Despite Racial Tensions, Black Southern Baptist Churches Still on the Rise
Recruitment efforts draw African American pastors to SBC missions efforts, though growth is slowing. Read full piece
Southern Baptists Confront Stain of Racism, Slaveholding Past, But for Some it’s Not Enough
In addition to increasing diversity in leadership, some Southern Baptists also want the convention and its entities to reconsider how they honor their early slave-holding leaders. Read full piece
The Quiet Desegregation of Glorieta Baptist Assembly
Many Southern Baptists are familiar with Annie Armstrong, founder of the Woman’s Missionary Union. Fewer know of Annie Filmore, a 20th century pioneer of Baptist missions, who was initially denied fellowship with Armstrong’s WMU because of the color of her skin.
Why John Onwuchekwa, a Black Pastor & Rising Star, Gave Up on Southern Baptists
For years, John Onwuchekwa was a rising star in the Southern Baptist Convention. The Black pastor was part of the family and destined for great things. Then he wasn’t. And now he and his church is leaving the SBC.
Black Pastors Urge White Evangelicals to Admit Systemic Racism
In a letter to Southern Baptist Convention leaders, an African American pastor from Texas urged the denomination to meaningfully increase the number of Black people in positions of leadership across its various institutions and to “understand that racism is much more than an individual sin.”
Juneteenth Gaining Traction Among Southern Baptist Churches
First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, is among several Southern Baptist congregations celebrating for the first time Juneteenth, or June 19th, the day in 1865 when enslaved black people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free.
First Black Chair of Southern Baptist Executive Committee Elected
Rolland Slade, senior pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, California, has been elected as the first African American chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, the group that runs the business of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination outside its annual meetings. He was
Retire Gavel Named for Slaveholder, Southern Baptist President J.D. Greear Says
For most of their history, Southern Baptists have opened their meetings with a gavel named for a slaveholder. The president of the nation's largest Protestant denomination now says that gavel should be retired.
2020 SBC President’s Message Addresses Diversity, Missions, Unity, Abuse Prevention
Promoting diversity, unity, missions and sex abuse prevention are goals the Southern Baptist Convention must continue to pursue in order to put the "Gospel Above All," SBC President J.D. Greear said in his 2020 presidential address Tuesday (June 9).
SBC Advance to Offer Ministry Updates, Interviews
The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee will host a two-hour online event, SBC Advance, on Tuesday, June 2, 202, beginning at 2 p.m. CDT. It will offer ministry updates from and interviews with all SBC entity and auxiliary heads, as well as SBC President J.D. Greear.