Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 21, 1995 TAG: 9501260028
SECTION: RELIGION PAGE: 9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The University of Richmond and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., have dropped their affiliation with the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools.
While stressing that the University of Richmond is maintaining its historic ties with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, university spokesmen said the school had not been active in the Southern Baptist group for some time.
The Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools is a national organization that promotes the interests of member schools.
"Richmond has never perceived itself as a Southern Baptist institution. It has gladly seen itself as a Virginia Baptist school," said university chaplain David Burhans. Others at the university have reportedly been upset by descriptions of the school as a "conservative Southern Baptist" institution by some college guides in recent years.
Wake Forest University traditionally has been linked with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Both schools have come under periodic attack from some elements of their state Baptist associations that have accused them of being too liberal or of flouting their religious roots.
New channel added
The Roanoke Valley Ministers Conference has won a victory in its three-year effort to add the Faith and Values Channel to the offerings of Cox Cable Television, which serves most of the Roanoke Valley.
Subscribers to the Salem Cable company have been receiving the channel for several years.
Faith and Values, which incorporates a former Southern Baptist Acts Channel, is an educational TV series of programs for the interfaith religious community. The Rev. Nicholas Bacalis, in making the announcement to the board of the conference this week, noted that no fund-raising, proselitizing or political positions are permitted by those presenting programs on the channel. The channel offerings, he said, are intended to be broad in scope and cover more than the evangelical Christian positions promoted by most TV programs aimed at the religious community.
The conference has sought unsuccessfully since 1991 to have Cox add the Faith and Values Channel.The station maintained that no demand for it had been expressed. Beginning last summer the ecumenical and interfaith conference began a campaign to ask members of their congregations to write the station requesting inclusion of the religion channel. Bacalis said he believes this helped bring about the addition of the channel Feb. 1.
Gospel concert
Gospel singer David L. Cook will be in concert March 11 at the Roanoke Valley Cathedral of Praise. Concert managers, the American Musical Academy of Arts Association, plan to film a video to accompany Cook's latest release, ``My Song,'' on the night of the concert.
Churches that plan to organize groups to attend should confirm seating with the Church of God State offices (362-1549) or the AMAAA (800-850-3463). Tickets will not be sold for the concert or filming, but a love offering will be taken, and everyone is asked to bring either an article of clothing or food to be donated to the homeless of the Roanoke area.
Workshop aids needy
The Virginia Council of Churches, based in Richmond, will sponsor a Bread and Stones workshop Feb. 26 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Grove United Methodist Church in Radford.
The program is sponsored by the Radford-Fairlawn Ministerial Association but is open to any church people seeking ways to help children and families through parish programs. The $5 cost of the workshop covers a manual.
The ecumenical council is conducting the workshops over a three-year period; one was held earlier in Roanoke. A goal is to educate congregations to the needs of children and to motivate church members to begin and support programs that can make a difference in the lives of young people.
Registration may be made by sending the fee to Bread and Stones, 1740 Tyler Road, Christiansburg, Va., 24073.
Added to lawsuit
LOS ANGELES - A judge permitted two Roman Catholic medical groups to join lawsuits challenging the legality of Proposition 187, which would deny state services to undocumented immigrants.
U.S. District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer said the California Association of Catholic Hospitals and the Catholic Health Association of the United States could intervene on behalf of a plaintiff represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Lawyers for the state argued that the associations should not be allowed to intervene because there are already too many plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
But Linda Peterson, an attorney for the hospital groups, said her clients did not believe the other plaintiffs represented her clients' religious beliefs.
Peterson said the hospital groups are opposed to Proposition 187 requirements that hospitals check the immigration status of patients before admitting them.
``They feel everybody is entitled to medical assistance,'' she said.
Proposition 187, which would deny education and medical services to undocumented immigrants, was overwhelmingly passed by California voters in the Nov. 8 election. Several lawsuits have held up its implementation.
Change in law sought
JOPLIN, Mo. - A city ordinance has allowed churches to prevent nearby establishments from serving liquor, but several restaurant owners think it's time for a change.
``I question it,'' said Tom Danner of T.J. Mots Restaurant. ``It's like allowing a single belief to govern the economics of the downtown area.''
T.J. Mots is one of three restaurants in the city's central business district that has tried recently to get permission from the Central Christian Center for a liquor license.
The district in recent years has attracted more restaurants, including some that have extended their hours to night service and added - or want to add - liquor to their menus.
The ordinance, which dates back to the 1940s, prohibits liquor sales at businesses within 300 feet of a church unless church directors give written approval.
``We didn't lobby for these laws, but they're in place and they protect us and the children who attend our church,'' said Gary Shaw, executive director of the Christian Center.
Shaw maintains approval of the liquor licenses would sanction a practice the church opposes.
``We as a church just cannot say OK and issue a letter saying it's fine for them to sell liquor,'' Shaw said.
Cardinal offers to resign
NEW YORK - Having turned 75, Cardinal John O'Connor has duly offered to resign - but the Vatican says ``Not yet, thanks.''
Roman Catholic Church officials traveling in Asia with Pope John Paul II said because O'Connor is in good health the pontiff will not immediately accept his resignation, and that O'Connor will remain in office well beyond his birthday.
The officials did not say exactly how far beyond, but in recent years the pope has allowed bishops to stay up to a year after they reached the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Under a rule created by Pope Paul VI, a bishop must submit his resignation when he turns 75.
O'Connor didn't respond to the news from Asia on Monday, and he didn't mention his letter to the pope when he celebrated Mass Sunday at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
But afterward he told reporters he was feeling ``great joy, great serenity and a perfect willingness to see what happens.''
Asked what the future holds, he said: ``This is the one time in my life when I can say I don't know. I usually can pretend that I know something about everything, but this one time I don't, because it's exclusively, uniquely the decision of the Holy Father.''
by CNB