MAGEE, Miss. (BP) – A Mississippi pastor has announced plans to nominate a fellow Mississippi pastor who is a sexual abuse survivor to serve in the role of SBC first vice president. Adam Wyatt announced his intentions to nominate Brad Eubank, senior pastor of Petal First Baptist Church in Petal, Miss., to serve in the role. “Brad’s conservative commitment to our convention and his passionate spirit of cooperation are exactly what our convention needs,” said Wyatt, pastor of Corinth … [Read more...]
Executive Committee sets up hotline for abuse claims
NASHVILLE (BP) – A hotline has been established to allow those affected by sexual abuse within Southern Baptist churches. The number is 202-864-5578. According to the joint statement from the SBC Executive Committee, Guidepost Solutions and the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force, “Since the release of the Guidepost report on Sunday, the SBC Executive Committee, Guidepost Solutions, and members of the Sexual Abuse Task Force have been fielding calls from survivors regarding allegations of sexual … [Read more...]
Hunt resigns from NAMB, named in Guidepost report
ALPHARETTA (BP) – Longtime pastor and SBC leader Johnny Hunt resigned from his position at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) on May 13, according to a statement from NAMB President Kevin Ezell. Hunt served as the senior vice president of evangelism and leadership since August 2018. He led prominent Southern Baptist church First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., from 1986 until his appointment at NAMB. Hunt was mentioned in the report from Guidepost Solutions released Sunday (May … [Read more...]
Sex Abuse Task Force report: SBC’s EC showed pattern of resistance to addressing abuse claims
NASHVILLE (BP) – Months of work by the Sexual Abuse Task Force and Guidepost Solutions concerning the alleged mishandling of sexual abuse claims by the SBC Executive Committee (EC) resulted in a 288-page report released publicly Sunday (May 22). The report came at the request of messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting. “Our investigation revealed that, for many years, a few senior EC leaders, along with outside counsel, largely controlled the EC’s response to these reports of abuse. … [Read more...]
SBC presidential candidates discuss CRT, financial transparency in forum
KELLER, Texas (BP) – Critical Race Theory and financial transparency were among topics addressed by the three known candidates to be nominated at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim. The candidates participated in a forum hosted by FBC Keller on May 4 and moderated by Joe Wooddell, a member of FBC Keller, and Tony Richmond, FBC Keller associate pastor. Tom Ascol, senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla.; Bart Barber, senior pastor of FBC Farmersville, Texas; and Robin … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee to hold special called meeting
NASHVILLE (BP) – Chairman Rolland Slade announced Monday (April 18) that the SBC Executive Committee will hold a special called meeting Thursday, April 28. The meeting is being called primarily to discuss the relocation of the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting currently slated to be held June 13-14, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. “The good news is the attendance at the annual meeting is trending up, which is the primary reason for the move,” Slade said. “The footprint or space needed to hold our meeting … [Read more...]
Rice withdraws as SBC presidential candidate
CLEARWATER, Fla. (BP) – Florida pastor Willy Rice has announced he will not seek the nomination for SBC president at the upcoming 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim. The announcement followed a release from him on April 1 containing what he called “sensitive information” concerning a deacon at Calvary Church where he is senior pastor. In a Twitter post on April 6, Rice said: “The last few days have been very difficult, and I’ve found myself in an untenable position of watching people I … [Read more...]
Russia’s first FM Christian station faces another crisis
ODESSA, Ukraine (BP) – While the people of Ukraine watch and wait for a potential Russian invasion, an evangelical Christian radio station called “New Life Radio” is continuing its ministry during the crisis. After more than 20 years of operation in Russia, New Life Radio moved to Odessa, Ukraine, several years ago in response to increasingly restrictive Russian laws. With the current threat of Russian military invasion, the station is preparing for another potential move of its … [Read more...]
McLaurin named SBC Executive Committee interim president/CEO
NASHVILLE (BP) – Willie McLaurin will be the interim president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. The EC officers made the announcement Tuesday (Feb. 1). Since 2020, McLaurin has served as the vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization at the EC. “We hope that he will help us to reset the tone by which the EC serves Southern Baptists,” said Rolland Slade, EC chairman. McLaurin, 48, served for 15 years at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board before joining the … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee meets, receives update from legal team
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee met online Wednesday morning (Nov. 10). Members filled a Committee on Nominations vacancy and received updates on the progress of the Sexual Abuse Task Force, legal counsel for the EC and subcommittee appointments. “The investigation getting off to a smooth start is important,” Slade said about the initial work of Guidepost Solutions as it investigates any possible mishandling of sexual abuse claims by the SBC EC from … [Read more...]
Addison resigns from SBC Executive Committee staff
NASHVILLE (BP) – Greg Addison, executive vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, is stepping down. Addison notified Ronnie Floyd, SBC EC president and CEO, of his intention to step down on Oct. 15, according to an email sent to EC trustees and staff on Wednesday (Oct. 20). Addison filled a new position for the EC when he came into the role in October 2020. In the email, Addison said, “I am working to ensure that the matters over which I have … [Read more...]