SBC Executive Committee

Why would survivors attend the Southern Baptist Convention meetings?

By Tiffany Thigpen — March 15, 2024
(RNS) — It is walking into what feels like a den of lions.

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

By Bob Smietana — March 7, 2024
(RNS) — Confusion over the status of a DOJ investigation into the SBC has strained already tense relationships between abuse survivors and the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

SBC task force plans to start nonprofit to oversee abuse database and reforms

By Bob Smietana — February 19, 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — The new nonprofit is designed to get past the SBC Executive Committee’s ongoing financial and legal challenges.

A Southern Baptist leader hid decades of abuse. Will his fall doom SBC abuse reforms?

By Bob Smietana — January 22, 2024
(RNS) — Revelations about the decadeslong abuse by a prominent SBC leader have led to fears that the denomination's sex-abuse reforms are doomed to fail.

Southern Baptists settle abuse lawsuit against legendary conservative leader Paul Pressler

By Bob Smietana — December 29, 2023
(RNS) — Texas Judge Paul Pressler, a conservative activist and one of the founding fathers of the so-called conservative resurgence, had been accused of abusing young men for years.

Despite remaining leaderless, SBC Executive Committee says it had ‘most unified meeting in some time’

By Bob Smietana — September 19, 2023
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — An unexpected withdrawal marks the second time this year that a nomination for leader of the Executive Committee has fallen apart.

Is a pastor’s sin a private matter? Johnny Hunt lawsuit makes that claim.

By Bob Smietana — September 18, 2023
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — The former SBC president and longtime megachurch pastor covered up his sexual misconduct for a decade. Now he's suing SBC leaders for revealing his sins.

SBC leader Willie McLaurin resigns after admitting he falsified resume

By Bob Smietana — August 17, 2023
(RNS) — McLaurin is the third Executive Committee leader to resign in controversy since 2018.

Many African American SBC churches have women pastors on staff. Will they be expelled next?

By Bob Smietana — July 10, 2023
(RNS) — A letter from the president of the SBC's National African American Fellowship expressed concerns over recent SBC decisions to bar churches with women pastors.

Ouster of Saddleback and Fern Creek from SBC over women pastors is affirmed

By Adelle M. Banks and Bob Smietana — June 14, 2023
(RNS) — Saddleback, whose case was argued by founding pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren, had been ousted for naming a woman to its pastoral team.

David Sills, former seminary professor named in Guidepost report, sues SBC

By Bob Smietana — May 12, 2023
(RNS) — The former seminary professor claims in a complaint filed in the US District Court for Middle Tennessee that he was made a scapegoat for the denomination’s sex abuse crisis.

Southern Baptists oust Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church for naming a female pastor

By Adelle M. Banks — February 21, 2023
(RNS) — Stacie Wood, wife of Andy Wood, who replaced Warren as lead pastor last summer, has the title of ‘teaching pastor.’

Rolland Slade, SBC Executive Committee chair: seeking ‘to make a wrong right’

By Adelle M. Banks — June 16, 2022
ANAHEIM, Calif. (RNS) — ‘I think the one thing that surprised me more than anything was the list,’ said Slade of a recently revealed list of convicted abusers.

The Southern Baptist and Catholic sexual abuse crises, compared

By Mark Silk — May 25, 2022
(RNS) — Very different religious bodies, very similar disgrace.

SBC Executive Committee, repenting for handling of abuse, disowns lawyer’s 2006 letter

By Bob Smietana — May 24, 2022
(RNS) — At a meeting Tuesday (May 24), Executive Committee members promised to lament, listen and learn as they respond to a report on abuse.
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