Booted From Evangelicalism, a Progressive, ‘Post-Evangelical’ Church Blooms in Texas
Led by Zach Lambert, Restore church is part of a small but growing countertrend.
SBC Leaders Called an Abuse Crisis a Hoax. Abuse Survivors Want an Apology.
In an open letter, a group of survivors and advocates say that comments by SBC President Willy Rice and Texas pastor Jack Graham make it harder to address the issue of abuse in churches.
USDA Serves Up Rightwing Christian Worship Services
This issue of A Public Witness documents several outlandish events beyond those named in a recent church-state lawsuit by employees or a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
The Bible Verses Dividing Washington: How Matthew 25 Became a Political Litmus Test
'He told me that Matthew 25 was about individuals, and not nations,' Sen. Raphael Warnock said, referring to Speaker Mike Johnson. 'The text actually says nations.' Warnock added: “It's a very narrow individualistic faith, and I think it has consequences for the kind of policy
Baptist Network Created to Oppose Nationalism, Foster Black Church Collaboration
‘We're a connector and a catalyzer, and not a denomination,’ its spokesperson said in an interview.
How Women Pastors Became Public Enemy No. 1 in the SBC
Southern Baptists have long believed that only men can be pastors. But for decades, the denomination took no action to expel churches where women pastors served. Then, in the middle of an abuse controversy, it became a denominational crisis.
Southern Baptists Pass a Ban on Women Pastors Again. This Time, They Hope It Sticks.
The proposed ban on churches with women pastors or those that allow women to preach was approved by three-quarters of church messengers gathered in Orlando.
Willy Rice, Florida Pastor and Abuse Crisis Skeptic, Elected SBC President
Rice’s win is a triumph for critics who argue that the nation’s largest Protestant denomination has lost its way in recent years.
Southern Baptists Want to Shrink First Amendment Protections
Editor-in-Chief Brian Kaylor unpacks a significant problem with a proposed resolution for consideration at the 2026 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.
4 Years Running, Southern Baptists Weigh Tightening Ban on Churches With Women Pastors
Even as the convention's membership shrinks, the annual meeting in Orlando serves as a bellwether for religious and political trends among evangelicals.