NASHVILLE (BP) – Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris told an interviewer Tuesday (Sept. 24) that she would be in favor of eliminating the filibuster for votes on abortion-related legislation in the Senate. “I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe,” Harris said in the interview on Wisconsin Public Radio. “And get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the … [Read more...]
Iorg announces reorganization of SBC’s Executive Committee staff leadership
NASHVILLE (BP) – A reorganization of executive level leadership roles at the SBC Executive Committee was announced Tuesday (Sept. 3). The move comes a little less than three months after Jeff Iorg became EC president. While there were no staff reductions, Iorg made changes to the EC’s departmental structure. Interim Chief Financial Officer Mike Bianchi was hired to fill that role on a permanent basis. “We are delighted Mike has agreed to continue with us – removing the interim title – … [Read more...]
Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos are ‘children’
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BP) – The Alabama Supreme Court ruled last week that frozen embryos are “children” for the purposes of a wrongful death lawsuit. The decision reverses two lower court rulings. The suit involved three couples whose embryos, created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) at a fertility clinic in Mobile, were accidentally destroyed. “Every unborn life is a human being,” said Liberty Counsel’s Mat Staver in a statement. “Every human life begins as an embryo, and now the … [Read more...]
Howe to serve as EC interim president, CEO
NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) Chairman Philip Robertson announced to EC members Friday, Aug. 18 that Jonathan Howe will take over the role of interim EC president and CEO following the sudden resignation of Willie McLaurin, Aug. 17. “The SBC Executive Committee’s bylaws require that the Executive Committee officers appoint an existing SBC Executive Committee Vice President to serve temporarily, pending full trustee board approval,” Robertson … [Read more...]
Hawaii death toll climbs to 99; Send Relief plans taking shape
EDITOR'S NOTE: An Aug. 15th statement from Missouri Disaster Relief (MODR) about relief efforts in Hawaii has been appended to this Baptist Press report. Scroll to the bottom of this page to read the MODR statement. LAHAINA, Hawaii (BP) – Search and rescue crews have covered only 25 percent of the search area around Lahaina after a devastating fire destroyed the town and claimed at least 99 lives a week ago. Crews are using cadaver dogs to search for human remains. So far, nearly 100 … [Read more...]
Three churches deemed ‘not in friendly cooperation’ plan to appeal to SBC
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Three churches that were deemed not to be in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention by the SBC Executive Committee at its February meeting will be appealing that decision, it was announced, May 16. In total, eight churches have been deemed not in friendly cooperation with the SBC since the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim – two at the SBC EC’s meeting last September and six in February of this year. Though the SBC has disfellowshipped churches for … [Read more...]