Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
June 13, 2022
By Baptist Press RICHMOND, Va. — The greatest problem in the world is lostness. The only solution to the world’s greatest problem is the Gospel. The biblical example for taking the Gospel to the lost is through physical presence. And for Southern Baptists, physical missionary presence to the nations is how we cooperate to fulfill both the […]
June 10, 2022
Compiled from Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Willie McLaurin expresses a difference between working “in the business” and working “on the business.” “So many leaders, they’re working in the business. They’re putting out fires. They’re crossing the Ts and dotting the Is. That’s working in the business,” McLaurin said. “But I’ve learned how to work on […]
June 9, 2022
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Send Relief announced its intent June 8 to give $3 million to fund the proposed Sexual Abuse Task Force (SATF) recommendations for sexual abuse reform, and an additional $1 million to establish a survivor care fund to provide trauma care for survivors and trauma training for pastors. The $1 million would […]
June 9, 2022
By Carol Pipes Lifeway news office NASHVILLE — Southern Baptist congregations saw a rebound in the number of baptisms and an increase of $304 million in overall giving in 2021, both hopeful signs congregations are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Southern Baptist congregations baptized 154,701 in 2021, a 26 percent increase from 123,160 reported in […]
June 8, 2022
Pastors, SBC leaders call for action in response to sex abuse report By Diane Chandler Baptist Press RALEIGH, N.C. — Former Southern Baptist Convention president J.D. Greear says he’s encouraged by the SBC’s bottom-up structure putting power in the hands of lay members. “I want to be in a convention where the people have the […]
June 8, 2022
By Jennifer Davis Rash The Baptist Paper Funding and polity revisions have been made to the two recommendations coming from the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force, according to a video announcement June 8. These recommendations will be proposed to messengers during the June 14–15 annual meeting in Anaheim. “(We have a) new funding mechanism through […]
June 7, 2022
Recent baptism believed to be first among people group Editor’s note: Some names have been changed for security reasons. By Leslie Peacock Caldwell IMB news office COLOMBIA — In early April 2022, IMB missionary Travis Burkhalter waded into the rushing waters of a jungle river in Colombia to baptize Sarah, the first known follower of […]
June 2, 2022
By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee (EC) voted June 2 to revise previously recommended budgets in order to fund recommendations made by the Sexual Abuse Task Force (SATF). A special-called Zoom meeting, attended by 57 of 67 current members, addressed reallocating funds given in excess of the 2021-22 […]
June 1, 2022
By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — A report issued Wednesday from the Sexual Abuse Task Force (SATF) includes “challenges” for Southern Baptist groups toward better abuse prevention policies as well as two recommendations, including the formation of a website to maintain a record of those credibly accused or convicted of sexual abuse. Those challenges […]
May 28, 2022
The Baptist Paper Southern Baptist leaders and others mentioned in the sexual abuse report released May 22 continue to come forward to refute allegations made by Guidepost Solutions, which led the independent investigation into claims the SBC Executive Committee mishandled reports of sexual abuse. In addition to these responses, the Association of State Baptist Publications […]
May 28, 2022
Editor’s note: This story was updated after its initial publication. By BP staff NASHVILLE — Baptist Press has compiled a list of public statements from Southern Baptist leaders regarding the findings of an investigation by Guidepost Solutions into the SBC Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse claims. First, are statements from each of the three […]
May 28, 2022
The Baptist Paper The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has made public the alleged abuser list found in the recent investigation. Rolland Slade, SBC Executive Committee chairman, and Willie McLaurin, interim president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, released a statement along with the list May 26, a little before 9 p.m. CT. “The […]