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Ousting gay coach necessary, Bellevue Baptist pastor says
Bellevue Baptist Church pastor Steve Gaines told his congregation Sunday that any church leader found in serious sin would have been prohibited from coaching in the church's athletic leagues, just as a woman who acknowledged she is gay.
"You have to have certain standards for leadership," Gaines said in a video posted on the Internet. "Leadership is not a right. Leadership is a privilege."
The pastor's comments came less than a week after The Commercial Appeal reported that a local women's softball team was not allowed to play in Bellevue's league after church officials asked Jana J. Jacobson, the team's representative, if she was gay. Jacobson acknowledged her sexual orientation and was told her team could not play in the league.
Gaines, in a 21/2 -minute video from a Sunday service, addressed the matter saying the church was not trying to portray their league as perfect. Rather, he said, the decision dealt with the leadership role and the person representing the team.
"We all know that every coach is a sinner, every player is a sinner. We understand all of that," he said. "It's not that we are trying to have a sin-free ball league."
He noted if another coach was currently an adulterer, cohabiting with someone, hooked on pornography, or participating in "the sin of homosexuality," they would suffer the same fate.
"We cannot, in good conscience, put that person in a leadership position," he said. "So, that's the decision, and why it was made."
While some civil rights attorneys say Bellevue can legally take the stand, the action caused a spirited debate.
The church declined comment on the story last week, and continued that stance Tuesday. Jim Barnwell, Bellevue's director of communications, said Gaines does not want to address the matter further, and that his comments Sunday were for the congregation.
In his comments, the pastor talked about how the church has opened a lot of activities that once were exclusively for members. "When you do that, there are going to be some people that come in that live different lifestyles," Gaines said, adding that anyone is welcome to come to Bellevue.
But leadership roles require a higher standard, whether it's serving as a deacon, a Bible fellowship teacher, staff member or coach.
Jacobson acknowledges she acts as the team's representative. But she wondered if the matter was about her, why the entire team was banned from playing.
"I was judged by my appearance," said Jacobson, who describes herself as athletic-looking. "I was brought in and questioned and I was sentenced.
"... I wasn't kicked out because I was a gay leader. I was kicked out because I am gay."
Jacobson has said she was not trying to make a political statement by joining Bellevue's league. Her team was looking for games outside of its weekly play in Bartlett.
"I'm not an activist," she said. "I'm just a ballplayer."
-- Clay Bailey: 529-2393
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WALLA WALLA - Up by one point with 90 seconds left to play, Whitman College fell a few plays short of closing the deal in a 65-61 non-conference women's basketball loss to Lewis-Clark State Tuesday night Sherwood Center.
The Warriors, ranked No. 5 in an NAIA Division I national preseason poll, ran their early season record to 5-0. The game was Whitman's first of the season.
Whitman led by as many as five points in the first half and was up 32-31 at intermission.
LCSC took control over the first nine minutes of the second half, moving in front 47-39. But senior Jennifer Keyes responded with a 3-point strike that spawned a quick seven-point Missionary run.
After sophomore Meghan White put back an offensive rebound, senior Jenele Peterson swiped the ensuing inbounds pass and scored to pull Whitman to within 47-46 with nine minutes left on the clock.
The Warriors missed their next four free throws, including the front side of two one-and-one opportunities, before Tasha Bishop canned a jumper to give the visitors a three-point edge.
Whitman capitalized by knocking down five of six free throws to regain the lead at 51-49 with 5:39 remaining.
After Jasmine Stohr tallied the next four points for the Warriors, Peterson nailed a jumper near the top of the key to forge a 53-53 tie.
LCSC again countered with a four-point run, but junior Mary Madden put back another offensive rebound and sophomore Tiffani Traver picked off a pass and fed junior Kelly Peterson for a 3-point bomb from the right corner.
That gave Whitman its last lead of the night at 58-57 with just over two minutes left on the clock. It was a lead that soon disappeared as three different Warriors stepped to the free line over a 60-second span to drill six free throws.
Whitman's last gasp came with 10 seconds left when Jenele Peterson lofted home her second 3-pointer of the night, cutting the Missionary deficit to 63-61.
LCSC's Brittany Niebergall, fouled after getting the inbounds pass, made both free throws to clinch the victory for the Warriors.
Jenele Peterson foir Whitman and Stohr for LCSC scored 21 points apiece.
White, a 6-foot center, came off the bench for eight points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals. Sarah Anderegg, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, also scored eight points.
Madden, a 5-foot-10 forward, was good for six points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
LCSC, which started four seniors ranging in heighth from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-3, dominated the backboards, outrebounding Whitman 52-36.
Whitman compensated by making 10 steals, blocking five shots and forcing 19 turnovers. The Missionaries also made 14 of 18 free throws while the Warriors converted their last eight charity tosses to finish 17 of 27 from the line.
Whitman compensated by making 10 steals, blocking five shots and forcing 19 turnovers. The Missionaries also made 14 of 18 free throws while the Warriors converted their last eight charity tosses to finish 17 of 27 from the line.
"For our first game, we did a good job of competing against a very good team," Whitman coach Michelle Ferenz said.
"We didn't shoot very well, and except for two of the kids, we certainly didn't rebound very well."
With Anderegg scoring the game's first four points, Whitman led for much of the first half.
Jenele Peterson knocked down three jumpers and White hit one from the baseline to give the Missionaries an 18-13 lead at the midway point of the half.
Keyes nailed a three and White swished a pair of free throws to keep Whitman in front by five, 23-18, with just over seven minutes left.
The Warriors responded with five straight points to take their first lead at 27-26 with three minutes remaining. Baskets by White and Madden, followed by Traver's two free free throws staked Whitman to its 32-31 lead at the break.
Whitman heads east this weekend to play a pair of NCAA Division III games in Willamstown, Mass.
The Missionaries battle Williams at 3 p.m. (Pacific time) on Saturday and Tufts at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Lewis-Clark State 65, Whitman 61
L-C (65) - Bishop 1-7 2-2 4, Voshell 4-5 2-2 9, Niebergall 2-6 2-3 7, Stohr 7-16 7-8 21, Fierro 2-10 3-5 7, Kane 0-2 0-0 0, Rice 2-5 0-0 5, Fuller 3-3 0-0 6, Heaslet 2-4 2-4 6.
WHITMAN (61) - Traver 1-5 2-2 4, Peterson, J. 8-17 3-4 21, Peterson, K. 2-5 2-2 7, Madden 2-6 2-2 6, Anderegg 3-10 2-2 8, White 3-8 2-2 8, Dreadfulwater 0-2 1-4 1, Forge 0-3 0-0 0, Keyes 2-8 0-0 6.
Halftime score - L-C 31, Whit 32. 3-point goals - L-C 2 (Niebergall, Rice, Bishop), Whit 5 (Peterson, J., Keyes, Peterson, K.). Total fouls - L-C 16, Whit 22. Fouled out-none. Technical fouls - Whit: team. Rebounds - L-C 52 (Fierro 10), Whit 36 (Madden 10). Turnovers - L-C 19, Whit 11. Assists - L-C 11 (Bishop 4), Whit 8 (Traver 3).
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New Xulon Book Reveals the Man Behind the Surgical Mask
Within the pages of Lawrence W. Norton, M.D.'s new book, Masked and Gowned: The Making of a Surgeon ($16.99, paperback, 978-1-62419-964-6; $8.49, e-book, 978-1-62419-965-3) follows the journey of the author's extraordinary career, beginning with his admission to medical school and through a decade of demanding training, which finally fulfilled his dream of being a surgeon. Dramatic, amusing, ironic and poignant, these stories finally demystify those distant, unapproachable, masked-and-gowned figures known as surgeons.
"I want readers, including students interested in medicine, to appreciate what surgical training entails," states the author. "They should understand that residents begin as servants to their patients and, if they remain loyal to their calling, emerge as professionals with the same characteristic. I hope that readers gain confidence in their surgeons by understanding the training commitment they undertook and the extraordinary demands it placed upon them and their families."
Lawrence W. Norton, M.D., graduated from Colgate University and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. After interning at Cincinnati General Hospital, he trained as a resident at University of Colorado and University of Kentucky. Following certification by American Board of Surgery, he served as a medical missionary in India for five years. Eventually he became a professor and Chief of General Surgery at University of Arizona and, later, University of Colorado. Since his retirement, he travels extensively with his wife in developing countries as a visiting professor, lecturer and a volunteer surgeon in government and mission hospitals.
Xulon Press, a division of Salem Communications, is the world's largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 8,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order Masked and Gowned: The Making of a Surgeon through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
About Author
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