Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
June 30, 2021
By Jonathan Howe Baptist Press WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court of the United States denied a petition by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) to review its ongoing case involving a lawsuit filed by a former Southern Baptist state executive director. Originally filed in 2017 by Will McRaney, former executive director of the Baptist Convention […]
June 29, 2021
Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC’s future hinges on a reemphasis on evangelism and missions, four former presidents agreed during a panel discussion before the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting. Former SBC presidents Steve Gaines, Johnny Hunt, James Merritt and Fred Luter, who gathered for a session on the Vision Stage in the exhibit hall […]
June 22, 2021
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press WASHINGTON — The largest portion of teenagers in the U.S. believe that more than one religion may be true, Pew Research said in its latest revelation from a study of the religious beliefs and practices of teens and their parents. Among 13- to 17-year-old teenagers, 45 percent believe many religions […]
June 20, 2021
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Saying they faced a defining moment, the “most important crossroads” in a generation, departing SBC President J.D. Greear challenged Southern Baptists to hear the concerns of the entire body while unifying around the one true Gospel and the Great Commission. “If we believe in the sufficiency of Scripture […]
June 20, 2021
By Kevin Willoughby Baptist Press NASHVILLE — As a musician since the age of 11, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told Southern Baptist evangelists he knows the first thing he has to do when he picks up an instrument is to tune it so each note sounds like it should. Huckabee was the guest June […]
June 17, 2021
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — South Carolina pastor Tom Tucker’s reelection Monday (June 14) as vice chairman of the SBC Executive Committee became moot Wednesday (June 16), when messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting rejected a motion to nominate him to a second term on the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee elected […]
June 17, 2021
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — A day after overruling the Resolutions Committee, messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting adopted a resolution June 16 calling for “abolishing abortion immediately, without exception or compromise.” The Resolutions Committee had declined the resolution, reasoning that while “messengers would agree with some aspects of this resolution,” the […]
June 17, 2021
By Erin Roach Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting overwhelmingly approved a motion calling for a task force to oversee a third-party investigation into allegations of mishandling abuse claims at the SBC Executive Committee. The motion, offered by Grant Gaines, pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was […]
June 16, 2021
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Saying they faced a defining moment, the “most important crossroads” in a generation, departing SBC President J.D. Greear challenged Southern Baptists to hear the concerns of the entire body while unifying around the one true Gospel and the Great Commission. “If we believe in the sufficiency of Scripture as […]
June 16, 2021
NOTE: This article has been updated to correct the wording of a sixth strategic action, which was adopted as an amendment. The strategic action is: “Prayerfully endeavor to eliminate all incidents of sexual abuse and racial discrimination among our churches.” By Timothy Cockes Baptist Press NASHVILLE — After two amendments, messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual […]
June 16, 2021
By David Dawson and Lonnie Wilkey Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — After a tight race that required a run-off, Ed Litton was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday evening at the SBC’s annual meeting in Nashville. Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala., defeated Mike Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church […]
June 15, 2021
By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE – International Mission Board president Paul Chitwood made a confession to the thousands gathered in the Music City Center on June 14. As 2020 dragged on, he said, challenge after challenge made the IMB’s goals seem further and further beyond reach. “I questioned at times if we would be […]