WHO QUALIFIES AS A ‘CHURCH REGULAR’?
NASHVILLE — If you want to be considered a regular at a local church by those behind the pulpit and in the pews, you’ll probably need to show up in person at least a couple times a month. A study from Lifeway Research finds a majority of both U.S. Protestant pastors and churchgoers consider someone […]
EC SEARCH COMMITTEE CHAIR: MCLAURIN REMAINS A ‘VIABLE CANDIDATE’
In the year since Willie McLaurin was named interim president and CEO of Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, he has spent a lot of energy building relationships. McLaurin, a former staff member of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, shares often how he schedules a 15-minute Zoom call with pastors who send him a letter or […]
BUDGETS, AUDIT HEADLINE EC FINANCIAL DISCUSSION
NASHVILLE — SBC Executive Committee members approved recommendations and informational regarding the previous and current operational finance budgets as well as a recent audit of its overall finances. At their previous in Sept. 2022, SBC Executive Committee members approved a 2022-2023 Operating Budget of $8,335,000. Today (Feb. 21) they were reminded how that month closed […]
EC REMOVES SIX CHURCHES FROM COOPERATION INCLUDING SADDLEBACK CHURCH
NASHVILLE — In its meeting on Feb. 21, the SBC Executive Committee deemed six churches to be not in friendly cooperation — five of whom for having a female functioning in the office of pastor — including one of the largest churches in the Convention, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. Saddleback hired Andy Wood […]
ARITF RECOMMENDS GUIDEPOST SOLUTIONS TO BUILD ‘MINISTRY CHECK’ DATABASE
NASHVILLE – The Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) announced it has made a recommendation to the SBC Credentials Committee to utilize Guidepost Solutions in establishing and maintaining a “Ministry Check” website database for those credibly accused of sexual abuse. Contract negotiations are underway, according to ARITF Chairman Marshall Blalock. He gave the task force’s update […]
ONLINE SCAMMERS STEAL $793K FROM N.C. CHURCH
ELKIN, N.C. — A congregation’s plans to move into a new worship center this spring have been put on hold after cyber criminals stole more than $793,000 from the church in an online scam. Elkin Valley Baptist Church broke ground on a new sanctuary last September, but about half of the funds that had been […]
RACIAL RECONCILIATION AN EVERYDAY CALLING
NASHVILLE – Relationships and partnerships between churches of differing racial and ethnic backgrounds and how it extends into the ministry of the local church is the aim of Racial Reconciliation Sunday, according to a leading voice in the SBC. “We read in Colossians that the Lord is reconciling all things to himself, so I think […]
MAJOR EARTHQUAKE ROCKS TURKEY AND SYRIA, KILLS THOUSANDS
KAHRAMANMARAS, Turkey — A pair of earthquakes and a series of aftershocks have devastated portions of Turkey and Syria. According to the BBC, more than 2,300 people were known to have been killed by the quakes by noon CST on Monday (Feb. 6). The significant quakes registered at 7.8 and 7.5 on the Richter Scale. […]
GROWTH AND MOMENTUM HIGHLIGHT LIFEWAY TRUSTEE MEETING
ORLANDO, Fla. — In their first meeting of 2023, the Lifeway Christian Resources Board of Trustees heard how the organization plans to leverage recent growth momentum and better serve the church in coming years. During the January 30-31 meeting, key leaders at Lifeway shared encouraging financial news and updates on new and upcoming ministry initiatives. […]
PUBLIC TRUST IN PASTORS FALLS TO HISTORIC LOW
As fewer Americans interact with pastors on a regular basis, fewer say they trust clergy overall. Trust in pastors fell for the third straight year and reached an all-time low. Around 1 in 3 Americans (34 percent) rate the honesty and ethical standards of clergy as high or very high, according to the latest Gallup […]