The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee now has its third leader in 18 months. Jonathan Howe, vice president for communications, has been named interim president following the sudden resignation of Willie McLaurin last Friday. McLaurin was named interim president in…
Yemi Mobolade is ‘mayor for all people,’ not only Christians in Colorado Springs
Yemi Mobolade, a Nigerian immigrant, entrepreneur and Christian community leader, made history in May, becoming the first Black man and first non-Republican to be elected mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado’s second largest city, in more than four decades. A political…
Churches invited to apply for new anti-racism historical review group
A new anti-racism program will pair some of the nation’s leading experts and curriculum on white supremacy with white congregations seeking to uncover and confront their own histories related to discrimination and race. “In Deed and Truth: Interrogating Legacies of…
Interim president of SBC Executive Committee resigns, admits to falsifying resume
The interim president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee — recently considered a likely candidate for the permanent post — resigned abruptly Aug. 17. A statement from the chairman of Executive Committee trustees said McLaurin had falsified information on…
Bipartisan coalition once again urges Republicans to stop blocking Afghan Adjustment Act
Refugee advocates are pulling out the stops to pressure Congress and the White House to pass legislation granting permanent legal status to more than 70,000 war-ravaged Afghans evacuated to the U.S. in 2021. Proponents of the Afghan Adjustment Act used…
Transitions for the week of 8-18-23
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Bob Baker, to Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, Huntington, W.Va., as interim pastor. Julia Butler, to First Baptist Church,…
McRaney warns dismissal of his case against NAMB raises urgent threat to Baptist autonomy
Unless challenged, one judge’s ruling could have profound implications for Baptist autonomy, according to Will McRaney, whose defamation suit against the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board was dismissed Aug. 15. “The judge’s ruling is built around the erroneous…
Two evangelical Christian leaders indicted along with Trump in Georgia
Two evangelical Christian leaders were among the 18 individuals indicted in Georgia Aug. 14 and charged with criminally conspiring with Donald Trump to overturn his 2020 election loss. Jenna Ellis, an attorney who has worked with many conservative Christian organizations,…
PNBC vows to keep fighting ‘until everyone can realize the dream’
The Progressive National Baptist Convention is boosting its work for criminal justice, gun reform, civil rights and other reforms to help marginalized Americans, the denomination’s leaders announced recently in St. Louis. These efforts will be relentless, PNBC President David R….
U.S. district judge dismisses McRaney’s case against NAMB
After years of wrangling, a United States District Court on Aug. 15 dismissed Will McRaney’s lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board, claiming lack of subject matter jurisdiction. That means, in short, the court believes McRaney’s claims…
Ministry jobs and more
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each free posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Postings may be extended another 30…
Baylor asks for — and gets — new exemption to discriminate against LGBTQ students
This article was updated Monday evening, Aug. 14, to include new comments from Baylor President Linda Livingstone. Baylor University recently asked for and was granted a federal religious exemption from charges of sexual harassment against LGBTQ students under Title IX…