By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution June 10 warning against books and movies suggesting that near-death experiences prove the existence of heaven or hell. A resolution on “the sufficiency of Scripture regarding the afterlife” says many…
SBC clarifies ‘friendly cooperation,’ updates criteria for church affiliation
By Bob Allen Messengers to the June 10-11 SBC annual meeting in Baltimore approved without discussion changes to the SBC constitution defining what it means to be “in friendly cooperation” with the convention — the language used for congregations that qualify…
Motion asks SBC to discipline gay-affirming pastor
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist Convention vice president asked new officers to consider discipline against a California congregation that recently broke ranks with the denomination’s view that all homosexual behavior is a sin. Wiley Drake, pastor of First…
Ronnie Floyd elected SBC president
By Bob Allen An Arkansas pastor with a long record of denominational service has been elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Messengers to the June 10-11 SBC annual meeting chose Ronnie Floyd, 27-year pastor of Cross Church, formerly known…
New Baptist Covenant signals resurgence of reconciliation movement, Mandela colleague says
By Jeff Brumley Allan Boesak is a native South African and Reformed Church pastor and theologian who worked shoulder to shoulder with Nelson Mandela and others to defeat apartheid. He is a passionate advocate of the reconciliation and ecumenical movements…
At SBC’s annual meeting, sobering report, possible change in representation top agenda
By Robert Dilday Southern Baptists are heading to Baltimore next week, where they may consider a significant change in how churches qualify for representation in the national denomination, while grappling with a sobering report of declining baptisms and membership. Several…
Joining growing shift in higher education, Baptist college to explore shared governance
By Robert Dilday Trustees at Bluefield College have joined a burgeoning movement in U.S. higher education aimed at altering the way colleges and universities are governed, which has largely remained unchanged for 300 years. The board of the Baptist-affiliated school…
SNAP seeks independent review of abuse handling by prominent SBC churches
By Bob Allen A support group for survivors of clergy sexual abuse is asking the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to hire an independent consultant to investigate two churches’ handling of confessions by a former staff member subsequently convicted of…
Baylor Alumni Association considers options for future
By Ken Camp When Baylor Alumni Association members gather for their fall meeting, they likely will choose one of three options as the organization’s primary function going forward — award financial assistance to Baylor University students, communicate with members or…
Alliance of Baptists joins first faith-based challenge to gay-marriage ban
By Bob Allen A national Baptist and Jewish organization have joined the United Church of Christ and a number of individual ministers and church members in the first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans in the United States. The Alliance…
ERLC pays tribute to Hobby Lobby owners
By Bob Allen Southern Baptists will honor the Christian owners of Hobby Lobby next week in Baltimore for refusing to pay for employee insurance coverage for birth control methods as required by Obamacare. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and…
For CBF Bahamas and its leader, new tie means increased influence in Caribbean
By Jeff Brumley Baptist John McIntosh knows it’s an honor to have been selected for the Bahamas Council of Bishops, whose members advocate for social justice and help establish churches across the island nation. But he knows something else, too:…