Luke, I apologize in advance, but I hardly read any of your writings. Instead, please forgive me, I got hung-up on the form that was at the crux of your struggles. I reproduce it here for discussion purposes:

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COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS

1. Council members must make themselves available for a weekly or a bi-weekly council meeting.

2. Council members must attend praise and worship every Monday night.

3. Council members must be willing to work with the campus minister and the rest of the council. If a problem arises you must be willing to discuss it and pray with the appropriate people.

As a Christian and a BCM leader I understand that certain things are immoral and would hurt my Christian witness. Therefore I agree to abstain from the following:

*Using drugs
*Drinking alcohol
*Sexual relationships
*Viewing pornography
*Cursing
*Gossip

I understand and agree with the above requirements.

Ok, Luke, call me a 44-year-old fuddy-duddy, but . . . . . I don't get what all the fuss is with signing something like this.

Before I get into the form, however, I tried to do a little research about "Baptist Collegiate Ministry" to see that they believe and their mission statement, etc.

I found this . . . .

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BCM’s purpose statement sums up what we are about; “With the Bible as our standard for living and Christ as our example, we seek to connect students to Jesus Christ.”

. . . . at the Charleston BCM website.

I like some of the other stuff I saw here, like this . . . .

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We don’t assume any student we meet has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

. . . . and this . . . .

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The way that God has chosen to bring you into a new and right relationship with Him is through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the Cross.

. . . . which sounds almost Reformed, don't it?

Anyway, back to the form . . . . .

I would NOT have ANY trouble asking my three daughters to sign the form you attached. Why? Several reasons:

(1) Although it doesn't state it (and it should!), I assume that counsel members should be in agreement with what the BCM is, believes, etc. And based on my EXTREMELY LIMITED review of the BCM, that organization appears to be headed in the right direction (the Bible, a relationship with Christ, etc.); and

(2) Luke, God bless you, this is a form that "leaders" are being asked to sign. Now . . . . I don't see any God-given right to be a leader of ANYTHING documented in the Bible. So . . . . you don't have to sign it if you don't want to be a leader. But if you do (want to be a leader), it is WELL within the BCM's rights to ask you to adhere to their rules. Case closed.

I pray I am not off-base here. If I am, please forgive me. I know full-well that I just totally ignored the work that you poured your heart out over, but . . . . I simply had trouble getting past the form that you were struggling with. Knowing the Godly men and women who visit this God-annointed message board, I am confident that someone will correct me if I've totally missed the boat. And, if so, (Luke and all the rest of you) please forgive me.

A guy who just doesn't get it,
Ted