Southern Baptists Consider New Name to Broaden Appeal

"SBC President Bryant Wright announced Monday at an executive committee meeting in Nashville that he's set up a study group to research changing the 166-year-old denomination's name."

Mark Noll Article - "So You're a Baptist--"

Mark Noll Article - "So You're a Baptist--"

Southern Baptists Adopt Plan to Appeal to Minorities

"With the election of a black pastor to a senior position this week and a new action plan to increase ethnic diversity in its leadership, the Southern Baptist Convention has taken its most concrete steps yet to overcome a history of racial exclusion and to broaden its appeal in a changing American population."

Nation's Largest Protestant Group Faces 'Decline'

"In 2010, Southern Baptists baptized 332,321 people, or 17,416 fewer than in 2009, according to a report released by Nashville-based LifeWay Research. This marks the eighth time in 10 years that baptisms have declined and the lowest number of baptisms since the 1950s."

2010 Southern Baptist Convention Compensation Study

"The 2010 Compensation Study was a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources, and LifeWay Christian Resources. Compensation and congregational data was collected anonymously from ministers and office/custodial personnel of Southern Baptist churches and church-type missions. Reports are based on compensation for nearly 12,000 respondents from all 50 states."

Growth Stalls, Falls for Largest U.S. Denominations

"Church membership in the USA declined this year, pulled by decades of falling numbers for mainline Protestant denominations."

More Preachers Bivocational

"About three-quarters of Southern Baptists churches draw fewer than 100 people on Sunday morning. That means they often can't afford to pay a preacher a full-time salary. So about half of Southern Baptist churches nationwide, and two-thirds in Tennessee, rely on bivocational ministers."

Southern Baptists' Budget Vote Shapes New Evangelism Approach

"At a gathering of 11,000 Southern Baptists on Tuesday at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Baptists overwhelmingly approved a plan that will channel funds away from established Baptist programs and use them to fund new churches and more missionaries. It's called the Great Commission Resurgence. The national meeting concludes today."

Southern Baptists Buck Trend, Post Most Baptisms in 4 Years

". . .the Southern Baptist Convention—the nation's largest Protestant denomination — post its highest number of baptisms in four years. Baptisms jumped by 7,539. Specifically, the baptisms jumped from 342,198 to 349,737 last year, reversing years of decline. Baptist leaders say the numbers show the convention's renewed focus on reaching nonbelievers is working."

Baptist initiative floods Texas with Bible CDs

"The largest state Baptist group in the United States wants Jesus Christ's message of hope heard in every home in Texas — all 9 million of them — within the next two months."

Southern Baptists Urge Their Members to Evangelize More

"The Southern Baptist Convention, which is launching a new national campaign to bring unbelievers to Jesus, is up against a major obstacle: motivating its own members to evangelize. But it may be the only effective way to reach people, according to a survey of 15,173 people by LifeWay Research, a Christian research firm. The survey found only two ways most people said they were somewhat or very willing to "receive information" about Jesus: 63% would hear it in a 'personal conversation with a family member,' or with a friend or neighbor from the church (56%)."