NASHVILLE (BP) – Russell Moore is leaving the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, ending an occasionally controversial eight-year tenure, to take a role with Christianity Today. Moore, who has served as president of the ERLC since June 2013, announced Tuesday (May 18) he will begin a role this summer as a public theologian for what the magazine described as “a new Public Theology Project.” In a message posted to his personal blog, Moore said the project “is devoted to … [Read more...]
2021 SBC Annual Meeting to remain in Nashville, shift venues
NASHVILLE (BP) – The 2021 SBC Annual Meeting will move to the Music City Center in downtown Nashville June 15-16, the SBC Executive Committee announced, April 15. According to Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, the shift was made in order to allow adequate space to “provide abundant space conducive to holding a meeting that is efficient, effective and safe for every attendee” while adhering to local COVID-19 protocols. He said the decision was made in … [Read more...]
NAAF, Ausberry respond to seminary presidents’ statement
FAIRFAX STATION, Va. (BP) – Citing “concerns that affect all ethnic groups in the SBC,” the president of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention issued a statement on behalf of the group related to the “breadth and depth” of a recent statement by presidents of the six Southern Baptist seminaries. Marshal Ausberry, who is also pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Fairfax Station, Va., and first vice president of the SBC, said his hope was for Southern … [Read more...]
Seminary presidents reaffirm BFM, declare CRT incompatible
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) – In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, the Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention has reaffirmed “with eagerness” the BFM’s status “as the doctrinal statement that unites and defines Southern Baptist cooperation and establishes the confessional unity of our Convention.” In a statement adopted in the council’s annual session, the seminary presidents assert that as “confessional … [Read more...]
Mohler to be nominated for SBC presidency
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Citing a desire to serve as a uniter amid turbulent times, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said he has agreed to accept a nomination to serve as SBC president at the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting. Mohler is expected to be nominated by H.B. Charles, senior pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. Almost a year ago, Charles announced his intention to nominate Mohler for president at the 2020 Annual Meeting, which … [Read more...]
Alaska Baptist messengers vote to withhold CP funds due to friction between state convention, NAMB
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (BP) – Messengers to the annual meeting of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network voted to withhold the allocation of future Cooperative Program funds intended for the North American Mission Board. The state convention moved Sept. 29 that beginning with the 2022 budget, “the percentage of Cooperative Program funds that traditionally were intended for the North American Mission Board … be retained in Alaska” and designated for a state missions fund “until such time as there … [Read more...]
NAMB files en banc request, First Liberty Institute joins case
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board has asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for a hearing by the full court in order to reconsider a ruling in a lawsuit filed by a former executive of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Last month, a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit remanded the case to a district court, reversing a dismissal decision from April 2019 that stated the court could … [Read more...]
BREAKING: 2020 SBC Annual Meeting canceled
NASHVILLE (BP) – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting has been canceled for the first time in 75 years. Citing authority provided by the SBC Constitution "in the case of grave emergency," the decision was made Tuesday (March 24) in a unanimous vote of a body composed of SBC officers, the SBC Executive Committee and leaders of the SBC's boards and institutions. The Annual Meeting, which was originally scheduled June 9-10 in Orlando, is … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee votes to disfellowship Texas church
NASHVILLE (BP) – Acting on a recommendation by the Southern Baptist Convention Credentials Committee, the SBC Executive Committee voted Tuesday (Feb. 18) to disfellowship Ranchland Heights Baptist Church of Midland, Texas, from the SBC because of its employment of a lifetime registered sex offender as pastor. The complete text of the Credentials Committee's recommendation follows this article. Phillip Rutledge, who was convicted in 2003 of aggravated sexual assault charges against two … [Read more...]