ETHNIC SBC FELLOWSHIPS ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON IMMIGRATION
DALLAS (BP) – Leaders of 13 Southern Baptist ethnic groups have approved a joint statement on immigration seeking religious liberty protections, compassion without demonization and enforcement options including fines or other penalties in lieu of deportation. Signers of the statement said they share the “federal government’s desire to protect citizens, promote legal immigration and refugee […]
ERLC: 7 REASONS TAXPAYERS SHOULD DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has initiated a strategic effort to leverage the current Republican majorities in Congress and the executive branch to defund Planned Parenthood by eliminating the organization’s federal funding. The ERLC is mobilizing Southern Baptists to achieve this objective during the ongoing congressional reconciliation process, through […]
UKRAINE WAR ZONE ENLISTS CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AS SPIRITUAL FIRST RESPONDERS
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (BP) – The city of Zaporizhzhia is vulnerable to Russian attack, adjacent to cities in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and a treasured nuclear power plant Russia captured since renewing its assault on Ukraine in February 2022. As recently as Jan. 8, a Russian air strike killed at least 13 and injured another 113 in […]
SEXUAL ABUSE INVESTIGATION-RELATED COSTS APPROACH $13M SINCE 2021
NASHVILLE (BP) – At last month’s SBC Executive Committee meeting, EC President and CEO Jeff Iorg reported that as of Dec. 24, some $13 million had been spent on investigations related to sexual abuse and related legal costs. He further reported that the EC is pursuing a $3 million loan to cover legal costs in […]
Q-AND-A WITH SBC’S JEFF IORG
Editor’s note: Baptist and Reflector editor Chris Turner had the opportunity on March 10 to interview Jeff Iorg, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee president and CEO for a B&R exclusive. Many of the questions to which Iorg responded were gathered from among Tennessee Baptist pastors. Baptist & Reflector: Dr. Iorg, would you please explain why […]
PROPOSED BILL WOULD ALLOW MINISTERS TO OPT BACK IN TO SOCIAL SECURITY
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BP) — A bipartisan bill may give ministers who decided long ago to opt out of Social Security benefits the chance to change their minds. The Clergy Act, submitted by Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), would allow for a period in which clergy may revoke their exemption from Social Security […]
MATT QUEEN FINED $2,000, NO JAIL TIME FOR ‘LYING TO INVESTIGATORS’
Former seminary professor Matt Queen has been sentenced to one year of probation, six months of house arrest and a $2,000 fine after being convicted of lying to federal investigators during an investigation into sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention. The investigation into the SBC included Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s handling of a report of alleged […]
IORG ADDRESSES SEXUAL ABUSE, FINANCIAL REALITIES IN REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
NASHVILLE (BP) — In a landmark address to SBC Executive Committee members, SBC EC President Jeff Iorg outlined plans for continued sexual abuse prevention and response, presented findings from the SBC’s sexual abuse hotline that clarify the incidence of abuse in Southern Baptist churches and shared steps for responding to calls for greater financial clarity […]
ERLC WANTS TO HEAR FROM SOUTHERN BAPTISTS
NASHVILLE (BP) — Southern Baptists wishing to provide direct input on issues addressed by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission may do so over the next six months through a survey released by the entity. “The ERLC exists to serve pastors and churches as a voice in the public square on issues important to Southern Baptists. […]
TRUMP SIGNS ORDER ENDING FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR GENDER TRANSITION OF MINORS
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump issued an executive order Tuesday, Jan. 28, stating that “the United States … will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another. …” The order, called “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” seeks to strip federal funding from medical institutions that […]