In the US, SBC leader Willie McLaurin resigns after admitting he falsified resume
United States RNS Willie McLaurin, the acting president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, resigned suddenly on Thursday after admitting he had falsified his resume. “While considering McLaurin as a candidate for Floyd’s permanent replacement, the SBC Executive Committee’s Presidential Search Team discovered disqualifying information during their process of vetting and due diligence,” said […]
‘Losing Our Religion’: In new book, Russell Moore urges evangelicals to stop lying and come back to Jesus
BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, speaks with Russell Moore about his new book, ‘Losing Our Religion’…
Texas Baptists affirm women in ‘ministerial’ roles as SBC debate moves to states
United StatesRNS A month after Southern Baptists confirmed the expulsion of churches from their denomination for allowing women to serve as pastors, the Baptist General Convention of Texas adopted a statement on Tuesday urging its staff to continue to affirm women in “ministerial and leadership roles”. After half an hour of debate, the BGCT became […]
Many African American SBC churches have women pastors on staff. Will they be expelled next?
United StatesRNS Earlier this year, Southern Baptists expelled five churches from the nation’s largest Protestant denomination for having women as pastors. Now, the leader of a fellowship of African American Southern Baptist pastors wonders if their churches will be next. Messengers vote during the first day of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting at the […]
Medical mission: At 79, famed SBC missionary surgeon Rebekah Naylor is about to retire. Again. But she’s not done yet
In India, Rebekah Naylor went from staff doctor to medical director to hospital CEO, treating thousands of patients and delivering a host of babies. BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports…
North Carolina megachurch exits Southern Baptist Convention after expulsions over women pastors
United StatesAP Less than a month after finalising the ouster of one of its largest churches for having women pastors, the Southern Baptist Convention has lost another of its biggest congregations. Elevation Church – a North Carolina-based megachurch that draws thousands of worshippers to its multiple campuses and has wielded a strong influence on contemporary Christian worship […]
Women in church leadership: Southern Baptists say no to women pastors. But what does the Bible say a pastor is?
The expulsion of Saddleback Church and other congregations for having women pastors has prompted questions about thousands of other churches where women serve in roles such as children’s pastor or music minister. BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports…
Southern Baptists refuse to take back megachurch because it has women pastors
New Orleans, USAP The Southern Baptist Convention has refused to welcome Saddleback Church back into its fold, rejecting an appeal by the California megachurch over its February ouster for having women pastors. Southern Baptist church representatives at their annual meeting here also rejected a similar appeal by a smaller church, Fern Creek Baptist of Louisville, Kentucky, which is led by a […]
In the US, Southern Baptists end first day of annual meeting with key questions hanging
New Orleans, USRNS During the opening day of their annual meeting, Southern Baptists re-elected a president, debated the place of women leaders in the church and spent hours debating using Robert’s Rules of Order. Still, nearly 10 hours after the opening gavel, key issues that brought nearly 13,000 members of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination […]
SBC messengers re-elect Texas pastor Bart Barber to a second term as president
New Orleans, USRNS Texas pastor Bart Barber was elected to a second year in office during an afternoon session of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. Barber received 7,531 votes, 68 per cent of the 11,014 vote total, beating out Georgia Baptist pastor Mike Stone, a more conservative challenger, who received 3,458 votes, or 31 […]