Leatherwood

NASHVILLE — Brent Leatherwood remains president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. ERLC executive board members say board Chairman Kevin Smith acted alone in an announcement of Leatherwood’s removal on July 22 and violated the entity’s bylaws.

A early morning release from the ERLC executive committee says:

“As members of the ERLC’s Executive Committee, we formally retract the press release which was sent yesterday.

“There was not an authorized meeting, vote, or action taken by the Executive Committee. Kevin Smith has resigned as Chair of the Executive Committee.” [Read more…]

Firefighters work to extinguish the fire at First Baptist Dallas. — Photo courtesy FBC Dallas

DALLAS — The historic sanctuary at First Baptist Church Dallas burned Friday evening, July 19. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. The Victorian-style, red brick sanctuary building was erected 1890 and is a recognized Texas Historic Landmark.

According to media reports, Dallas Fire and Rescue received a call at 6:05 p.m., Friday evening regarding a building on fire in Downtown Dallas. Firefighters responded and within 15 minutes of the first call, a second alarm was requested. Then around 7:30 p.m., the scene was upgraded to a three-alarm fire. A fourth alarm was called in around 8:15 p.m. The Dallas Morning News reported that “more than 60 units were dispatched to respond to the structure fire.” [Read more…]

Photo by Jennifer Davis Rash / The Alabama Baptist

MOBILE, Ala. — In the days following the July 13 assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, an application of Scripture related to the situation (see image below) is making the rounds on social media and drawing growing concern from ministry leaders in the process.

Derek Allen, pastor of First Baptist Church Tillman’s Corner in the Mobile area, addressed the concern July 17.

“I don’t want to be unnecessarily cruel, but this post is way out of bounds,” Allen wrote on Facebook. “If you are a follower of Christ and have shared any version of this post, please take it down. In the future, please check with a solid, conservative Bible scholar/pastor before posting something like it. There are so many issues with it that I’m not sure where to start.” [Read more…]

BRENTWOOD — Most churchgoers believe Christians have a good reputation with Americans in general, but they worry those feelings are starting to sour.

A Lifeway Research study finds 53 percent of U.S. Protestant churchgoers say most Americans have a positive perception of Christians. Two in five (40 percent) disagree, and eight percent aren’t sure.

More consensus exists on the direction public sentiment is headed. Around seven in 10 (69 percent) believe people’s perceptions of Christians in the U.S. are getting worse, while 21 percent disagree. Another 10 percent say they aren’t sure.

“The percentage of churchgoers who believe most Americans view Christians positively is remarkably close to a recent national poll indicating 53 percent of Americans view Christianity favorably,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Though a majority agree, fewer than one in six churchgoers is strongly convinced most Americans view Christians positively.” [Read more…]

Randy C. Davis

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Mission Board president and executive director Randy C. Davis and Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, were quick to respond in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13.

Trump, who was injured in the attempt, was rushed off the stage quickly by Secret Service agents and reportedly is safe and under protective measures. As events unfolded, news outlets reported at least one person in attendance at the rally was killed and another injured.

The New York Post reported that the gunman believed to have behind the assassination attempt was shot and killed by the Secret Service. [Read more…]

Bart Barber delivers his final president’s address June 11 during the SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. — Photo by Van Payne / The Baptist Paper

INDIANAPOLIS — While reflecting on his past two years as Southern Baptist Convention president, Bart Barber urged messengers to look past disagreements and struggles in their churches and to “bear one another’s weakness.” He delivered his final president’s address June 11 during the SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis.

While praising the successes of Southern Baptists — among them includes a 26% increase in baptisms over the last year — Barber emphasized that despite the SBC’s good moments, their efforts do not help the Lord’s reputation “one bit.” God, he noted, doesn’t need our help.

But Southern Baptists still must continue in obedience to serve the Lord, noted Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church Farmersville, Texas. [Read more…]

BRENTWOOD — Growing up, Aaron Bryant may have dreamed of playing in the NFL, but his family would’ve never dreamed of skipping church.

Bryant was part of the Tennessee Titans when they made the Super Bowl in 1999. Despite playing multiple sports in high school, he says he rarely missed church services because of it. 

“Primarily, my parents prioritized corporate worship for our family and established a precedent that our time with our church family on Sunday mornings was more important than anything else,” he said. [Read more…]