Sociology professor, researcher and author George Yancey always steps back when he knocks on a door. A 6-foot-3-inch African-American, he says his appearance strikes societal fear. Seminary assistant dean and director Missie Branch says she also encounters difficulties because she is an African-American woman. She says she’s either overlooked or viewed through stereotypes, “which results […]
Messengers to the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention advocated for the vulnerable against abortion, sexual abuse and religious persecution in approving 13 resolutions Wednesday, June 12. The resolutions also addressed a variety of other noteworthy issues in the convention and the world, including local church autonomy, same-sex attraction, justice, women in the military draft and gene […]
Southern Baptists acted in support of sexual abuse survivors, embraced ethnic and gender diversity and rallied around the Great Commission at their annual meeting June 11-12 in Birmingham, Ala. Messengers strengthened their stance against sexual abuse and racism by overwhelmingly approving two amendments to the SBC Constitution specifically stating that sexual abuse and discrimination based […]
Southern Baptists are at a crossroads — not regarding their doctrine or mission, but regarding “what kind of Gospel witnesses we will be in an age like ours,” said J.D. Greear, president of the Southern Baptist Convention. During his president’s address Tuesday morning, June 11, in Birmingham, Ala., Greear gave three defining values he believes […]
North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear was reelected by acclamation to a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the June 11-12 SBC annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area, was nominated by K. Marshall Williams, pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church in Philadelphia. No […]
Let someone walk into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church with a backpack and Polly Sheppard relives June 17, 2015. That’s when white supremacist Dylann Roof walked in. “Only in that church. Other churches I can sit and be calm,” Sheppard told Baptist Press in advance of the documentary film “Emanuel.” “But when I go to […]
A new media report on sex abuse allegations, admissions and convictions involving former International Mission Board workers comes as the IMB is implementing extensive sex abuse prevention reforms. The IMB is hiring a full-time senior staff member to oversee prevention response efforts, will involve outside legal counsel when reports of child abuse and sexual harassment […]
Last year, a grandmother brought her grandchildren to Vacation Bible School at Wasiota Baptist Church in Pineville, Ky. It was part of the summer outreach of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg. Student minister Seth Buckley said, “She told me she gave her heart to Jesus at our VBS when she was 8 years old, and now […]
The stage is set in Birmingham, Ala. — the home of Woman’s Missionary Union — for a missions experience “like none other.” With the theme “Pursue,” participants will hear stories of how individuals have pursued God and accounts of how God has pursued them, all the while considering ways the idea of “pursuit” applies to […]
This year, Woman’s Missionary Union celebrates the 50th anniversary of Acteens, the missions education group for girls in grades 7–12. To kick off the celebration, WMU will bring together former Acteens to reflect on the past and look to the future on Friday, June 7. The event, Acteens for Life, will take place at national […]