IMB, NAMB communications offices ALPHARETTA, Ga.—The International Mission Board (IMB) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) announced Bryant Wright as the new president of Send Relief on Monday, March 2. Wright was the founding pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., where he served for 38 years. “In today’s culture, compassion ministry is a wonderful way to win the right to be heard, not just with people

By Aaron Earls Baptist Press NASHVILLE — When traveling to church, most people have company, but a significant number say they make the trip alone. A new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found 1 in 5 Protestant churchgoers (19 percent) say they typically travel to church alone. Most travel to church with their spouse (54 percent), while close to a third say their child or children ride with them (31

By BP staff  NASHVILLE — SBC Executive Committee chairman Mike Stone has named the six members of a study task force that was authorized by the group at their February 2020 meeting last week. Joining the chairman on the task force are: • Ron Hale, retired pastor, Jackson, Tenn. • Mike Lawson, senior pastor, First Baptist of Sherman, Texas • Cheryl Samples, retired, Dallas, Ga. • Hoyt Savage, lead pastor,

By George Schroeder Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Officers of the Board of Trustees of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) strongly objected Thursday (Feb. 20) to the formation of a task force to study the ERLC’s effectiveness and instructed the entity and its leadership “not to comply” with the inquiry. In an open letter to SBC Executive Committee chairman Mike Stone and EC members, the ERLC trustee officers called

By Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Missiologist and researcher Ed Stetzer has been named chairman of the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee, SBC President J.D. Greear announced Feb. 11. Greear also announced his appointment of Angela Suh Um of Cambridge, Mass., as vice chair. Um will be only the second woman to serve in a leadership role on the committee, according to Baptist Press’ review of SBC records. “Ed Stetzer

By George Schroeder Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Responding to concerns about the speakers’ lineup for the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference, the SBC Executive Committee voted Tuesday (Feb. 18) to allocate meeting space for the event provided changes are made to the proposed program. According to the action, the Executive Committee believes “multiple aspects” of the proposed program for the pastors’ conference “are sufficiently beyond the parameters of the

By Jonathan Howe Baptist Press NASHVILLE — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee voted Tuesday (Feb. 18) to create a study task force to “review the past and present activities” of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). The ERLC is tasked with helping churches understand the moral demands of the Gospel and public policy as well as promoting religious liberty on behalf of Southern Baptists. The Executive Committee action