WASHINGTON (RNS)—The constant loop of disheartening images from the Gulf of Mexico—oil-covered pelicans, dead sea turtles, despairing fishermen—has prompted many Americans to seek ways to do something, anything, to take better care of the Earth. But what? And how? While…
SBC messengers defeat attempt to open records of task force proceedings
ORLANDO, Fla. — Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando, Fla., June 15-16 defeated an attempt to unseal written and audio recordings of Great Commission Resurgence task force proceedings. The task force recently announced it would seal the…
SBC resolutions highlight Gulf, family, homosexuality
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Southern Baptist Convention decried ecological catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, focused on the family and opposed the normalization of homosexuality as messengers approved seven resolutions with no debate during the SBC annual meeting in Orlando…
SBC approves slightly reduced budget, recognizes retiring executives
ORLANDO, Fla. — Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, Fla., approved a pared down budget for 2010-2011 and honored two agency presidents who retire this year. They approved a $199,822,090 Cooperative Program allocation budget recommended by the SBC…
Georgia church planter elected SBC president
ORLANDO, Fla. — In a surprise move, Southern Baptists said no to two well-known presidential candidates and elected a church planter from Marietta, Ga., to lead them in the coming year. Bryant Wright, senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church…
Messengers embrace report, focus on Great Commission
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Southern Baptist Convention embraced a future uncertain but focused on the Great Commission when a solid majority of messengers adopted the report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force June 15. “We are a Great Commission…
Task force recommendations could harm cooperation, Chapman insists
ORLANDO, Fla. — Adopting the report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force could have negative repercussions, Morris Chapman warned Southern Baptist Convention messengers during their annual meeting June 15. In his final report as president and chief executive officer…
Pastors Conference speakers affirm Great Commission Resurgence task force
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Great Commission Resurgence is a “natural and spiritual outgrowth of the conservative resurgence,” seminary president Danny Akin told participants in the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference, July 13-14. Akin, a member of the Great Commission Resurgence task…
Leaders urge B21 group to stay in the SBC hall, support task force
ORLANDO, Fla. — Supporters of the Great Commission Resurgence task force took a final opportunity to garner votes for their report when they encouraged 1,300 primarily younger pastors attending the B21 conference Tuesday to leave the luncheon and become fixtures…
WMU elects new president, urges unhindered mission
ORLANDO, Fla. — Participants at the 122nd annual meeting of national Woman’s Missionary Union elected a new president, listened to Sudan’s ambassador, honored Kaye Miller’s five years as WMU president, and heard missions challenges June 13-14 in Orlando. Debby Akerman…
Approval signals Southern Baptist concern for ‘lostness,’ task force says
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Southern Baptist Convention overwhelmingly reaffirmed its intention to spread the gospel throughout the nation and around the world, members of the SBC’s Great Commission Resurgence task force told reporters. At least 75 percent to 80 percent…
SBC Executive Committee elects Page as president in executive session
ORLANDO, Fla. (ABP) — The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention voted in executive session June 14 to elect former SBC President Frank Page as the organization’s next president and CEO, replacing Morris Chapman, who retires Sept. 30 after…