.jpg)
E-mail
Print
RSS
G-bookmarks
Live
TechnoratiThe convocation, part of Carter's new Baptist voice initiative, is expected to draw more than 20,000 Baptist participants from throughout the United States and Canada in an effort to counter the negative and judgmental image of Baptists.
Notably absent from the convocation, however, will be leaders from the largest Baptist group in America – the Southern Baptist Convention.
Conservative Southern Baptist leaders have been critical of the list of speakers lined up for the New Baptist Covenant celebration. Along with Carter, former president Bill Clinton, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former vice president Al Gore, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Charles Grassley, and Children's Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman are among those scheduled to speak at the meeting.
SBC president Frank Page has said he will not take part in a "smokescreen leftwing liberal agenda" and others have alleged there are political overtones, considering the line-up of speakers and the timing of the event – which takes place during the U.S. presidential election year.
Organizers of the New Baptist Covenant, including Bill Underwood – president of Mercer University – have denied any political motives and instead emphasized the compassion platform they will be pushing.
9. Spotlight on ‘Prosperity’
The "prosperity gospel," a highly criticized theology that teaches wealth is a sign of God's blessing, drew greater attention from the media this year, especially as the 2007 drew to a close.
Six prosperity preachers are currently under investigation for allegedly abusing their non-profit status to shield lavish lifestyles. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has requested financial statements and responses to questions about personal and organizational finances from ministries led by Paula and Randy White, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, and Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. The deadline to turn over the papers was Dec. 6.
"More and more people are desperate and grasping at straws and want something that will alleviate their pain or financial crisis," said Michael Palmer, dean of the divinity school at Regent University, according to AP. "It's a growing problem."
Dr. Robert M. Franklin, author of Crisis in the Village, which released this year, says the greatest threat to many black churches is the "prosperity gospel" movement.
"I am convinced that the single greatest threat to the historical legacy and core values of the contemporary black church tradition is posed by what is known as the 'prosperity gospel' movement," he writes in his book, explaining that the black church has assimilated into a culture that is hostile to marginalized people, such as the poor, the HIV-infected, homosexuals and immigrants.
According to Franklin, one-fourth of the black community lives in poverty. But many churches are devoting more time to "building their local kingdoms" and less time aiding and uplifting the poor.
Also taking note of the "prosperity gospel" movement this year was the popular news program “20/20,” which ran a segment on televangelists titled “Enough!” about how ministries spend their congregants’ offerings.
The program prompted the Rev. Frederick K.C. Price, pastor and founder of Crenshaw Christian Center, to file a lawsuit against “20/20,” criticizing it for “one of the most outrageous instances of 'out of context' editing in the history of television." Continue »
apex1 »
Agree: 
Disagree: 
