Resolutions being accepted from April 1 to May 22 NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Bart Barber has named Kristen Ferguson, associate dean of educational effectiveness and director of online education at Gateway Seminary, to serve as chair of the 2024 Committee on Resolutions. It will be Ferguson’s third year to serve on the committee, having been vice chair at the New Orleans Annual meeting. “The resolutions process empowers the messengers to speak with … [Read more...]
Department of Justice concludes Executive Committee investigation; ‘no further action’
NASHVILLE (BP) – The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its investigation of the SBC Executive Committee, Southern Baptist leaders learned Feb. 29. In a statement today, Jonathan Howe, interim SBC EC president/CEO, said the DOJ has told the EC’s legal counsel there is “no further action to be taken.” Email requests for comment from the DOJ were not returned by time of publication. The SBC has been represented during the investigation by Gene Besen and Scarlett Nokes of … [Read more...]
SBC task force proposes new non-profit to address abuse reform
EDITOR'S NOTE: This developing story first appeared at The Baptist Paper at this link: https://thebaptistpaper.org/sbc-abuse-reform-efforts-energized-by-latest-announcement. *This story was updated under the “Funding Plan” subhead below at 3:07 p.m. CT. The original version posted at 5 a.m., and two other minor edits for clarification purposes took place around 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. **At 3:25 p.m. CT, The Baptist Paper received an email with a statement from Send Relief leaders noting … [Read more...]
SBC’s Executive Committee presidential search team announces new candidate ‘is emerging’
NASHVILLE (The Baptist Paper) – The search team for the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has announced that an “excellent” candidate appears to have emerged. The committee shared an update on the process during the EC’s meeting in Nashville, Feb. 19. “We were able to hit the ground running after the last candidate removed his name. This was mainly due to credible opportunities available to us from the invitation phase that was done in August and … [Read more...]
Lifeway remembers the life and legacy of ‘Experiencing God’ author Henry Blackaby
NASHVILLE (BP) – Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, passed away today, Feb. 10, 2024. He was 88. Considered a spiritual statesman by many, the quiet pastor from Canada had a ministry that reached from pastors, missionaries and lay people, to CEOs, U.S. presidents and world leaders. Blackaby’s famous summary of how to know and do the will of God—“watch to see where God is working and join Him”—has guided numerous people, churches and ministries to join God’s work. Blackaby’s … [Read more...]
Pre-registration opens for 2024 SBC annual meeting in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – Pre-registration for the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis has opened up for messengers and/or childcare at sbcannualmeeting.net. The meeting is expected to be highly attended, as a new SBC president will be elected and messengers will vote for the second time on a constitutional amendment regarding women pastors. Reports will also include those studying the impact of the Great Commission Resurgence as well as the Cooperation Group, which is currently developing … [Read more...]
Evangelism under review: Great Commission Resurgence results being evaluated
by Art Toalston/The Baptist Paper EDITOR'S NOTE: Former Baptist Press (BP) editor Art Toalston, who served with BP from 1992 to 2015, has produced an in-depth, 9,000-word special report about The Great Commission Resurgence. His full report can be accessed here: https://www.arttoalston.com/?page_id=388. The abbreviated version of the report below was first published by The Baptist Paper here: … [Read more...]
Why your church needs to be planning VBS now
by Vicki Hulsey BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway) — For many churches, dates for Vacation Bible School (VBS) are among the first placed on the church calendar each year. Churches give VBS high priority because pastors recognize VBS as one of the most important evangelistic events for the entire church year. In some churches, a volunteer serves as the VBS director. Other churches may have a children’s ministry staff person who’s responsible for coordinating VBS. For some churches, especially … [Read more...]
Midwest Leadership Summit offers 12,000 hours of training for church leaders
by Eric Reed & Lisa Misner/The Illinois Baptist SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (BP) – Church leaders from the central states engaged 12,000 hours of training, teaching and worship at the three-day Midwest Leadership Summit meeting in Springfield, Ill., Jan. 23-25. In multiple plenary sessions led by national SBC speakers and church-planting practitioners, and in 80 breakout sessions, almost 1,000 leaders shared and received equipping for ministry in their unique Midwest settings. The biennial … [Read more...]
Fusion, IMB partner for 20 years
Program equips young adults, students for lifetime of missional living KANSAS CITY (IMB) – A 20-year partnership between the International Mission Board and Fusion, a missions program from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College in Kansas City, Mo., has helped students live a missional life. The two entities are excited to see this relationship grow even more in the years to come. Erik Odegard, Fusion director and assistant professor of intercultural studies, … [Read more...]
Allen addresses priority of prayer at Spring convocation, installs two endowed chairs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MBTS) – In the Spring Convocation service at Midwestern Seminary on Jan. 23, President Jason Allen announced the installation of two faculty members to endowed chairs and preached a sermon titled, “Too Busy Not to Pray.” Beginning the service, Allen reflected on the importance of Convocation, stating, “At the beginning of each semester, we come together to set ourselves apart and renew our commitment to the task of training men and women for the cause of Christ and for … [Read more...]
EC president/CEO candidate withdraws from search process
NASHVILLE (BP) – The chairman of the team searching for the next leader of the SBC Executive Committee (EC) has let the members know their candidate has withdrawn his name. A release from search team chair Neal Hughes was sent to EC members on Tuesday morning, Jan. 23. The group had announced Jan. 8 that they planned to bring a candidate forward at the EC’s next meeting Feb. 19. Hughes said the candidate informed the search team Monday (Jan. 22) of the decision after “much prayer, … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 75
- Next Page »