Gallons of ink — physical and digital — have been spilled writing about the transformation of the Southern Baptist Convention at the hands of Paul Pressler and Paige Patterson. While they were, indeed, the architects of the “takeover” of the…
Scripture changed his mind on women in ministry, Rick Warren tells Russell Moore
The Great Commission is one of several scriptural reasons Rick Warren believes women are called by God to leadership in the church, he told Russell Moore in a March 8 podcast. Warren, recently retired pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern…
This isn’t about me
Editor’s note: Last Sunday, Victoria Robb Powers was installed as the first female pastor of Royal Lane Baptist Church. This column is drawn from her comments to the congregation. This is, indeed, a significant, historic moment, and while it…
Think you’ve ‘decided’ about women in ministry? Here’s why there’s more to do
In my work advocating for women in ministry for more than a decade, there have been many instances in which a conversation with a male pastor or religious leader has included some form of the following: “Our church/organization decided about…
Reading the Conservative Baptist Network’s new ‘report’ will make you feel sorry for the six SBC presidents
The Conservative Baptist Network has released a 40-page report on what it calls “The Evidences of Concern Within the Southern Baptist Convention.” The document seeks to bolster CBN’s claim that the SBC has fallen into liberalism, embraces Critical Race Theory…
The power of a book: Why I’m a street evangelist
“What does a street evangelist do?” In the years since I have self-proclaimed myself to be a street evangelist, that is what people want to know. The answer is simple: “I talk with people.” Now I’ve written a book that…
Puerto Rican pastor Laura Ayala to lead CBF Global Missions
A Puerto Rican pastor has been named coordinator of Global Missions for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, signaling a series of firsts. Laura Ayala is the first person of color and the first person from outside the continental United States to…
Letter to the Editor: Dear SBC leaders, lead us to unity in diverse views on women in ministry
Letter to the Editor Nov. 7, 2022 Dear Editor: Right now, an amazing opportunity lies before the Southern Baptist Convention. We all know the polarization in our country is at an all-time high, which gives us the opportunity to show…
‘Let the messengers decide,’ two SBC leaders say of debate about expelling churches with female pastors
Determining whether to exclude churches with women serving in any way as pastors should be determined by messengers to next summer’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, according to the two men with the most influence over that process. SBC President…