Bart Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas, was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) on Tuesday, June 14, after winning in a runoff against Florida pastor Tom Ascol. In the initial vote, Bart Barber received 3,258 votes (47.58%), Tom Ascol received 2,332 votes (34.06%), Frank Cox received 887 votes (12.95%), and Robin Hadaway … [Read more...] about Bart Barber Defeats Tom Ascol in a Runoff Becoming the Next President of the SBC
Church
Pastor Escapes Massive Church Fire While Prepping for Church Service
Pastor John H. Hill is safe after a Summerville, South Carolina firefighter warned him that his First Emmanuel Baptist Church was on fire. On June 15, a massive fire broke out while Hill was inside preparing for the church’s Wednesday night spaghetti dinner. “I heard whamming on the door. There’s a guy trying to get my attention,” Hill told a local news outlet, … [Read more...] about Pastor Escapes Massive Church Fire While Prepping for Church Service
SBC Messengers Lament, Take Steps To Address Sexual Abuse
By Scott Barkley and Brandon Porter ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP) – Southern Baptist messengers took a strong stand against sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches on June 13-14 at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting. It was the first time in more than 25 years that California hosted the annual meeting. The recommendations of the Sexual Abuse Task Force were passed by messengers after a … [Read more...] about SBC Messengers Lament, Take Steps To Address Sexual Abuse
Rick Warren Surprises SBC Messengers at Annual Meeting; Reads ‘Love Letter’ in Wake of Disfellowshipping Controversy
Saddleback Church’s Rick Warren made a surprise appearance during the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting on Tuesday afternoon and was granted almost seven minutes of microphone time during a 15-minute miscellaneous business slot. Warren’s appearance came mere hours after the Credentials Committee recommended a study committee into Saddleback’s use of the title … [Read more...] about Rick Warren Surprises SBC Messengers at Annual Meeting; Reads ‘Love Letter’ in Wake of Disfellowshipping Controversy
Saddleback Church Clears Rick Warren’s Successor of Allegations of Abusive Leadership Style; Former Echo.Church Staffers Speak Out
Saddleback Church in Southern California has cleared Rick Warren successor Andy Wood following an investigation into allegations of an abusive leadership style. On June 2, Saddleback announced Wood as Warren’s successor after Warren’s more than four decades of service as the church’s lead pastor. Warren plans on handing the reins of leadership over to Wood in … [Read more...] about Saddleback Church Clears Rick Warren’s Successor of Allegations of Abusive Leadership Style; Former Echo.Church Staffers Speak Out