A pastor campaigning to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention has called for the interim leader of an SBC ethics agency to be fired because he signed onto a letter urging compassion for women who have abortions. Tom Ascol,…
No formal name change proposed for SBC, and entities report back on use of NDAs in annual Book of Reports
Proposals to change the name of the Southern Baptist Convention to Great Commission Baptists get a thumbs-up from the SBC’s Executive Committee but a formal name change will not be recommended to SBC messengers gathered in Anaheim, Calif., for the…
As report of SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force nears, Southern Baptists are just beginning to count the cost of this work
What will be the final cost of the Southern Baptist Convention’s investigation into allegations of mishandling sexual abuse claims? There are, of course, costs in terms of reputation and witness, but also financial costs that could take years to fully…
First review of SBC sexual abuse report begins today
The Southern Baptist Convention’s Sexual Abuse Task Force will receive a detailed report from the outside firm hired to investigate allegations against the SBC Executive Committee on Sunday, May 15. If a previously agreed protocol is followed, that means the…
Candidate forum explores the views of three very conservative SBC presidential nominees
While sharing in affirmation of the “conservative resurgence” of the late 20th century, three men vying to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention expressed different current priorities during a first-of-its-kind candidate forum May 4. The event at First Baptist…
With annual meeting attendance on the rise again, SBC must switch locations for 2023
The Southern Baptist Convention has outgrown its meeting space for 2023. In a move reminiscent of days of controversy in the 1980s and 1990s, attendance at SBC annual meetings has been on the rise since 2018 — after settling down…
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…
Abuse case against Pressler may proceed, Texas Supreme Court rules
A sexual abuse lawsuit against Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler may proceed, despite claims by Pressler that the statute of limitations has expired, according to an April 1 ruling by the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court. News of the ruling first…
No, we will not take down an article you don’t like
Among the many ways Americans have anointed ourselves as armchair quarterbacks, some have determined they should be editor in chief of Baptist News Global. Not for the first time, but with renewed vigor this week. Some folks — mainly those…
There’s a third candidate for SBC president you may not have heard about
Easily overlooked in the midst of a presidential race that already has featured several unusual twists is the presence of a third, lesser-known candidate to lead the Southern Baptist Convention. Robin Hadaway does not come to the race with the…
Dear Willy Rice: We’re sorry to hear how you’ve been treated
Dear Willy, We’re sorry. We know we don’t know each other but we’re your brothers in Christ. As former Southern Baptists, we’re deeply sorry about how you have been treated over the past few days. We don’t understand the complexities…
SBC presidency is a three-way race again with Barber announcement
It took less than 24 hours to fill the gap left when Florida pastor Willy Rice pulled out of the race for Southern Baptist Convention president April 6. The three-way race became a two-way race and now once again is…