes from the previous version issued in 1963 ’The 1963 wording: Sunday “should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion both public and private and by refraining from worldly amusements and resting from secular employments work of necessity and mercy only being the left Otherwise on most everything the denomination has shifted from moderate conservatism to strict conservatism if not “fundamenta- lism" The Baptists’ change on Sunday observance was not without critics An early lament came from the Lord's 1 Atlanta-base- d Day Alliance which is fighting uphill to preserve “the first day of the week as a time for rest worship Christian education and spiritual renewal" At last year’s Southern Baptist meeting in New Orleans the Rev Fred Malone of Clinton La said the drafters had “inadvertently” weakened the policy by leaving it up to individuals how to mark Sundays ahd proposed a toughening amendment It was quickly defeated York’s article commented that “individual issues and questions about whether or not we should engage in a game of touch football or watch television etc! are best left to the individual conscience’ A more candid rewrite would run: “Let’s admit it Americans are and this virtual religion sports-craz- y tempts Southern Baptists as much as others if not more so ” Athletic contests and telecasts thereof are among the factors that have obliterated the Sunday strictures that were once commonplace among US Prates- - excepted" The 2000 rewrite merely says Sunday “should include” worship and that otherwise “activities on the Lord’s Day should be commensurate with the Christian’s conscience tinder the Lordship of Jesus Christ" Fixitnotes to both the 1963 and 2(XX) versions list references from the Old and New Testaments ing the ban on all work in the Ten Commandments given through Moses (Exodus 20:8-1Weeks after the Baptists approved the 2000 rewrite the media featured the strict observance of the Sabbath commandment by Sen Joseph Ueberman an Otthr kx Jew running for vice president at the lime' The 2000 version added one biblical reference to the 1963 citations Paul’s flexible teaching in Romans 14:5-1“One man esteems one day as better than another while another 1) AP photo Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention raise red cards to vote in Oriando Fla in June 2000 at meeting held Other points: Christians shouldn’t say “Sabbath" (that refers only to i Saturday) Sunday became the worship day in the church’s earliest days (citing John 20: J9 and Acts 20:7) Catholics too are concerned with church’s worldwide the issue-Thcatechism of 1992 agrees with the Baptists in citing Genesis and requiring Sunday church attendance It says “the institution of the Lord's York said the basis for setting aside a rest day is the example of God in the creation (Genesis 2:1-and the teaching of Jesus (Mark 2:27) whereas legal particulars of the sort given to “national Israel” in the Old Testament law don’t pertain - e 3) 0: favor of revisions to the Baptist Faith and Message ' to Christians tants In days and the church’s holy days as legal holidays” But US Catholics and Baptists rarely agitate for Sunday legislation any longer Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial cultural social and religious lives” and commends “appropriate relaxation of mind and body" Rather like the 1963 Baptist plank the catechism teaches that the obligation to rest may be set aside for “family needs or important social service” It adds a political point: “Christians should seek recognition of Sun On the Nat: Yorit article: http:wwwbpnewsnetbpnewsasp7ID 14104 Baptist Faith and Massage text: httpVWwwsbcnetbfmdefauttasp Religion briefs sity” in the arts and sciences Dean to lead Divinity School and in Harvard’s professional schools CAMBRIDGE Mass (AP) — William A Graham a scholar of Islam and more general religious history was liamed dean of the Harvard Divinity School Graham had served as acting dean since January He has taught at Harvard since receiving his PhD there in 1973 and has held several academic posts including chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from 1997 until this year Graham is also the author of “Beyond the Written Word: Oral Aspects of Scripture in the History of Religion" and a popular college textbook “The Heritage of World Civi- lizations" “He brings to this role a deep understanding of Harvard and the place of the Divinity School in its history as'wcll as active engagement in the broad field of religious studies” Harvard President Lawrence H Summers said in a statement Graham said his challenges include new appointments curriculum changes and ‘tbuilding stronger connections between our work at the Divinity School and that being mine elsewhere in the univer- - Casino bingo hurting charities BOSTON (AP) — Charitable bingo games at churches and community centers are suffering because of the popularity of casinos one of which features a bingo game with payouts of up to $250000 The number of licensed bingo games in Massachusetts last year was 916 just over half the number in 1984 Annual attendance has dropped from 104 million in 1984 to 37 million last year The result is less money for church choirs and school bands the traditional beneficiaries of charitable bingo Massachusetts two years ago doubled the maximum bingo prize to $100 but many local games find they cannot compete with the lilies of Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resorts & Casino where payouts can reach $250000 Cedric Woods spokesman for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe' which owns and operates Fdxwoods would not disclose its daily or annual bingo attendance numbers The problem exists Rationally as well Overall consumer spending on consumer bingo is unchanged in the past 20 years but charitable game revenue has fallen from $113 billion in 1998 to $974 million in 2001' according Chris- -' tiansen Capital Advisors a Washington consulting firm Retirees travel to SPRINGFIELD Ohio (AP) —A addition to the Risen Christ Lutheran Church will be a work of faith Construction is biting led by Laborers For Christ a group of retirees that travels the country working for minimum wage building churches schools and ministry organizations The St Louis-base- d i is affiliated with the 7900-square-fo- i I MOVIE HOTLINi Swim Fan q : J AND STITCH TUG U0 MB law 11010 BOURNE IDENTITY 4 DM 1 ' HACHASI Character Parts Friday September 20 710 MS 0LOQlC 'mto's room I 3 430 Spy Kick 2 mm 43 a iw Chiah 7O0t 30 7-- 3M ' mo-1- 4 3S 700 i Yl3t CACHE t VALLE 300 North Main Bohind Uncfisputad n ' 1 30 TOO 30 30 25 Sim po-r- a 23 TIO ii m a Tnimimmiinnumn' MATWTJEVtlY SATURDAY luiturtuiuuu REEUTIME UMi1JiMnMIiIJI 795 North Main - 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Gattnambar ro-- Signs 7:15940 MINORITY REPORT DM 4 41039 Da Mean Heart taodaliai0 3070030 i DM Does Your Heart Good m QyByTtw30Sea 70535 7ass VW5EOTAttnajM5 DMftIMtno!23a dm 11 educational project HJeXywm 7 MRDHDS Muslims launch Muslim prejudice The “Explore Islamic Civilization and Culture" effort GENEVA (AP)— Margot Kaessmann a Lutheran bishop from Germany has quit her leadership post with the World Council of Churches to protest changes the organization made last week to give Orthodox members a greater voice The new setup shifts from - pa-- u 45 CINEMA-- 4 reported Woman Lutheran bishop quits IPIkMiElkMUd 753-64- Council executive director Nihad Awad said financially pressed libraries struggled to meet the demand for materials about Islam following Sept ic 70533 39 DiNv 7:00 2297 N Main of Faith” ' StoaSna Harvard n Sltufonr Communion services Kaessmann leader of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hartover thinks if such differences cannot be bridged the Orthodox and Protestants should consider forming separate world organizations Ecu-- ’ menical News International Relations has launched a nationwide project to educate Americans about the faith and to counter anti- - Grade w Patty fcOO MOVES KM TNE MCI 0F1 MEN IN BLACK U po-Patty fc30 Matins s All Seat t $200 18-ite- m WASHINGTON (AP)— The Council oh American-Islam- 60 7110 90 ULO AND STITCH hopes to distribute materials this coming year to 16000 public libraries following a pilot program in Los Angeles The package will include the Quran children’s bocks adult titles like “The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?" by John Esposito of Georgetown University audio cassettes and the public TV documentary “Islam: Empire sus” decision-makin- g The Orthodox minority felt they were dominated by the Protestant majority on matters like women clergy and joint MO VIES 5 — Watt Disney's majority voting to “consen- roof trusses 2450 North Ma in IQUNQB po-t- ri THEATRES W£a h'ul!ey'i LuxurM SPIDERMAN Churcb-Missou- WEStXTEST 4DUIT5 S3 OOT CHILDREN S2 00 t ot Synod The group formed in 1979 to build churches and schools in the Midwest and has expanded nationally to 350 laborers and 60 foremen UTAH 17523072 GREAT SEAT GREAT GREAT PICTURE churches build The Springfield project in western Ohio includes plans for five classroomsa youth room a preschool and offices Group leaders Dale and Irma Mellendoirf of Effingham 111 are retired dairy fanners who’ve been missionaries for 13 years They said they’ve been to 17 states with Laborers For Christ living in a recreational vehicle and staying as long as it takes to finish a project Group members don’t need a construction background MeUendorf said The church hires professional contractors to install heating air conditioning plumbing electrical work and V |