with the lord

Rebecca Whittington, 62

Attorney Rebecca Whittington, who was serving as Board Chair for the Illinois Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services, died July 8 at University of Louisville Jewish Hospital. Whittington lived in Benton and had a law office in Carbondale. Her experience as a lawyer was beneficial to BCHFS as the ministry navigated an interim leadership period of more than a year, while conducting a search for the current Executive Director, Kevin Carrothers. She was also involved in development of policies for child abuse prevention.

“Rebecca was a Renaissance Woman,” said Carrothers, who conducted her funeral. “She was an active and respected member of the legal community, but there was so much more to her life than the law. She was an accomplished pianist, a patron of the arts, had a love for cooking, a heart for dogs and cats, and committed service to her work and hometown communities.”

Whittington was a graduate of Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. She began her career first as a judicial law clerk in Benton in 1983, as a member of two Carbondale firms starting in 1985, and since 1997 had a solo practice. She served a variety of important posts in

Another bill still awaiting the governor’s signature is HB 2297, which mandates state agencies track the number of their employees who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming as part of the state’s effort to further workplace diversity. It was sent to the governor June 16 with a scheduled effective date of July 1, 2025.

Among the bills already signed by the governor are:

• HB 1591–(Marriage) Removed what some referred to as “outdated provisions” from the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The bill is intended to guarantee same sex marriages performed in Illinois remain legal in other states should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Obergefell v. Hodges. Effective date: January 1, 2024.

• HB 1596–(Pronouns) Replaces pronouns in existing laws related to children in the state’s care. These include the word “mother” which becomes “person who gives birth” and the descriptor “biological” becomes “birth” as in “birth family.” Effective date: August 8.

• HB 2418–(Trafficking) Provides a way for the victims of human trafficking to have their criminal record expunged. Effective date: January 1, 2024 the profession, while also serving music leadership in churches and serving Illinois Baptists through her involvement with BCHFS. Whittington attended Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton for many years, and more recently attended Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon.

• HB 3425–(Bullying notification) Requires schools to inform parents and guardians of students involved in an act of bullying within 24 hours of the incident or to make a good faith effort to do so. Effective: immediately.

Whittington was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Carl and Eva Bennett Whittington, and her brother, Richard “Dick” Whittington. She was a native of Mt. Vernon.

“Her most treasured possessions included her daddy’s Bible and his sermons,” Carrothers said.

Jerry Ford, 86

Mayor backs ‘bubble zones’

Recently elected Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson released a plan in July endorsing 50-foot bubble zones around abortion clinics to prevent pro-life advocates from sharing information. The City already has an ordinance in place to stop sidewalk counselors from distributing literature. Johnson cites compassion, care, and safety for women seeking abortion. Students for Life Action calls the plan “misguided.”

“The Pro-Life Generation, sometimes gathering on sidewalks for counseling, advocates for no violence inside or outside of the womb,” SFLA told The Christian Post. They urged Johnson to focus instead on the city’s climbing murder rate. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld legality of the bubble zones in 2020.

Court sides with Christian web designer

A High Court ruling preserving the right of a Christian web designer to refuse same-sex wedding business is “one of celebration and a milestone in the fight to preserve these precious freedoms,” retired judge Phil Ginn said. The 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of Lorie Smith, owner of Creative 303 in Colorado, was a distinct shift in a series of discrimination judgments against Christian wedding photographers, florists, and cake bakers.

“Thankfully there are still wise and prudent justices on the Supreme Court who can recognize this matter for what it is—a blatant governmental attack on the freedom of speech and freedom of religion of its citizenry,” wrote Ginn, a 22-year North Carolina jurist who now heads Southern Evangelical Seminary. But “the battle is not over,” he warned.

Precedents ‘piling up’

An Indianapolis Catholic High School was within its rights in dismissing a guidance counselor who was in a same-sex marriage, a federal appeals court ruled in July. The counselor, Michelle Fitzgerald, was a 14-year employee, but the school’s awareness of her relationship only happened a year ago. The court decided that her position was ministerial in nature.

FORD

Jerry J. Ford of Harrisburg died June 27. Ford most recently served as Director of Missions for Williamson Baptist Association. He began serving Illinois Baptist Churches in 1962, and was lead pastor of Third Baptist Church of Marion. Ford earned a doctoral degree in Bible Philosophy. Ford was known for his commitment to missions, leading multiple trips abroad including Russia, Siberia, Spain, Greece, and Bulgaria. A native of Flat Rock, Illinois, Ford was preceded in death by Cora, his wife of 66 years, and two adult children. He is survived by one son, Mark, two grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

“Religious schools exist to pass on the faith to the next generation, and to do that, they need the freedom to choose leaders who are fully committed to their religious mission,” said lawyer Joseph Davis of Becket Law, a religious freedom group that defended the school. “The precedent keeps piling up: Catholic schools can ask Catholic school teachers and administrators to be fully supportive of Catholic teaching.”

States ranked for religious freedom

Illinois falls in the middle on a new ranking of religious freedoms for non-profits, which includes churches. The new Faith and Freedom Index released in July measures the protections afforded faith-based organizations. At 48%, Illinois scored much better than neighbors Wisconsin (26%) and Michigan (22%).

Nevada scored lowest (18%). Alabama (86%) and Texas (70%) ranked highest and offered the most protections.

“Both states require government burdens on religious freedom to pass the most rigorous tests. Texas features a state constitutional amendment expressly protecting religious worship,” explained Napa Legal, which commissioned the study.

Un-Chosen

Teen objects to YMCA transgender policy

Allows biological men into women’s locker rooms

Springfield | When Abbigail Wheeler saw a man wearing a woman’s swimsuit in the women’s locker room at the YMCA, she knew she had to say something. The 16-year-old swimmer told the coach of her team, but he said nothing could be done about it because the law protected transgender people. Her voice quivered as she described the coach as “someone I was supposed to trust.” And, how her “feelings of fear were pushed aside.”

“The story of Jesus of Nazareth...started with pretty much the size group that you’re seeing here, with no money, with no fame, with no internet, with no phone,” Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson said. “Two thousand years later, we’re still talking about it halfway across the globe from where it happened.”

Unfortunately, they’re not talking about the new musical Robertson backed. “His Story” was written by an 18-year-old woman as a cross between The Chosen and Hamilton and produced by Broadway veterans near Dallas. The show closed after two months because of poor ticket sales. Media blamed lack of interest among two-million Christians in the metroplex.

Pickleball evangelism

36.5 million Americans play pickleball, making it the fastest growing sport in the U.S. three years in a row. Described as a mash-up of tennis and Ping-Pong, the game is suitable for all ages.

London, Ky. Pastor Andrew Dyer has turned the novel sport into an outreach event in his community. A senior adult at Corinth Baptist Church asked to put some court lines on the gym floor so they could play. It proved wildly popular.

“We started playing with people in the community who were not part of the church,” Dyer said. “When we get to know them better, those gospel conversations can come naturally.”

So do the dillballs, flapjacks, and falafels, all food terms adapted for the new sport. The court also has a “kitchen.”

Pickleball, anyone?

A month later Wheeler posted signs alerting women that biological men were using their locker room. Management of the Kerasotes YMCA in Springfield called her signs “hate speech.” Eventually Wheeler was off the team.

The teen became emotional speaking about the situation at a press conference held at a park across the street from the YMCA on July 13. It was hosted by the Illinois Freedom Caucus who stood with her, along with her parents and her sister, Kaitlynn. An estimated 200 people were present.

For Kaitlynn, this is not a new situation. She had a similar experience in college competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Wheeler’s father, Dan, said he doesn’t want the matter to become political or to sue anyone. “I’ve been asked, ‘Why are you doing this?’,” he said. “I don’t want to do this. I’ve prayed about this. The resounding answer has been you already have two daughters this has happened to. Does it really take all three?”

The YMCA’ response to complaints by the girl and her father, who is a 13-year veteran of World of Swimming, was that the transgender woman’s presence “was permitted by Illinois law.” The girl was told she could move to a private changing area such as the family locker room or stop using the facilities if she was bothered.

The Wheelers later withdrew their daughter from the team, saying the YMCA was making it impossible for her to participate. Management denied earlier reports that they had kicked her off the team.

“Some people that are members of ours, that are transgender, that are known to us, that’s because they want to be known to us,” said Lou Bart. “I’m sure there are others that we have no idea, and I’m not concerned about that. So, we can’t discriminate against anybody.” When similar incidents have occurred in the state, the Illinois Human Rights Act has been cited as the legal reason.

State Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud), who is also an attorney and a member of the caucus, joined the Wheeler family at the press conference. He said the Illinois Human Rights Act is “commonly misquoted and misrepresented” in this area.

The section of the law which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity also states, “Nothing in this article shall apply to… facilities distinctly private.”

He said the statute listed “those private in nature such as restrooms, shower rooms, bath houses, and health clubs.” “Clearly,” Freiss said, “there is no requirement to allow biological males in women’s locker rooms.”

Multiple offenses

The Wheelers have ties to former 12-time All-American swimmer Riley Gaines, who is known for speaking out on the integrity of women’s sports and biological women’s rights. Kaitlynn swam with Gaines at the University of Kentucky.

The sisters appeared with Gaines in a recent Fox News interview where Kaitlynn shared how she was present in the locker room at the NCAA Division 1 meet in 2022, where female swimmers were forced to compete and change in the same locker room as the transgender swimmer. Gaines began tweeting about the Springfield YMCA incident which helped to bring it to national attention.

Kaitlynn said she’s proud of her little sister “for standing up for what’s right.” However, she said “it’s been infuriating” to see her “forced off the swim team and banned from the YMCA of all places.”

Wheeler has joined another swim team at a different facility.