Baptist News Global

In historic move, First Baptist Decatur calls woman as senior pastor

DECATUR, Ga. (ABP) — First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga., has become the largest church associated with the Southern Baptist Convention or the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to hire a woman as senior pastor. In a closed business session after Sunday…

Southern Baptists doubt human cause, government solution to global warming

SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention rejected scientific claims that humans are to blame for global warming and dismissed the governmental efforts to reverse it. Messengers to the annual SBC meeting also stood by their resolution committee's decision…

Mark Olson named president of Washington-area seminary

ARLINGTON, Va. (ABP) — Trustees of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies have named Mark Olson, former pastor of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., as the second president of the Virginia school. Olson, who was unanimously elected,…

Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, dead at 87

MONTREAT, N.C. (ABP) — Ruth Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham, died June 14 at her home at Little Piney Cove in Montreat, N.C. She was 87. An author, philanthropist, Congressional Gold Medal winner and mother of five, Graham…

SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—The recycle of clergy sexual abuse

Secrecy about clergy sexual abuse may protect an abuser's current church from embarrassment but often at the expense of his next church—and its children. Like many small, rural congregations that find themselves without a pastor, East Bonne Terre Baptist Church…

SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—Breaking the cycle: How can churches escape the trap of recycling sex a

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.(ABP)—What can churches do to prevent clergy sex abuse and break the pattern of recycling abusers? Even among activists and experts, there is no consensus—and sometimes loud disagreement—about the steps to be taken. • A ministerial code of ethics….

SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—BGCT posts list of Baptist ministers who are registered sex offenders

DALLAS—The Baptist General Convention of Texas is providing a list registered sex offenders who were or are on staff at its affiliated churches. The Texas Baptist convention will post online at www.bgct.org/brokentrust the eight names of people in its file…

SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—Sexual predators often fly under the radar at church

NEW YORK (ABP)—Most people think they can spot a sexual predator. He's the pale loner with greasy hair and quivering lips or the grinning lech who hugs too long and slowly rubs the backs of female co-workers—or church members. Could…

SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—Sex-abuse victims speak up to help others & find healing themselves

NEW YORK (ABP)—Debbie Vasquez was 14 when her pastor started touching her inappropriately. She was 15 when he raped her and 19 when she had his baby. Tina Boyd was molested at 11 and later raped by her church bus…

SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—Stepping over the line: Should sexually straying clergy be restored to

DALLAS—Some Baptists consider sexual misconduct by clergy the unpardonable sin when it comes to hiring church staff, and many survivors of abuse agree. But others say it depends on which scarlet letter the minister wears—“W” for “wanderer” or a “P”…

SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—Virginia Baptists’ Christian life committee to issue report on sex abus

RICHMOND — Virginia Baptist churches will have an additional resource to assist them in dealing with sex abuse in their congregations when a key committee releases a report this summer. The Baptist General Association of Virginia's Christian life committee will…

SPECIAL REPORT: Broken Trust—ANALYSIS: What to do if a minister is accused of sexual misconduct

Most pastors and staff members are aware that ministry sometimes puts them in unique circumstances with all kinds of people. Most also are aware that a rumor of wrongdoing often is enough to end an otherwise fruitful ministry. For this…

What Disclosure Day reveals about evangelicals’ fears

Insufficient

6 ways the Reflecting Pool boondoggle mirrors Trump and MAGA

Pilate asked Jesus, ‘What is truth?’