Associated Baptist Press - 8/27/2008

Associated Baptist Press
August 27, 2008 · (08-81)

Greg Warner, Executive Editor
Robert Marus, News Editor/Washington Bureau Chief

In this issue
ABP Executive Editor Greg Warner to step down, citing health reasons
Reports: Several dead in India after Hindu-Christian clashes
Former IMB leader takes Kansas City DOM post
Family vacation centers on missions and serving
Opinion: Torture: A moral issue

ABP Executive Editor Greg Warner to step down, citing health reasons
By Robert Marus

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) -- Greg Warner, who has shepherded Associated Baptist Press since its infancy 18 years ago, informed the agency's directors and staff Aug. 26 that he would be stepping down for medical reasons.

Warner, 53, has been the independent Baptist news service's executive editor since 1991. On Aug. 28, he was scheduled to undergo his seventh spinal surgery since 2002. Afterward, he said in a letter, he would begin a 90-day sick leave that would, he expected, transition into permanent disability.

"[Y]ou are aware that my chronic back condition is increasingly limiting my ability to work and travel," Warner wrote to directors. "The inevitable day has come when I must tell you I am no longer physically able to do my job. I cannot give ABP the performance that it expects of its chief executive or I require of myself."

The surgery -- a fourth lumbar spinal fusion -- is the latest of more than a dozen medical procedures that Warner has undergone in an effort to relieve back pain that surfaced in 1998. Despite temporary improvements following some of the procedures, he said, his condition has degenerated to the point where he is in constant and significant pain requiring large doses of prescription pain-killers.

"For more than 10 years, I have continued to do my job despite degenerative-disc disease and failed-back syndrome," Warner wrote. "Chronic, intractable pain now prevents me from sitting or standing for more than a few minutes at a time. For the past year and a half, your encouragement and cooperation has allowed me to continue in this role while working from home. Despite those accommodations, my health has continued to decline, now resulting in cognitive impairments and depression that only amplify the effects of chronic pain."

He continued: "The surgery I face may temporarily slow the degeneration of my spine, but my doctors tell me the natural course of this disease will produce only worse symptoms and more limitations. So I am making the tough decisions now that will put me in the best position to manage the pain and give me the best chance to reclaim a healthy lifestyle."

If his health allows, Warner said, he hopes eventually to work part-time as a consultant or freelance writer, perhaps for ABP.

In e-mail and telephone interviews, ABP leaders, current and former colleagues, and friends expressed both dismay at Warner's circumstances and admiration for his role in journalism and in the Baptist movement.

"The Associated Baptist Press board of directors is deeply saddened by Greg's health issues that are forcing him to seek full disability," said ABP board chair Dan Lattimore, a University of Memphis dean and journalism professor. "Greg has provided the leadership to give ABP a solid foundation and to prepare the organization to move forward in the ever-changing world of journalism and religious media.... We know he will continue to support our work, and someday we hope he can again write for ABP."

Marv Knox, editor of the Texas Baptist Standard and a member of ABP's board, said the announcement was especially difficult for him because Warner is not only a beloved peer and business partner, but a long-time friend.

"This plain hurts," he wrote. "Saying Greg is a respected colleague is only the start of it. For almost our whole adult lives, he's been a traveling companion, confidant, soulmate and fellow baseball fan. I can't imagine doing this work -- especially going to big Baptist meetings -- without him. I just love the guy."

Knox -- whose newspaper has entered into a publishing and Internet partnership with ABP, the Religious Herald of Virginia and Missouri's Word & Way -- noted some of the highlights of Warner's three-decade-long career in Baptist journalism.

"He's always been after the stories that explain faith, and life and doing church," Knox said. "Whether it's covering Baptists' initial response to AIDS -- one of his early, ground-breaking news packages -- or church architecture, the 'Baptist battles' or the impact of changing worship styles, Greg has helped all of us understand the context in which we share our faith. We can't repay the debt we owe him."

Warner began work for ABP May 1, 1991, as the agency's first permanent employee. The organization was created July 17, 1990, as a result of bitter fighting between fundamentalists and moderates in the Southern Baptist Convention. The struggles engulfed the nation's largest Protestant denomination for two decades beginning in 1979.

After fundamentalists gained a majority on the SBC Executive Committee in 1990, they ousted the two top editors of the denomination's news service, Baptist Press. Concerned editors of the most prominent Southern Baptist state-convention newspapers almost immediately joined together to form a news collective that would carry on BP's tradition of independent Baptist journalism, adhering to the same ethical standards as respected secular news sources.

Warner took the helm and built a fledgling organization into one that now has multiple editorial and administrative staff positions and a $500,000 annual budget; operates news bureaus in Washington, D.C., and Dallas; and enjoys widespread respect among religious and secular journalists.

Warner "helped ABP to emerge at a time when the Southern Baptist Convention's news service was no longer willing or able to provide the kind of reliable news that Baptists expected," said Baptist historian Walter Shurden, a professor at Mercer University. "He has made a difference in religious journalism."

"Greg shaped a press organization that has achieved excellence in detail and thoroughness," said historian Bill Leonard, dean of the divinity school at Wake Forest University. "He exercised great courage in guiding a new organization out of the fragmentation of denominational controversy and schism."

ABP remains the only independent, daily news agency that reports on and for Baptists. Others are either periodicals or are controlled and funded by denominational organizations.

Charles Overby, president of the Freedom Forum and Newseum and Pulitzer Prize-winning former editor of the Jackson, Miss., Clarion-Ledger, was chairman of the first ABP board, which hired Warner. "Greg has demonstrated what good journalism is all about," he said. "He is aggressive, fair and -- above all -- honest. He defines Christian journalism. He showed a Baptist can report about Baptist affairs with credibility. His leadership gave ABP a large national following. He is the reason that ABP has survived and succeeded for all these years."

Others agreed. "Greg Warner has played a historic role within the Baptist family as the founding editor of Associated Baptist Press," said Daniel Vestal, executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. "His commitment to a free Baptist press and to journalistic integrity has been a valuable and valued contribution."

Likewise, prominent secular religion editors and reporters praised Warner's work and character.

"From the time I first started on the religion beat, Greg was a great source and informative guide to the world of Southern Baptists," said Mark Pinsky, former religion editor for the Orlando Sentinel and author of several books on faith and culture. "In his soft-spoken way, he provided insight and humor to what was often a rancorous story. Over time, he became my friend as well."

Gustav Niebuhr, a professor of religion and media at Syracuse University and former religion reporter for several prominent newspapers including the New York Times and the Washington Post, said he would miss Warner's byline.

"I consider Greg to be a paragon of ethical, enterprising and courageous journalism. He is one of the people who has really stood up for the free flow -- and fearless flow -- of information about religious affairs in this country at a time when that is oh-so-necessary, as it will continue to be," he said. "I believe he has made a great contribution to journalism in establishing Associated Baptist Press and that will be an institution that I think will define him for many of us who have had the good, good fortune to know him."

Adelle Banks, a reporter who covers Baptists for Religion News Service, said she would miss his presence at denominational meetings. "I have learned from his stories and appreciated his professional presence in the newsroom of the annual Southern Baptist Convention," she said. "I admire his ability to meet the demands and necessary diligence of journalism as he dealt with a most difficult condition, and am sorry he has reached a point where he feels that is not currently possible."

Although Warner was born in Upstate New York, he was raised in Lakeland, Fla. He graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland and earned master's degrees in divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and in journalism from the University of North Texas.

He began his journalism career while still in college, with one foot in each of the worlds of secular and Christian journalism. He worked in photography for the Florida United Methodist Conference, but also worked as a sports reporter for the Lakeland Ledger, his hometown newspaper.

While in seminary at Southwestern, Warner was a news writer in the school's public-relations office. In 1980, he became news coordinator for the now-defunct Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission, also in Fort Worth.

In 1985, he moved back to his home state to become associate editor of the Florida Baptist Witness, based in Jacksonville. Warner held that position until he was hired to head ABP, which is still headquartered in Jacksonville.

His wife, Cheryl, is the rehabilitation manager for Baptist Health Systems, which operates four hospitals in the Jacksonville area. Their two adult children are both students. Dane, 25, lives in Jacksonville, and Shawn, 22, is in Austin, Texas.

The Warners are longtime members of Jacksonville's Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church.

ABP leaders said the organization is already moving forward with creating a new position -- executive director -- to handle Warner's administrative and development duties while creating a separate managing editor's position to oversee daily operation of the news side of the agency's business.

"As sad as it is to leave this ministry, I truly am excited about the future of ABP," Warner said. "The proposed staff structure and our new partnerships are just what ABP needs to make the most of our opportunities. And I'll do anything I can to ensure that success."

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Reports: Several dead in India after Hindu-Christian clashes
By ABP staff

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) -- At least six people have died in clashes between Christians and Hindus in the Indian state of Orissa, Reuters reported Aug. 27.

However, accounts coming into the Baptist World Alliance claim the death toll in ongoing violence triggered by the death of a Hindu leader has reached at least 25.

The BWA also reported Aug. 26 that, in the region, more than 600 churches have been demolished and about 4,000 Christians have been forced to flee from their villages.

Laxmananda Saraswati and four others were killed in an attack that reportedly took place Aug. 23. Police have said the attackers were Maoist insurgents, but some Hindus in the area blamed Christians. The government has closed schools and imposed a curfew in the Kandhamal district of Orissa, where most of the violence has taken place.

According to the BWA, the insurgents claimed responsibility for the attack. But that claim has not stopped Hindu fundamentalists from retaliating against Christians in the area. Saraswati and his followers reportedly were connected to the World Hindu Council and had been leading an effort to draw Indians away from Christianity.

News reports indicate that mobs have set fire to Christian churches and prayer halls. A nun died and a pastor was hurt when fire swept an orphanage in the Bargarh District. Apparently none of the 21 children housed there died.

In an Aug. 26 e-mail to the BWA, Swarupananda Patra, General Secretary of the All Orissa Baptist Churches Federation, said, "All Christian villages [are] empty in Kandhamal as Christians, old and young, sick and pregnant mothers [are] hiding in forests exposed to the non-stop monsoon rains without food."

Kandhamal is the hardest hit, with at least eight Christians killed and almost all Christian homes demolished, he reported.

"I appeal to the governing authorities in India to intervene to save the lives of the many who are being victimized in the current crisis," BWA General Secretary Neville Callam said in a press release. "Respect for the principle of religious liberty and the sacredness of human life requires nothing less.

"I also appeal to all Baptists worldwide to pray God's protection for our brothers and sisters in Orissa."

Orissa has been the site of significant sectarian violence in recent years. In December 2007, approximately 90 churches and 600 homes were burned in several attacks, some of which took place on Christmas Eve. Approximately 10 people were killed in the incidents.

In 1999, an Australian Christian missionary and his two children died in Orissa when Hindu militants set fire to their vehicle.

Orissa, which lies along the Bay of Bengal in eastern India, is overwhelmingly Hindu, but also is home to one of the largest Baptist communities in Asia. In the state, several Baptist conventions and unions affiliated with the BWA claim nearly 500,000 baptized believers and approximately 3,500 churches.

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Former IMB leader takes Kansas City DOM post
By Vicki Brown

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) -- A former high-ranking International Mission Board leader who resigned over policy concerns has accepted an associational director's position in Missouri.

The executive board of the Blue River-Kansas City Baptist Association called Rodney Hammer as the organization's fifth executive director Aug. 19.

In May, Hammer resigned after eight years as IMB's regional leader for Central and Eastern Europe. He cited disagreement with controversial guidelines the board enacted in 2005 regarding new missionary candidates.

The guidelines prohibit appointment of those who acknowledge engaging in a "private prayer language" -- a version of speaking in tongues -- and require candidates to have been baptized in a church with an understanding of baptism identical to that in most Southern Baptist churches. The IMB will not recognize believer's baptism by immersion if done in a denomination with a differently nuanced baptismal doctrine.

In a letter to missionaries in his region at the time, Hammer said he disagreed with the "unnecessary, extra-biblical narrowing of parameters for Southern Baptist cooperation in the Great Commission [the guidelines] represent."

His resignation triggered a group of current and former missionaries, former board trustees and pastors to issue a statement calling for the IMB to reverse its stand.

Hammer was appointed in 1990 as strategy coordinator for China with Cooperative Services International, the IMB's former relief and development arm. He was named as regional leader in 1999.

He and his family are in the process of relocating from Prague, Czech Republic, and have not set a specific date to begin his service in Kansas City.

Hammer earned an undergraduate degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and a graduate degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. While in Kansas City, he served on staff at Maywood Baptist Church and was a church planter for the neighboring Clay-Platte Baptist Association, which includes churches in the parts of the Kansas City metropolitan area that lie north of the Missouri River.

Blue River-Kansas City Baptist Association includes about 130 churches.

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Family vacation centers on missions and serving
By Sue Sprenkle

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (ABP) -- Four families packed a church van and headed on summer vacation. Although they only drove a few hours to Kansas City, Kan., this was no ordinary vacation for these Missourians.

This vacation was about sharing God's love through mission projects.

"What more can you ask for? You get to have fun and tell people about Jesus at the same time," 8-year-old Matthew Black said. "It makes you have such a joy in your heart. I'd do it again -- any time, any place."

Black and his family joined more than 100 other volunteers at FamilyFEST, a hands-on missions opportunity for families sponsored by Woman's Missionary Union July 21-26. The volunteers, ranging in age from 4 to 72 and representing 10 states, did everything from painting and construction to servant ministries to backyard Bible clubs in the Kansas City area.

With rising gas prices, Gena Brown said her family knew they would need to stay close to home this year. So, four families -- almost half of their small church in Richland, Mo. -- decided to pool their vacation money and do something as part of God's work.

Brown admits that she was not sure how taking young kids would work on a mission trip.

"I was afraid they'd get bored or tired," she said. "But they've loved every second of this. The older kids are already talking about what we can do back home for mission projects in our own community.

"That's exactly what we had hoped for," she continued. "We wanted to open the kids' eyes, as well as our own, to God's will for us to serve others and share his love."

Twenty-one members of Osawatomie (Kan.) Baptist Church took vacation time as well to cross the state line into Missouri and repair a church. Melissa Cooke, an Osawatomie member, said her congregation decided to participate in FamilyFEST as a way to "give back" what they've received.

Almost a year ago, floods flowed through the Kansas town. Soon after, volunteers came to assist. Cooke said volunteers helped at the church, and the church served as a host site.

"Those volunteers were a good example of service to us. They planted the missions seed in our congregation," she said. "When FamilyFEST came to our area, we knew it was the perfect opportunity for us to give back. The appeal of this particular missions trip was that it was aimed for families."

Cooke's three children worked alongside her and her husband, Brian, throughout the week. Eleven-year-old Shelby Cooke and her dad joined the youth group to paint hallways and stairwells.

"Dad, I bet the church people are surprised when they see this," Shelby said, while painting the stairwell a vibrant red. "I think they will feel loved just like we felt loved."

Many FamilyFEST projects centered around fixing old church buildings or giving them a facelift. Donnie Simpson, director of missions for the Kansas City, Kansas, Baptist Association, said projects such as these are vital for small churches.

"Ministering to our churches is vital. There are not a lot of Baptist churches in this area ... and they can use all of the encouragement they can get," Simpson explained. "Many of these small churches don't have the resources or manpower to paint or do door-to-door visitation.

"Just by interacting with church members, FamilyFEST volunteers offered encouragement and blessings. The volunteers did things the churches only dream of being able to do," Simpson added.

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Opinion: Torture: A moral issue
By David Gushee

(ABP) -- We live in a time and culture in which genuine moral discourse is rapidly disappearing --swallowed up by partisanship, spin, politics and self-interest.

By "moral discourse" I mean conversation between persons of good will about the rightness or wrongness of an action or policy, independent of all other considerations. By extension, Christian moral discourse would be conversation between Christian persons of good will about the rightness or wrongness of an action, independent of all considerations other than those deriving from our shared commitment to Jesus Christ.

That applies to torture.

For two years, I have led an evangelical human-rights organization that primarily exists to foster moral discourse about the rightness or wrongness of the United States' treatment of detainees held in our nation's military and security efforts since 9/11. Those of us involved in this effort became persuaded two years ago that numerous aspects of U.S. detainee policy were morally wrong. The most important thing that was wrong with that policy was that officials within the United States government had decided to authorize the cruel and abusive treatment of at least "high-value" detainees. This determination was rooted in the questionable belief that this was the best way to get important information out of them during interrogations.

Published accounts of the particular kinds of harm inflicted on detainees have now emerged from a variety of credible sources -- including government investigations, the Red Cross, previously secret government records and interviews with those who witnessed what happened. In a number of cases, detainees were treated so cruelly and abusively that -- by any recognizable historic definition -- they were tortured. These judgments were made at the time by dissenters within the government with firsthand knowledge of what was occurring.

Our shared identity as Christians and shared commitment to following Christ is what drove Evangelicals for Human Rights toward taking a stand on this issue. As evangelical Christians, committed to Jesus Christ and seeking to live out our faith in him, we could not remain silent. We could not square living for the tortured and crucified Savior with supporting the torture of human beings. Nor could we accept that we should remain silent, because silence signals acquiescence.

For us, torture became a moral issue, and remains a moral issue. It is a moral issue if it happens in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Syria, Cuba, Zimbabwe or in any other of the 190 or so countries on the planet. It is a moral issue if it is being inflicted by our citizens or upon our citizens, by our fellow-believers or upon our fellow-believers. We dream of a world -- and therefore work for a world -- in which no one ever tortures anyone for any reason ever again.

Since the beginning of our effort we have faced critics who could not accept that any group could take such a stance without an ulterior motive. Rarely willing to offer full-throated defense of torture, our critics most often tried to attack our motives, charging that we were politically motivated -- simply leftists in Christian clothing, peaceniks unconcerned with American security.

Such attacks do not fare well when one considers what has now been revealed about the bitter internal struggles within most executive-branch agencies, the intelligence community and the military about the slide into abusive and cruel interrogation practices after 2001. Large numbers of Republican political appointees, together with career military officers of high rank and long-serving non-partisan civil servants, rose up in resistance against this decisive turn against American values.

This story is told extraordinarily well by Jane Mayer in her critically important new book, The Dark Side. Every American, every Christian, should read it. It was encouraging to me to know that at the very same time that "Christian" critics were charging evangelical human-rights activists with being unpatriotic leftist peaceniks, military and civilian officials within the Bush Administration were declaring in fierce arguments that what was happening was torture and that torture is simply immoral.

I leave it to those Christians who defended -- and still defend -- such policies to explain themselves before God and man.

A representative group of those who have stood against torture will be gathering at Mercer University in Atlanta for a national summit on torture on September 11-12. Hosted by the university, Evangelicals for Human Rights, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and a dozen other co-sponsors of various faiths and perspectives, our conference will explore "Religious Faith, Torture, and Our National Soul." Almost 50 conference leaders will reflect on our nation's wrong turn and the steps needed to return us decisively to our core national values. Registration closes September 1 and seating is by now extremely limited. Review the program lineup and register at www.evangelicalsforhumanrights.org .

Hopefully, this particular issue will soon pass from the scene. But when the next one comes up, will Christians be any more equipped than the last time to deal with a moral issue for what it is, precisely as a moral issue demanding a faithful Christian response, rather than default to the diatribes offered on talk radio?

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-- David Gushee is distinguished university professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University. http://www.davidpgushee.com/