Herald A lantern 19 May *82

21

Congregation Votes to Withdraw

Beach Fee Vote Tues

(From Page 1) mines the truth upon which the Scriptures arc based...If you can't trust God with minor matters (such as a date or place) how can you trust him with matters of the soul?" he asked. In a resolution and letter sent to Dr. Ellis Bush, executive director of the Pennsylvania-South Jersey Baptist Convention, the North Cape May church announced its intent of withdraw, expressing concern that the Convention is permitting moderates to be employed in its "agencies and institutions." “We have not changed." the letter said. "We are the same people with the same doctrinal stand. The denomination has changed and has become irreconcilable to us." IN AN INTERVIEW earlier this month Rev. Varner said, "We have not left the Convention as much as the Convention has left us." He indicated the decision was difficult to make — one that he and his congregation actively labored over for more than a year. As far as the pastor knows, his church is the first to withdraw from the state Convention — a move he believes will eventually be followed by others in the Pennsylvania-South Jersey convention and other stpte conventions. "Lots of pastors are concerned about this issue (modferates vs. fundamentalists) but don’t speak out,” he said, “I believe eventually the Southern Baptist Convention is going to split. I don't think there will ever be an agreement between moderates and conservatives.” WHILE EARLIER this month no official response from Dr. Bush or the state Convention had been received, Rev. Varner acknowledged he expects one soon since the Convention will surely feel the absence of his church’s financial contributions. "What makes you a Southern Baptist Church is that you are financially involved in the Convention's programs,” he said, adding that for its size, South Jersey Baptist was one of the largest in their percentage of giving. The pastor said that during the past year his church had cut back the amount it was sending to the Convention for use in its Cooperative Mission Program so that more support could be given programs the local church selected itself — such as the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, the Highways and ByWays Crusade (work with public school students in the Sout^) and ministry at the Coast Guard Base in Cape May. REV. VARNER explained that currently the Southern Baptist Convention is involved in a worthwhile, but extremely expensive evangelistic crusade know as Bold Missions Thrust. The crusade’s goal is to* spread the Christian word to every nation and people in the world by the year 2,000. He noted that without financial support

from local churches, the goal can't possibly be met. According to Pastor Varner, the fear that this crusade will fail is one of the reasons many chruches that would jjossibly leave the Convention because of doctrinal and other disagreements still remain. / “Our national leaders are saying don’t fock the boat," he said. * TODAY THERE ARE more than 13.6 million Southern Baptists holding membership in some 36,000 churches The South Jersey Baptist currently has a congregation of 150.^. But according to Rev. Varner, the church members — consisting of mainly former Roman Catholics — is continuing to grow. "Most Southern Baptist churches are small," he said, noting that more than 80 per cent have memberships of under 100. In June or July an application will be submitted the local Planning Board requesting the go-ahead for an addition to be added to the existing church. The addition will increase seating capacity from 120 to about 300. HAS THE DECISION to withdraw from the Convention split the local church? The pastor indicated that if anything, the move strengthened ties among congregation members. Since the vote was taken April 18, attendance at both ( Sunday morning and evening services has increased. "We have maintained unity," Rev, Varner asserted, pointing out that people in his congregation care about each other. “Here it's "hot me first” he said, "But what can / do for others?”

News Digest

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Bail Special? OCEAN CITY — Several area officials — including Sen. James Hurley and a representative of Congressman William Hughes' Office — met here with NJ Transit’s director of developmental planning last week to get wheels rolling on a planned "seashore special" that they hope the transit company will try this.summer. The effort is reportedly aimed at upgrading, expanding and advertising the county’s spur of the PennsylvaniaReading Seashord Line. NJ Transit’s board of directors is scheduled to meet later this month to determine if the line is to be terminated, and permanently replaced with busing.

(From Pagel) ing a meeting with a group of officers and directors of the Wildwood Crest Motel Assn ’’After numerous discussions the general consensus of opinion was that a beach user fee be established in Wildwood Crest," he said. But according to members of the 130-member Association they have always been in opposition to beach fees They said the meeting Pantalone referred to was at tended by no more than eight members of the Association's executive board, and that any support of beach fees' they ex pressed was definitely not the opinion of the organization. BIT THE MAYOR also asserted that other business people and residents the Commissioners talked to also supported the idea of fees. "The feeling for the fee seemed to be ex tremely positive," he said. "On that basis, and that basis alone, we proceeded with the idea. Why would we start something as important as this if we did not feel the community backed us?" Later, however, Fee opponent Richard Adelizzi charged that the members of the governing body passed the beach fee ordinance because (hey wanted it, not because it was the will of the community "THEY DON’T IK) what is popular They do what they want," he said. Commissioner Charles Guhr — believe that a decision by voters not to permit beach fees will mean the borough has to cut services. And he indicated there wouldbe a large tax increase in 1983 because of the loss of the (325,000 anticipated to be raised thru fees in 1982

Bittner Victor OCEAN CITY - Freeholder Jack Bittner swept to victory in last week's mayoral race here, winning in all 17 districts and outpolling his ndarest challenger by some 1,000 votes. The mayor-elect mustered 2,890 votes, while former Mayor B, Thomas Waldman took 1,837 and Council president Nickolas Bittner Trofa tallied 1,165. In the five-way race for the three council-at-large seats, incumbents Henry Knight (3,711) and Herbert Brownlee (7,765) were re-elected to their second terms while the current second ward cduncilwoman Jeanne Clunn (3,019) — • who was redistriefed out of her ward by the 1980 census — won the third seat. The other two candidates Mary Anri Brown and James Kilpatrick received 2,730 and 2,536 votes respectively.

"Without this beach fee, our local purpose tax would have risen drastically." Mayor Pantalone added. "With beach fees there is a decrease in taxes and no cuts in services or employees." Mr. Adelizzi — a leader of the Concerned CMizehs Organization that has been fighting to prevent the fees — said at his organization’s press conference that Statements about taxes rising are just another in a line of threats used to frighten voters into approving the fees. "FirstMljey threatened us wijh the prosecutor and now it’s with taxes," he said CONTINUING Mr Adelizzi charged that the commissiohers only want to mist? money thru lieach fees because they can't think Of other ways to generate additional revenue "They’re not looking for any creative ideas to get revenue," he said, noting that suggestions — such as creating a parking authority similar to the one in Wildwood — have been made for raising money but have been ignored "They have no new ideas, no alternatives," he said He also pointed out that the borough was still trying to prevent the scheduler! referendum via an appeal of the recent court ruling that says the electorate is to decide the issue was scheduled for May 17. he said The appeal filed; a three-judge panel deciding the vote should serve as the deter minant. Bittner Successor? OCEAN CITY Mayor-elect/County Freeholder Jack Bittner hasn't decided whether he'll be recommending anyone to serve ns his successor on the freeholder board "I don’t know who is interested in the position." he said, adding that if a qualified person approaches him about becoming the candidate, he may make a recommendation. "It’s not my prerogative to choose a candidate, the mayor-elect asserted, pointing out that County ccmmittccpeoplo wilL^Ject the candidate to succeed him in tne November freeholder race The only candidate to file for the GOP freeholder nomination, Bittner plansdo withdraw since being selected Ocean City mayor last week. Pinelands Debate COURT HOUSE - County Planning Board director Elwood Jarmer and^ Garry Patterson of Browns Mills, a j member of the Pinelands Commission, will engage in a Pinelands Debate, 8 p.m. May'20 in the County Library meeting room. The debate is being sponsored by the Citizens Assn for the Protection of the Environment Planning Board and Commission members don't exactly see eye to eye ^

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