What is happening with the SBC and the Department of Justice?

United States RNS Last week, lawyers for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee say they were contacted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and were told an investigation into the committee’s handling of sexual abuse had been closed. News about the status of the investigation eventually leaked, and on […]
In the US, chaos erupts over SBC legal filing in Louisville abuse lawsuit

United States RNS Abuse survivors, along with some members of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee and the SBC’s abuse reform taskforce, have denounced a Kentucky court filing by Southern Baptist entities aimed at limiting their liability for sexual abuse claims. A brief filed earlier this year by lawyers for the Executive Committee, Southern Baptist […]
SBC President Bart Barber says predecessor Johnny Hunt is unfit to return to ministry

United States RNS Bart Barber, a country pastor who also happens to be the sitting president of the Southern Baptist Convention, began his Tuesday as he does most days, with prayer and feeding his cows. Before the day was out he would take the rare step of denouncing one of his predecessors. “I would permanently […]
In the US, Southern Baptists apologise to abuse survivors and urge criminalising pastoral abuse

Anaheim, California, US RNS A day after approving a series of reforms meant to address sexual abuse in their denomination, Southern Baptists at their national meeting approved a resolution on Wednesday apologising to abuse survivors and asking for forgiveness. They also called on US state legislatures to create laws that make pastoral sexual misconduct a […]