Baptist churches may soon face clergy shortages like other faith traditions. Emily Brown, in a February 2022 Relevant article, “The Great American Clergy Shortage is Coming,” noted: “Roughly 3,544 Catholic parishes in the U.S. lack a parish priest,” and “in…
Leaving church, part 3: ‘Opposition to leadership’
In the face of opposition to leadership, successful leaders never give up or walk away. At least, that is what leadership experts tell us. Instead, these experts suggest persistence and dogged determination as appropriate responses to opposition. This viewpoint is…
Leaving church, part 2: The Great Baptist Resignations and COVID
The recent surge of COVID cases led one of my (Carol) pastoral colleagues to lament, “It feels like we are living a terrible version of the film Ground Hog Day.” In Columbia, Mo., where I live, we have more COVID…
Leaving church: So many Baptist resignations
This is the first in a series based on new research by Pam Durso and Carol McEntyre conducted among Baptist pastors who have left their congregations during the pandemic. In May 2020, during the early days of the global pandemic,…
At Central Seminary, Durso inauguration moves to virtual platform
Central Baptist Theological Seminary inaugurated Pamela Durso as its 11th president in a virtual ceremony Jan. 7. Held on Zoom and Facebook Live platforms, the service included greetings from denominational and theological education organizations, charges from the various Central constituencies,…
Trend toward online learning gives seminaries an advantage amid COVID
CBF-partner theology schools are making significant shifts as they prepare for a fall semester to commence in the middle of the global pandemic. After finishing the spring semester with online instruction, some are planning to offer a variety of options…
Central Seminary announces Marshall’s sudden resignation
Molly T. Marshall has stepped down from the presidency of Central Baptist Theological Seminary months ahead of her previously announced summer retirement.
Central Seminary taps Pam Durso, advocate for Baptist women in ministry, as president
Trustees of Central Baptist Theological Seminary have selected Pamela R. Durso, a Baptist historian who for the last 11 years has led Baptist Women in Ministry, to succeed Molly T. Marshall as president of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-affiliated school in Shawnee, Kansas.
Religion Notes: Fellowship Southwest seeks volunteers for the border; BWIM seeks women for mentor program
Fellowship Southwest appeals for volunteers to help churches on U.S./Mexican border A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship organization focused on the U.S.-Mexico border said it has mission and ministry opportunities for volunteers interested in serving asylum seekers on both sides of the…