Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
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 […]
August 13, 2025
By Aaron EarlsLifeway Christian ResourcesBRENTWOOD – Few pastors leave the pulpit each year, but those who do mostly say it was a personal decision. According to a Lifeway Research study of former senior pastors in four Protestant denominations who stepped down before retirement age, 4 in 5 (81 percent) felt sure during most of their ministry at […]
August 8, 2025
By Aaron EarlsLifeway Christian ResourcesBRENTWOOD – As students head back to the classroom, they’re likely to see the impact of local churches in their schools this year. According to a Lifeway Research study, 4 in 5 U.S. Protestant pastors identify at least one way their congregations have engaged with local public schools in the last year. […]
August 8, 2025
Baptist PressNASHVILLE (BP) – Cooperative Program giving in July came in more than 6 percent below budget, while designated giving showed a marked increase over July of last year. Southern Baptists gave more than $14 million in undesignated receipts last month, bringing the year-to-date total to $155,238,788.72 – 3.13 percent below the year-to-date budget goal […]
July 31, 2025
By Diana ChandlerBaptist PressNASHVILLE (BP) – Brent Leatherwood has resigned as president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, ending nearly nine years of service that began in 2017 as director of strategic partnerships. The ERLC Board of Trustees accepted Leatherwood’s resignation in a called meeting today (July 31) in Nashville, gratefully noting […]
July 29, 2025
By Marissa Postell SullivanLifeway Christian ResourcesEach week, headlines tell us pastors are burnt out. They’re leaving the ministry. They’re throwing in the towel. Pastoral ministry is too hard on the family. The demands are too high. The challenges are too difficult. The message we hear: There’s a mass exodus of pastors. While this story isn’t […]
July 25, 2025
By Aaron EarlsLifeway Christian ResourcesAlmost 10 years after the Supreme Court granted national recognition to same-sex marriages, most Americans support that right, but the percentage has plateaued in recent years. The latest Gallup survey finds 68 percent of U.S. adults think marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights […]
July 24, 2025
ERLC news officeOn July 7, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reached an agreement with plaintiffs in a pending lawsuit concerning free speech for churches. In a joint motion, the parties asked the court to settle the dispute, reinterpreting the Johnson Amendment and clarifying that churches are no longer restricted from speaking about political issues or candidates. […]
July 24, 2025
Lifeway Christian ResourcesFRANKLIN — Compared to a decade ago, pastors have less training in counseling but are more hesitant to refer church members to professionals. A recent Lifeway Research study examining the rate at which evangelical and Black Protestant pastors leave the ministry also asked pastors about their experience with counseling, both in their ministry preparation and practice. […]
July 19, 2025
By Lonnie WilkeyContributing writer, B&RCLEVELAND, S.C. — When Joseph Hudson was called as minister of music at First Baptist Church Cleveland, S.C., in 2010, he wanted to get to know the members of his new congregation. “Some of my mentors in ministry had advised me that to be successful in ministry, you need to love […]
July 16, 2025
By Carol PipesBRENTWOOD — Lifeway Christian Resources trustees named an interim CEO and began the initial steps to search for a successor to President and CEO Ben Mandrell during a special-called meeting July 15. Trustees have asked Lifeway’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Walker to serve as interim president and CEO until […]