Grant Gaines, pastor of BellAire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., presented the following motion, which was overwhelmingly approved by messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention’s 2021 annual meeting in Nashville: I move that the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting June 15-16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn., ask the newly elected president of the SBC to appoint a […]
Browning: From Barnwell to Los Angeles
For Barnwell native Will Browning, the relocation of him and his family to Los Angeles, Calif., is more than just a move — it is like moving to another country. Browning grew up working on the family farm, moved to Statesboro, Ga., to attend Georgia Southern University, and met his future wife, Tarah, from Miami, […]
Slade: ‘Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves’
The following is a transcript of comments made by Rolland Slade, chair of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, at the close of the group’s special called meeting on Oct. 5: I can say to you truly as chairman and Executive Committee [member], I’d like to really express my relief that this present challenge seems […]
Three Rivers’ missions strategist heading back to mission field
Three Rivers Baptist Association’s Missions Strategist Randy B.* is retiring at the end of this year and will be returning to the international mission field. Paul Chitwood, International Mission Board president, was keynote speaker for Three Rivers’ Global Missions Celebration at First Baptist Church, Taylors, Oct. 10, which concluded with a time of commissioning for […]
2 S.C. Executive Committee members respond to EC investigation
South Carolina’s Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee trustees — David Sons, pastor of Lake Murray Baptist Church in Lexington, and Dwight Easler, pastor of Corinth Baptist Church in Gaffney — recently sat down with The Courier to discuss the ongoing investigation of the Executive Committee and staff. An investigative report by the Houston Chronicle in […]
SBC legal counsel withdraws
Longtime convention attorneys Jim Guenther and Jaime Jordan alerted SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Ronnie Floyd Oct. 11 that the law firm of Guenther, Jordan & Price has “no choice” but to “withdraw … from [its] role as general counsel to the Southern Baptist Convention and the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.” […]
EC waives attorney-client privilege during second special meeting
In a second, special called virtual meeting Oct. 5, members of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee voted 44-31 to waive attorney-client privilege in a third-party investigation of the EC and its handling of sexual abuse claims. The approved Executive Committee motion, made by Jared Wellman of Texas, states: “I would like to make a […]
Floyd resigns as SBC Executive Committee leader
Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, announced his resignation Oct. 14 in a letter to Southern Baptists released by email. Floyd pointed to the actions taken by trustees in a special called meeting on Oct. 5 as the basis for his decision. “The decisions made on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 5, in response […]
Almost All Churches Are Gathering Again in Person Now
More U.S. Protestant churches are gathering in person since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and pastors say most churchgoers have returned as well. Almost all U.S. Protestant pastors (98 percent) say their church met in person in August, according to a new Lifeway Research study. This marks the highest percentage of churches holding in-person services since […]
2021 Week of Prayer and Lottie Moon resources now available
Downloadable resources for this year’s Week of Prayer (Nov. 28-Dec. 5) and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering are available on the International Mission Board’s website. In addition to stories, full-color photos, and videos, IMB is offering social media graphics, promotional materials, presentation graphics, posters, display banners and bulletin inserts. This year, IMB will also provide […]