We could have talked about how SBC entities and churches handle allegations of sexual abuse. We could have talked about the value of women in the culture and their role in our churches and denomination. We could have talked about the direction of international missions, the SBC Executive Committee’s guidance of missions giving, and the […]
Pastors’ Conference: Clinging to the Word in a world of chaos
Speaking to a room full of pastors, Charlie Dates warned that what they say now will outlast anything they do. “The Word we preach will outlive our ministries,” said Dates, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. “What you proclaim will outlive what you’ve done.” Dates spoke during the final session of the Southern Baptist […]
In tumultuous times, the new president of the SBC will be no figurehead
J.D. Greear says his election does not indicate a generational shift in the Southern Baptist Convention. But the photos of Greear, 45, with his opponent Ken Hemphill, 70, and outgoing SBC President Steve Gaines, 60, might attest otherwise. Then there’s the jeans and tennis shoes he wore as the incoming SBC officers were introduced Wednesday […]
Important resolutions passed with little debate
Messengers to the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the dignity and worth of women, denounced all forms of abuse, and called for sexual purity among Christian leaders in adopting 16 resolutions. Because of time constraints at the close of the June 12 afternoon session, messengers approved 14 of the resolutions with a single vote. Revisions […]
Pence appearance overshadows abuse debate
Argument by convention messengers over the last-minute addition of a speech by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence shunted discussion of Paige Patterson’s handling of sexual abuse allegations and subsequent firing. And Pence replaced Patterson as the most controversial figure on the schedule at the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas in June. After his firing […]