African American Fellowship responds to statement by seminary presidents
Critical Race Theory was the subject of a controversial resolution at the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention. Six months ahead of the denomination’s next gathering, Baptists are talking about the theory again, due in part to a recent statement by six seminary presidents declaring Critical Race Theory is incompatible the Baptists’ statement of faith.
In response to the statement, the National African American Fellowship (NAAF) of the SBC also affirmed The Baptist Faith and Message. But Virginia pastor Marshal Ausberry, president of the NAAF and first vice president of the SBC, said that while the seminary presidents’ statement was well-intended, it created concern among African American pastors.
“Especially for those of us who have experienced the brunt of systemic racism in our daily lives, our seminary presidents are good men and they had good intent,” Ausberry told Baptist Press, “but the optics of six anglo brothers meeting to discuss racism and other related issues without having ethnic representation in the room in 2020, at worst it looks like paternalism, at best insensitivity. The only outcome can be from their life experience, which really ignores the broader family of Southern Baptists.”
Falwell drops lawsuit against former school
Former Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. said he will “take a time out” from litigation against the school. Falwell, who resigned earlier this year amid series of scandals, sued Liberty in October claiming the school defamed him. He announced he would drop the suit in a statement Dec. 10, but added he will “continue to keep all options on the table for an appropriate resolution to the matter.”
Gallup poll: Church attendance connected to better mental health in 2020
Research from Gallup shows frequent church attenders were the only group who reported gains in mental health this year. The annual survey found 34% of Americans classify their mental health as “excellent,” which is an all-time low. But 46% of Americans who attend religious services weekly said their mental health is excellent, up from 42% last year.
Donor funds 10 ultrasound machines for pregnancy centers
The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission will deliver 10 ultrasound machines to pregnancy resource centers over the next six months, thanks to an anonymous donation to its Psalm 139 Project. Until now, the most machines placed through the initiative in a year was five, Baptist Press reports.
Sources: Baptist Press, Religion News Service, Christian Post