In the summer of 2012, Bryant Wright sensed God was telling him to prepare for his next season of ministry. Wright, the founding pastor of Atlanta’s Johnson Ferry Baptist, had just completed 30 years of ministry leading the church and was preparing for his fourth decade at Johnson Ferry. His new book, “Succession: Preparing Your Ministry for the Next Leader,” shares not only … [Read more...]
SBC Pastor Salaries Not Keeping Pace With Inflation
By Carol Pipes NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors and church staff has lagged behind the growth in the cost-of-living over the past two years. And health insurance coverage remains low, according to the 2018 SBC Church Compensation Study. The biannual study is a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources … [Read more...]
Congress should end IRS oversight of sermons, say Protestant pastors
By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.—In the 1950s, Congress banned charitable nonprofits—including churches—from endorsing candidates or otherwise intervening in elections. Any nonprofit that violated the ban could run afoul of the IRS. Churches risked losing their tax-exempt status if the preacher endorsed a candidate in a sermon. It’s time for that to change, most … [Read more...]
Lifeway providing assistance to flood-ravaged Louisiana
By Aaron Earls NASHVILLE, Tenn. —As Louisiana recovers from historic flooding, Lifeway Christian Resources wants to help churches, pastors and other victims. Part of the effort includes restoring Bible study material and pastoral libraries lost in the floodwaters. “Lifeway provides biblical solutions for life,” said Thom Rainer, president and CEO of Lifeway Christian … [Read more...]
Research: Few pastors asked to perform same-sex weddings, less than half allow LGBT to serve in church
By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tennessee — More than 100,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages nationwide last year. But for preachers, being asked to do a same-sex wedding remains rare. A new survey by Nashville-based Lifeway Research found 11 percent of Protestant senior pastors have been asked to perform a same-sex … [Read more...]
