Baptist Press Archive

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

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  • Paycheck Protection Plan draws feedback from pastors, ethicists
    by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, April 08, 2020 (4 years ago)

    SEATTLE (BP) -- As pastor of Epic Life Church in Seattle with only five employees, Keith Carpenter sees the Paycheck Protection Plan loan as a godsend during a devastating economic downturn prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. So does pastor A.B. Vines, whose multisite New Seasons Church in Spring Valley, Calif., employs about 50.

    But some pastors have theological and ethical concerns with the loan, which is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Read More

  • Baptist children's homes find opportunity amid crisis

    by Tess Schoonhoven, posted Wednesday, April 08, 2020 (4 years ago)

    Photo from Facebook
    NASHVILLE (BP) -- Children who come from hard places need to have the chance to feel safe and loved, said Randy Lee, residential parent with Louisiana Baptist Children's Homes.

    Lee and his wife have served as "house parents" at an all-boy residential home since 2014.

    Feeling a call to children's home ministry while serving as a worship leader and children's pastor, Lee said the journey to his current role took five years as he waited on God's timing and prayed for opportunities. Read More

  • Loans from state conventions helping churches weather COVID-19
    by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, April 08, 2020 (4 years ago)

    iStock photo
    NASHVILLE (BP) –- While the federal government is making loans available to churches to help them weather the COVID-19 economic downturn, state Southern Baptist conventions are also offering financial aid to struggling churches.

    The Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) and the Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA) are among several state conventions that have made loans available to struggling churches. In another example of how state conventions are planning to help, the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention (MWBC) will discuss how best to support churches financially during a trustee board meeting April 17. Read More

  • TRUSTEES: SWBTS continues institutional reset, pauses budget finalization due to COVID-19
    by Staff, posted Wednesday, April 08, 2020 (4 years ago)

    FORT WORTH (BP) -- Meeting via video conference Tuesday (April 7), the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary approved structural changes including the elimination of the School of Preaching, which is being folded into the School of Theology. And while trustees postponed adoption of the fiscal year 2021 budget until mid-July, if necessary, the school acknowledged it has instituted budget cuts of about 25 percent, including faculty and staff layoffs. Read More