News of the Weird

The Southern Baptist Convention meets in June this year. In fact, it will be meeting about 25 minutes from my home.

Southern Baptists will be discussing missions, baptismal policies on the mission field, probably a resolution or two, and word has reached my ears that there are some who are going to try to go to war in the House over Calvinism, the Abstract of Principles and the BFM 2000 (Note to Tom Ascol, but sure Tom Nettles is also there along with Al Mohler for that one). Then there's the Pastor's Conference.

Recently Baptist Women, specifically the WMU (Women's Missionary Union)have been looked upon with suspicion. On the other hand, there are parts of the Convention that look at you as a liberal if you disagree with them over the most minor point of doctrine. I'm in a 1646 London Confession church and have been called a liberal by some folks in the Convention. Yeah, that's bad.

Aaannnywhooo....One would think that if there are questions about Baptist Women that maybe, just maybe, the Baptist Women would do something you know--biblically and instructionally oriented, especially Baptists being "people of the book" and all that.

Not so, it seems. In fact, Marie Antoinette, oops, wrong century, I mean Dorothy Patterson, Dr. Paige Patterson's own wife has organized a little event for the Pastor's Wives.

Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon slates acclaimed interior designer
Mar 22, 2006
By Brent Thompson
Baptist Press

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP)--Registration is underway for the 2006 Ministers’ Wives’ Conference and Luncheon, Dorothy Patterson, president of this year’s gathering, has announced.

The conference luncheon will take place during the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, Tuesday, June 13, in the Guilford Ballroom of the Greensboro Sheraton at the Four Seasons Hotel at noon.

The guest speaker will be Georg Andersen, an internationally recognized interior designer and author.

“Plans for the luncheon are coming along,” said Patterson, wife of Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“We are so excited that Mr. Georg Andersen has agreed to come and share his principles for turning a home into a silent witness for Jesus Christ.”

One of Andersen’s earliest projects was to work with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on the Diplomatic Oval Reception Room in the White House. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Andersen has done projects on the Governor’s Mansion and the Arkansas State Capitol for Gov. Mike Huckabee; The Carlyle Hotel and The Waldorf-Astoria in New York City; the J.B. Hunt Transport headquarters in Lowell, Ark.; and dozens of private residences throughout the United States.

On an international scale, Andersen’s interior designs can be found in London, Monte Carlo, Helsinki and Jakarta, Indonesia. He has appeared on television and radio programs on all major networks, including CBS, NBC and ABC, as well as the “700 Club” and Fox Family, according to his website, www.georgandersen.com.

Andersen is the author of two books on interior designing. In his latest book, “Silent Witness: The Language of Your Home,” Andersen and his wife Annabelle use their own home to demonstrate how interior design can bear “silent witness” to “the multifaceted work of God in our lives.”“Georg and Annabelle have not merely built and decorated a dwelling,” Huckabee wrote in the book’s forward. “They have created a Christ-centered retreat that exudes elegance without opulence, and dignity that is complemented by wonderful human warmth and character.”

Dorothy Patterson said Anderson will bring fun, information and inspiration to this year’s luncheon.

“We are working very hard to erect room-size vignettes in the luncheon ballroom, and fill them with Mr. Andersen’s design ideas,” Patterson said. “This will enable ministers’ wives not only to hear and meet him, but to view rooms that he has designed.”

Tickets for the 2006 Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon are $10 per person.

To register on the Internet, go to www.swbts.edu/conferences and click on the “2006 Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon” link. To register by telephone, call toll-free 1-877-GO SWBTS (467-9287). Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

For further information, contact Becky Campbell, coordinator of the women’s auxiliary at Southwestern Seminary, at (817) 923-1921, ext. 7236, or e-mail her at RLCampbell@swbts.edu.

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And we wonder why the American church is in disarray....Well, at least the preacher's house will look good. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for them getting some decorating insights. I've seen my share of badly decorated pastors' homes. On the other hand, one would think they would have an event for these ladies that would offer them some spiritual meat. Pastors' wives have difficult jobs. We need to do more than make sure they can decorate.