First, Jennifer Lyell had to defend herself against a public misrepresentation of her story of sexual abuse published by Baptist Press; now she’s facing a second public humiliation from critics who believe the Southern Baptist Convention’s sexual abuse investigation is…
The tragic tale of a sexual abuse case, a deacon ordination and the quest for control of the Southern Baptist Convention
We have written three drafts of a news story you’re not going to see published. Instead, I’m going to use this analysis column to explain how exceedingly complicated it is to address the challenges of sexual abuse and politics in…
Who are the key players behind the SBC Executive Committee’s response to a sexual abuse investigation?
The present crisis within the Southern Baptist Convention over how to handle allegations of sexual abuse isn’t Ronnie Floyd’s first experience responding to such sensitive matters. Before taking the helm of the SBC’s powerful Executive Committee, Floyd was pastor of…
SBC seminary presidents meet with Black pastors but don’t change position on Critical Race Theory
Five weeks after the six white presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention’s seminaries ignited a firestorm of protest for their denunciation of Critical Race Theory, they met with a group of Black SBC pastors and didn’t back down. The result…
Could you win a quiz show by defining ‘Critical Race Theory’?
Imagine you’re on a television game show vying for a $50,000 grand prize. All you have to do to win the money is give a proper definition of one term: Critical Race Theory. Could you do it? If your answer…
SBC seminary presidents are ‘complicit with evil,’ revered California pastor says
J. Alfred Smith Sr. is not happy with the six Southern Baptist Convention presidents, who recently issued a declaration against Critical Race Theory. “They are more afraid of Critical Race Theory than the ugly racism that has our democracy about…
North Carolina Baptist newspaper editor to retire in 2019
Allan Blume, editor and president of the Biblical Recorder, has announced plans to retire at the end of next May. Blume, 68, took over in 2011 as editor of the official news journal of the Baptist State Convention of North…
Pastor criticizes seminary president’s endorsement of secularist group
By Bob Allen A Texas Baptist pastor says in a YouTube video that a Southern Baptist seminary president should apologize for endorsing an atheist group or be censured by his board of trustees. Randy White, pastor of the 2,500-member First…
Southern Baptist leader endorses secularist campaign
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist seminary president has added his blessing to a campaign advocating for atheists. Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., affirmed Openly Secular, a campaign fighting discrimination against people based…