Southern Baptist entity leaders applauded a federal appeals court decision March 15 upholding the constitutionality of the ministerial housing allowance. A three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled unanimously the long-standing clergy allowance does not violate the First Amendment clause that prohibits government establishment of religion. The decision reversed a […]
Abortion decline calls for ongoing pro-life effort
The continued drop in the number, rate and ratio of abortions in the United States is a cause for celebration but also for further efforts to protect children and assist women in need, Southern Baptist pro-life advocates say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Nov. 23 the total, rate and ratio of abortions […]
Edisto Beach church plant sues town for rental ban
A Southern Baptist church plant in South Carolina has sued the town of Edisto Beach for prohibiting it from use of its civic center. Redeemer Fellowship of Edisto Island filed suit Aug. 27 in federal court in Charleston because of a policy it says violates its free speech and religion rights guaranteed in the First […]
SBC resolutions affirm women, denounce abuse
Messengers to the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the dignity and worth of women, denounced all forms of abuse and called for sexual purity among Christian leaders in adopting 16 resolutions Tuesday (June 12). Passage of the resolutions on women, abuse and pastoral purity by nearly unanimous votes late in the afternoon session came after […]
Housing allowance defense joined by ERLC & GuideStone
The Southern Baptist Convention’s religious freedom entity will maintain its effort to preserve the ministerial housing allowance because pastors are crucial “for flourishing, vibrant communities,” Russell Moore said Oct. 10. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) stands alongside GuideStone Financial Resources — the SBC’s health and financial benefits entity — in opposing an Oct. […]
Newbell helps children put diversity in Gospel focus
Trillia Newbell required only one experience from teaching a Sunday school class to be convinced she should write a children’s book about God’s view of diversity. She had taught a children’s class on “the image of God and racial harmony” about a year before, Newbell told Baptist Press in an email interview Sept. 26. “It […]
Evangelicals counter ‘agree to disagree’ sexuality with ‘Nashville Statement’
A coalition of evangelical leaders, including about 70 Southern Baptists, has issued a statement on biblical sexuality countering the idea that Christians “should agree to disagree” in their views of homosexual practice and transgenderism. The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) announced Aug. 29 the release of The Nashville Statement, which consists of 14 […]
Charlottesville violence: SBC leaders urge prayer
Southern Baptist pastors and leaders denounced racism and called for prayer in the wake of white nationalist protests that turned into violence and death in Charlottesville, Va. The “Unite the Right” rally — linking various movements among white supremacists — never took place Aug. 12 after fights broke out between white protesters and counter-protesters shortly […]
SBC denounces ‘alt-right white supremacy’
Messengers to the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting denounced “alt-right white supremacy” in a nearly unanimous vote Wednesday (June 14) after a tumultuous day of refusing to address the issue. It appeared maybe fewer than 10 messengers in the Phoenix Convention Center hall voted in the afternoon session against a resolution on “the anti-gospel […]
Messengers OK 9 resolutions, to vote on ‘alt-right’ proposal
Messengers to the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention passed resolutions Tuesday (June 13) repenting of prayerlessness and calling for leaders to practice biblical morality before deciding late at night to vote Wednesday on a previously rejected proposal denouncing the “alt-right.” The approved resolutions covered some hot-button theological and moral issues, but the proposed resolution on the […]