The two churches at the center of last summer’s debate over women in ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention have left their respective state Baptist conventions, which have heavy ties to the SBC. Saddleback Church, previously the largest church in…
Samford’s fine arts dean named president of Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University has named a fine arts administrator 12th president of the Baptist-founded liberal arts school. Joseph “Joe” Hopkins, dean of the School of the Arts at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., will become president at the central Kentucky school…
Kentucky child care discrimination and proselytizing cases take opposite turns
A two-decades-old dispute between the state of Kentucky and a Baptist child care agency turned two pages in opposite directions within a few days, offering anything but clarity about the situation. On one hand, Sunrise Children’s Services, an agency of…
Kentucky Baptist editor changing jobs
After 10 years as editor of the Western Recorder, Todd Deaton is leaving the official news journal of the Kentucky Baptist Convention March 1.
Kentucky Baptist Convention formally excludes churches dually aligned with CBF
The Kentucky Baptist Convention no longer welcomes churches that dually align with the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Just over 400 messengers at the state affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Pikeville, Kentucky, voted Tuesday to approve a…
Kentucky Baptist leader nominated to head SBC International Mission Board
Paul Chitwood, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention since 2011, has been nominated as 13th president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board.
Texas Baptist convention takes note of more inclusive hiring policy by CBF
The 5,600-church Baptist General Convention of Texas apparently is paying close attention to new hiring practices at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship which would allow persons who identify as LBGTQ to be employed in some roles, though not others.
State Baptist body weighs disqualifying CBF churches
A Southern Baptist state convention is considering kicking out cooperating churches that are also aligned with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Baptist leader supports Planned Parenthood defunding
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Convention’s top leader is urging state lawmakers to pass legislation to defund Planned Parenthood in the coming year. Paul Chitwood, executive director of the state’s largest religious organization, voiced support on Kentucky Today, a convention-owned…
Kentucky’s Southern Baptists hire lobbyist, Capitol chaplain
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Convention is placing a lobbyist, chaplain and journalist in Frankfort, Ky., in an effort to gain more influence in state politics. The new jobs are funded by a financial grant at no cost to…
Kentucky Baptists elect black president
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Convention elected its first African-American president Nov. 10 at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, Ky. Kevin Smith, teaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville and an assistant professor of Christian preaching at…
Kentucky Baptist group to urge defunding of Planned Parenthood
By Bob Allen The Kentucky Baptist Convention announced plans Oct. 28 to vote on a resolution calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood at the convention’s annual meeting Nov. 10 in Elizabethtown, Ky. “The horror of Planned Parenthood’s murder and…