NASHVILLE — A statement issued by the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force said it will begin by focusing on several mandates, including the retaining of an individual or firm to receive reports related to abuse, the creation of the Ministry Check database and assisting the Credentials Committee toward retaining a qualified firm for assistance in matters related to allegations of or mishandling of allegations of sexual abuse.

The announcement, released Sept. 16 at sataskforce.net, comes almost three months to the day since Southern Baptists approved a report that called for extensive measures to address sexual abuse in the Convention.

Oklahoma pastor Mike Keahbone, vice chair of the task force, said the group originally set a goal of meeting by the end of September. That date was moved up to Sept. 5, due to their collective confirmation of the importance of their work.

The group is unified in its purpose, he said. But in a roomful of strong personalities, there will be some disagreement. Keahbone considered that a positive. [Read more…]

WASHINGTON — Christians are projected to comprise less than half of the U.S. population by 2050 in a Pew Research study of how current trends might play out among believers and non-believers in the coming decades.

In the best-case scenario of how trends might continue to unfold, which Pew presents as the most unlikely and most optimistic possibility, Pew projects the Christian share of the U.S. population to shrink from a current 64 percent to between 54 percent and 35 percent by 2070.

In the scenario Pew described as most likely, Christians would comprise 39 percent of Americans by 2070, losing their majority status as early as 2050 at 47 percent of the national population. [Read more…]

NASHVILLE — Most Americans say suicide has become an epidemic in the United States, and few say people who commit suicide automatically go to hell.

In 2008, September was declared National Suicide Prevention Month in the United States. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 45,979 people died by suicide in the United States in 2020, which amounts to one death every 11 minutes. Additionally, 12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide in 2020.

According to a Lifeway Research online survey, most Americans (77 percent) believe suicide has become an epidemic in the United States, with 34 percent strongly agreeing and 44 percent somewhat agreeing. This number is larger than the 56 percent of Americans who agreed in a 2014 phone survey. And the number of Americans who have a friend or family member who committed suicide has increased slightly since 2014 (39 percent v. 36 percent). [Read more…]

KELLER, Texas — Reports of the Bible’s being removed alongside other books from school libraries don’t tell the full story, said a statement issued by the Keller Independent School District (ISD) Aug. 18.

“Books that have been challenged by community members as being inappropriate for schools are required to be removed from shelves and held in a Parental Consent Area until the challenge process is complete,” said superintendent Rick Westfall. “Previously challenged books are also being moved to a Parental Consent Area to determine if those books meet the new standards in the policy and the guidelines that will soon be considered by the Board.”

Materials placed in the Parental Consent Area are not completely off limits to students, said the Keller ISD in response to a list of questions by Baptist Press. [Read more…]

NASHVILLE — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has been informed that the United States Department of Justice has initiated an investigation into the SBC that will include “multiple SBC entities,” according to an Aug. 12 statement from all SBC entity leaders and SBC President Bart Barber.

“Individually and collectively, each SBC entity is resolved to fully and completely cooperate with the investigation,” the statement said.

The announcement comes two months after messengers to the SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim passed a resolution On Lament and Repentance for Sexual Abuse. Southern Baptists also voted overwhelmingly to adopt a report that approved recommendations toward addressing and preventing sexual abuse in the Convention. [Read more…]

SWBTS building. (Photo from Baptist Press)

FORT WORTH — Calling it a “historic new initiative,” Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Adam W. Greenway announced in a video released on Aug. 11 that beginning with the fall 2022 semester, the Fort Worth institution will provide a full tuition scholarship to all International Mission Board missionaries enrolled in the seminary’s master’s degrees and doctoral programs.

“Our mission is to penetrate the darkness of lostness around the globe with the light of the Gospel, and we are committed to lowering financial barriers to that service while providing the very best theological education to prepare you to live your calling for more faithful service,” Greenway said. “We believe that those of you who have given your lives to serving on the frontlines around the world are worthy of this type of investment on our part so that you may, indeed, fulfill your calling.”

Joined in the video by IMB President Paul H. Chitwood, Greenway also announced students who are current IMB applicants who have yet to receive appointments will have 100 percent of their tuition covered for a 36-hour Master of Theological Studies degree, which meets the mission board’s theological education requirements for missionary appointment. [Read more…]

NASHVILLE — Natural disasters impact homes, schools and businesses, but they also damage church buildings and parsonages. During these times of recovery, Lifeway Christian Resources has established multiple ways to walk beside pastors and congregations.

As churches in Kentucky look to emerge from the recent deadly flooding in their state, Lifeway is aiming to help those impacted.

Since 2008, Lifeway has established a disaster assistance program that helps churches recover resources lost during natural disasters. “When disaster strikes, we want pastors and churches to know we’re here for them and want to come alongside them in their time of need,” said Ben Mandrell, president and CEO of Lifeway. “Replacing some of the resources they’ve lost is a tangible way for Lifeway to show we care about them and their ministries.” [Read more…]