Southern Baptist Convention
Russell Moore leaves Southern Baptist leadership, but denomination’s troubles remain
By Bob Smietana — May 21, 2021
NASHVILLE (RNS) — Southern Baptists have long been able to find enough consensus to cooperate on missions. In recent years, they've become less cooperative because of debates over race, politics and the role of women in the church.
Southern Baptist decline continues, denomination has lost more than 2 million members since 2006
By Bob Smietana — May 21, 2021
NASHVILLE (RNS) — Baptisms dropped to the lowest point since the great influenza pandemic of 1918 and 1919.
Justice for SBC sexual abuse victims: A call for an investigatory commission
By Christa Brown — May 20, 2021
(RNS) — Few abuse survivors anticipate the country’s largest Protestant faith group will effectively address its sexual abuse problem without the pressure of outside forces.
Why grievance studies hoaxer and atheist James Lindsay wants to save Southern Baptists
By Bob Smietana — May 18, 2021
(RNS) — Over the past two years, James Lindsay has been on a crusade against what he sees as a ‘woke’ invasion of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.
The debate over women pastors is a Southern Baptist smoke screen
By Laura Levens — May 14, 2021
(RNS) — The fiery arguments distract from constructive conversations about entrenched racism, Christian nationalism and sexual abuse.
You’re right, Al Mohler, a downpour is coming
By Beth Allison Barr — May 13, 2021
(RNS) — In terms of the SBC stance on women preaching, a storm is indeed coming — just not from the direction Mohler thinks.
Saddleback ordains 3 women, leading to another Mother’s Day dust-up over women pastors
By Bob Smietana — May 10, 2021
(RNS) — The two largest churches in the Southern Baptist Convention featured women preachers on Mother's Day, despite the convention's ban on women pastors.
The evangelical sexual abuse crisis is the spiritual warfare of our time
By Karen Swallow Prior — May 4, 2021
(RNS) — My accident taught me what happens to victims of abuse and how trauma works.
Volcanic eruption in Caribbean prompts Baptist church meals, relief agency supplies
By Adelle M. Banks — April 14, 2021
(RNS) — A local pastor and international relief agencies plan to assist St. Vincent residents with physical and spiritual needs during what is expected to be a long recovery.
Beth Moore apologizes for her role in elevating ‘complementarian’ theology that limits women leaders
By Yonat Shimron and Bob Smietana — April 7, 2021
(RNS) — In an email to Religion News Service, Moore didn’t go quite so far as to say she has entirely abandoned complementarianism. But she no longer sees it as essential.
Beth Moore left the SBC after the SBC left women to fend for themselves
By Karen Swallow Prior — April 5, 2021
(RNS) — The strongest objections of her critics seem to be fruits of their own sowing.
Black Southern Baptists seek more action on racism from seminary presidents
By Adelle M. Banks — March 30, 2021
(RNS) — The fellowship said it was ‘deeply disappointed’ that the seminary presidents have ‘not moved from their original statement of CRT’s incompatibility in all its forms.’
Like Beth Moore, many women preachers have had to break free to follow God’s call
By Bob Smietana — March 29, 2021
(RNS) — For women preachers, following their call has often conflicted with the rules put forth by their churches — even though people in the pews are open to a woman in the pulpit.
Religious conference planning continues amid COVID-19, socially distant or online
By Adelle M. Banks — March 24, 2021
(RNS) — Religious conference planners are waiting to hear whether their meetings will go on as expected this year and contemplating how they will look as the pandemic continues.
Blaming Christians for the Atlanta shootings isn’t persecution, it’s prosecution
By Maina Mwaura — March 19, 2021
(RNS) — How Christians handle this moment will be a defining passage, in the Atlanta area and across the country.
