WASHINGTON (BP) – A United States senator has called for a federal civil rights investigation of states that have continued during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to place strict limitations on religious gatherings while permitting massive protests of the police killing of George Floyd. Southern Baptist leaders, meanwhile, encouraged public officials to treat worship services the same as similar events while they loosen restrictions resulting from the pandemic. Sen. Josh Hawley, … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee elects first African American chair
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee elected its first African American chair in a special called meeting June 16. Rolland Slade, pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, Calif., was unopposed as EC chair and was unanimously elected by ballot vote. Outgoing chair Mike Stone called for a ballot vote, he said, to mark the historic moment. "I think we all realize by what is going on in this country as well as in our convention, this timing is in many … [Read more...]
Hawley: ‘It’s time for religious conservatives to stand, speak out’
WASHINGTON – Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) urged “religious conservatives to stand up and to speak out” during a floor speech delivered June 16, only one dayafter the United States Supreme Court announced its “seismic decision” that “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are protected by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. “It’s time for religious conservatives to bring forward the best of our ideas on every policy affecting this nation,” Hawley said. “We should be out in the … [Read more...]
‘Biology is not bigotry’ – Supreme Court decision threatens ‘religious freedom, privacy, safety’
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court left multiple questions regarding religious liberty unanswered but provided some hope in its landmark decision for gay and transgender rights, said advocates for the First Amendment freedom. In a 6-3 opinion, the high court ruled June 15 that the category "sex" in Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act encompasses "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," thereby providing non-discrimination protections for homosexual and transgender employees. … [Read more...]
Civil rights probe of state limits on churches urged
WASHINGTON (BP) — A United States senator has called for a federal civil rights investigation of states that have continued during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to place strict limitations on religious gatherings while permitting massive protests of the police killing of George Floyd. Southern Baptist leaders, meanwhile, encouraged public officials to treat worship services the same as similar events while they loosen restrictions resulting from the pandemic. Sen. Josh Hawley, … [Read more...]
Churches with PPP loans should benefit from law fix
WASHINGTON (BP) – President Donald Trump signed legislation June 5 to make it easier for businesses or churches struggling during the coronavirus pandemic to take advantage of a payroll subsidy program that's been a critical part of Washington's response to the economic crisis. The legislation gives employers more flexibility to use taxpayer subsidies for other costs and extends the lifespan of the Payroll Protection Program as the economy slowly begins to recover. It passed the House last … [Read more...]
Racial healing, Great Commission, Cooperative Program headline SBC Advance event, June 2
NASHVILLE (BP) – Amid unprecedented challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as racial unrest and tumult after the recent death of an African American man in police custody, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee offered a healing balm June 2 with SBC Advance. The two-hour online event was not intended to replace the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting (originally scheduled June 9-10 in Orlando, but canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic), but instead to … [Read more...]
SBC’s McLaurin: ‘Lament, listen, love, lead’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Willie McLaurin serves as vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee. NASHVILLE (BP) – If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video recording must be worth a million. In the disturbing video of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis on Memorial Day while in police custody, words are really hard to come by. A bystander's cellphone video showed a former police officer, Derek Chauvin, … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist leaders issue joint statement on the death of George Floyd
NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist leaders have published a statement grieving the recent death of George Floyd and calling for the end of "racial inequity in the distribution of justice in our country." The statement, co-authored by SBC president J.D. Greear and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president Jamie Dew was unanimously signed by all SBC officers, entity heads and state convention executive directors. Two Missourians were among the signatories: namely, John Yeats, SBC … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee to host SBC Advance June 2
NASHVILLE (BP) – While the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting has been canceled for the first time since 1945, Southern Baptists will still be provided with an opportunity to hear from the entities of the Southern Baptist Convention through an online event June 2 hosted by the SBC Executive Committee. SBC Advance, a two-hour online event, is not designed to be a substitute for the annual meeting, but will provide ministry updates from and interviews with all SBC entity and auxiliary heads, as well … [Read more...]
National convention reports drop in CP giving
NASHVILLE (BP) – Stay-at-home orders around the country due to the COVID-19 global pandemic continue to affect churches and church giving. As a result, all aspects of Southern Baptist life are beginning to feel the economic changes. While data points related to giving have been sparse in the initial phases of the pandemic, national Cooperative Program receipts are beginning to reflect the stalled global and national economy. National CP receipts in April dropped more than 8 percent … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists urged to remember church security as buildings reopen
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptists are eager to celebrate their first Sunday back at church, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advises worshipers not to let down their guards with respect to church security. Most local churches have security measures in place, and these should be reviewed and practiced as they open their doors in the days ahead. Brian Harrell, assistant director for Infrastructure Security for DHS, issued a letter April 8 to U.S. houses of worship … [Read more...]
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