By Bob Allen A former staff member at a Southern Baptist church in Alabama was arrested June 5 after two individuals came forward claiming they were sexually abused as children. Jay Strickland, 50, a nurse anesthetist, paramedic and a former…
Publisher to correct ‘errors’ in Vines autobiography
By Bob Allen A woman who claims she was victimized by a preacher years later exposed as a sexual predator says a new autobiography by former Southern Baptist Convention President Jerry Vines minimizes his and fellow former SBC President Paige…
SACS commission releases statement on Brewton-Parker accreditation woes
By Bob Allen The board of trustees of a regional accrediting body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the South voted June 19 to remove the accreditation of Brewton-Parker College for failure to comply with membership standards. Those standards related…
Caner ordered to pay attorney fees
By Bob Allen After losing a copyright infringement lawsuit to prevent the posting of videos alleging contradictions in different versions of his once famous “Jihad to Jesus” testimony, a Georgia Baptist college president now must pay more than $34,000 in…
SNAP leader says police should investigate alleged abuse cover-up by DOM
By Bob Allen An advocate for clergy abuse victims said July 2 that police should investigate whether a Southern Baptist director of missions concealed molestation by the youth minister at a church he previously served as pastor. Mack Allen Davis,…
Judge dismisses Sovereign Grace appeal
By Bob Allen Eleven plaintiffs seeking a day in court to prove that leaders of an evangelical church-planting network conspired to cover up sexual abuse of children were dealt a blow June 26, when a Maryland Court of Special Appeals…
Judge strikes down Kentucky gay-marriage ban
By Bob Allen A gay Baptist minister who recently joined a lawsuit challenging Kentucky’s ban on same-sex marriage welcomed Tuesday’s ruling against the law as a step forward “in our continuing struggle to bring about equality.” Senior U.S. District Court…
Seminary cuts ties with embattled SGM
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Convention seminary has broken off its formal relationship with a church-starting network that has become a lightning rod since a former leader admitted under oath that he failed to report child sex abuse to…
Judge OKs settlement of Baptist home lawsuit
By Bob Allen A federal judge ruled June 30 that a Kentucky Baptist ministry cannot prevent settlement of a long-running legal battle over the establishment of religion simply because it has benefitted from state contracts in the past. U.S. District…