The independent firm originally hired by the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to investigate itself has been chosen for that task again — this time by the special task force created by SBC annual meeting messengers in a rebuke to…
Three months after Russell Moore’s departure, interim leader of ERLC likely leaving
Three months after Russell Moore left the helm of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission under pressure, his interim successor has announced his impending departure. In a news brief, Baptist Press reported Aug. 24 that Daniel Patterson,…
SBC messengers rebuke Executive Committee’s attempt to control investigation of its response to sexual abuse crisis
In a rare and sharp rebuke of its top staff leader, the Southern Baptist Convention on Wednesday, June 16, said the SBC Executive Committee cannot investigate itself as its president, Ronnie Floyd, had attempted to do. Floyd, who has been…
Mike Stone and Ronnie Floyd should step down
When I pulled into the seven-figure neighborhood outside Dallas, I began to wonder to myself why a former seminary president would be living in a mansion in this posh suburb near Plano. Then as I pulled up to the door,…
‘Southern Baptist whistleblower’ offers audio clips to back Russell Moore’s claims
Calling himself a “Southern Baptist whistleblower,” a Texas Baptist pastor on June 10 accused Southern Baptist Convention leaders Ronnie Floyd and Mike Stone of lying about their previous closed-door comments regarding sexual abuse concerns in the denomination. Phillip Bethancourt, pastor…
BNG webinar this Sunday invites notable SBC exiles to explain what’s going on and why it matters
As the Southern Baptist Convention prepares for its annual meeting in Nashville next week, observers from inside and outside the denomination are watching to see what will happen on a number of controversial issues. To preview those issues and explore…
Letter to the Editor: Is there another side to Russell Moore’s accusations?
Read our latest Letter to the Editor, from Chris Chambers of Lebanon, Tenn., in response to Layne Wallace’s opinion piece about sexual abuse in the SBC.
Leaked letters and charges of covering up sexual abuse set the stage for a potential investigation of the investigators inside SBC
The most powerful coordinating committee at the heart of the Southern Baptist Convention will become the subject of a convention-mandated, third-party investigation if two SBC pastors get their way next week. Ronnie Parrott, pastor of Christ Community Church in Huntersville,…
Now we know why the SBC hasn’t acted more on sexual abuse
For the last two years, observers have watched the Southern Baptist Convention deal with a crisis of abusive pastors. After a 2019 Houston Chronicle report, it seemed like the leadership of the denomination was becoming intent on protecting the vulnerable…