In the US, search for top Southern Baptist leader fails amid dispute
United StatesAP A powerful Southern Baptist committee was looking to appoint a new leader Monday who could navigate controversies over its handling of sexual-abuse reforms and the ousting of churches with women serving as pastors. Instead, the Executive Committee found itself tangled in yet another dispute, voting down a recommendation to make its own former chairman its president in […]
Southern Baptists plan to hire Guidepost Solutions to run abuser tracking database
United StatesRNS For years, Southern Baptist leaders told members of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination that setting up a database to track abusive pastors was impossible. Now that impossible task is one step closer to being a reality. Charleston pastor Marshall Blalock, chair of a Southern Baptist task force on managing the abusive pastors tracker […]
In the US, Southern Baptists oust Saddleback Church over woman pastor
Updated: 10am (AEST)United StatesAP The Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday ousted its second-largest congregation – Saddleback Church, the renowned California megachurch founded by pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren – for having a woman pastor. The vote by the convention’s Executive Committee culminates growing tension between the nation’s largest Protestant denomination – which officially opposes women […]
Southern Baptists cut ties with LGBTQ-friendly church
United StatesAP The Southern Baptist Conventions’ top administrative body voted to cut ties with two congregations on Tuesday – an LGBTQ-friendly church in North Carolina that had itself quit the denomination decades ago and a New Jersey congregation it cited for “alleged discriminatory behaviour”. The votes of the Executive Committee came at the end of […]
Southern Baptists say denomination faces US Department of Justice investigation
Nashville, Tennessee, US AP Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention said Friday that several of the denomination’s major entities are under investigation by the US Department of Justice in the wake of its multiple problems related to clergy sex abuse. The SBC’s Executive Committee has received a subpoena, but no individuals have been subpoenaed at this […]
Southern Baptists: After years of delay, a change of direction on sexual abuse
BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports from Anaheim in California where more than 10,000 Southern Baptists gathered this week to address sexual abuse…
In the US, Southern Baptists who backed open abuse review win key roles
Anaheim, California, USAP The newly elected leaders of a top Southern Baptist Convention committee had all supported a more transparent investigation into allegations the denomination mishandled sex abuse reports and mistreated survivors. They defeated candidates who had opposed that move. Members of the Executive Committee picked Texas pastor Jared Wellman as chair, South Carolina pastor […]
World Council of Churches condemns Nigerian kidnappings
The World Council of Churches has condemned the spate of kidnappings which have been taking place in Nigeria including, this week, the head of the country’s Methodist Church. Dr Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, was kidnapped on Sunday along with the Methodist Bishop Dennis Okechukwu Mark, and a chaplain to […]
In the US, SBC abuse taskforce requests $US3 million for reforms, ‘Ministry Check’ website
United StatesRNS A Southern Baptist taskforce has asked the denomination to set up a “Ministry Check” website to track abusive pastors, church employees and volunteers and to spend millions on reforms to prevent abuse and care for survivors. Most of the suggested reforms are voluntary. Some could involve years of study and preparation, prompting a skeptical […]
In the US, Southern Baptist leaders release secret accused abuser list
United StatesAP In response to an explosive investigation, top Southern Baptists have released a previously secret list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse. The 205-page database was made public late on Thursday. It includes more than 700 entries from cases that largely span from 2000 to 2019. A cross […]