Former SBC president J.D. Greear addressing the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting. — Photo by Karen McCutcheon

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Baptist Paper and is reprinted with permission.

Amid an ongoing — and at times heated — debate on social media, former Southern Baptist Convention president J.D. Greear is among several dozen individuals named in a contentious new book, “Shepherds for Sale” by author Megan Basham

Greear, in a lengthy response to the book, noted, “… we serve a God of truth and if the errors regarding me in this book are any indication of its broader accuracy, then the reader should be cautious about taking her claims at face value.”

“How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda” is the subtitle of Basham’s book, published by the Broadside Books imprint of HarperCollins on July 30.

Reflecting the “wokeism” debate in contemporary culture, Basham writes in the hardbound book’s dust jacket that “in recent decades … well-funded forces from outside the church have been sowing seeds of discord from behind the scenes … to co-opt the church for political purposes.” [Read more…]

BRENTWOOD — Not only are churchgoers watching Christian movies, but some find them useful as an evangelistic and discipleship tool.

A recent study by Lifeway Research finds 68 percent of American Protestant churchgoers have watched a Christian movie in the last year. Around 4 in 5 (81 percent) say Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.

“The Forge,” the latest film from the Kendrick brothers, releases in theaters nationwide on August 23, 2024. The movie focuses on issues central to evangelism and discipleship. Stephen Kendrick, co-producer of “The Forge,” believes Christian movies can play a role in those fundamental aspects of the Christian walk.

“We live in a visual, video-driven generation. Movies can be great tools to reach people where they are and share biblical truth in the context of an emotional and memorial story,” Kendrick said. “Countless people have come to Christ through watching a Christian movie. The Holy Spirit continues to use art to point to the glory of Christ and the gospel.” [Read more…]

Brent Leatherwood — Photo by Van Payne / The Baptist Paper

NASHVILLE — The following statement was released early evening July 23 to provide an explanation and clarity about the recent announcements related to ERLC president Brent Leatherwood. It came from the executive committee of the board of trustees (essentially the officers of the board) for ERLC following a special-called informational meeting via Zoom with the full board. Tony Beam of South Carolina is now chair of the board. He previously served as vice chair.

Full statement from ERLC

“As the executive committee of the trustees of the ERLC, we take seriously the obligation given to us to ensure the execution of the ministry assignment of this institution that’s over 100 years old. In recent days, we have failed to fulfill that trust in ways that ensure the stability of this organization. Over the past 24 hours, we have experienced a flurry of activity which has been destabilizing. To that end, it is incumbent on us to clearly address concerns. [Read more…]

Brent Leatherwood — The Baptist Paper photo

NASHVILLE — Within hours of releasing a statement on the evening of July 22 saying Brent Leatherwood had been “removed” from his position as president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the organization announced the following morning that Leatherwood remains in the position. Meanwhile, the chair of the ERLC’s executive committee, Kevin Smith, has resigned and since posted an apology on social media.

The details of what triggered the initial decision to remove Leatherwood as president remains unclear.

Smith later apologized in a since-deleted social media post for a “consequential procedural mistake,” The Tennessean reported. “The mistake was mine; I apologize.” [Read more…]

Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and former President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law addresses the GOP’s convention in Minneapolis July 16. — Screen capture from PBS News

NASHVILLE — A political shift in LGBT policy is evident across the country this week. Legislation passed in California July 15 gives public schools the ability to conceal when students change their names and pronouns. On the same day, the Republican National Convention passed a platform that was stripped of “anti-LBGT” language, policy leaders say.

The California legislation, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 15, prohibits school districts from requiring teachers to inform parents when students tells school leaders they want to change their name or the pronouns used to refer to them.

“It protects the child-parent relationship by preventing politicians and school staff from inappropriately intervening in family matters and attempting to control if, when and how families have deeply personal conversations,” Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Newsom told Fox News. [Read more…]