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…
‘Traditional’ Southern Baptists counter Calvinism
Move over TULIP. Another flower is blooming this week in Baltimore. New Calvinists are more Calvinist than Calvin was, Christian apologist Norman Geisler said June 7 at the inaugural meeting of a group formed to balance various Southern Baptist fellowships…
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…
Transgender resolution proposed to SBC
By Bob Allen A college professor and ethicist would like for the Southern Baptist Convention to pass a resolution opposing “transgender identity” — described in a recent Time cover story as “America’s next civil rights frontier” — when the convention meets next…
Ethnic churches fare better with Millennials, but challenges remain
By Jeff Brumley Go to Google and type “Millennials, church,” and the screen will be dominated by links to articles, blogs and studies documenting that generation’s exodus from American congregations. What irks some, however, is that evidence is being overlooked…
Decline in SBC membership, baptisms sparks leaders’ concern
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist churches in 2013 baptized the fewest converts since 1948 and have lost more than 570,000 members since 2006, according to annual statistics released May 28 by LifeWay Christian Resources. The Southern Baptist Convention publishing house…
SBC official stands by criticism of SNAP
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Convention official has refused to apologize for comments seven years ago that critics of the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse were not really advocating on behalf of children but rather were opportunists motivated by…