Most Southern Baptist state conventions are either redesigning or canceling their 2020 annual meeting to prevent spread of COVID-19. As of Sept. 1, only 13 — including the South Carolina Baptist Convention — intend to proceed with in-person gatherings. In Mississippi, where COVID-19 test results show a 14.51 percent positivity rate, the Mississippi Baptist Convention […]
Baptist identity has always been rooted in our shared beliefs. The discussions around Baptist identity over the last few decades have centered around “Baptist distinctives.” While Baptists share a majority of their beliefs with other Protestant Christians, they also hold to certain beliefs that set them apart. Baptist distinctives include believer’s baptism by immersion, regenerate […]
The South Carolina Baptist Convention has announce several staff retirements and position eliminations in preparation for an anticipated decreased budget projection for 2021. Ron Barker, pastoral care specialist, Pam Cashatt, team assistant, and Jerry Sosebee, director of church strategies, will retire, effective Dec. 31, from the Church Strengthening/Discipleship Team. In addition, SCBC receptionist Barbara Hussman […]
Wayne Bray, lead pastor of First Baptist Church of Simpsonville, will be nominated as president-elect of the South Carolina Baptist Convention at the annual meeting Nov. 9-10 at First Baptist Church of Columbia. This year’s annual meeting will launch the 200th year celebration of the SCBC, with Alex Sands, the first African-American president elected in […]
With the convergence of a global pandemic, struggling economy, racial tension, protests, recent Supreme Court decisions, a contentious election year, and a growing uneasiness, the question “Where do we go from here?” is on the minds and hearts of many people. The Courier reached out to our South Carolina Baptist Convention institutional presidents and executives […]
Richard Furman is arguably the most important figure in early Baptist life in America and unquestionably the most important foundational figure in South Carolina Baptist life. Another well-known contemporary and important leader in his own right, W.B. Johnson, said that when Furman spoke on an issue, “he settled it.” Furman was sought after as a […]
“After this I looked, and behold a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who […]
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then two videos recorded on Memorial Day are worth millions. One video was taken in the morning at the Ramble, a large retreat area in Central Park, that’s popular with birdwatching enthusiasts. Christian Cooper, who is black, went to watch birds, and a white woman (Amy Cooper, […]
Tony Beam will become the new director of the Office of Public Policy for the South Carolina Baptist Convention beginning Jan. 1, 2021. He will maintain his position as director of Church and Community Engagement at North Greenville University. SCBC Executive Director-Treasurer Gary Hollingsworth said that, with the blessings of NGU President Gene Fant, “Tony […]
Update: All remaining weeks for Camp McCall, Camp LaVida, SummerSalt and KidSalt in July and August have been cancelled because of continued coronavirus concerns, directors of the four South Carolina Baptist Convention camps announced May 29. “It is with a heavy heart the South Carolina Baptist Convention and the South Carolina WMU announce the suspension […]