Don’t shut down the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, say former Southern Baptist Convention presidents in open letter
United States RNS A group of 10 former Southern Baptist Convention presidents have weighed in on a debate over the denomination’s controversial ethics and public policy arm. In an open letter, the 10 former presidents – some of whom have been critics of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission – acknowledged the agency has […]
Southern Baptists: Can the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission survive Trump 2.0?
Years of controversy during the Trump era have some Southern Baptists arguing that the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is more trouble than it is worth. BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports…
Outed for dissing pastors on fake social accounts, US pastor Josh Buice quits G3 Conference
United States RNS An influential Calvinist pastor who quit the Southern Baptist Convention after claiming it was too woke and liberal has been suspended by his church for causing controversy online, running fake social media accounts that criticised his church’s elders and other pastors from a conference he ran. Josh Buice, founder of the G3 […]
Southern Baptist Convention membership drops to its lowest number in 50 years. But baptisms are on the rise
United States RNS The number of Southern Baptists in the United States is the lowest it has been in 50 years, but more of them seem to be showing up in church. And the number of baptisms in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination continues to rebound from the lows of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Southern […]
Southern Baptist lawyers say the DOJ investigation is over
United States RNS Lawyers for the Southern Baptist Convention said on Wednesday that the US Department of Justice has ended an investigation into the denomination’s response to allegations of sexual abuse committed by Southern Baptist pastors and institutional leaders. That investigation was launched in 2022 after the release of the Guidepost report that demonstrated that […]
Women in ministry: Why are Southern Baptists still arguing about female preachers?
For the past 25 years, Southern Baptists have officially banned women pastors. That hasn’t stopped churches from having women serve in that role. BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports…
Southern Baptist leaders remain undaunted as legal bills from abuse investigation mount
Nashville, Tennessee, US RNS Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee struck a hopeful and defiant tone on Monday night, acknowledging the fiscal woes facing the convention yet insisting the nation’s largest Protestant denomination remains a force for good in the world. “Some critics persistently claim we are corrupt, and the entire Southern Baptist […]
“A bridge for two sides”: Ukrainian evangelicals emerge as a potent lobby for US support of their country
TIFFANY STANLEY, of Associated Press, reports on the work of Ukrainians like Baptist Pastor Yaroslav Pyzh in reaching out to American evangelicals about the need for continued US support…
Southern Baptist trustees back agency president but warn against needless controversy
Nashville, Tennessee, US AP Less than two months after the Southern Baptists’ policy arm issued an embarrassing retraction of an announcement of its leader’s firing, it gave him a strong vote of confidence this week — but with a caution against stirring unnecessary controversy. Trustees for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission affirmed both their president, […]
In US state of North Carolina, nearly 1,200 Southern Baptist churches participate in week of service
Raleigh, North Carolina, US RNS Friday morning by 9am, about 100 mostly homeless men lined up outside Oak City Cares, a multi-service non-profit on the downtown’s edge. Anne Bazemore was there by the door to offer them a hot cup of coffee. Bazemore, 25, was one of a handful of volunteers from Imago Dei Church […]