In the 11-year history of South Sudan as an independent country, the East African nation has known more conflict than peace among its disparate tribes. The conflicts, which began in 2013 as a political dispute between the country’s leading politicians…
SBC establishes hotline to receive reports of sexual abuse in churches
The Southern Baptist Convention has established a confidential hotline for survivors of sexual abuse in churches to make reports, an unprecedented step for the nation’s largest non-Catholic denomination. After decades of denying the problem exists and even shaming those who…
SBC presidential candidate says Executive Committee’s waiver of attorney-client privilege was ‘not wise’
Three days after a bombshell report from independent investigators made possible by the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee waiving attorney-client privilege, one of three candidates for SBC president said he still believes waiving privilege was “not wise.” Florida pastor Tom…
Who is Augie Boto, the central figure in the SBC sexual abuse cover up?
Search the internet or the indices of books written about the history of the Southern Baptist Convention and you’ll find few references to August “Augie” Boto. This week, Boto’s name is all over the internet, however, because of his starring…
SBC plans to release list of known sexual abusers in churches, refutes its own former general counsel
The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, hit hard by an independent investigation of mishandling of sexual abuse claims over the past two decades, wants to release a secret file with the names of 703 alleged clergy abusers, has repudiated a…
On three-month anniversary of Russian invasion, Ukrainian Baptists and neighbors keep helping everyone they can
Baptists in Europe continue to be creative, compassionate and relentless in providing humanitarian and pastoral support to Ukrainian refugees three months into Russia’s invasion of its western neighbor. The latest report from the European Baptist Federation says needs continue to…
While SBC weeps over sexual abuse allegations, the TheoBros take on Beth Allison Barr one more time
While most anyone concerned about religion in America spent May 23 still digesting the 300-page report of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Sexual Abuse Task Force, a group advocating male headship had another topic in mind: The horrors of Beth Allison…
SBC’s former law firm sharply disagrees with Sexual Abuse Task Force report
The legal firm that previously served the Southern Baptist Convention and reportedly tried to block a full public investigation of mishandling sexual abuse claims is not happy with the report issued May 22 by Guidepost Solutions. And Ronnie Floyd, the…
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…
Hearing from victims’ families changed the death penalty debate in Connecticut
Activists involved in the 2012 abolition of capital punishment in Connecticut say the perspectives of murder victims’ families was the key element in their campaign’s success. Even Michael Lawlor, the state’s criminal justice “czar” at the time, confirmed that those…
What’s next for recommendations and reforms in SBC sexual abuse study?
The very thing Southern Baptist leaders have said for decades cannot be done tops the list of recommended actions from the independent firm that investigated allegations of mishandling sexual abuse cases. Guidepost Solutions says the Southern Baptist Convention should “form…
Guidepost report documents pattern of ignoring, denying and deflecting on sexual abuse claims in SBC
A few key leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee repeatedly worked to stall, deny and control information about sexual abuse within the nation’s largest non-Catholic denomination, according to an independent investigation released Sunday, May 22. And almost coincidentally…