J.D. Greear
SBC seminary president: Recent race statement not about ‘preserving whiteness’
By Adelle M. Banks — December 24, 2020
(RNS) — Adam Greenway, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, defended Southern Baptist seminary presidents’ determination about critical race theory.
Luter, Greear latest Southern Baptist leaders to weigh in as turmoil over race theory grows
By Adelle M. Banks — December 19, 2020
(RNS) — The fallout from a statement on critical race theory by six seminary presidents continued, as prominent Black leaders and their churches answer with objections or quit the SBC.
Amid cries for church unity post-election, some Christians say ‘Not so fast’
By Emily McFarlan Miller and Roxanne Stone — November 11, 2020
NEW YORK (RNS) — After a polarizing presidential election, Christian leaders are urging believers of all political convictions to find common ground in their faith.
SBC seminary votes to retain slaveholders’ names on buildings
By Adelle M. Banks — October 13, 2020
(RNS) — Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said: ‘Our task is to honor the saintly without condoning, hiding, or denying the sinful.’
Protecting abuse survivors is ‘personal,’ says new Southern Baptist leader
By Adelle M. Banks — September 22, 2020
(RNS) — The Rev. Rolland Slade on his personal connection with a sex abuse survivor: ‘In fact, we’ve been married 39 years. So when I say it’s personal, it’s personal.’
Southern Baptists warm to alternate moniker ‘Great Commission Baptists’
By Adelle M. Banks — September 16, 2020
(RNS) — ‘The farther we get from 1845, the more clear we need to be with our mission,’ said a South Carolina Baptist official.
‘More than individual sin’ — Black pastors urge evangelicals to admit systemic racism
By Yonat Shimron — July 2, 2020
(RNS) — While liberal Christians have embraced the idea of social or collective sin, especially when it comes to racism, white evangelicals have typically resisted such notions as unbiblical. A Black Southern Baptist pastor is now calling them out on it.
Retire gavel named for slaveholder, Southern Baptist President J.D. Greear says
By Adelle M. Banks — June 10, 2020
(RNS) — Greear said he had felt uneasy using the gavel at the 2019 meeting in Birmingham, Alabama.
Southern Baptist President J.D. Greear says ‘black lives matter’
By Adelle M. Banks — June 9, 2020
(RNS) — Greear also called for new clergy to be trained in preventing sex abuse and he challenged Southern Baptists not to be divided by the U.S. presidential election.
Southern Baptist Convention president’s church policies questioned
By Adelle M. Banks — June 2, 2020
(RNS) — J.D. Greear said his church found that Bryan Loritts ‘did not attempt to protect the abuser or discourage victims from pursuing justice’ at another church.
Catholic bishops, Southern Baptists, call for justice in George Floyd death
By Bob Smietana — May 30, 2020
(RNS) — Catholic and Southern Baptist leaders condemned the abuse of police power, call for racial healing and pray that the family of George Floyd will find comfort.
Mohler’s turn to Trump is the crowning flip-flop of his career
By Jonathan Merritt — April 17, 2020
(RNS) — Many, including Mohler’s friends and colleagues, have pointed out that his decision to favor Trump is consistent with a career marked as much by ambition as conviction.
Southern Baptists ready to put spotlight on sex abuse crisis
By David Crary — September 30, 2019
(AP) — Entangled in a multifaceted sex abuse crisis, the country's largest Protestant denomination is preparing to host a conference on a topic that has kindled skepticism even among some of the scheduled speakers.
Southern Baptists give greater attention to diversity but acknowledge more needed
By Adelle M. Banks — June 14, 2019
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) — 'We’re not where we need to be on those things, but I believe a signal has been sent that we believe that’s where we need to go,' said Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear.
Southern Baptists face sex abuse crisis with litany of lament
By Adelle M. Banks — June 12, 2019
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) — Following along on large screens around the Legacy Arena, women, men, pastors, lay people and survivors took turns reading words drawn from the biblical books of Psalms and Lamentations.
