Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
September 16, 2025
By Jennifer Davis RashThe Baptist PaperWASHINGTON — The board of trustees for the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission named an interim president today (Sept. 16) during their regularly scheduled September meeting, held this year in Washington D.C. — longtime denominational leader and pastor Gary Hollingsworth. The vote was unanimous. Now living in the Birmingham, Alabama, […]
September 15, 2025
By Scott Barkley Baptist PressWASHINGTON D.C. (BP) – A task force commissioned by the Trump Administration earlier this year has issued a preliminary report containing examples where Christians’ “political, social, and humanitarian contributions [were] devalued, their beliefs marginalized, and their communities unlawfully targeted” by the White House’s previous occupants. The “consistent and systemic pattern of […]
September 12, 2025
By Brandon PorterBaptist PressCHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP) – SBC President Clint Pressley calls on pastors and churches to spend a dedicated time in prayer for the nation this Sunday (Sept. 14) in a video released on Sept. 11. “Our nation needs us to ask God to help,” Pressley said, “God has providentially placed us where we […]
September 12, 2025
By Scott BarkleyBaptist PressOREM, Utah (BP) – Celebratory poppers. That’s what Scott Harding thought he heard before seeing Charlie Kirk, seated about 25 feet away, go down to the floor. Harding had become a fan of Kirk’s method for engaging others through his Christian faith, using dialogue and debate as a way to bring about […]
September 11, 2025
By Brandon PorterBaptist PressOREM, Utah (BP) – Conservative advocate Charlie Kirk was killed by a gunman at Utah Valley University Wednesday (Sept. 10). President Donald Trump paid tribute to the leader via social media calling him great and legendary. Kirk is the co-founder and president of Turning Point USA, a non-profit aimed at spreading conservative principles on […]
September 5, 2025
By Diana ChandlerBaptist PressWASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should not pay for abortions nor counsel expectant mothers to end their unborn babies’ lives, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) Acting President Miles Mullin said in a letter to the department Sept. 3. “Under statutory requirements, the VA medical […]
September 4, 2025
By Aaron EarlsLifeway Christian ResourcesPastors have a lot of thoughts about discipleship, but they aren’t sure it’s happening in their churches. In the first part of the State of Discipleship study from Lifeway Research, U.S. Protestant pastors shared their understanding of what discipleship means and how it best occurs. The full State of Discipleship will […]
August 29, 2025
By Scott BarkleyBaptist PressGULFPORT, Miss. (BP) – The people of First Baptist Church are very familiar with what it feels like to have your world swept away. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina took a hard right in the Gulf and barreled north, eventually making landfall along Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Extensive flooding killed many and left […]
August 28, 2025
From the Baptist PaperSAN ANTONIO — A federal district judge in San Antonio blocked implementation of a law mandating the display of a prescribed version of the Ten Commandments in every Texas public school classroom. U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery issued the preliminary injunction Aug. 20 in Rabbi Mara Nathan, et al, v. Alamo […]
August 25, 2025
By Scott BarkleyBaptist PressJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) – The brouhaha over a certain country-themed restaurant/store’s brand redesign touches on a topic that churches encounter at some point. Words like “branding” and “marketing” can cause ministers to flinch, because there is no greater example of either than the work of the Gospel in a person’s life. But […]
August 21, 2025
By The Baptist PaperJames C. Dobson — founder of Focus on the Family, one of the world’s largest faith-based organizations — died Aug. 21. He was 89. Dobson founded Colorado-based Focus on the Family in 1977 with the vision of strengthening marriages and parenting. He wrote more than 70 books, many of which are still […]
August 19, 2025
SBC Executive Committee NASHVILLE — Abuse survivors now have enhanced resources and support through expanded services at the SBC Abuse Response Helpline, powered by a new partnership with The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. The Helpline delivers gospel-focused abuse support for survivors and ministry leaders through the collaborative partnership. The first abuse tipline was launched […]