The Southern Baptist Convention is preparing to vote on a proposed constitutional ban on churches with women pastors. The vote will take place at the annual meeting of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination June 11-12 in Indianapolis. The denomination’s statement of faith says the office of pastor is reserved for men. However, that statement is non-binding. By some estimates, the proposal could affect hundreds of churches with women as either lead or associate pastors. The denomination can’t tell its independent churches what to do, but it can boot them out. Even without a formal ban last year, it ousted one of its largest congregations, Saddleback Church of California, for having women pastors.
NashVillager Podcast: Church membership declines
What story do church membership numbers really tell? Plus your local newscast for May 13, 2024.
Southern Baptists pushed to ban abortion, but their leader wants a key safeguard added in Tennessee
Tennessee is one of the few states that has banned abortion with no exceptions. The law has what’s known as an “affirmative defense” if a doctor performs an abortion because the pregnant person’s life was in danger. The newly elected Southern Baptist Convention president, Bart Barber, says that’s not enough.
Some Nashville churches that applauded the abortion decision kept their celebrations muted this weekend
Catholics and evangelicals have been waiting for Roe v. Wade to be overturned since it became the law of the land. But this weekend was not much of a pep rally for those who have advocated most strongly against abortions.
At Southern Baptist annual meeting, executive committee taps leader who favors more transparency on sexual abuse
The executive committee of the Southern Baptist Committee met Monday ahead of the much larger gathering in Anaheim and chose new officers for the coming year, including a new chairman who is seen as a reformer.
The Southern Baptist Convention report: What it means for abuse survivors and the faithful
In light of the recent Guidepost Report, in this episode we talk about the what the Southern Baptist Convention believes in, its structure and how the absence of female presence in its leadership has contributed to the silencing and abuse of women.
When Southern Baptist women reported sexual abuse, a man almost always decided what to do
Southern Baptists are wrestling with questions around ordaining women or installing them in other leadership positions within the male-dominated hierarchy.
Southern Baptist Convention will release internal list of ministers accused of abuse
The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee announced they will release a list of ministers accused of sexual abuse. A bombshell report revealed the list has existed for a long time — but only internally to protect leadership from legal liability.
‘I thought it was shameful’: Southern Baptists react to bombshell report on denomination’s mishandling of sexual abuse cases
“I thought it was shameful. Because, for one, survivors have been asking for something like that for years apparently and always were being told it’s not possible,” says SBC Executive Committee member Adam Wyatt. “Only to find out that some people had some information on it.”
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