Southern Baptists worried about declining baptism rates

Freethinker · 10th June 2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

In 2007, Southern Baptist churches reported 345,941 baptisms. down 5 percent from 364,826 in 2006. It was the third straight year that the number of baptisms fell and the lowest total since 1987.That's down 12% from 2002 and 22% from 1972.

http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/...ling-baptisms/

Outgoing president Frank Page blames that on their lack of love for Jesus.

I blame it on a reduction in the number of gullible fools willing to fall for the SBC's particularly stupid delusion.

DOC · 10th June 2008, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Freethinker

http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/...ling-baptisms/

Outgoing president Frank Page blames that on their lack of love for Jesus.

I blame it on a reduction in the number of gullible fools willing to fall for the SBC's particularly stupid delusion.

It could be due to the declining birth rate. Less births = Less baptisms. Also, all those birth control pills and abortions are having an effect.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/census...abirthrate.htm

If it wasn't for immigrants, our population would be in trouble down the line. And immigrants are less likely to be Southern Baptist.

Billdave2 · 10th June 2008, 09:31 AM

I can think of 10 or 12 baptisms a year they lost a few years back when they kicked our church out of the SBC. We commited the grave crime of allowing women to be ministers and excepting baptism's from other denominations. Our Church on the other hand was losing members to the new Mega-church, but are starting to get some of them back. I have a good friend from high school who had been a Baptist minister for almost 20 years, who gave up his church and switched to being a Methodist, because he couldn't stand the fundamentalist direction the SBC has taken over the last few years.

thaiboxerken · 10th June 2008, 09:36 AM

Declining baptisms! YAY!

slingblade · 10th June 2008, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by DOC

It could be due to the declining birth rate. Less births = Less baptisms.

First, it's "fewer," not "less."

Second, a decline in the birth rate will likely have some effect on every area of demographics, but it's hard to see how that could account for a significant number, or be a prime factor in the decline of Southern Baptist church membership.

Quote:

Also, all those birth control pills and abortions are having an effect.

Southern Baptist women are great advocates of abortion, are they? I wouldn't have thought so, myself.

Quote:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/census...abirthrate.htm

If it wasn't for immigrants, our population would be in trouble down the line. And immigrants are less likely to be Southern Baptist.

What sort of trouble?

SirPhilip · 10th June 2008, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by slingblade

First, it's "fewer," not "less."

This is among the most humorously anal retentive semantic punts I've ever seen on here if it's serious.

Complexity · 10th June 2008, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by slingblade

First, it's "fewer," not "less."

Thank you, slingblade!

'birth' is a count noun, not a mass noun.

'baptism' is a count noun, not a mass noun. Wish it weren't a word at all, but so it goes.

These things matter.

Freethinker · 10th June 2008, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by DOC

It could be due to the declining birth rate. Less births = Less baptisms. Also, all those birth control pills and abortions are having an effect.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/census...abirthrate.htm

If it wasn't for immigrants, our population would be in trouble down the line. And immigrants are less likely to be Southern Baptist.

You would be well served to read about the "Great Commission" Immigrants would be a pool of new potential converts for an evangelical church.

DoubtingStephen · 10th June 2008, 09:22 PM

Does not worry me a bit.

I blame it on all of the hatred and bigotry they spew. Kids recognize that crap much faster than adults do.

For example, the number of SBC dogmas supporting gay marriage is zero at the most, while the percentage of high school kids that support gay marriage is now more than 2/3. That is an enormous gap and it certainly does not meet SBC minimum bigotry standards.

When kids today want to see dinosaurs they can just go to a museum, or use The Google.

Fundamentalist Disorder just isn't very trendy these days.

Beerina · 11th June 2008, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by Billdave2

I can think of 10 or 12 baptisms a year they lost a few years back when they kicked our church out of the SBC. We commited the grave crime of allowing women to be ministers and excepting baptism's from other denominations. Our Church on the other hand was losing members to the new Mega-church, but are starting to get some of them back. I have a good friend from high school who had been a Baptist minister for almost 20 years, who gave up his church and switched to being a Methodist, because he couldn't stand the fundamentalist direction the SBC has taken over the last few years.

Well, ya know, Paul did say he "doesn't allow women to prophesy, *wink* *wink*"

DoubtingStephen · 11th June 2008, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Beerina

Well, ya know, Paul did say he "doesn't allow women to prophesy, *wink* *wink*"

Paul really had some issues with women, I think he was deep enough in denial to be a Bishop, or maybe even a Cardinal.

pgwenthold · 11th June 2008, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen

I blame it on all of the hatred and bigotry they spew. Kids recognize that crap much faster than adults do.

For example, the number of SBC dogmas supporting gay marriage is zero at the most, while the percentage of high school kids that support gay marriage is now more than 2/3

Oh, don't think the bigots don't know this. This is why it is important for them to pass anti-gay marriage legislation NOW NOW NOW before it is too late.

They know darn well that in 20 years, no one will give a rat's patoot. It is now or never for anti-gay legislation.

GreyICE · 11th June 2008, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen

Paul really had some issues with women, I think he was deep enough in denial to be a Bishop, or maybe even a Cardinal.

Paul was deep enough in denial it qualifies as a miracle that he didn't drown or get eaten by crocodiles.

Henners · 11th June 2008, 11:09 AM

Declining baptisms?

Be afraid.

Darth Rotor · 11th June 2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by pgwenthold

Oh, don't think the bigots don't know this. This is why it is important for them to pass anti-gay marriage legislation NOW NOW NOW before it is too late.

They know darn well that in 20 years, no one will give a rat's patoot. It is now or never for anti-gay legislation.

How do you say rat's patoot in Chinese?

Take my love
Take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care
I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me

DoubtingStephen · 11th June 2008, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Darth Rotor

Take my love
Take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care
I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me

Wow, Darth, your message gave me a powerful feeling of Serenity

Darth Rotor · 11th June 2008, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen

Wow, Darth, your message gave me a powerful feeling of Serenity

It was supposed to come with a coupon for 20% off of a brown coat, but our local austerity and environmental policy has us killing fewer trees.

America's Third Party: The Browncoats.

Something like a Libertarian with more common sense, and a cool spaceship. And my favorite mechanic.

DoubtingStephen · 11th June 2008, 12:28 PM

I rather fancied the pilot, though the captain was nay hard to look at.

Darth Rotor · 11th June 2008, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen

I rather fancied the pilot, .

Beware Zoe, she's been know to shoot people!

Quote:

though the captain was nay hard to look at

A handsome man, no question. Your competition might be his female groupies, not to mention a certain classy, interplanetary call girl . . .

Another reason to grit one's teeth when Fox is mentioned: they really screwed it up with that series. Not sure how many seasons Joss could have milked out of that, but I think at least as many as Angel, if not as many as Buffy. As it is, I think he wrapped it up well with the film. What a great kiss goodbye that was.

JoeEllison · 11th June 2008, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen

Does not worry me a bit.

I blame it on all of the hatred and bigotry they spew. Kids recognize that crap much faster than adults do.

For example, the number of SBC dogmas supporting gay marriage is zero at the most, while the percentage of high school kids that support gay marriage is now more than 2/3. That is an enormous gap and it certainly does not meet SBC minimum bigotry standards.

When kids today want to see dinosaurs they can just go to a museum, or use The Google.

Fundamentalist Disorder just isn't very trendy these days.

Part of the "fun" for those of us who are rational is watching them "circle the wagons" by way of reaffirming their most fundamental(and fundamentalist) beliefs. Yesterday, the SBC elected a new, more hard-line president... just the thing to drive away even more younger people and religious moderates.

These kinds of organizations are becoming more and more irrelevant, which makes them more radicalized and dangerous in the short term. In the big picture, they have already lost the "culture war" they themselves started.

Darth Rotor · 12th June 2008, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by JoeEllison

Part of the "fun" for those of us who are rational is watching them "circle the wagons" by way of reaffirming their most fundamental(and fundamentalist) beliefs. Yesterday, the SBC elected a new, more hard-line president... just the thing to drive away even more younger people and religious moderates.

These kinds of organizations are becoming more and more irrelevant, which makes them more radicalized and dangerous in the short term. In the big picture, they have already lost the "culture war" they themselves started.

Your post triggered the word "fundies" in my brain, and looking at the word made me chuckle.

Are the Fundies? (Bakker model money making churches)

Fundies (The no drink, no dance, humorless sorts I've run into over the years.)

I doubt I am the first to come up with this jest, but it amuses me anyway.

DR

Patsy · 12th June 2008, 09:00 AM

I rather wonder if this isn't the bit that really worries them:

Quote:

The mission board also is facing financial challenges. It had hoped to raise $165 million during 2007. It pulled in $150.4 million, a record, but still more than $14 million short.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...baptists_N.htm

10th June 2008, 08:55 AM	#1
Freethinker Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Uncanny Valley Posts: 1,358	Southern Baptists worried about declining baptism rates Quote: In 2007, Southern Baptist churches reported 345,941 baptisms. down 5 percent from 364,826 in 2006. It was the third straight year that the number of baptisms fell and the lowest total since 1987.That's down 12% from 2002 and 22% from 1972. http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/...ling-baptisms/ Outgoing president Frank Page blames that on their lack of love for Jesus. I blame it on a reduction in the number of gullible fools willing to fall for the SBC's particularly stupid delusion.
	__________________ "Did it indeed seem probable, as he had once overheard Dunbar ask, that the answers to the riddles of creation would be supplied by people too ignorant to understand the mechanics of rainfall? Had Almighty God, in all His infinite wisdom, really been afraid that men six thousand years ago would succeed in building a tower to heaven?" Thoughts of the Chaplain in Heller's Catch-22

10th June 2008, 09:31 AM	#3
Billdave2 Muse Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Anderson, South Carolina Posts: 591	I can think of 10 or 12 baptisms a year they lost a few years back when they kicked our church out of the SBC. We commited the grave crime of allowing women to be ministers and excepting baptism's from other denominations. Our Church on the other hand was losing members to the new Mega-church, but are starting to get some of them back. I have a good friend from high school who had been a Baptist minister for almost 20 years, who gave up his church and switched to being a Methodist, because he couldn't stand the fundamentalist direction the SBC has taken over the last few years.
	__________________ “Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.” -Winston Churchill "Universal affirmatives can only be partially converted: all of Alma Cogan is dead, but only some of the class of dead people are Alma Cogan." - A Professional Logician

10th June 2008, 09:36 AM	#4
thaiboxerken Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 20,963	Declining baptisms! YAY!
	__________________ All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power & profit - Thomas Paine

10th June 2008, 09:53 AM	#5
slingblade Guest Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 23,642	Originally Posted by DOC It could be due to the declining birth rate. Less births = Less baptisms. First, it's "fewer," not "less." Second, a decline in the birth rate will likely have some effect on every area of demographics, but it's hard to see how that could account for a significant number, or be a prime factor in the decline of Southern Baptist church membership. Quote: Also, all those birth control pills and abortions are having an effect. Southern Baptist women are great advocates of abortion, are they? I wouldn't have thought so, myself. Quote: http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/census...abirthrate.htm If it wasn't for immigrants, our population would be in trouble down the line. And immigrants are less likely to be Southern Baptist. What sort of trouble?
slingblade Guest Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 23,642	Last edited by slingblade; 10th June 2008 at 09:55 AM.

10th June 2008, 10:03 AM	#6
SirPhilip Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Athens, Ohio Posts: 2,444	Originally Posted by slingblade First, it's "fewer," not "less." This is among the most humorously anal retentive semantic punts I've ever seen on here if it's serious.
	__________________ "The head of the love organ is shaped exactly like a poisonous rattlesnake. And just like a rattlesnake, it's always looking for a hole." - Sun Myung Moon "There are social darwinism principles to uphold here." - Me Last edited by SirPhilip; 10th June 2008 at 10:06 AM.

10th June 2008, 09:27 AM	#2
DOC Philosopher Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 7,744	Originally Posted by Freethinker http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/...ling-baptisms/ Outgoing president Frank Page blames that on their lack of love for Jesus. I blame it on a reduction in the number of gullible fools willing to fall for the SBC's particularly stupid delusion. It could be due to the declining birth rate. Less births = Less baptisms. Also, all those birth control pills and abortions are having an effect. http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/census...abirthrate.htm If it wasn't for immigrants, our population would be in trouble down the line. And immigrants are less likely to be Southern Baptist.

10th June 2008, 10:21 AM	#7
Complexity The Woo Whisperer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 9,263	Originally Posted by slingblade First, it's "fewer," not "less." Thank you, slingblade! 'birth' is a count noun, not a mass noun. 'baptism' is a count noun, not a mass noun. Wish it weren't a word at all, but so it goes. These things matter.
	__________________ "It is a great nuisance that knowledge can only be acquired by hard work." - W. Somerset Maugham "Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible; thought is merciless to privilege, established intuititions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man." - Bertrand Russell Last edited by Complexity; 10th June 2008 at 10:22 AM.

10th June 2008, 11:14 AM	#8
Freethinker Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Uncanny Valley Posts: 1,358	Originally Posted by DOC It could be due to the declining birth rate. Less births = Less baptisms. Also, all those birth control pills and abortions are having an effect. http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/census...abirthrate.htm If it wasn't for immigrants, our population would be in trouble down the line. And immigrants are less likely to be Southern Baptist. You would be well served to read about the "Great Commission" Immigrants would be a pool of new potential converts for an evangelical church.
	__________________ "Did it indeed seem probable, as he had once overheard Dunbar ask, that the answers to the riddles of creation would be supplied by people too ignorant to understand the mechanics of rainfall? Had Almighty God, in all His infinite wisdom, really been afraid that men six thousand years ago would succeed in building a tower to heaven?" Thoughts of the Chaplain in Heller's Catch-22

10th June 2008, 09:22 PM	#9
DoubtingStephen Queer Propagandist Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,548	Does not worry me a bit. I blame it on all of the hatred and bigotry they spew. Kids recognize that crap much faster than adults do. For example, the number of SBC dogmas supporting gay marriage is zero at the most, while the percentage of high school kids that support gay marriage is now more than 2/3. That is an enormous gap and it certainly does not meet SBC minimum bigotry standards. When kids today want to see dinosaurs they can just go to a museum, or use The Google. Fundamentalist Disorder just isn't very trendy these days.
	__________________ God Hates Mixed Fibers God Hates Barbers God Hates Crustaceans

11th June 2008, 07:31 AM	#10
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: A floating island above the clouds Posts: 23,835	Originally Posted by Billdave2 I can think of 10 or 12 baptisms a year they lost a few years back when they kicked our church out of the SBC. We commited the grave crime of allowing women to be ministers and excepting baptism's from other denominations. Our Church on the other hand was losing members to the new Mega-church, but are starting to get some of them back. I have a good friend from high school who had been a Baptist minister for almost 20 years, who gave up his church and switched to being a Methodist, because he couldn't stand the fundamentalist direction the SBC has taken over the last few years. Well, ya know, Paul did say he "doesn't allow women to prophesy, wink wink"
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

11th June 2008, 07:42 AM	#11
DoubtingStephen Queer Propagandist Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,548	Originally Posted by Beerina Well, ya know, Paul did say he "doesn't allow women to prophesy, wink wink" Paul really had some issues with women, I think he was deep enough in denial to be a Bishop, or maybe even a Cardinal.
	__________________ God Hates Mixed Fibers God Hates Barbers God Hates Crustaceans

11th June 2008, 08:53 AM	#12
pgwenthold Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 12,068	Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen I blame it on all of the hatred and bigotry they spew. Kids recognize that crap much faster than adults do. For example, the number of SBC dogmas supporting gay marriage is zero at the most, while the percentage of high school kids that support gay marriage is now more than 2/3 Oh, don't think the bigots don't know this. This is why it is important for them to pass anti-gay marriage legislation NOW NOW NOW before it is too late. They know darn well that in 20 years, no one will give a rat's patoot. It is now or never for anti-gay legislation.
	__________________ "Baseball is a philosophy. The primordial ooze that once ruled our world has been captured in perpetual motion. Baseball is the moment. Its ever changing patterns are hypnotizing yet invigorating. Baseball is an art form. Classic and at the same time...progressive. Baseball is pre-historic and post-modern. Baseball is here to stay." (Stolen from the side of a lava lamp box, and modified slightly)

11th June 2008, 09:36 AM	#13
GreyICE Guest Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 7,173	Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen Paul really had some issues with women, I think he was deep enough in denial to be a Bishop, or maybe even a Cardinal. Paul was deep enough in denial it qualifies as a miracle that he didn't drown or get eaten by crocodiles.
GreyICE Guest Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 7,173

11th June 2008, 11:09 AM	#14
Henners Muse Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 767	Declining baptisms? Be afraid.
Henners Muse Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 767

11th June 2008, 12:16 PM	#15
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,257	Originally Posted by pgwenthold Oh, don't think the bigots don't know this. This is why it is important for them to pass anti-gay marriage legislation NOW NOW NOW before it is too late. They know darn well that in 20 years, no one will give a rat's patoot. It is now or never for anti-gay legislation. How do you say rat's patoot in Chinese? Take my love Take my land Take me where I cannot stand I don't care I'm still free You can't take the sky from me
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

11th June 2008, 12:23 PM	#16
DoubtingStephen Queer Propagandist Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,548	Originally Posted by Darth Rotor Take my love Take my land Take me where I cannot stand I don't care I'm still free You can't take the sky from me Wow, Darth, your message gave me a powerful feeling of Serenity
	__________________ God Hates Mixed Fibers God Hates Barbers God Hates Crustaceans

11th June 2008, 12:27 PM	#17
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,257	Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen Wow, Darth, your message gave me a powerful feeling of Serenity It was supposed to come with a coupon for 20% off of a brown coat, but our local austerity and environmental policy has us killing fewer trees. America's Third Party: The Browncoats. Something like a Libertarian with more common sense, and a cool spaceship. And my favorite mechanic.
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

11th June 2008, 12:28 PM	#18
DoubtingStephen Queer Propagandist Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,548	I rather fancied the pilot, though the captain was nay hard to look at.
	__________________ God Hates Mixed Fibers God Hates Barbers God Hates Crustaceans

11th June 2008, 12:36 PM	#19
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,257	Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen I rather fancied the pilot, . Beware Zoe, she's been know to shoot people! Quote: though the captain was nay hard to look at A handsome man, no question. Your competition might be his female groupies, not to mention a certain classy, interplanetary call girl . . . Another reason to grit one's teeth when Fox is mentioned: they really screwed it up with that series. Not sure how many seasons Joss could have milked out of that, but I think at least as many as Angel, if not as many as Buffy. As it is, I think he wrapped it up well with the film. What a great kiss goodbye that was.
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis Last edited by Darth Rotor; 11th June 2008 at 12:38 PM.

11th June 2008, 01:02 PM	#20
JoeEllison Cuddly Like a Koala Bear Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 7,276	Originally Posted by DoubtingStephen Does not worry me a bit. I blame it on all of the hatred and bigotry they spew. Kids recognize that crap much faster than adults do. For example, the number of SBC dogmas supporting gay marriage is zero at the most, while the percentage of high school kids that support gay marriage is now more than 2/3. That is an enormous gap and it certainly does not meet SBC minimum bigotry standards. When kids today want to see dinosaurs they can just go to a museum, or use The Google. Fundamentalist Disorder just isn't very trendy these days. Part of the "fun" for those of us who are rational is watching them "circle the wagons" by way of reaffirming their most fundamental(and fundamentalist) beliefs. Yesterday, the SBC elected a new, more hard-line president... just the thing to drive away even more younger people and religious moderates. These kinds of organizations are becoming more and more irrelevant, which makes them more radicalized and dangerous in the short term. In the big picture, they have already lost the "culture war" they themselves started.

12th June 2008, 07:04 AM	#21
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,257	Originally Posted by JoeEllison Part of the "fun" for those of us who are rational is watching them "circle the wagons" by way of reaffirming their most fundamental(and fundamentalist) beliefs. Yesterday, the SBC elected a new, more hard-line president... just the thing to drive away even more younger people and religious moderates. These kinds of organizations are becoming more and more irrelevant, which makes them more radicalized and dangerous in the short term. In the big picture, they have already lost the "culture war" they themselves started. Your post triggered the word "fundies" in my brain, and looking at the word made me chuckle. Are the Fundies? (Bakker model money making churches) Fundies (The no drink, no dance, humorless sorts I've run into over the years.) I doubt I am the first to come up with this jest, but it amuses me anyway. DR
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

12th June 2008, 09:00 AM	#22
Patsy Prickly Desert Denizen Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tucson, where we don't have weather, we have climate Posts: 586	I rather wonder if this isn't the bit that really worries them: Quote: The mission board also is facing financial challenges. It had hoped to raise $165 million during 2007. It pulled in $150.4 million, a record, but still more than $14 million short. http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...baptists_N.htm
	__________________ "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." -- Charles Darwin; Introduction: The Descent of Man