National Baptists’ new president, Boise Kimber, seeks to include women, young leaders (RNS) — ‘We are rebuilding what we’ve lost and bringing people back to our denomination and to our local churches,’ Kimber said in an interview. The post National Baptists’ new president, Boise Kimber, seeks to include women, young leaders appeared first on RNS.

What is the ERLC and why do Southern Baptists keep getting mad at its leader? (RNS) — Turmoil at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has increased calls to disband the denomination’s public policy arm, but some SBC pastors say it can and should be saved. The post What is the ERLC and why do Southern Baptists keep getting mad at its leader? appeared first on Religion News Service.

California Baptists cut staff, citing decline in Cooperative Program Giving (RNS) — Overall giving to the SBC’s national funding program is down about 2%. The post California Baptists cut staff, citing decline in Cooperative Program Giving appeared first on Religion News Service.

Southern Baptists rejected amendment opposing female pastors, but that does not mean they are changing their views (The Conversation) — A scholar who studies Southern Baptists explains why the denomination’s ultraconservative beliefs about women remain the same. The post Southern Baptists rejected amendment opposing female pastors, but that does not mean they are changing their views appeared first on Religion News Service.

Photos of the Week: Baptists in Indy; Muslims in Mecca (RNS) — This week’s photo gallery includes the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis, the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and more. The post Photos of the Week: Baptists in Indy; Muslims in Mecca appeared first on Religion News Service.

How Baptists and the G.O.P. Took Different Paths on I.V.F. The vote at the Southern Baptist Convention raising alarms about in vitro fertilization began with two conservatives at a seminary in Kentucky.

Southern Baptists pass resolution calling for strictures to curb IVF INDIANAPOLIS (RNS) — At their annual meeting, Southern Baptists joined the recently renewed debate over in vitro fertilization, passing a resolution calling for restrictions on the practice. Some leaders went further, condemning the procedure as immoral. The post Southern Baptists pass resolution calling for strictures to curb IVF appeared firs…

What to Know About the Southern Baptists’ Vote Opposing I.V.F. Wednesday’s vote was not a ban on in vitro fertilization. But it suggested that ordinary evangelicals are increasingly open to seeing embryos as people.

Southern Baptists Vote to Oppose Use of I.V.F. With almost 13 million church members across the United States, the Southern Baptist Convention has long been a bellwether for American evangelicalism.

Southern Baptists don’t get votes to add ‘only men’ pastors language to constitution INDIANAPOLIS (RNS) — It is rare for Southern Baptists to not affirm a measure with a second consecutive vote. The post Southern Baptists don’t get votes to add ‘only men’ pastors language to constitution appeared first on Religion News Service.

Southern Baptists Reject Tighter Ban on Women in Pastoral Posts The denomination voted against adding language to its constitution saying that “only men” could be affirmed or employed “as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.”

Mike Pence speaks about politics, prayer to Southern Baptists at Indy event INDIANAPOLIS (RNS) — ‘I honestly think we haven’t come to the end of the debate over life: We’ve come to the end of the beginning,’ Pence said. The post Mike Pence speaks about politics, prayer to Southern Baptists at Indy event appeared first on Religion News Service.

From women pastors to sexual abuse to Trump, Southern Baptists have a busy few days ahead of them (AP) — Thousands will gather in Indianapolis June 11-12 for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. The meeting comes at a fraught time in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. Messengers will vote on whether to establish a constitutional ban on churches with women pastors. They’ll hear a report — and get outside criticism…

Southern Baptists are poised to ban churches with women pastors. Some are urging them to reconsider (AP) — At the SBC’s annual meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis, representatives will vote on whether to amend the denomination’s constitution to essentially ban churches with any women pastors — and not just in the top job. The post Southern Baptists are poised to ban churches with women pastors. Some are urging them to reconsider appeared first …

Southern Baptists mull second vote to amend constitution to exclude women pastors (RNS) — Three of the six candidates expected to be nominated for the SBC presidency favor the so-called ‘Law Amendment,’ and three do not. The post Southern Baptists mull second vote to amend constitution to exclude women pastors appeared first on Religion News Service.

Southern Baptists Plan to Vote on Whether to Oppose I.V.F. A proposal to be considered at the Southern Baptist Convention in June would advance fetal personhood and call on adherents to reject in vitro fertilization as immoral.

Southern Baptists Furious Over Church’s Stand in a Sex Abuse Case A brief filed in a Kentucky case has infuriated members of the denomination across the country, just as it grapples with an abuse scandal.

Progressive National Baptists gain partners to address voting rights, gun violence (RNS) — Members of the historically Black Protestant denomination also marked the ninth anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, in nearby Ferguson, Missouri. The post Progressive National Baptists gain partners to address voting rights, gun violence appeared first on Religion News Service.

Some Baptists debate about women preaching, others listen to women preach (RNS) — Focusing almost entirely on the SBC not only minimizes the theological (and political and racial) diversity of Baptists, but it also privileges a patriarchal body over others. The post Some Baptists debate about women preaching, others listen to women preach appeared first on Religion News Service.

Texas Baptists affirm women in ‘ministerial’ roles as SBC debate moves to states (RNS) — In the same week as the Texas Baptists’ meeting, Black leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and SBC President Bart Barber met over similar issues in Ridgecrest, North Carolina. The post Texas Baptists affirm women in ‘ministerial’ roles as SBC debate moves to states appeared first on Religion News Service.