I did a double-take when I read the sign in front of a small white church beside a two-lane blacktop that snaked through the hills of western North Carolina. I stopped and backed up my SUV to get a second look. The weathered 12-by-18 sign read: “Welcome to Trinity Baptist Church. We are an Independent, […]
6 Ways Confessions of Faith Promote Church Health
Particular Baptist churches planted in the tumultuous soil of 17th century England grew up and bore fruit under a nasty set of doctrinal and methodological accusations, including that they subscribed to libertarian free will, denied original sin, that their pastors baptized women in the nude, and were opponents of church and crown. Perhaps their most […]
‘I Am Southern Baptist’: A Confessional People and Their Confession of Faith
“Who are you?” the criminal once asked Batman. “Who are you?” the ’70s rock band, the Who, once asked their generation. In one sense, the answer should be obvious. We ought to be able to answer as Popeye did: “I am who I am and that’s all that I am.” But, is it really? Can […]
UPDATE: EC conducting internal investigation related to McLaurin
The SBC Executive Committee has begun an investigation into the circumstances leading to the resignation of Willie McLaurin. McLaurin resigned on Aug. 17 after confessing to falsifying his education background. He was serving as the interim president and CEO and was thought to be the leading candidate for the permanent role. He had served the EC […]
Addressing global hunger requires multifaceted approach
Editor’s note: Sunday, Aug. 27, is Global Hunger Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convent For the 5-year-old Burmese refugee, the small bag of rice evoked a living thing. “It’s baby rice,” she proclaimed, hugging it to her chest. Terry Dale Hudgins, director of the Nashville World Outreach Partnership based at Tusculum Hills Baptist Church in […]
McLaurin resigns as interim EC president, removed from search consideration
Willie McLaurin has stepped down as interim president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee and is no longer considered to be a candidate for that position by the presidential search team. McLaurin confessed to EC Chairman Phillip Robertson and EC Presidential Search Committee Chairman Neal Hughes Aug. 17 that his education credentials were forgeries. […]
New podcast ‘Gridiron and the Gospel’ focuses on college football and faith
A new podcast titled “Gridiron and the Gospel” will feature weekly conversations about college football and various topics surrounding the Christian faith. The podcast will be hosted by George Schroeder and Brad Edwards, both journalism veterans with more than 25 years of covering college football. “We wanted to capitalize on our (college football) knowledge base […]
Barber announces changes to ARITF, chairman of Cooperation Group
The Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force has a new chairman, and SBC President Bart Barber has announced the appointment of a chairman for the Cooperation Group in response to the motion made by James Merritt at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting. Barber announced the appointment of North Carolina pastor Josh Wester to the ARITF and named him chairman. […]
Guest Viewpoint: Baptists Want Secure Borders and Compassion for Immigrants
While the nature of Baptist polity allows for varying perspectives on many issues, there was one resolution that stood out when messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in New Orleans almost unanimously voted in affirmation: A resolution “on wisely engaging immigration” passed with incredibly broad support. Those outside of the SBC or of […]
First Person: ‘When disaster strikes’ sounds like a PSA, it is … sort of
We live in a fallen world, and it’s never more evident than when we view disasters — both physical and personal. We stand by helplessly and see cataclysmic forces of nature wreaking havoc. As a Mississippian, I’m way too familiar with tornadoes and hurricanes alike. I’d also put the implosion of the Titan submersible as […]