NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist leaders are calling for prayer and peace in the wake of Iran’s direct attacks on Israel. The attacks occurred overnight Saturday Jerusalem time (April 13) as hundreds of drones and rockets were launched in retaliation for a strike Israel made April 1 against an Iranian consulate. Israeli defense forces claim that 99 percent of the drones and rockets were destroyed by their Iron Dome defense system before impacting targets. U.S. President Joe Biden … [Read more...]
Iorg’s goal for EC is service, he says at press conference
DALLAS (BP) – Jeff Iorg aims to help the SBC Executive Committee regain the trust of Southern Baptists, he said at a press conference following his election as president-elect of the EC on Thursday (March 21) in a special called EC meeting. Iorg pointed to two ways trust is earned – sacrificial service and demonstrated competence. “My role at the Executive Committee is to lead us to be a sacrificial servant of Southern Baptists, fulfilling the role we’ve been assigned and to do that … [Read more...]
Jeff Iorg elected to lead SBC Executive Committee
DALLAS (BP) – Jeff Iorg will become the eighth leader of the SBC Executive Committee. Iorg received a unanimous vote from 60 EC members at a special-called EC meeting today (March 21). Iorg, 65, will serve as president-elect until his tenure as president of Gateway Seminary officially concludes with graduation on May 11. His first official day as EC president/CEO will be May 13. “Today’s unanimous vote marks a significant turning point for the SBC Executive Committee and the SBC as a … [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...]
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the team searching for the next leader of the SBC Executive Committee (EC) has let the members know their candidate has withdrawn his name.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...]
SBC Executive Committee President/CEO search team to present candidate in February
NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC Executive Committee Presidential Search Team is set to announce its candidate to the public Feb. 18. The team announced, Jan. 8, that it plans to present the candidate Feb. 19 at the EC meeting in Nashville. “The search team arrived at this candidate after following the four-phase process [Neal] Hughes outlined in the EC’s September 2023 meeting: the invitation phase, the interview phase, the investigation phase and the introduction phase,” said a news … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee search team resumes candidacy talks with McLaurin
NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC Executive Committee search team says they have resumed conversations with EC Interim President and CEO Willie McLaurin about his candidacy for the permanent position. The information was emailed to EC members Monday morning and shared with Baptist Press. “Considering the many endorsements from pastors, state convention leaders, and national entity heads, and considering an overwhelming sense in our hearts that we are being obedient to the Holy Spirit, your present … [Read more...]
Thomas Elliott, son-in-law of Roy Honeycutt, killed in bank shooting
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – A crisp spring morning turned deadly Monday morning (Apr. 10) when a gunman opened fire inside the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville. Four people were killed and multiple others were injured, including two police officers, before the Louisville Metro Police killed the gunman, according to LMPD. Police released the identity of the victims as: – Joshua Barrick, 40 – Thomas Elliot, 63 – Juliana Farmer, 45 – James Tutt, 64 Thomas Elliot was the … [Read more...]
SBC EC calls May 1 special meeting to consider presidential candidate
NASHVILLE (BP) – The search for a new president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee (EC) may be nearing a completion. The EC will hold a special-called meeting on May 1 in Dallas to consider a recommendation from the search team. “Over the last 14 months, the search team has diligently prayed, discussed, and worked to identify the person to best lead the SBC Executive Committee through its present challenges and into a brighter future for our Committee and Convention,” search team … [Read more...]
Johnny Hunt sues SBC, EC and Guidepost
NASHVILLE (BP) – Longtime pastor and former SBC President Johnny Hunt has filed suit against the SBC, the SBC Executive Committee (EC) and Guidepost Solutions. The suit seeks unspecified damages related to allegations of defamation and the invasion of privacy based on accusations made against Hunt in the 2022 Guidepost report stemming from an investigation into the alleged mishandling of sexual abuse by the SBC EC. Hunt filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Nashville on March 17. Hunt … [Read more...]
ARITF meeting with SBC Credentials Committee, abuse survivors
NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) issued an update on Friday afternoon (Feb. 10). It’s the group’s second update of the year. The update says group members have met with leaders across the SBC, including members of the SBC’s initial Sexual Abuse Task Force. Among other actions, they report work on “evaluating current and potential resources for every level of training and education so that we may identify, revise and create the most effective and … [Read more...]
Revival fires stir again at Asbury
WILMORE, Ky. (BP) – Revival fires may be stirring again at a small college in rural Kentucky near Lexington. Services, filled with preaching, singing and personal testimonies, have been ongoing at Asbury University and Theological Seminary since Feb. 8. According to university accounts, a similar 144-hour revival broke out at the campus in 1970. Alexandra Presta, a student at Asbury wrote in The Asbury Collegian, the campus newspaper, on Feb. 8, “Peers, professors, local church … [Read more...]