Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
April 17, 2025
By Scott BarkleyBaptist PressJOHANNESBURG (BP) – Josh Sullivan, the pastor who was abducted by armed and masked men last week as he preached, was rescued yesterday (April 15) by police after a shootout with his captors in a nearby township. Officers in a “multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation,” said a police statement, received information that Sullivan was being held […]
April 3, 2025
By Diana ChandlerBaptist PressDALLAS (BP) – Leaders of 13 Southern Baptist ethnic groups have approved a joint statement on immigration seeking religious liberty protections, compassion without demonization and enforcement options including fines or other penalties in lieu of deportation. Signers of the statement said they share the “federal government’s desire to protect citizens, promote legal […]
March 26, 2025
By ERLC staffThe Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has initiated a strategic effort to leverage the current Republican majorities in Congress and the executive branch to defund Planned Parenthood by eliminating the organization’s federal funding. The ERLC is mobilizing Southern Baptists to achieve this objective during the ongoing congressional reconciliation […]
March 21, 2025
By Diana ChandlerBaptist PressZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (BP) – The city of Zaporizhzhia is vulnerable to Russian attack, adjacent to cities in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and a treasured nuclear power plant Russia captured since renewing its assault on Ukraine in February 2022. As recently as Jan. 8, a Russian air strike killed at least 13 and injured […]
March 20, 2025
By Scott BarkleyBaptist PressNASHVILLE (BP) – At last month’s SBC Executive Committee meeting, EC President and CEO Jeff Iorg reported that as of Dec. 24, some $13 million had been spent on investigations related to sexual abuse and related legal costs. He further reported that the EC is pursuing a $3 million loan to cover […]
March 18, 2025
By Baptist and ReflectorEditor’s note: Baptist and Reflector editor Chris Turner had the opportunity on March 10 to interview Jeff Iorg, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee president and CEO for a B&R exclusive. Many of the questions to which Iorg responded were gathered from among Tennessee Baptist pastors. Baptist & Reflector: Dr. Iorg, would you […]
March 13, 2025
By Scott BarkleyBaptist PressWASHINGTON, D.C. (BP) — A bipartisan bill may give ministers who decided long ago to opt out of Social Security benefits the chance to change their minds. The Clergy Act, submitted by Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), would allow for a period in which clergy may revoke their exemption […]
March 5, 2025
The Baptist PaperFormer seminary professor Matt Queen has been sentenced to one year of probation, six months of house arrest and a $2,000 fine after being convicted of lying to federal investigators during an investigation into sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention. The investigation into the SBC included Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s handling of a report […]
February 18, 2025
By Scott BarkleyBaptist PressNASHVILLE (BP) — In a landmark address to SBC Executive Committee members, SBC EC President Jeff Iorg outlined plans for continued sexual abuse prevention and response, presented findings from the SBC’s sexual abuse hotline that clarify the incidence of abuse in Southern Baptist churches and shared steps for responding to calls for […]
February 11, 2025
By BP staff NASHVILLE (BP) — Southern Baptists wishing to provide direct input on issues addressed by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission may do so over the next six months through a survey released by the entity. “The ERLC exists to serve pastors and churches as a voice in the public square on issues important […]
January 30, 2025
By Laura ErlansonBaptist PressWASHINGTON – President Donald Trump issued an executive order Tuesday, Jan. 28, stating that “the United States … will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another. …” The order, called “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” seeks to strip federal funding from […]
January 30, 2025
By Diana ChandlerBaptist PressFORT WORTH – The loss of a rule that prevented officials from entering churches to arrest immigrants accused of being in the U.S. illegally has hurt the Church’s witness, the National Hispanic Baptist Network (NHBN) said Jan. 29 in calling for the rule’s reinstatement. The NHBN, a group representing more than 3,300 […]