Southern Baptist
Amid partisan din, Sen. James Lankford walks a fine line: Pastor and politician
By Bobby Ross Jr. — July 11, 2017
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) — Lankford's emphasis on kindness and civility has kept him from fully embracing President Trump or the anger-fueled movement that propelled him into the White House.
Southern Baptists grapple with morality, white nationalism in the Trump age
By Adelle M. Banks — June 13, 2017
(RNS) After some debate, the denomination declined to take up a resolution condemning the 'alt-right movement,' whose members include white nationalists.
Faced with declining numbers, Southern Baptists focus on evangelism
By Adelle M. Banks — June 13, 2017
PHOENIX (RNS) The largest Protestant denomination has lost members for 10 years in a row and has baptized fewer people nine out of the last 10 years.
An appeal to the SBC’s Russell Moore
By Katharine R. Henderson — April 6, 2017
(RNS) You and I are followers of Christ in a deeply polarized nation. Let's have a courageous conversation to pave a way forward together.
Russell Moore faces a challenging road ahead
By Jerome Socolovsky — March 24, 2017
(RNS) Although his apology for being 'unnecessarily harsh' toward Trump supporters was accepted by the Southern Baptist Convention's top brass, the public voice of America's largest denomination still faces a groundswell of grass-roots discontent.
At life’s end, a rare point of agreement
By Jeffrey Weiss — March 20, 2017
(RNS) I like thinking that there may be a Higher Justification for me trying to continue to accomplish some things that will be considered good when I’m gone.
Married lesbian Baptist co-pastors say all are ‘beloved’
By Adelle M. Banks — March 2, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) Maria Swearingen and Sally Sarratt have been encouraged by the cheers from progressives and aren't focusing on the criticism from conservative Christians.
Russell Moore responds to Southern Baptist detractors
By Adelle M. Banks — December 20, 2016
(RNS) In his column, Moore said there were times during the campaign he thought it would have been 'negligent' to keep quiet.
Marginalizing Russell Moore is grave mistake for Southern Baptists
By Jonathan Merritt — December 20, 2016
(RNS) Southern Baptists are threatening to withhold funds from Moore's agency. But they need him more than he needs them, writes Jonathan Merritt.
Pro-Trump pastor whitewashes history of pastors during Jim Crow — including the history of his church
By Tobin Grant — July 19, 2016
Robert Jeffress pastors First Baptist Dallas. His church was once the most prominent voice for segregation in the country
Southern Baptists are going to need a bigger tent
By David Gibson — June 24, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) The nation’s largest Protestant denomination wants to be known for welcoming everyone, not rejecting most. Will that new approach stanch its declining numbers?
Southern Baptist leader: Donald Trump a ‘lost’ soul who must repent
By David Gibson — June 5, 2016
(RNS) Russell Moore has not been afraid to mix it up with Trump, and now he's at it again, saying the presumptive GOP presidential nominee must "repent of sin and come to faith in Jesus Christ."
Arm yourselves against ‘Islamic terrorists,’ Liberty U. president tells students
By Reuters — December 5, 2015
Jerry Falwell Jr., the evangelical university president, said "good people" with concealed weapons could "end those Muslims before they walked in." He later tweeted he meant "Islamic terrorists."
It’s time for evangelicals to speak up for animals (COMMENTARY)
By Kirsten Powers — October 1, 2015
The “Every Living Thing” initiative will begin a yearlong effort to engage Christians in dialogue around the biblical mandate to care for animals.
Church-state separationist James Dunn dead at 83
By Adelle M. Banks — July 6, 2015
(RNS) “The 20th century had no greater champion of religious freedom -- of conscience -- than James Dunn,” said Oliver “Buzz” Thomas, former general counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee.
