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Army should not assist baptist outreach effort, says Americans United. (People & Events).


Americans United has warned officials with the U.S. Army not to promote a Southern Baptist Noun 1. Southern Baptist - a member of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention - an association of Southern Baptists

Baptist - follower of Baptistic doctrines
 evangelism program.

In an April 4 letter to Secretary of the Army Thomas E. White, Americans United protested Major General William G. Boykin's endorsement of the Southern Baptists' "Super FAITH Force Multiplier A capability that, when added to and employed by a combat force, significantly increases the combat potential of that force and thus enhances the probability of successful mission accomplishment. " program and his use of Ft. Bragg, N.C., military facilities and personnel to promote the ministry.

According to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 materials advertising the Ft. Bragg event, Southern Baptist pastors would be given unprecedented access to the military base while being recruited for the denomination's outreach program.

A March 3 letter to clergy from the Rev. Bobby H. Welch, pastor of the First Baptist Church First Baptist Church may refer to many churches: Canada
  • First Baptist Church of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
United States
  • First Baptist Church (Bay Minette, Alabama)
  • First Baptist Church (Greenville, Alabama)
 in Daytona Beach, Fla., says, "I am writing to you about a once in a lifetime opportunity to join a group of warriors at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) trains United States Army personnel for the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and Army Special Operation Forces (ARSOF).  at Fort Bragg, NC. Major General William G. 'Jerry' Boykin has personally invited you and a select group of other FAITH Pastors to join him April 22nd and 23rd.... You can be absolutely guaranteed you will never, ever have this type of opportunity again! You will go with General Boykin and Green Beret instructors to places where no civilians and few soldiers ever go.

"THE PURPOSE OF THE GATHERING? It is believed by you, me and others that we must find a group of men who are warriors of FAITH, pastors who have guts to lead this nation to Christ and revival!," continued Welch, whose church is the birthplace of the FAITH program. (The "evangelism strategy" now widely used by Southern Baptists in the United States and overseas.)

An information sheet about the Baptist-led event says clergy participants would spend the night of April 22 on post at Ft. Bragg. Other activities would include a stop at Command Headquarters ("one of the most heavily secured areas at Ft. Bragg"), a Special Forces demonstration of "today's war fighting weapons" (with "live fire/real bullets"), a visit to the "Shoot House" to learn how "Special Forces attack the enemy inside buildings (live fire/real bullets)" and a speech by Gen. Boykin along with informal time with him.

A promotional flier produced by the Southern Baptist Lifeway life·way  
n.
1. A customary manner of living; a way of life.

2. A custom, practice, or art: the traditional lifeways of a tribal society. 
 Ministry describes Boykin as a devout Christian who strongly supports the FAITH outreach program.

According to the flier, General Boykin has told FAITH participants that "the way they are trained is like the concept of Special Forces training--one person trains 100, who in turn can train 10,000."

The flier quotes Boykin as saying about the current war on terrorism Terrorist acts and the threat of Terrorism have occupied the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S. government for many years. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, as amended by the usa patriot act , "Bin Laden is not the enemy. No mortal is the enemy. It's the enemy you can't see. It's a war against the forces of darkness. The battle won't be won with guns. It will be won on our knees."

Americans United asked army officials to cancel the government-endorsed evangelism meeting.

In an April 7 press release, AU Executive Director Barry W. Lynn Reverend Barry W. Lynn (born 1948 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) has been the Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State since 1992.[1]  said, "This is a clear violation of the separation of church and state
See also: .
Separation of church and state is a political and legal doctrine which states that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent of one another.
. Our military has no business using its resources to aid evangelism.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Americans United for Separation of Church and State
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2003, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Church & State
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:May 1, 2003
Words:514
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