Monday, September 27, 1999
Baptists at home with Catholics
Children's facility welcomes the help
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL — On a hilltop campus here, two religious traditions — a Southern Baptist congregation and a Catholic order of nuns — share a place of worship and a desire to help troubled children.
While theologians say this unusual arrangement would have once been unheard of, the people involved prefer to focus on its benefits to the children.
“It's a very unique situation, which to me is even more evidence that God is blessing it,” said Pastor Kevin Murphy, who heads the year-old Baptist mission church, God's Bible Fellowship.
The Baptists became involved with the Diocesan Catholic Children's Home about three years ago, when they offered to hold weekly Bible school for the home's young residents.
Because of that involvement, when the Baptists broke away from their old church last year and needed a place to worship, it just seemed right that the Diocesan Catholic Children's Home offer them the temporary use of its chapel, the home's executive director said.
Supporters of the children's home say its residents have found the loving adult role models and religious foundation they need through social activities and weekly, nondenominational Bible classes taught by the Baptist volunteers.
“It's not unusual for different Protestant traditions to share sanctuary or church space, but to cross the lines from Baptist to Catholic is really unusual,” said Dr. William Madges, professor of theology at Xavier University. “To me, this kind of arrangement that seems to be working out for both of them is a sign that the Christian church has moved beyond past divisions to say we can work together for the good and benefit of both congregations.”
Because the Sisters of Notre Dame are no longer on campus, the chapel had been used only periodically for worship, said Sister Jean Marie Hoffman, S.N.D., the executive director of the children's home.
But it's the benefits to the home's 6- to 12-year-old residents, not the temporary worship arrangement, that members of both religious traditions cite as the motivating force behind their unusual partnership.
The home's 34 juvenile residents have moderate to severe emotional problems, and their parents have been unable to meet their needs.
“Their whole life, these children haven't been able to trust anybody,” said Kevin Murphy's wife, Dawn, who was the first to approach the children's home about holding the Bible classes.
“All the people they've loved and cared about have hurt them in one way or another,” Mrs. Murphy said. “We want to show them that God is a loving father and that he can be trusted.”
When Mrs. Murphy called Sister Jean Marie to say that her congregation had been inspired through prayer to lead the children in Bible study, Sister Jean Marie said she saw the classes as a chance to convey a positive message.
“Many of the children, because of their backgrounds, don't have that positive image of a father,” Sister Jean Marie said. “We want to convey to them that God is a loving father, kind and gentle. We want them to know that you can go to him in prayer in good times and bad.”
Members of God's Bible Fellowship also throw parties for the children, donate a portion of their offerings to the children's home, and purchase gifts for some of the children at Christmas.
Church members also have painted conference rooms and dormitories, and are collecting personal hygiene products for the children.
“If both groups can find a way to cooperate by providing space, and providing instruction without violating their own religious convictions, then I think (the arrangement) is great,” said Dr. Timothy George, dean of the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.
Schools brace for teacher exodus
Tristate heavyweights at odds
Butler Regional Highway nears end of long road
Study: Lack of Z's slows reactions
Slaves' trail brings pilgrims to Ripley
Returning favorites sport new looks, new casts
Free smoke detectors douse risks
Health insurer liable in death
Shortages persist at Hoxworth
The no-diet diet
Wine fest ends without mishap
Bank fraud case risks dismissal
Environmental center opens Tuesday
Felines show off coats and purrs
Oxford city logo close to adoption
SharonFest promises new family fun
Symphony's first auction called a rousing success
Afghan Whigs rock hometown proud
Baptists at home with Catholics
Duo delivers taste of homespun country music
Hank Williams Jr. senior crowd pleaser
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST
