Southern Baptists give greater attention to diversity but acknowledge more needed
Birmingham, Alabama, US RNS At their annual meeting, Southern Baptists re-elected their president, adopted statements on their views about major cultural issues, and discussed how to deal with sexual abuse and racial discrimination in the church. They also brought to centre stage questions about church leadership roles that are appropriate for women in the church. […]
Southern Baptist historic gavel a reminder of racist legacy
Birmingham, Alabama, USRNS When the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention opens, a little-noticed ritual usually occurs. An SBC executive hands a gavel to the person elected president the previous June. That act officially opens the meeting. Southern Baptist Convention President JD Greear brings the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention to order […]
Southern Baptists approve amendments dealing with sexual abuse, racism
Birmingham, Alabama, USRNS Southern Baptists, faced in recent months with hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse in its ranks, have overwhelmingly adopted changes to governing documents that will bring greater visibility to their desire to disaffiliate with churches that do not handle instances of abuse properly. A new standing “credentials committee” also will consider whether […]
Women sex abuse survivors tell Southern Baptists: “Our family is sick”
Birmingham, Alabama, USRNS Three women who experienced sexual abuse took center stage on Monday to address how the nation’s largest Protestant denomination should deal with the issue. And they didn’t mince words. Southern Baptist author and speaker Beth Moore speaks during a panel on sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention […]
Southern Baptist president says racial insensitivity shows disregard for the Gospel
Birmingham, Alabama, USRNS Speaking at a black church Sunday in a city that is nearly 75 per cent African American, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, JD Greear, said white Christians who are racially insensitive are disregarding the Gospel. “I do not need to tell this church the church of the West has had […]
US Southern Baptists report condemns “epidemic” of abuse, looks at ways to assist victims
RNS A new Southern Baptist Convention report on sex abuse, filled with the voices of survivors, acknowledges numerous ways the denomination has failed to protect members of its churches. The Caring Well report also summarises a range of next steps to address the issue, including educating congregations about abuse, preparing them to help survivors and […]
US Southern Baptist leaders plan to remedy “insufficient” approach to abuse claims
RNS Southern Baptists hope to take steps at their upcoming annual meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, to address continuing reports of sexual abuse in their denomination. Leaders of the nation’s largest – but declining – Protestant denomination will consider an amendment that would allow the Southern Baptist Convention to remove from its ranks a church that […]
In the US, Southern Baptist executive group urges caution before investigating church abuse
RNS A Southern Baptist working group urged a cautious approach in investigating churches linked to allegations of sex abuse but has agreed that three of 10 churches named by Southern Baptist Convention President JD Greear in a report about sex abuse last week should be investigated. In the seven other cases, the group said no […]
Southern Baptists should investigate churches that cover up abuse, says SBC president
Nashville, Tennessee, USRNS JD Greear, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said the denomination’s executive committee should immediately investigate 10 churches named in a report by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News, including Second Baptist in Houston – one of the largest churches in the SBC. If any churches were found to have covered up abuse […]
In the US, Southern Baptist leaders vow to improve addressing sex abuse after newspapers’ report
RNS Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention have called the reports by two Texas newspapers of hundreds of sex abuse cases in affiliated churches evidence of “pure evil” and “satanic” behavior within their ranks. Several vowed to improve the ways churches address such behavior. The Southern Baptist Convention headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. PICTURE: Courtesy of […]