BAPTIST LEADERS CALL FOR PRAYERS AND PEACE AS RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE
By Brandon Porter Baptist Press LVIV, Ukraine — As the Russian invasion of Ukraine is underway, many Christians are wondering how they can help and how they can pray for those facing Europe’s first full-scale war in decades. “With the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, we join all those in Eastern Europe in praying for […]
EC INCREASES ALLOCATION FOR LEGAL FEES, GUIDEPOST INVESTIGATION
By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Executive Committee trustees approved two recommendations from the Committee on Convention Finances and Stewardship Development Feb. 22 to increase allocations up to $2 million each for legal fees and the ongoing investigation regarding claims of sexual abuse. Committee chair Archie Mason brought both recommendations, explaining that the amounts […]
SBC EXEC COMM ‘A BIT BROKEN BUT GOD IS PUTTING US BACK TOGETHER’
By Jennifer Davis Rash The Baptist Paper The February gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee kicked off Feb. 21 with more than six hours of meetings, most of which related to reports and discussions related to planning for upcoming budget needs and reviewing the remaining referred motions. EC members also ratified the Feb. […]
SBC EXEC COMM PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE NAMED
By Margaret Colson The Baptist Paper In a Feb. 22 morning session that stretched into the afternoon, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members named a seven-member presidential search committee to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Ronnie Floyd last October. Those named to serve on the search committee are:
SBC EXEC COMM APPROVES FUNDING INCREASE FOR INVESTIGATION
By Jennifer Davis Rash The Baptist Paper Discussions about the investigation of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse cases landed primarily on the topic of funding during the Feb. 21–22 EC meeting. While the original motion passed by messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting in Nashville states the investigation is […]
MOST OPEN TO SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS, FEW CHRISTIANS SPEAKING
By Aaron Earls Lifeway Christian Resources writer NASHVILLE — Americans are curious about the religious devotion of others and are willing to discuss the topic, but most say they rarely have conversations about faith with their Christian friends. An Evangelism Explosion study conducted by Lifeway Research found Americans are widely receptive to spiritual conversations in […]
‘TOGETHER AGAIN’: BAPTIST EDITORS GATHER FOR FIRST IN-PERSON WORKSHOP IN TWO YEARS
By Trennis Henderson The Baptist Paper KEY LARGO, Fla. — Highlighting the theme, “Together Again,” the Association of State Baptist Publications held its annual meeting Feb. 7–10 in Key Largo, Florida. It marked the group’s first in-person gathering in two years after the 2021 meeting was moved online due to COVID-19 safety protocols. ASBP, the professional […]
PASTORS CONCERNED WITH GROWING LEADERS, REACHING OUTSIDERS
By Aaron Earls Writer, Lifeway Christian Resources NASHVILLE — When thinking about ministry difficulties, pastors say they’re most concerned with growing the people inside the church and reaching those outside it. According to the latest release in Lifeway Research’s 2022 Greatest Needs of Pastors study, U.S. Protestant pastors say developing leaders and connecting with people […]
GUIDEPOST INTERVIEWS EC STAFF, TRUSTEES AND ABUSE SURVIVORS
By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — In its most recent update, the Sex Abuse Task Force reported that Guidepost Solutions has interviewed approximately 32 current and former SBC Executive Committee staff, 54 current or former EC trustees and abuse survivors “who have affirmatively reached out to the Guidepost investigative team.” The report released yesterday is in […]
MCLAURIN SHARES WITH EDITORS AT ASBP
By Trennis Henderson The Baptist Paper One week into his new role as interim president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Willie McLaurin told Baptist editors, “In this season, the Lord is allowing us to hit the reset button. He’s allowing us to really just say, ‘What is it that we’re really trying to […]