Southern Baptist Convention
At Tokyo Olympics, even faith events look different as COVID spikes. Here’s how.
By Emily McFarlan Miller and Adelle M. Banks — July 23, 2021
(RNS) — Religious services for residents of the Olympic Village will be provided virtually due to the pandemic, but Christian evangelistic organizations aren’t letting COVID-19 dampen their efforts at reaching the Japanese.
David Platt’s dreams for McLean Bible Church sour as members file lawsuit over elder vote
By Bob Smietana — July 20, 2021
(RNS) — Platt, the best-selling author of ‘Radical’ and beloved Bible preacher, finds his church facing controversy over critical race theory.
SBC president Ed Litton announces task force to oversee Executive Committee abuse review
By Bob Smietana — July 9, 2021
(RNS) — At their annual meeting in Nashville last month, Southern Baptists directed their new president to appoint a task force looking into claims that Baptist leaders mishandled abuse allegations.
Infighting in the Southern Baptist Convention shouldn’t be a surprise – the denomination has been defined by such squabbles for 400 years
By Susan M. Shaw — July 1, 2021
(The Conversation) — Baptists believe that each person can have a personal relationship with God. This theology, a scholar writes, has also contributed to disagreements within the denomination since the 17th century.
As Southern Baptists begin to grapple with sexual abuse, looming challenges remain
By Yonat Shimron and Bob Smietana — June 28, 2021
(RNS) — One week after the convention closed, an advocate for sex abuse survivors posted to a blog that a registered sex offender has been preaching at a Dallas Southern Baptist church.
New SBC President Ed Litton apologizes for using JD Greear sermon quotes without credit
By Bob Smietana — June 26, 2021
(RNS) — In a statement Saturday, Litton said that while doing research and sermon prep for the passage, he had seen Greear’s sermon and found it helpful.
Can a tender-hearted president solve the Southern Baptists’ trust problem?
By Bob Smietana — June 23, 2021
(RNS) — The nation's largest Protestant denomination is based on voluntary cooperation by more than 40,000 churches. That cooperation is threatened by growing distrust of national leaders.
White Gen X and millennial evangelicals are losing faith in the conservative culture wars
By Terry Shoemaker — June 22, 2021
(The Conversation) — Growing numbers of young evangelicals and 'Exvangelicals' are pro-LGBTQ, support #BlackLivesMatter – or are fed up altogether with mixing faith and politics.
J.D. Greear’s legacy as Southern Baptist president: Grappling with abuse, pushing diversity
By Adelle M. Banks — June 17, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — ‘Wish we could have seen more progress on responding to abuse, and current revelations reveal we still have farther to go,’ he told RNS.
PHOTO GALLERY: Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting gathers in Nashville
By Kit Doyle — June 17, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — The Southern Baptist Convention’s 2021 annual meeting convened June 15-16 at the Music City Center in Nashville. Check out some of our favorite photographs from this year’s meeting.
At annual meeting, Southern Baptists ‘turn their hearts to the right’
By Jacob Lupfer — June 17, 2021
(RNS) — A new president offers clues to the denomination’s direction. It’s not as promising as it seems.
Southern Baptist Convention resolutions reflect passion on issues of race, abortion
By Adelle M. Banks — June 17, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — While some 2021 messengers expressed opinions about the 2019 CRT resolution, anti-abortion advocates were concerned past resolutions about the SBC’s stance against abortion were not strong enough.
Southern Baptists approve abuse task force, say abusive pastors should be banned
By Bob Smietana — June 16, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — The task force will address concerns Southern Baptist leaders have mistreated abuse victims and mishandled allegations of abuse.
Saddleback Church’s ordination of women pastors to be considered by SBC committee
By Adelle M. Banks — June 16, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — ‘At the very least, I am asking that the validity of this matter be looked into,’ said a pastor at the Southern Baptists’ annual meeting.
Who is Ed Litton, the new Southern Baptist Convention president?
By Bob Smietana — June 16, 2021
(RNS) – A bridge builder whose life has been touched by tragedy, newly elected Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton faces the challenge of healing rifts in the country's largest Protestant denomination.
