By Julie Walters, SBC WMU BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – (SBC WMU) – Gather your friends and race to Indianapolis this June for the Woman's Missionary Union Missions Celebration just prior to the SBC Annual Meeting. This year’s WMU gathering will be held in the Indiana Convention Center in the 500 Ballroom on June 9, beginning at 12:00 p.m. “Join us and discover ways God is at work in our midst and around the world as you hear inspiring stories from missionaries and missions advocates who are making Christ known,” said Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director of SBC WMU. The event theme "What Joy!" will be supported by 1 Thessalonians 2:8: “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” Missions speakers will encourage various aspects of this verse, including being passionate about reaching the lost, compelled by love, generous in sharing and serving with much joy. “In addition to hearing from field personnel, testimonies from our national Acteens panelists along with WMU emeritae presidents is a special time for me,” said Connie Dixon, president of SBC WMU. “It is an encouraging reminder that while we have a rich heritage in WMU, we also have a very bright … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – During April 4 arguments before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, the lawyer for the North American Mission Board, the domestic mission arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, argued that the strategic partnership agreement (SPA) it negotiates with a state convention establishes an “ecclesiastical” governance for the two parties. The claim was part of the latest development in the seven-year legal battle by Will McRaney against NAMB for its alleged defamation and tortious influence that led to his termination as executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. ARGUMENTS During the 43-minute oral presentations before the Court, lawyers for both parties made multiple points and responded to pointed questioning by the justices. However, each attorney tightly focused on his respective legal position. NAMB’s lawyer claimed that that the Court did not have jurisdiction in the matter because of “ecclesiastical abstention” (a legal precedent that prevents courts from deciding matters of faith such as religious doctrine) and “ministerial exception” (the legal principle which prevents a court from interfering in issues … [Read more...]