Illinois Baptist
special preview
2019 IBSA Annual Meeting At Cornerstone Church in Marion
Preacher, Michael Nave
Going ‘green’ IBSA targets church revitalization in 2020 P. 4 News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
MISSION
SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 Vol. 113 No. 14
IB
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
Online all the time IllinoisBaptist.org
Onward, Christians
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
IBSA joins two suits To protect churches in zoning issues and abortion coverage
Springfield | The Illinois Baptist State Association will join two lawsuits involving religious liberty issues for the purpose of protecting Southern Baptist churches in the state. The IBSA Board of Directors voted to participate in the litigation in its fall meeting Sept. 10. One case involves zoning regulations that prohibit churches and church plants from being located in certain areas of a city. The other contests requirements that churches and religious institutions cover the cost of abortions for their employees. Both were approved by acclamation. “Legislation in Illinois continues more and more to be an affront to our religious beliefs,” Executive Director Nate Adams told the Board prior to their vote. “These are just two examples. In the years that I’ve been with IBSA, I’ve never before asked you to join litigation.” In the first, the Board authorized IBSA to engage in litigation in partnership with the Chicago-based law firm of Mauck & Baker that proactively challenges zoning restrictions in Illinois municipalities which do not currently allow religious institutions, such as churches or church plants, in certain zones of their cities. The restrictions are in violation of the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA). “We are increasingly seeing the need to assist churches in religious freedom issues such as RLUIPA,” Adams said. Zoning boards and city governments that once viewed churches favorably, or at least neutrally, now see churches as enemies, in part because as non-profits, they P. 3
October is Cooperative Program month. Your missions gifts prepare future leaders. P. 6-7
REMEMBRANCE
Bill Weedman A faithful servant P. 3
TABLE TALK
Pastors and depression A recent suicide makes us stop and think P. 10
Whatever happened to Meredith Day? P. 8