The Florida Baptist Convention is selling its headquarters in Jacksonville for an undisclosed price reported in the multi-millions. Barbara Denman, director of communications for the state affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention, said 51 percent of the proceeds will be…
Tennessee poised to make Bible the official state book
A Southern Baptist lawmaker’s bill designating the Bible the official state book of Tennessee is on its way to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 1108, sponsored by Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, would designate “the Holy Bible” as the official state…
Wiley Drake offers to run as Trump VP
A former officer in the Southern Baptist Convention who was on the ballot in California as Alan Keyes’ running mate in 2008 this time around is offering his services to GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. Wiley Drake, pastor of the First…
Pastors urge veto of Mississippi ‘religious liberty’ law
Update: Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed the “religious liberty” bill into law on April 5. Three Cooperative Baptist Fellowship pastors are opposing Mississippi’s so-called “religious liberty” law, which would, among other things, allow public employees, businesses and social workers to deny…
SBC agency backs Mississippi ‘religious freedom’ bill
The Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm has voiced support of a controversial Mississippi religious freedom bill being decried as anti-gay. The SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission published an article April 1 titled “Will Mississippi Lead the Way?” The…
SBC church targeted for links to abortion clinic
A Southern Baptist church in Oklahoma is reportedly working internally to address a controversy involving a deacon whose company is working on a building that will be used to perform abortions. An online petition with more than 500 signatures and…
Soulforce asks Facebook to divest from National Religious Broadcasters
A Christian advocacy group for LGBT inclusion is trying to organize a Twitter storm to force a face-to-face meeting with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg calling on the company to divest from right-wing Christian media. Soulforce Executive Director Haven Herrin hopes…
Bill termed anti-gay authored by Baptist lawmaker
The Mississippi Senate has passed what critics call the most sweeping anti-LGBT legislation in the United States, sponsored by a Baptist layman who is a trustee at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, a member and former…
Abuse survivors want conference speaker removed
A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is asking organizers of an upcoming religious conference to revoke a speaking invitation to a pastor accused of concealing multiple sex crimes. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said March…
SEC says ExxonMobil must allow proxy vote on climate change
The Securities and Exchange Commission ruled March 22 that ExxonMobil must allow shareholders to vote on a climate change resolution, pleasing groups that advocate socially responsible investing. The SEC said the company must allow stockholders to vote on a series…
Political organizer blasts SBC leader’s advice
An evangelical political operative says a Southern Baptist leader’s advice for Christians to vote for third-party or write-in candidates rather than settling for a “lesser of two evils” is a road map to victory for Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, American…
Disaster relief volunteer dies after heart attack
A Southern Baptist disaster-relief volunteer died March 29 while on a flood recovery mission in Leesville, La. Don Fulkerson, 77, a member of First Baptist Church in Galatia, Ill., died from a heart attack while serving on a team of…