Christian Action Commission

A prolife priority in the MS Primary

by Rob Chambers

On August 2, 2011, the primary election for statewide offices across Mississippi will take place.  Included in this election will be all 52 seats in the MS Senate and all 122 seats in the MS House of Representatives.  MS Senators and Representatives both serve four year terms before their seats are open for re-election or change.

The senatorial and representative candidates that Mississippi voters will elect this year will also be proposing, introducing, presenting, and voting on legislative bills over the next four years.  With each new legislative session, thousands of bills are submitted and from those, only… Read Full Article

2011 MS Election Resources*

Click here to download spreadsheet of all State, District, House, and Senate positions on abortion**

(Position statements will be updated as questionnaires are received)

Statewide candidate’s position on abortion**

FOR MORE ELECTION RESOURCES CLICK HERE

*The Mississippi Baptist Christian Action Commission does not endorse candidates

**Source: Mississippi Right to Life

VA Shouldn’t forget nation’s Christian heritage

Chris McDaniel

Last week, veterans groups accused the VA of religious discrimination, contending they have been banned at soldiers’ funerals from saying religious words such as “God” and are having their prayers censored.

Their allegations follow others made by pastor Scott Rainey, who sued in May to keep the VA from preventing him from referring to Jesus Christ at a Memorial Day invocation at Houston National Cemetery.

The VFW and the American Legion are specifically claiming that on at least four occasions government officials told them that prayer and religious speech could no longer be included in burial… Read Full Article

2011 MS Statewide and Legislative Candidates Contact Information

CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF CANDIDATES AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION

MS Baptist response to SBC resolution on immigration

A resolution in terms of Southern Baptist polity is a statement of the sentiment of a majority of voting messengers at any given annual meeting of the convention. Resolutions approved at an annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention do not carry over from year to year, have no enforcement powers, do not bind anyone or any organization to a course of action, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the autonomous bodies that choose to voluntarily affiliate with the SBC such as churches, associations, state Baptist conventions, and auxiliaries. This is true for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.… Read Full Article

Mopping Up

Jimmy Porter

The battle was long and even though the crew had won, the ship deck remained littered with blood and debris.  Before normalcy could set in, someone had to take a mop of rope and yarn and clean the deck.  In the 1600s a sailor called a swab would do the “mopping up.”

For the Christian families of faith, victory was declared at the cross and empty tomb but the war goes on.  The Apostle Paul described it like this, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness… Read Full Article

Senator Roger Wicker introduces pro-life bill

Richard Land

In a recent letter to Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) I commended him for introducing the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (S. 906), companion legislation to the widely supported House-passed H.R. 3, which would establish a government-wide statutory prohibition on elective abortion funding.

If enacted, the legislation would codify a patchwork of policies, many of which presently must be reauthorized as riders to annual appropriations bills, regulating federal funding of abortion.

Southern Baptists’ Ethics & Religious Commission fully supports making permanent such policies as the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits funding for elective abortion under programs funded… Read Full Article

House Speaker McCoy won’t seek re-election

House Speaker Billy McCoy announced today he will not be seeking re-election.

McCoy has represented Alcorn and Prentiss counties since 1980 and served as House speaker for eight years.

“With a humble heart I thank my family for their faithful support during more than 40 years of public service,” McCoy said in a news release announcing his decision. “I thank the voters of District 3 for their many votes for us and I want to thank my colleagues in the House for bestowing their highest honor on me as their speaker. I am grateful to previous… Read Full Article

The Wrap

Jimmy Porter

The baseball game is over.  The teams are leaving the field and then the radio announcer says, “In just a moment we will be right back for the wrap up.” Shortly the broadcaster comes back and gives to the listeners a synopsis of the game.  Of course, the comments made are his/her opinions based on the data that is made available to them.  The commentator’s opinions and comments never reveal the whole story because they sit in the broadcasting booth and not down on the field where the action is.  It is the same for the Christian Action Commission (CAC)… Read Full Article

Christian, Baptist and Ethics

Jimmy Porter

“Do you know a good Christian realtor in the Jackson area?” asked one of our Mississippi pastors.  He was inquiring on behalf of his son who had just been accepted into dental school.  He desires a Christian realtor because he expects that person to be honest, fair, and just. 

Shortly afterwards in another conversation an elected official indicated his Christian profession did not necessarily influence his decision in matters related to the well being of his constituents.  He felt no moral or ethical obligation to care about citizens who were being exploited by others.

The above… Read Full Article

Considering immigration reform as both Christians and citizens

Staff

The following commentary on immigration reform is authored in part by The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The time has come for our nation to resolve its immigration dilemma. It is imperative that we find an acceptable solution to the disposition of the millions of undocumented immigrants living in our nation.

Currently, the two extremes of deportation and amnesty are being played against each other, resulting in a stalemate in Congress. We believe that neither of the two extremes are appropriate, workable solutions. To force those who are here illegally to… Read Full Article

Let payday lending bill die

Jimmy Porter

The Bible tells us, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If I were being exploited, then I would want someone to help me resolve the unfairness.

This is why the Christian Action Commission, a ministry of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, urges our legislature to reject a proposed bill, HB 455, that enables payday lenders to charge usurious rates to people in need of a loan.

As a concerned citizen, I believe that when it comes to lending, there is a fine balance between preserving the entrepreneurial spirit of business ownership and… Read Full Article

Immigration Forum

http://www.christianaction.com/images/uploads/immigrationinvitation.pdf

immigrationinvitation.pdf

Payday Lending

Rob Chambers

Payday lending or check cashing businesses has recently received a lot of attention lately - both in the news and in the MS legislature.  A bill has passed in the MS House of Representatives and the MS Senate will be taking it up soon. 

Click here to send a message to your Senator on lowering rates and extending the time for payday loans in Mississippi.

Centered around the debate are the conditions or terms… Read Full Article

The Political Roads of Mississippi

Jimmy Porter

Yogi Berra, a former catcher of the New York Yankees, is known not
only for his prowess on the baseball field but also for his “Yogisms.” One
such “Yogism” states, “When you come to the fork in the road, take it.”
That statement might be the most accurate assessment of the state of politics
in Mississippi and in our nation.

The 2011 Legislative Session is barreling full steam ahead, tackling
such items as eminent domain, payday lending, the budget, pro life issues,
immigration, and redistricting. Early… Read Full Article