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TBF’s GARRETT STEPS DOWN AFTER 40 YEARS OF MINISTRY

July 8, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — In 2018 the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that the average tenure of an American worker was 4.2 years. If those numbers hold true today, then Teresa Garrett is almost 10 times better than average. Garrett retired June 30 after 40 years of ministry with the Tennessee Baptist Foundation. “We live in a day where working at one organization

SUPREME COURT RULING DISAPPOINTS PRO-LIFERS

July 8, 2020

Baptist Press WASHINGTON — Pro-life leaders expressed deep disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal 29 to uphold a Louisiana law designed to protect the lives and health of women by requiring hospital admitting privileges for doctors who perform abortions. In a 5-4 decision, the high court ruled the law — which mandated a physician must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of a facility where he

TENNESSEE BAPTISTS REFLECT ON TBMB LEADER’S FIRST 10 YEARS

July 7, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Of all people, perhaps David Green is the least surprised at the way Randy C. Davis has led Tennessee Baptists for the past 10 years. Green served as the chairman of the search committee charged with finding a successor to James Porch who was retiring as executive director in June of 2010. Green remembers asking Davis, who had been elected

JOURNEY MARKED WITH JOY, CHANGE

July 7, 2020

TN Baptists Are Celebrating a Decade With Davis By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — In August of 2010, just six weeks after becoming the executive director of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board), Randy C. Davis reflected on his new role in an interview with the Baptist and Reflector. “We have incredible opportunities before us to continue to impact

IMB, TBMB LEADERS URGE CAUTION WHILE ENCOURAGING SUSTAINED COMMITMENT TO MISSIONS

July 6, 2020

By Leslie Peacock Caldwell IMB news office RICHMOND — International Mission Board senior leaders are urging Southern Baptists to use extreme caution if they are considering overseas missions travel for the remainder of 2020. As many countries continue to require quarantines or have not yet opened their borders, travelers could face unexpected circumstances, including quarantines upon re-entering the U.S. The future threat and spread of COVID-19 also remains an unknown

TBC COOPERATIVE PROGRAM GIFTS NEAR BUDGET

July 6, 2020

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,986,768 through the Cooperative Program in June. For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptists have given $22,890,433 through the Cooperative Program missions and ministry giving channel. The amount is $106,212 or 0.5 percent below what was given after eight months last year. The total also is $442,901 or 1.9 percent below budget needs after eight months of the current fiscal year.

C-N ESTABLISHES TEAM TO ASSESS COMMUNITY INCLUSION

June 30, 2020

Carson-Newman news office JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University is organizing a community relations task team to foster unity and awareness within the community and make specific recommendations for improvements that align with the university’s biblical faith and Christian identity. The university seeks to identify and eradicate any policies, procedures or cultural norms that promote racial division; advance healing and reconciliation; and affirm that black lives matter. Carson-Newman’s executive leadership, at

PASTORS DEALING WITH FATIGUE, STRESS

June 29, 2020

Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers offer outlet for renewal By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Since COVID-19 struck in March, most Baptist pastors have had nothing to do since they haven’t been able to preach in person or make hospital visits, right? Wrong! Instead, the last three to four months have created more work and stress than before, say Tennessee Baptist leaders across the state. “Everything a

COVID-19 CRISIS FORCES CHURCHES TO ADAPT

June 25, 2020

Association’s 10 churches try new format, provide Backyard Bible Clubs ‘in a bag’ By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] CARTHAGE — For more than 11 years, New Salem Baptist Association had sponsored Backyard Bible Clubs in low income areas. The plan was to do it again this year, but COVID-19 entered the picture and it appeared the association would not be able to minister to children in Carthage

BAPTIST EDITORS MEET, CONDUCT BUSINESS VIRTUALLY

June 24, 2020

By Margaret Colson ASBP executive secretary MARIETTA, Ga. — Meeting virtually for the first time in the organization’s 125-year history, approximately 25 members of the Association of State Baptist Publications (ASBP) elected a president-elect and honored two retiring state Baptist editors in a business meeting convened by 2020–21 ASBP President Jennifer Davis Rash. ASBP members typically would have met in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention

News

TBF’s GARRETT STEPS DOWN AFTER 40 YEARS OF MINISTRY

SUPREME COURT RULING DISAPPOINTS PRO-LIFERS