Americans less engaged, but Gen Z bucking trend

Scripture engagement among American adults is at its lowest point in the 14 years the American Bible Society has commissioned the annual State of the Bible report, researchers said in releasing the first chapter of the 2024 report. Well over half — 57 percent, or 151 million — of American adults are Bible Disengaged, based […]

Tennessee pastor sixth to be nominated for SBC president

Dan Spencer, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, Tenn., has become the sixth nominee for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. Chris Kendall, senior pastor of Oak City Baptist Church in Seymour, Tenn., informed the Baptist and Reflector April 11 of his intention to nominate Spencer, who […]

ARITF meets with state abuse reform leaders

As the SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force prepares to give its report and recommendations to messengers at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in June, members met with state leaders to preview that report and to strengthen the partnership among Southern Baptists for preventing and dealing with sexual abuse in churches. The group met in […]

DOJ Closes Investigation of SBC; No Charges Filed

Following a year-and-a-half-long investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its inquiry into the Southern Baptist Convention’s handling of sexual abuse without any charges being filed against EC’s leadership, The Tennessean reported March 6. “On February 29, 2024, counsel for the SBC Executive Committee was informed that the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern […]

N.C. Pastor with Anderson Ties Accepts Mobilization Role with IMB

Quintell Hill, pastor of Multiply Community Church in Monroe and president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, will be joining the International Mission Board as African American church mobilization strategist starting April 1. “I’m excited and humbled just to be able to serve the Lord in this way,” Hill said. “It’s humbling to […]

IMB Missions College creates connections for cross-cultural ministry

Representatives from 21 states came together for an intensive training on cross-cultural missions taught by International Mission Board missionaries April 2-5. The annual Missions College hosted near Richmond brought IMB missionaries from all over the world together with pastors, church members and missions leaders. The goal of the conference is to give Southern Baptists access […]

ERLC appoints Nathan Finn as senior fellow

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has hired Nathan A. Finn to serve as a senior fellow with an emphasis on matters related to religious liberty. Finn is a professor of faith and culture at North Greenville University in Tigerville, S.C., where he also serves as executive director of the Institute […]

Charleston pastor named ERLC senior fellow focusing on human dignity

RaShan Frost, lead pastor of The Bridge Church in Charleston, S.C., will be a voice for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission in the area of human dignity. “Dr. Frost is one of the finest examples of a scholar-practitioner in Southern Baptist life, and I am excited for him to join our research team as […]

S.C. Pastor D.J. Horton to be Nominated for SBC Pastors Conference President

A Spartanburg-area pastor will be nominated to serve as president of the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors Conference. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, told The Courier Feb. 29 that he intends to nominate D.J. Horton, senior pastor of Church at The Mill in Moore, during this year’s conference in […]

Anderson Pastor Among 11 Speakers at SBC Pastors Conference

Eleven speakers, including an Anderson pastor, will join worship leader Charles Billingsley on stage for the 2024 Pastors Conference June 9-10 preceding the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. Stephen Rummage, senior pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City and conference president, announced last August that the theme would be “Faithful: Pursuing Your Mission” […]