The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country, has been embroiled in controversy since Paige Patterson was forced to step down following allegations that he counseled abused women to stay with their husbands and mistreatment of women who had been sexually assaulted. Last week, the controversy came to a head at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, which included the election of a new denominational president and a controversial appearance by Vice President Mike Pence. Following the meeting, some observers are noting a monumental shift away from its historically insular and conservative ideology. This week, Welton will speak with the Rev. Dr. Bill J. Leonard, a professor at Wake Forest University, about what happened at the annual meeting and what it means for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Hear the full June 23, 2018 State of Belief Radio program here.