ALBERT MOHLER

In Kentucky, a reliably Republican state, voters rejected a GOP-backed ballot measure aimed at denying any state constitutional protections for abortion. In contrast, about two-thirds of white evangelical voters in both Kentucky and Michigan voted against protecting abortion access. Only about one in 10 voters nationwide and across most states say abortion should be illegal in all cases, according to AP VoteCast. Even among white evangelical voters, while most say abortion should generally be illegal, only about two in 10 say abortion should be illegal in all cases. In each of those three states, roughly two-thirds or more of white evangelical Christian voters backed the GOP candidates.

Evangelical Christians across the U.S. reconfirmed their allegiance to conservative candidates and causes in the midterm elections.

When Marvin Olasky gets angry emails from readers — more often than not about an expose of wrongdoing at an evangelical church, or about a story that reflects poorly on Donald Trump — he has a stock reply. “We think this is useful to the Church,” he tells disgruntled readers, “because we are also sinners.” Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times As the longtime editor of World, a Christian news organization that has a website, a biweekly magazine and a set of podcasts, Olasky

A top committee in the Southern Baptist Convention is facing mounting pressure from within the denomination over issues related to sexual abuse.

He defeated a better-known rival in Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Mike Stone, who ran an aggressive campaign fueled by prominent hard-line conservatives.

Litton’s wife of 25 years, Tammy, was killed in an automobile accident in 2007; two years later, he married Kathy Ferguson, the widow of another SBC pastor killed in a 2002 car crash. Alan Cross, an SBC pastor from California who has worked with him on racial reconciliation projects, evoked those attributes in endorsing Litton’s candidacy. Litton was nominated for president at Tuesday’s SBC meeting by pastor Fred Luter, who in 2012 became the SBC’s first and thus far only Black president. In response, a diverse group of Southern Baptists, including Litton and Luter, co-signed a statement asserting that systemic racial injustice is a reality. During his presidential campaign, Litton identified unity and diversity as two of his top priorities.

As ideological divisions wracked the Southern Baptist Convention this year ahead of a pivotal national meeting, one of the leading candidates for its presidency embraced a role as the man best equipped to build bridges.

Also vying for the presidency is Albert Mohler, who leads the denomination's flagship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky. The Southern Baptist Convention is structured as a loose network of independent churches that pools money for tasks like missions and evangelism. Conservative Baptist Network members have accused Litton of being too egalitarian. And the Southern Baptist church founded by Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” recently ordained three female ministers. An announcement by Southern Baptist Executive Committee president Ronnie Floyd on Friday that the body is hiring a third party to investigate the allegations hasn't satisfied everyone.

The Southern Baptist Convention has tamped down a push from the right at its largest meeting in decades, electing a new president who has worked to bridge racial divides in the church and defeating an effort to make an issue of critical race theory.

Race-related tensions within the Southern Baptist Convention are high heading into a national meeting next week.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a potentially ground-breaking abortion case, probably this fall, and the news is energizing activists on both sides of the contentious issue.

(Adelle M. Banks/Religion News Service via AP)NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — For nearly three decades, Beth Moore has been the very model of a modern Southern Baptist. Her work as a Bible teacher has permeated down to small church Bible study groups and sold-out stadiums with her Living Proof Live events. It described what she and other concerned Southern Baptists were seeing as being wrong in their denomination. Barr, the author of “The Making of Biblical Womanhood,” a forthcoming book on gender roles among evangelicals, grew up a Southern Baptist. She still loves the things Southern Baptists believe, she said, and is determined to stay connected with a local church.

Donald Trump's departure from the White House and the start of Bidens presidency have stirred new hopes among many religious leaders in the United States, while causing dismay among others. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)Donald Trump's departure from the White House and the start of Joe Biden’s presidency have stirred new hopes among many religious leaders in the United States, while causing dismay among others. RELIGIOUS FREEDOMAnother issue uniting Catholic and Southern Baptist leaders is concern about expanding nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. Whether religious groups can maintain their support for future immigration measures may depend on the specifics. Their leaders were critical of Trump’s divisive rhetoric and expect Biden and Harris to make substantive efforts to reduce racial inequality.

Now hes pondering whether he and his congregation should break away -- following the steps of several other Black pastors who exited in dismay over race-related actions of some white SBC leaders. Albert Mohler, a high-profile conservative who heads the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is elected SBC president. Mohler suggested his critics do not reflect the opinions of most Southern Baptists, white or Black. “The hard reality of the seminary presidents’ statement is that Black people will never gain full equality in the Southern Baptist Convention.”Other Black pastors who have cut ties include the Rev. “White evangelicals have gotten in bed with the Republican Party.”Some white SBC pastors are also troubled, such as the Rev.

As vice president in 2012, Joe Biden endeared himself to many LGBTQ Americans by endorsing same-sex marriage even before his boss, President Barack Obama. Now, as president-elect, Biden is making sweeping promises to LGBTQ activists, proposing to carry out virtually every major proposal on their wish lists. Now, as president-elect, Biden is making sweeping promises to LGBTQ activists, proposing to carry out virtually every major proposal on their wish lists. Biden says he wants the act to become law within 100 days of taking office, but its future remains uncertain. — Ensure that LGBTQ rights are a priority for U.S. foreign policy and be prepared to use pressure tactics, including sanctions, against foreign governments violating those rights.

The conservative evangelical Christians who helped send Trump to the White House four years ago stuck by him again in 2020. But even if Trump doesnt get a second term, some conservative Christians see reasons to celebrate in this years election results. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)WASHINGTON – The conservative evangelical Christians who helped send Donald Trump to the White House four years ago stuck by him in 2020. But even if Trump doesn’t get a second term, some conservative Christians see reasons to celebrate in this year’s election results. White evangelical voters made up 23% of the vote nationwide and overwhelmingly favored Trump this fall, with about 8 in 10 backing him, according to AP VoteCast.