Lawsuits in two states challenge the Southern Baptist Convention’s long-claimed defense that the denomination cannot be held liable for sexual abuse in churches because congregations hire their own pastors.
Small, one-pastor church lives into big vision with Koinonia Farm, Jimmy Carter and wider progressive movement
“There is a rich legacy of progressive Baptists doing things in here in Sumter County.”
Abuse survivors cry foul over ERLC’s end-of-year fund-raising appeal
Leaders of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests criticized a Southern Baptist Convention entity’s fund-raising appeal that touts the denomination’s response to the scourge of sexual abuse in the church as “misleading and insensitive” to victims.
Pastors feel the pain as churches hit ‘another low point’ in American culture
Research once again shows that confidence in organized religion remains at all-time lows. But what the numbers don’t reveal is the toll that the erosion of reputation and relevance has had on churches and ministers throughout the decline. It’s often described as an astonishing and disturbing experience.
SBC’s new reporting process again fails clergy sex abuse survivors. What’s needed is an independent review panel
The SBC Credentials Committee has recklessly ignored the long history of churches inflicting dreadful, additional harm on those who report abusive clergy. Its new reporting process is not even a safe process, much less an effective one.
Al Mohler to be nominated for president of Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler tweeted Thursday afternoon that he is willing to be nominated next June as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Was it rape? Comment about David and Bathsheba sparks debate of biblical proportions
Abuse survivor and victims’ advocate Rachael Denhollander said a lot at last week’s Caring Well Conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, but perhaps nothing grabbed attention like her advice to use care when interpreting Bible stories such as the Old Testament tale of David and Bathsheba.
Caring well? Speaker says Baptist Press reported abuse disclosure as a consensual affair
The official news service of the Southern Baptist Convention “trampled on” an abuse survivor who trusted her denomination to tell her story well, a speaker revealed during the closing session of last week’s “Caring Well” conference on the church’s response to sexual abuse.
Caring well? Expert berates Southern Baptists for ignoring sexual abuse
A former prosecutor and grandson of Billy Graham focused for the last 16 years on investigating allegations of clergy sexual abuse in evangelical churches shamed the Southern Baptist Convention for failing to act on abuse in its own ranks until prodded by the secular press.