The GuideStone hospitality room at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting has been reserved as a prayer room for South Carolina messengers attending this year’s convention. The room will be available June 11 at 9:15 p.m. following Monday’s pre-convention activities. South Carolina Baptist Convention president Marshall Blalock, president-elect Bryant Sims, and executive director-treasurer Gary Hollingsworth […]
Paige Patterson has been terminated “effective immediately” as president emeritus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the school’s trustee executive committee announced late on May 30. The executive committee cited “new information” about Paige’s handling of an allegation of sexual abuse against a student while Patterson was president of another institution “and resulting issues connected with […]
In a meeting that began at 1:30 p.m. May 22 and ended just after 3 a.m. May 23, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s trustees appointed Paige Patterson president emeritus effective immediately. They also named as interim president of the seminary Jeffrey Bingham, dean of Southwestern’s School of Theology, pending his acceptance. In addition, trustees adopted a […]
Responding to questions about his committee appointments and controversy involving a Southern Baptist seminary leader, SBC president Steve Gaines released a statement May 11 to Baptist Press. Gaines, pastor of Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., specifically addresses the controversy involving past statements by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president Paige Patterson on women, divorce […]
In addition to being a college professor and preacher, I have the privilege of teaching self-defense skills to people in my community on a weekly basis through my self-defense company, Peaceful Warrior, LLC. Although most people we encounter in life are law-abiding and peace-loving people, there are folks who might intend us harm. We could […]
Amid ongoing discussion of statements by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson on domestic violence, Patterson and the executive committee of the seminary trustees have issued a statement affirming “the importance of protecting victims of abuse.” Meanwhile, at least five Southern Baptist Convention entity presidents have made statements on domestic violence since April 29. […]
On Nov. 5, 2017, First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, experienced a tragedy that is the nightmare of every pastor and church member. Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 people in and around the church and wounded 20 others. Immediately after this horrific mass murder, attention focused on church security and safety — and rightly […]
When Mac Brunson, co-senior pastor of 10,000-member First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, stepped into the pulpit Sunday, it began as any other worship experience. But by the time the April 29 service ended, Brunson had announced his immediate resignation from his pastorate of a dozen years and left the sanctuary with his wife, Deb. Heath […]
North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear, one of two candidates to be nominated for Southern Baptist Convention president in June, responded to six questions from Baptist Press and Baptist state editors. Florida pastor Ken Whitten announced Greear’s nomination for SBC president Jan. 29. During the 16 years Greear has pastored The Summit, worship attendance has grown […]
University administrator and former seminary president Ken Hemphill, one of two candidates to be nominated for Southern Baptist Convention president in June, responded to six questions from Baptist Press and Baptist state editors. A coalition of Southern Baptists announced the nomination Feb. 1 via a Baptist state paper. (See related Baptist Press report.) Hemphill was […]