Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors and church staff has lagged behind growth in the cost-of-living the past two years, and health insurance coverage remains low, according to a new study.

The search committee seeking a successor to Suzii Paynter as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s leader released a profile for the executive coordinator position.

Thom S. Rainer announced his plans to retire as president and chief executive officer of LifeWay Christian Resources in the coming year.

Nine Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees were appointed to a search committee to recommend the seminary’s next president.

SBC President J.D. Greear said a Pennsylvania grand jury’s report alleging sexual abuse and cover-up by Roman Catholic clergy should prompt Southern Baptists to take all steps necessary to eradicate sexual abuse “from within our community.”

Karen Swallow Prior is an evangelical English professor in rural Virginia and a vocal presence in the Southern Baptist Convention. She made national news for questioning the leadership of one of her denomination’s most powerful men.

Alice Marie Johnson served more than 20 years of a life sentence for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense. Johnson, who was part of a congregation that met in prison, was released recently.

Capt. Jose Rondon, a U.S. Army chaplain, believes “there is nothing more exhilarating in life than seeing people come to Christ.” This year, Rondon has experienced quite a bit of exhilaration, with more than 1,400 professions of faith in Christ recorded at Fort Leonard Wood.

A grieving father’s Scripture-laden plea for mercy led to a lenient 180-day jail sentence for the truck driver who killed a missionary family of five in an auto accident last year.

Charles Fuller, a Virginia pastor who chaired the Southern Baptist Convention’s Peace Committee, died July 28 in Roanoke, Va. He was 86.

Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear announced he will form a Sexual Abuse Presidential Study Group in partnership with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

David Platt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, announced he has initiated two “thorough, outside, independent” investigations into the mission board’s handling of past sexual abuse allegations.