NEW ORLEANS – All eyes are on Fred Luter as he officially begins his term as the first black president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

While many recognize Luter's election in and of itself as a giant step forward in racial reconciliation, they say only time will tell what kind of impact his leadership will have on a mostly white denomination.

For the most part, African Americans in the SBC are confident that the future is brighter. more >>

NEW ORLEANS — Messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in America, went on record Wednesday to oppose any attempt by gay rights activists to frame same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue.

On the last day of their annual meeting, Southern Baptist messengers overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that denounces "the effort to legalize 'same-sex marriage' as a civil rights issue since homosexuality does not qualify as a class meriting special protections, like race and gender."

The resolution, titled "'Same-Sex Marriage' and Civil Rights Rhetoric," was a direct response to President Obama's personal affirmation of gay marriage and recent federal lawsuits against the Defense of Marriage Act, according to the Resolutions Committee spokesperson. more >>

NEW ORLEANS – Dr. Richard Land, one of the most prominent leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, addressed the reprimands over his Trayvon Martin comments in public for the first time at the denomination's annual meeting Tuesday. He also reiterated his commitment to racial reconciliation and acknowledged the work of Pastor Fred Luter, Jr., who became the first African-American president of the SBC yesterday.

Earlier this month, Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission – the denomination's public policy arm – received two reprimands by the ERLC executive committee for making "racially charged" comments in the Trayvon Martin shooting and for plagiarism during his Richard Land Live! radio program. The radio show was canceled as a result.

Standing before 8,000 messengers on Tuesday, Land addressed the reprimands before giving a presentation on the work of the ERLC over the past year. more >>

NEW ORLEANS – The outgoing president of the Southern Baptist Convention took the opportunity on Tuesday to rebuke pastors over the infighting on Calvinism and to call for more humility in the ongoing debate.

In his last message as SBC president, Bryant Wright denounced the pride that was creeping in as Southern Baptists debate the doctrine of salvation and election.

"If we pride ourselves more on being a traditional Southern Baptist or more on being a Calvinist or a Reformed theologian than we are thankful that we are Christ-centered and biblically-based, then it is time to repent of theological idolatry." more >>

The newly elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention supported the efforts of a Florida pastor to remove the movie "The Blind Side" from LifeWay Christian bookstores over its language content.

The Rev. Fred Luter, senior pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church of New Orleans and who was elected the first African-American SBC president on Tuesday, corresponded with Florida pastor Rodney Baker of Hopeful Baptist Church regarding Baker's effort to remove the film from LifeWay shelves.

In his email correspondence, which took place in late May, Luter expressed his support for Baker's efforts, stating that the Florida pastor showed determination in doing something Luter agreed with. Baker requested that the actual language of the email not be published, but The Christian Post obtained a copy and verified Luter's support. more >>

NEW ORLEANS – Southern Baptists made history on Tuesday by electing their first African-American president. Some 7,700 messengers unanimously and enthusiastically supported the vote for Fred Luter, Jr., to lead the predominantly white denomination.

"To God be the glory for the things that He has done," Luter said as he wiped away his tears.

Luter was the sole nominee for president. In such a situation, it is custom for the secretary to cast the ballot for the one nominee. more >>