Baptist and Reflector staff
FRANKLIN — The past 12 months contained news that created many different emotions. There was plenty of good news along the way, but there were also many discouraging developments.
Based on the analytics of the Baptist and Reflector’s website, readers were interested in stories of both kinds.
The content below recaps some of the most-read stories from 2022 based on the number of views received from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022.
The Baptist and Reflector website is a key member of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board team.
Launched in 2016, the website is the digital counterpart to the print edition, and also serves as the home for breaking news pertaining to Tennessee Baptists. Note: Some of the stories on this list were published before the start of 2022, but still received a high amount of views this year.
TBC leaders respond to SCOTUS reversal of Roe v. Wade ruling
• Date posted: June 24, 2022 • Written by: Lonnie Wilkey, B&R editor
FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist leaders expressed their excitement over the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on June 24 to overturn the 1973 Supreme Court ruling of Roe. v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. In a joint statement, Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, and Greg McCoy, president of the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes, said, “Today is an incredibly exciting day as the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade in a most historic ruling. First and foremost, glory to God. We are thankful for this legal decision. It’s been a long time coming.”
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SBC task force releases report
• Date posted: May 23, 2022 • Written by: Lonnie Wilkey, B&R editor
NASHVILLE — Southern Baptists are digesting the enormity of an independent investigation by Guidepost Solutions on behalf of the Sexual Abuse Task Force that investigated how the Southern Baptist Executive Committee handled sexual abuse cases within a 21-year time frame from 2000 to mid-2021.
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TBMB leader calls for break with Guidepost Solutions after tweet
• Date posted: June 7, 2022 • Written by: Chris Turner, Lonnie Wilkey
FRANKLIN — In response to a tweet by Guidepost Solutions supporting the LGBTQ+ community, TBMB president and executive director Randy C. Davis said Southern Baptists should “immediately break ties with Guidepost Solutions.” The previous September, Guidepost Solutions was chosen by the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force to oversee a third-party review of the SBC Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse issues.
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Examining five things that happen when we worship
• Date posted: Nov. 15, 2019
• Written by: Matt Tullos, special assistant to the executive director for the TBMB
This editorial, written by TBMB staffer Matt Tullos, was published on the website in 2019, but has a timeless message. “I believe everybody, even atheists, need to be around real, authentic, passionate worshipers because it’s the very best community anyone could ever imagine,” Tullos wrote.
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Mike Glenn column: Pastors today are hurting more than you know
• Date posted: March 22,2022
• Written by: Mike Glenn, senior pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood
This editorial, written by Mike Glenn, senior pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, examined the pressure that pastors are currently facing. It also took a close look at the alarming number of pastors who are stepping away from ministry. “Pastors were beaten up pretty badly during COVID-19 and they aren’t going to put themselves or their families through it anymore,” Glenn wrote. “I’ve talked to a lot of pastors who made a promise to get their churches through COVID-19 and now that things are easing up, they are stepping out.”
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Randy Davis column: If you could ask God one question …
• Date posted: November 22, 2016 • Written by: Randy C. Davis
This editorial, written by TBMB president and executive director Randy Davis, was published in 2016 but continues to draw new readers with its evergreen content. In the column, Davis examines a survey that allowed participants to reveal their most pressing questions.
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Proposed Senate bill yet another threat to Biblical marriage
• Date posted: August 30, 2022 • Written by: Lonnie Wilkey, B&R editor
FRANKLIN — The “Respect for Marriage Act” is a proposed bill that “threatens Americans who follow the biblical definition of marriage,” said Harrison Smith of Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF partners with Christian organizations, including the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, to defend religious liberty in the United States. Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, added in a column posted at christianindex.org that the proposed bill “should be of concern to every pastor and person of faith.”
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TBC provides update from Sexual Abuse Task Force during meeting
• Date posted: May 25, 2022 • Written by: Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention leader Clay Hallmark released an update on the Sexual Abuse Task Force, saying “This assignment was a monumental task. I sought advice and input from individuals all across the state of Tennessee.” Hallmark said that a wide variety of new resources are now in development. He also noted that a new website is being developed that will allow members and churches of the TBC to interact with the TBMB in reporting allegations, as well as finding comprehensive resources to help them in ministering to people and addressing allegations.
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SBC leaders respond to Department of Justice investigation
• Date posted: August 14, 2022 • Written by: Scott Barkley, Baptist Press
NASHVILLE — In a statement, SBC leaders said they will comply with the Department of Justice’s investigation. “Our commitment to cooperate with the (DOJ) is born from our demonstrated commitment to transparently address the scourge of sexual abuse,” the leaders said, adding that their willingness to cooperate should send the message that they are taking sexual abuse seriously.
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Floyd, others speak about report
• Date posted: May 23, 2022 • Written by: Scott Barkley, Baptist Press
NASHVILLE — The names of numerous Southern Baptist leaders appeared throughout a lengthy report made available May 22 by Guidepost Solutions. “People reading the report may not realize that I supported the independent investigation,” Ronnie Floyd told Baptist Press in a statement. “I also hired Guidepost to do it even before the 2021 Convention.” Floyd was elected EC president and CEO in April 2019, and stepped down effective Oct. 31, 2021. B&R
