In the US, Southern Baptists warm to alternate moniker ‘Great Commission Baptists’
RNS Months ahead of their planned annual meeting, some Southern Baptist leaders are embracing an unofficial moniker for their gathering and, in some cases, for themselves: Great Commission Baptists. The name simultaneously distances them from a regional affiliation and focuses on the command of Jesus for his followers to spread his message worldwide, some leaders […]
Southern Baptists: Without annual meeting, amid decline, debates continue on race, women’s roles
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, reports on the ongoing debates within the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the US…
In the US, Southern Baptists see 13th year of membership decline
Nashville, TennesseeAP The largest Protestant denomination in the US is almost two per cent smaller than it was in 2018. The Southern Baptist Convention released its 2019 membership numbers on Thursday, showing a membership decline of more than 287,000. That brings their total membership down from 14.8 million in 2018 to 14.5 million last year. […]
Southern Baptists approve amendments dealing with sexual abuse, racism
Birmingham, Alabama, US RNS Southern Baptists, faced in recent months with hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse in its ranks, have overwhelmingly adopted changes to governing documents that will bring greater visibility to their desire to disaffiliate with churches that do not handle instances of abuse properly. A new standing “credentials committee” also will consider […]
Widower of Emanuel Nine victim, formerly detained pastor call for unity on prayer day
Washington, DC RNS Standing before a National Day of Prayer gathering, Rev Anthony Thompson called himself an example of the day’s theme of loving one another – no matter what. “Can you love someone who hates you because of the colour of your skin?” he asked the crowd of more than 200 assembled Thursday at […]
In the US, Ronnie Floyd, Arkansas megachurch pastor, elected to head Southern Baptist executive committee
Nashville, Tennessee RNS Ronnie Floyd, an Arkansas megachurch pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention president, has been elected to head the denomination’s executive committee. Meeting in Dallas, executive committee trustees approved Floyd’s nomination by a vote of 68-1, according to Baptist Press, the SBC’s official news service. Ronnie Floyd speaks at the opening of the […]
Ronnie Floyd, US megachurch pastor and Trump advisor, nominated for key SBC post
RNS Former Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd has been nominated to lead the US denomination’s executive committee, based in Nashville, Tennessee. An Arkansas megachurch pastor who serves as part of President Trump’s unofficial group of faith advisors, Floyd would succeed former executive committee President Frank Page, who resigned last year due to an “inappropriate […]
Six months after massacre, Sutherland Springs pastor says nation should put God first
RNS The pastor whose Sutherland Springs, Texas, church was the site of a November massacre prayed at the US Capitol for a country where God is honoured in statehouses and schools. “Forgive us for taking you out of our schools,” prayed Pastor Frank Pomeroy on Thursday before a kneeling crowd. He listed churches, capitols and various […]