Meet the New SCBC President

Albert Allen, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Newberry, is the new president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He has served as a pastor, missionary, chair of the SCBC Executive Board, and president-elect of the convention. He graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1986 and practiced law until 1987 […]

S.C. Baptists adopt SATF recommendations, elect Columbia pastor

With “Wake Up!” as their theme, messengers to the annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention approved a report from their Sexual Abuse Task Force, honored their retiring executive, and elected a Columbia pastor as president-elect. Gathering at Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo, Nov. 14-15, the 703 registered messengers also adopted a $26.5 […]

President’s Perspective: God’s Plan and God’s Power

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). We’ve all been there — the point of confusion and desperation. Things have not gone according to our plans, and […]

Legislative Update: S.C. Senate votes to ‘insist’

More than 12O people, many carrying signs that simply read “recede,” gathered at the Statehouse in Columbia on Oct. 18 to encourage the Senate to pass the House version of the Human Life Protection Act (H5399). Since late August, the Senate and House have been passing H5399 back and forth, with neither chamber willing to […]

Bray names 2023 SCBC Committee on Committees

In accordance with the South Carolina Baptist Convention Bylaws, convention president Wayne Bray has selected the 2023 Committee on Committees. The committee consists of at least one person from churches with 500 in worship or more, at least three from churches with 200 to 499 in worship; at least three from churches with fewer than […]

SCBC Sexual Abuse Task Force chair shares insights into work

The South Carolina Baptist Sexual Abuse Task Force has completed nearly a year of research, prayer, and work. Their report, after approval from the Executive Board, will be presented at this year’s annual meeting Nov. 13-14 at Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo. The Courier sat down with D.J. Horton, lead pastor at Church at […]

Lee stepping down from convention post

Scott Lee, chief administrative officer for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, has announced his plans to retire, effective Oct. 15, according to SCBC Executive Director-Treasurer Gary Hollingsworth. Lee will be relocating to South Alabama, where he and his wife will be near one of their two grandchildren with another one on the way. “We congratulate […]

Goodroe to be nominated for SCBC vice president

Ryan Goodroe, pastor of Utica Baptist Church in Seneca, will be nominated by Joe Willard, pastor of Black Creek Baptist Church in Darlington, for the office of vice president at this year’s annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. A graduate of Clemson University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he previously was pastor of […]

SCBC commemorates bicentennial year, creates sexual abuse task force

Messengers to the 201st annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention celebrated the convention’s bicentennial year, approved the creation of a task force to review sexual abuse policies and procedures, and elected a Newberry pastor as president-elect. International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood was keynote speaker for a missionary commissioning service that kicked off […]