A state Baptist convention that has not been able to pay its retirees’ promised medical supplements for two years made a $2 million extra gift to the Southern Baptist Convention’s two missions agencies Nov. 14. That extra giving — $1.7…
Saddleback and Fern Creek churches have left their state conventions
The two churches at the center of last summer’s debate over women in ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention have left their respective state Baptist conventions, which have heavy ties to the SBC. Saddleback Church, previously the largest church in…
Virginia Baptists approve motion to ‘support and advocate’ for women in ministry
The Baptist General Association of Virginia adopted by a wide margin a motion to create a task force “to explore programs, resources, policies, initiatives and relationships which further support and advocate for women in pastoral, ministerial and leadership roles among…
Pro-lifers won the abortion battle but are losing the war, evangelical leader warns
“The pro-life movement won the battle over Roe. But it is losing the war for the hearts and minds of Americans,” according to Warren Cole Smith, president of Ministry Watch and a thought leader among evangelicals. The pro-life movement “has formed…
Baylor regents allocate $6.3 million for Memorial to Enslaved Persons
Baylor University regents have allocated $6.3 million for construction of a Memorial to Enslaved Persons to be located on Founders Mall at the Waco, Texas, campus. Erecting such a memorial was among recommended actions in the final report of a Commission on…
‘Operation Reconquista’ aims to return Mainline churches to ‘orthodoxy’
Conservatives from seven Mainline Protestant denominations marked Reformation Sunday this year by publishing their own 95 theses calling for reform in their respective denominations — except for those affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA, who published 9.5 theses to…
Central Seminary will sell its property and lean in to virtual learning model
Central Seminary plans to sell its suburban Kansas City campus and “right size” into much smaller quarters as it leans into virtual learning as its primary model of teaching. The 122-year-old seminary affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA also…
Morris Chapman joins 60 signers of court brief arguing against Kevin Ezell and NAMB
A former president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has joined 60 other Baptist leaders in publicly opposing the SBC North American Mission Board’s legal argument against Will McRaney. Morris Chapman, a former SBC president and president of the…
Gina Jacobs-Strain named general secretary of ABCUSA
Gina Jacobs-Strain has been named general secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA for a three-year term beginning Feb. 1, 2024. She will follow C. Jeff Woods, who has been serving as intentional interim general secretary since 2019. The general…