CORDOVA — Following his recent diagnosis of kidney cancer, Steve Gaines shared in a video update Dec. 7 that his doctors said the cancer has spread to his lungs. Gaines, former Southern Baptist Convention president and a Tennessee Baptist pastor, appeared in the video with his wife, Donna. Gaines first announced his cancer diagnosis Nov. 19 to Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, known for being one of the largest Southern

NASHVILLE — Lloyd Elder, seventh president of Lifeway Christian Resources (formerly the Baptist Sunday School Board), died Nov. 3 at age 90. He led the Board from 1984-1991. James Williams, executive vice president under Elder, described him as “one of God’s giants and, throughout the years of his ministry, he demonstrated the highest qualities of Christ-centered servant leadership. Southern Baptist Convention programs assigned to Lifeway grew rapidly. His management style

NASHVILLE — Southern Baptist Convention president Bart Barber released a lengthy statement on Oct. 30 explaining how he gave the final go-ahead for the Executive Committee to sign on to the hotly contested court submission related to a sexual abuse case being appealed in Kentucky. The legal document — an amicus curiae brief which came to light Oct. 24 from an article by the Louisville Courier Journal — was signed

WASHINGTON — The newly elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is a Southern Baptist who has served as a trustee of the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was elected to the speakership on Wednesday. “It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House. Thank you to my colleagues, friends, staff, and family for the unmatched

NASHVILLE — The search team tasked with finding a new president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee is on schedule to present a candidate at the SBC EC’s February 2024 meeting. In a statement released Oct. 23, search team chairman Neal Hughes said the team had been “blessed” with a “harvest of resumes.” “All candidates participated in the exercise of a written questionnaire,” he said. “Each candidate

PORTLAND, Ore. — Gateway Seminary has initiated an executive transition plan to elect a new seminary president. Current President, Jeff Iorg, asked the board of trustees to begin the transition process at the board’s Oct. 10, 2023, meeting in Portland. Iorg will continue to lead the seminary through the executive search process. “Due to the excellent leadership of our board, the strength and stability of our faculty, and our overall