European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 31, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday july 31, 1993 religion the stars and stripes Al 3,000 russians baptized As Jehovah s witnesses Moscow a blissfully unaware of a proposed ban on foreign pro Clyti ing about .1,000 smiling rus sians in swimsuits were dunked into Small aluminium pools last week and anti cd As Jehovah s witnesses. Foreigners Are still crusading in rus Sia despite a vote by the supreme soviet legislature to ban foreign missionaries from proselytizing on russian soil the proposal which has provoked out cries from world religions and political leaders still needs to win approval from president Boris n. Yeltsin. We can t change the Laws that governments form but we were existing Here before when everything was under ban. We will continue to function and we Hope there will be Freedom said Tom a Dir a Canadian Jehovah s wit Ness who is a missionary in the former soviet Republic of Estonia. Missionaries from mormons to Sun Myung Moon s unification Church have set up shop in Russia prompting the rus Sian orthodox Church to urge lawmakers to adopt the ban. The russian orthodox Church claims More Ilum 60 million be Lievers in the former soviet Union. A group of  senators and House members appealed to Yeltsin to scrap the proposal which they said restricts Freedom of religion and could prompt . Religious organisations to curtail tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian Aid to Russia. Some of these organi actions led in worldwide efforts to support the russian Church during decades of repression under communism said the Appeal signed by Sens. Jesse Helms . Richard g. Lugar Rind. And Robert Dole r-kan., among others. Representatives of protestant religious groups in Russia also appealed to Yeltsin telling reporters the proposed Law violates human rights. The july 14 vote to Amend Russia s Law on Freedom of religion applies specifically to foreigners and bans their missionary work publishing business deals and Advertis ing. It also requires foreign religious groups to become affiliated with russian churches or organizations or to obtain state accreditation. Foreign religious organi actions carried out their activities As usual last week. . Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart appeared on Russia s educational Channel and More than 25,000 Jehovah s witnesses Only half of them rus Sian showed up to give support at the mass baptism said organi or Martti Kainen. It is not Clear whether the ban will affect the Jehovah witnesses who officially registered As a russian organization with the Justice ministry in 19 a said spokesman Vadim Pavlov. The modern Jehovah s witnesses movement was started in Pittsburgh in 1872 and now claims about 4 Mil lion members. Its Headquarters is in Brooklyn . Its followers believe they adhere to inc world s oldest Reli Gion worshipping the almighty god revealed As Jehovah in the Bible. Newly Crim re d Jehovah s witnesses in Russia Are baptized recently Inan aluminium Pool in Moscow the Loko Motif stadium in northeastern Moscow was crowded with people clapping and singing we arc Jehovah s witnesses in a variety of languages As they watched the full body immersions from Bright Blue bleachers. The baptism was the culmination of a four Day International conference. It s such a wonderful thrill to Sec so Many wit Nesses Here since they Haven t had their Freedom be fore said Ramona Stephens a waitress from Ashland ky., who came All the Way to Russia for the baptism. I look aside a brother and he said hat he s so Happy to be Able to sing now because before they could t sing she said the Jehovah s witnesses claim about 40,000 Mem Bers in Russia with congregations in most major cities Pavlov said. Last year about 3,200 russians were Bap to cd in St. Petersburg. I know that we have Only one god and that is Jehu Vali. That s Why i came to believe said technical worker Valyntina Pirina 47, just minutes after being Bap  in one of inc three aluminium pools. Pirina said she was unaware of the proposed ban but would be adamantly against in. We re All Brothers and Sisters she said. Truck Stop Chapel inspired by answered prayer an answered prayer de has nashville111. A inspired Dale Beimly bar to build a playhouse Sie Chapel near his Highway truck Stop. It in turn inspired around 14,000 motorists. Some of my friends thought i was u Little Kooky said Beinfohr 63. The lutheran minister in town said " he thought i Hud gone a Little off my  the h-by-12 loot Structure along interstate 64 beckons the boo or so travellers who Stop each Day at Iho Little Nashville truck Slop. About u do in will answer its Call each Day. Beimfohr won t say what prayer god answered for him 34 years ago. But he said the experience left him feeling a debt he did t know How to repay. In 1%9, a wrong turn left Beimfohr at a miniature Chapel someone Hud built along a lonely Buck Road in Colorado. I Felt immediate Relief knowing that was How o repay he debt Beinfohr said. "1 did t understand it. I just knew i had to do  do Hufdhi to company put up $6,000 for materials. A builder finished the stilled wooden deck and Walkway and Beimfohr lid everything else alone including in scribing Bible verses on dozens of Wood panels. The country Chapel is open around the clock and so far to weddings have been held there. Visitors illicit think in was he work of someone pious they  think that but it s not True Beimfohr said. I Don t mean i m not a Christian but i Don t Al ways do what my conscience Ells me o. 1 do  Dnn l Tell that to residents of Okawville just up the Road. They recently elected Beimfohr mayor. Lutheran Church official quits after sex charges from wire report Chicago the Rev. Thomas i. Blevins 5d, n departmental executive of inc Kvinge Lindl lutheran Church in America has resigned from his Post along with resigning front the Church s clergy after he was charged with sexual misconduct the denomination said the charges  be heard by a discipline hearing committee lit Early August were filed on the basis of allegations made by an adult woman. Further details were not Given. Blevins denies the allegations that forced his resignation As director of the Church s department for synodical relations and from the Clori a personal and professional pressures of lie past several months have had a cumulative detrimental effect upon my health and that of my wife Judy to said. The two of us agree that this resignation is necessary for our health and  More Aid sent to Cuba Miami Church world service Relief Arm of the National Council of churches recently sent25,635 pounds of humanitarian goods to the cuban ecumenical Council the 16th such shipment in the past year. The latest shipment was made up of 4,Odo pounds of Hospital sheets 315 pounds of Pillow cases,18,300 pounds of canned beef 1,306 pounds of assorted medicines 1,654 pounds of medical Atu physicians supplies. Historian cites changes san Josh Calif. A Southern Baptist Church historian says the Baptist tradition is fading and now is found mainly in its smaller Branch the american Baptist churches Glenn Linson of Baptist theological Seminary at Richmond va., said that As a result of inroads of fundamentalism the Southern Baptist convention is Baptist in name Only and not in reality and there is no likelihood of recovery of the Baptist tradition for the denomination As a  Linson spoke at a meeting held in conjunction with the biennial american Baptist convention. Message for Pope planned Fairfax a. Progressive roman Catholic groups say they plan various alternative activities in Denver during the mid August papal visit for would youth Day an International gathering of Young catholics. The women s ordination conference said several forums and vigils arc scheduled supporting women s ordination and option of priests to marry including a full Page open letter to the Pope in the aug. 1.1 Denver Post. Values called threatened St. Louis the Rev. Paul ii. Sherry who was elected to a second four year term As president of the United Church of Christ at its general Synod says the values of the Church Are under  live in a time when the values to Bear As Christ s body arc in danger of being eclipsed by other  he said a newly approved statement of commitment would help clarity who we see cod wanting us to  ministerial qualities cited Nashville Tenn. A recent  methodist Survey finds that my Mecis consider a caring Altitude inc most important attribute of a pastor and the ability to Pica it Vellas Iho most desirable skill. Also the 758 members surveyed consider cooperation and honesty As Well  skills in management and pastoral care to be  of effective pastors. The Survey by the denomination s general Council on ministries and St. Paul school of theology in Kansas City sought to help chinch leaders understand what Lay people consider key elements of effective pastoral leadership. Methodist study planned Durham . Duko University divinity school is planning a three year study of United methodism and american cultic the Duke project which is being Undi written by u $600,000 Grunt from the Indian Polis based i Illy endowment will coordinate the Woik of As Many as50 scholars