NASHVILLE (BP) — From meeting needs amid war and natural disasters around the world to carrying out important SBC business at home, Southern Baptists stayed busy in 2023. Here are the SBC’s top 10 stories from the year.
1. Send Relief work in Ukraine, Israel and Hawaii
Send Relief extends call for prayer, begins working with partners to bring aid in Israel [1]
Send Relief helps victims of Hamas terror attack in Israel [2]
Send Relief videos show Baptist work in war-torn Israel [3]
Southern Baptists provide food, shelter, generators as Ukraine enters winter during war [4]
[5]Hawaii death toll climbs to 99; Send Relief plans taking shape [6]
Southern Baptists continue to serve, urge support for ‘devastated’ Maui [7]
2. EC finances become focus at Feb. 2023 EC meeting
Executive Committee hears from ARITF, receives budget updates [8]
Budgets, audit headline EC financial discussion [9]
3. SWBTS challenges, changes
SWBTS trustees elect president, chancellor; adopt new plan, budget, programs [10]
Southwestern board releases ‘summary of findings’ over presidential spending [11]
Southwestern receives warning from accreditation agency [12]
Dockery installed as 10th president of SWBTS [13]
Dockery discusses SWBTS’ ‘systemic’ financial, leadership issues in BP interview [14]
4. SBC EC declines nomination of Jared Wellman for president/CEO
Jared Wellman to be nominated to lead SBC Executive Committee [15]
SBC Executive Committee declines Wellman recommendation, forms new search committee [16]
5. Busy 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans
At SBC ‘23, messengers continue to deal with abuse reforms, take stand on pastoral convictions [17]
6. Willie McLaurin resigns from SBC EC
McLaurin resigns as interim EC president and CEO, removed from search consideration [18]
EC conducting internal investigation related to Willie McLaurin [19]
Trustees receive updates on EC personnel matters [20]
7. Busy year for SBC President Bart Barber
SBC President Bart Barber featured on CBS’ 60 Minutes [21]
Barber’s 60 Minutes interview brings positive reviews from SBC leaders [22]
Barber announces changes to ARITF, chairman of newly formed Cooperation Group [23]
Cooperation Group named by Barber [24]
Adkins to lead GCR Evaluation task force study [25]
8. Strong missions offerings
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering hits all-time high as Southern Baptists give record $68.9 million [26]
Generous Lottie Moon offering – $196.1M – helps missionaries tackle greatest problem [27]
9. Jeff Iorg announces retirement
Gateway trustees announce presidential leadership transition [28]
10. State conventions continue sexual abuse reforms
‘Watershed moment’: State Baptist conventions make progress on sexual abuse reforms [29]