Big-name Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leader Richard Land had some sad news to share with the flocks last month: Jerry Johnson, a die-hard SBC culture warrior who held important leadership roles within the denomination, had converted to Catholicism. More than that, though, Richard Land had some opinions about this conversion. Read more
Just when we thought the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) couldn’t possibly fail harder than it already is, Heath Lambert has arrived on the scene to help them decline some more. This hardline Old Guard pastor demonstrates exactly why the SBC is in decline—and why it won’t be leaving decline any Read more
We’re now 25 years out from the Conservative Resurgence movement of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Hardliners’ ultraconservative, extremely political hijacking of the denomination has had lasting effects on not only the SBC’s members themselves, but also on evangelicalism as a whole. Those effects are not positive, however. And I Read more
On July 31, Brent Leatherwood resigned his position as the leader of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). He lasted about four years in all, which is pretty good for an SBC leader with as many hardliner enemies as he had. And oh Read more
In the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), their leaders depend upon the flocks to donate lots of money to their Cooperative Program. Somehow, in the past decade those flocks have managed to just about maintain their level of giving despite their overall numbers plummeting. I never thought that level of giving Read more
The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) might be the most public-facing and visible group within the entire Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). For about a decade and a half now, hyperconservative SBC leaders have publicly bristled at the ERLC and its leaders’ decisions. This week, though, the friction between the Read more
The 2024 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) looms right around the corner. Officially, it begins tomorrow. However, SBC leaders have been busy setting the stage for it for the past week. The day beforehand, as well, Southern Baptists hold a very special magic ritual. In Christianese, they Read more
Because I’ve been following the SBC’s doings for years, I can spot places where things don’t line up at all. And this year, something is definitely not lining up.
The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) just can’t get away from nonstop drama. This time, it involves fabricated credentials, a swift resignation, and an equally swift replacement appointment. At least it’s not another sex scandal! Situation report: The Executive Committee The SBC contains a dizzying array of Read more
As the Southern Baptist Convention approaches its 2023 Annual Meeting, its two major factions are already at each other’s throats. Each faction seems to sense that this meeting will be an especially important skirmish in their war for control of this struggling denomination. Let’s examine the trenches they’re digging ahead Read more