Blessing in a Schism
This issue of A Public Witness attends multiple disaffiliation blessings — from Southern Baptist to United Methodist and Mennonite — to consider different models for denominational partings.
SBC Saved From … Hearing a Woman Preach God’s Love
This issue of A Public Witness adds historical context to the contentious meeting of the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. to consider what the debate about women in ministry means for that body and the broader Christian witness.
Southern Baptists Refuse To Take Back Megachurch Because It Has Women Pastors
Saddleback had been the denomination’s second-largest congregation and until recently was widely touted as a success story amid larger Southern Baptist membership declines.
SBC Messengers Reelect Texas Pastor Bart Barber to a Second Term as President
Barber's reelection seems to indicate that Southern Baptists approve of the direction the convention is going and marks the third time a candidate backed by the Conservative Baptist Network has been defeated.
Welton Gaddy, Former Southern Baptist Who Became a Champion of Liberal Christianity, Dies
The Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, a pastor and former president of Interfaith Alliance who went from being a conservative Southern Baptist leader to an advocate for interfaith relations and LGBTQ Christians, died Wednesday at the age of 81.
Bart Barber, Mike Stone — Two Conservative Pastors — To Square Off for SBC President
The two candidates for SBC president hold many of the same beliefs but disagree sharply over how to handle the issue of sexual abuse and over the direction of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.
Rick Warren Campaigns for Southern Baptist Reinstatement of Saddleback Church
Warren argues that the debate is far larger than what might happen to the church he founded.
Ted Cruz Criticizes Baptist Pastor for Defense of Executing Gays
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz publicly criticized fellow prominent Southern Baptist Tom Ascol for defending legislation that imposes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.”
We Didn’t Start the Fire
Even though this piece for A Public Witness starts as a story about one college, it deals with something many churches, schools, and organizations need to consider: taking steps to address their history.
Saddleback Church Appeals Southern Baptist Convention Ouster Over Woman Pastor
It is one of three churches appealing decisions recently made by the denomination’s Executive Committee to remove eight congregations from official affiliation.