IN THE FRONT DOOR, OUT THE BACK
BRENTWOOD — Even as the front doors of churches swing wide to welcome new faces to the congregation, the back doors creak open as others make their way out to another church. For some, a residential move caused them to leave the church, but others simply moved to a church across town. A recent study […]
IVF RESOLUTION IS SBC’S ‘FIRST STEP’ IN REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY DISCUSSION
INDIANAPOLIS — SBC messengers spoke to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for the first time on June 12, adopting a resolution on the topic after a sometimes-emotional floor discussion that featured messengers sharing their personal experiences with reproductive technologies. A resolution “On the ethical realities of reproductive technologies and the dignity of the human embryo” called […]
ERLC BOARD OFFICERS SHARE EXPLANATION, RELEASES NEW STATEMENT
NASHVILLE — The following statement was released early evening July 23 to provide an explanation and clarity about the recent announcements related to ERLC president Brent Leatherwood. It came from the executive committee of the board of trustees (essentially the officers of the board) for ERLC following a special-called informational meeting via Zoom with the […]
UPDATED: LEATHERWOOD WAS NEVER TERMINATED
NASHVILLE — Within hours of releasing a statement on the evening of July 22 saying Brent Leatherwood had been “removed” from his position as president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the organization announced the following morning that Leatherwood remains in the position. Meanwhile, the chair of the ERLC’s executive committee, Kevin Smith, has […]
LEATHERWOOD TO REMAIN ERLC PRESIDENT
NASHVILLE — Brent Leatherwood remains president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. ERLC executive board members say board Chairman Kevin Smith acted alone in an announcement of Leatherwood’s removal on July 22 and violated the entity’s bylaws. A early morning release from the ERLC executive committee says: “As members of the ERLC’s Executive Committee, we […]
FIRE ENGULFS HISTORIC SANCTUARY AT FBC DALLAS
DALLAS — The historic sanctuary at First Baptist Church Dallas burned Friday evening, July 19. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. The Victorian-style, red brick sanctuary building was erected 1890 and is a recognized Texas Historic Landmark. According to media reports, Dallas Fire and Rescue received a call at 6:05 p.m., Friday […]
PASTORS ADDRESS ‘GROSS SCRIPTURAL MISINTERPRETATION’ OF BLOOD ON EAR
MOBILE, Ala. — In the days following the July 13 assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, an application of Scripture related to the situation (see image below) is making the rounds on social media and drawing growing concern from ministry leaders in the process. Derek Allen, pastor of First Baptist Church Tillman’s Corner in […]
LGBT PUBLIC POLICY SHIFT APPEARS TO BE IN FULL SWING ACROSS U.S.
NASHVILLE — A political shift in LGBT policy is evident across the country this week. Legislation passed in California July 15 gives public schools the ability to conceal when students change their names and pronouns. On the same day, the Republican National Convention passed a platform that was stripped of “anti-LBGT” language, policy leaders say. […]
SURVEY: HOW ARE BELIEVERS BEING PERCEIVED?
BRENTWOOD — Most churchgoers believe Christians have a good reputation with Americans in general, but they worry those feelings are starting to sour. A Lifeway Research study finds 53 percent of U.S. Protestant churchgoers say most Americans have a positive perception of Christians. Two in five (40 percent) disagree, and eight percent aren’t sure. More […]
TBC, SBC LEADERS RESPOND TO TRUMP RALLY SHOOTING
FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Mission Board president and executive director Randy C. Davis and Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, were quick to respond in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13. Trump, who was […]