ore than 3,000 people were baptized in Butuan City, Mindanao, Philippines, on January 27 following a three‑week lay evangelistic effort featuring the innovative use of digital video disk (DVD) technology.  The series, sponsored by Adventist‑layman's Services and Industries (ASI), demonstrated the vital role of both lay involvement and the use of technology in communicating the Christian message of hope, says Sharon Robberson, an assistant director of ASI.

"Evangelism is not just the province of the 'expert,'" says Robberson, who participated in the Philippines outreach effort.  "We believe that every Christian is called to 'go and make disciples.'"  She points out that most of those who preached had no prior experience with conducting an evangelistic series. "These were business men and women, people who are more comfortable behind a desk than behind a pulpit."

More than 70 business professionals and students from the United States took part in the series, along with local pastors and Adventist church members who hosted sites, acted as translators, and provided vital logistical support. 

Nightly meetings were held at a total of 336 sites;  the meetings at the 34 primary sites used a new DVD‑based evangelistic program developed by Adventist Digital Media, in Portland, Oregon.

"This was the first‑time use of the DVD series," says Robberson. "It provided a wonderful opportunity to fine‑tune the series, with team leaders meeting daily to discuss the previous night's meeting and to suggest improvements." She adds that their goal is to "develop something that the average layperson can use, either in their own area or around the world."

Robberson says the DVD series will aim to be culturally sensitive. "DVD graphics will reflect the local people and culture of the region in which the series in being held," she explains.

As a preliminary event, the team also conducted a Health Expo in Butuan City.  Robberson says that local Filipino laypeople, Adventist members, lay Bible workers, and pastors, played an integral role at all the sites. Leading up to the event, local church members and pastors prepared the way for the evangelistic program, baptizing an estimated 4,000 new believers. -–Adventist News Network

California Appeals Court Ruling Deprives Churches of the Right to Hire Members of Their Own Faith
In a surprise ruling from the California Court of Appeals, religious institutions in the state can be liable for religious discrimination under state law, reports Alan J. Reinach, Pacific Union public affairs and religious liberty director.

Before the ruling decision in Silo v. Catholic Healthcare West Medical Foundation, courts had held that churches and other religious institutions are exempt from the state's employment discrimination laws because of a specific exemption contained in the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act.

In Silo, the court acknowledged the exemption, but found public policy against religious discrimination in the California Constitution, and that the plaintiff could sue under this public policy theory.

The decision means that courts can compel churches, religious schools, hospitals, and social service agencies to hire people who do not share the same faith. It also means that such institutions cannot discipline employees for violating faith principles, even where those principles are clearly stated in the employee manual.

“It is unclear how far the courts will take this, Reinach says. “It is unlikely, for example, that courts will order churches to reinstate clergy who are fired for religious reasons. Will this decision mean that Catholic schools can be compelled to hire Protestant teachers, Adventist schools compelled to hire Catholic teachers, or Jewish schools compelled to hire Christian teachers?

“It might. We just don't know how far the courts will take it. But now you see the problem.”

The Silo case involved a file clerk in the medical records department who was fired for proselytizing. The jury found that the hospital engaged in religious discrimination.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that under federal law, religious organizations are completely exempt from laws prohibiting religious discrimination, no matter what the job.

Silo breaks new law, then, and subjects churches and religious organizations to new liability for religious discrimination. With unlimited damages possible in California law, smaller non‑denominational schools could be particularly hard hit.

News Note
Nilton Amorim, president of the Quebec Seventh-day Adventist Church Association has been elected secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Amorim replaces Claude A. Sabot, who became an associate secretary of the General Conference.