One of the key figures in the Southern Baptist Convention’s sexual abuse crisis has died prematurely after reportedly suffering a massive stroke days earlier. Jennifer Lyell, a former executive at the SBC’s Lifeway Christian Resources, died Saturday, June 7, at…
Prosecution might still be an option in Truett McConnell abuse case
As students and alumni of Truett McConnell University gathered for the first of two planned events to protest alleged mishandling of sexual abuse cases at the Baptist school June 5, news came that one of the alleged perpetrators could yet…
‘This is not the way of peace,’ Boulder Baptist pastor says after attack
The pastor of a Baptist church located just blocks from a violent attack on Jews last Sunday told his congregation, “We must not conflate Jewish people or Judaism with the Israeli government, though we can and should condemn antisemitism and…
Partisan gap widens on support for same-sex marriage
As LGBTQ Americans and their allies begin Pride month celebrations, there’s further evidence of a disconnect with conservative voters, no doubt driven by the evangelical base of the Republican Party. While overall support for same-sex marriage remains steady, support is…
Texas Baptist pastor charged with possessing child pornography
A pastor who previously served several prominent Baptist churches in Texas, Georgia and Virginia is being held in the Denton County, Texas, jail on a $500,000 bond while facing charges of possession of child pornography. Denton County public records show…
Where does a multi-site megachurch find a new pastor?
When Gateway Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex announced its new senior pastor, most attention fell on Daniel Floyd’s role in picking up the pieces of his predecessor’s sexual abuse scandal. But his appointment is significant for another reason: He…
Take more photos, make more memories
At a funeral for a 92-year-old man this week, I was struck by the family photos scrolling by in the pre-service slide show. I’ve seen hundreds of these slide shows before, but this one jumped out at me. The deceased…
Proposed SBC resolutions throw red meat to the base, avoid key issues
When the Southern Baptist Convention meets in annual session each summer, few things make as many headlines as the resolutions adopted in those two-day sessions. This year will be no exception as the voting participants — called “messengers” in SBC…
Democracy Forward and Interfaith Alliance seek records of ‘anti-Christian’ task force
Two watchdog groups are using the Freedom of Information Act to seek details of the Trump administration’s Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. Democracy Forward and Interfaith Alliance joined forces in making information requests of the Small Business Administration, Department…
Fuller Seminary affirms ‘historic theological understanding of marriage’
Trustees of Fuller Theological Seminary voted this month to reaffirm the school’s “historic theological understanding of marriage,” while acknowledging “faithful Christians” may hold other views. “After several years of consultation, feedback and dialogue, the board of trustees reconfirmed the institution’s…
Evangelical Trump Hypocrisy Syndrome strikes again
Imagine former President Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, posting a social media meme riffing off The Blues Brothers movie and declaring he’s “on a mission from God.” Conservatives would have lost their ever-loving minds. This would have been further evidence…
SBC’s losses exceed membership in other denominations, Burge says
The Southern Baptist Convention has lost more members in the last two decades than many other denominations have in total membership, according to religion data analyst Ryan Burge. “The convention is down nearly 3.6 million members since its peak in…