Bob Smietana

• Guidepost Report: RZIM Leaders Blinded by Loyalty, Spent Donor Funds to Sue Survivor Thursday, February 24, 2022
  A newly released report on the internal culture at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries found that leaders at the ministry were blinded by loyalty to the founder, overlooked Zacharias’...
• Southern Baptist Leaders Stress Unity, Trust during Drama-Free Meeting Wednesday, February 23, 2022
  On Monday (Feb. 21), Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee chair Pastor Rolland Slade presided over a drama-free and harmonious meeting of the Nashville-based committee, which oversees...
• Southern Baptist Executive Committee Agrees to a Resolution with Jennifer Lyell Wednesday, February 23, 2022
  Southern Baptist leaders announced Tuesday (Feb. 22) that they had reached a resolution with a sexual abuse survivor whose story was mishandled when she came forward in 2019.
• What to Expect at this Week’s Southern Baptist Executive Committee Meeting Tuesday, February 22, 2022
  After four months of relative peace and quiet, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee will meet this week, their first in-person gathering since a series of contentious meetings led...
• Tennessee Preacher Greg Locke Says Demons Told Him Names of Witches in His Church Wednesday, February 16, 2022
  During a recent sermon, controversial pastor Greg Locke reportedly said demons told him the name of several witches in his church.
• Christian Finance Expert Dave Ramsey Sued for Religious Discrimination Wednesday, December 15, 2021
  A former employee of Christian finance guru Dave Ramsey is suing his former boss for religious discrimination, claiming he was fired for putting his faith in science and not prayer during the...
• Russell Moore Defamation Lawsuit Withdrawn by Georgia Pastor Mike Stone Tuesday, December 14, 2021
  On Thursday, lawyers for Georgia Baptist pastor Mike Stone filed paperwork to voluntarily withdraw a complaint filed in federal court against Russell Moore, the former head of the Southern Baptist...
• As COVID Continues, Church-Run Food Pantries, Ministries Adapt and Expand Tuesday, December 7, 2021
  As COVID-19 continues, churches and ministries are adapting and expanding in order to serve their communities.
• Why the Minichurch Is the Latest Trend in American Religion Wednesday, November 17, 2021
  According to the recently released Faith Communities Today study, half of the congregations in the United States have 65 people or fewer, while two-thirds of congregations have fewer than 100....
• Southern Baptists Pivot to Address Church Sexual Abuse at the State Level Wednesday, November 10, 2021
  Southern Baptist leaders in North Carolina have announced plans to proactively review their state convention's response to the issue of sexual abuse.
• Some Churches Got Mega PPP Loans. A Few Got Tiny Ones. Tuesday, November 9, 2021
  More than 123,000 religious groups were approved for Paycheck Protection Program loans, according to data from the Small Business Administration. Of the 123,083 loans to religious groups, only...
• Former Liberty University Spokesman Scott Lamb Sues School for Retaliation Wednesday, October 27, 2021
  A former vice president of Liberty University has filed a lawsuit against the schools, alleging that he was fired after he complained about how Liberty handled sexual assaults on campus.
• Can Anyone Lead the Southern Baptist Convention Forward? Wednesday, October 20, 2021
  Since 2018, the Southern Baptist Convention has lost a series of high-profile leaders whose tenures ended due to controversy or misconduct. The latest to depart is Ronnie Floyd, a former megachurch...
• Menlo Church Investigation Finds No Direct Evidence or Disclosures of Sexual Abuse Friday, October 15, 2021
  A third-party investigation at Menlo Church, one of Northern California’s most prominent megachurches, ended this week with a report that found no evidence the pastor’s adult child had acted on his...
• In New Book, Sarah Young of Jesus Calling Hopes Jesus Is Listening Tuesday, October 12, 2021
  Best-selling author Sarah Young recently spoke to Religion News Service about her new book "Jesus Listens."
• SBC Committee Waives Privilege after Bitter Debate, Moving Abuse Investigation Forward Wednesday, October 6, 2021
  The SBC Committee has voted to waive attorney-client privilege as part of an investigation of how leaders have handled issues of sexual abuse. The vote ends a weeks-long debate.
• A Brief Guide to the Southern Baptist Meltdown over Sexual Abuse Tuesday, October 5, 2021
  Members of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee will meet for the third time in three weeks — hoping to resolve a stalemate over the details of an investigation into the...
• SBC Executive Committee Agrees to Pay for Abuse Review, Stalls on Waiving Privilege Thursday, September 23, 2021
  Members of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee agreed to spend $1.6 million to fund an outside review into how the committee has handled claims of sexual abuse over the past two...