Indianapolis, IN
Southern Baptists reject proposed ban on women pastors
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A measure to ban women from holding the title of pastor in Southern Baptist churches failed Wednesday despite widespread support.
The vote at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting, held at the Indiana Convention Center, ends for now a three-year fight that has caused some churches to leave the organization. The measure would have amended the SBC Constitution to state that only men could hold the title of pastor.
The move would have further codified existing church doctrine. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which outlines the SBC’s basic theological doctrines, states, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”
SBC insiders say adoption of the amendment would not have automatically forced churches with women pastors to leave the SBC, nor would it have signified any doctrinal change.
Meeting delegates, known as messengers in SBC parlance, pointed to the ongoing debate over LGBTQ+ clergy in other denominations as evidence of the need to add the language to the SBC Constitution. Ryan Fullerton, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, said the measure would not prevent women from serving in other capacities such as children’s ministry.
“The culture is attacking gender on all fronts,” he said. “What better way to express our countercultural commitment to the goodness of God’s Word than to affirm God’s creation order related to the office of pastor?”
Spence Shelton, pastor of Mercy Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, was the only person to speak against the measure before debate was cut off. He said the measure was redundant due to the language already in the Baptist Faith and Message. Shelton noted the SBC had just revoked the membership of First Alexandria Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday over the women pastors issue and kicked out two more last year.
“The question is, is the amendment necessary for our Convention to respond when churches in our Convention act in a way contrary to our doctrine?” he said. “We showed last year we have an effective mechanism.”
The amendment passed a preliminary vote at last year’s SBC annual meeting. It needed a final, two-thirds vote in order to be ratified. On Wednesday, 61% of the meeting messengers voted in favor of it, falling short of the threshold.
Some churches already have left the SBC over the amendment and what it represents. May Memorial Baptist Church in Powhatan, Va. quit a year ago rather than remove a woman from the position of associate pastor. Michael Edwards, the senior pastor, told News 8 that Scripture isn’t nearly as clear on the question of female pastors as SBC leaders are making it out to be. He said even though the amendment failed, he does not plan to rejoin the SBC.
“Who wants to be at the table with people who don’t want you there? I don’t,” he said.
Southern Baptist churches are independent. A church can be removed from what is termed “friendly cooperation” with the Southern Baptist Convention by a vote of messengers at the SBC annual meeting. This has little direct effect on a church, but it does prevent the church from accessing SBC programs such as education assistance at Southern Baptist seminaries.
Edwards said he expects someone will bring the measure back at a subsequent annual meeting. SBC staff said the amendment process would have to start over if someone wanted to do so. The earliest anyone could propose one would be at the 2025 annual meeting in Dallas and the earliest SBC messengers could hold a final vote would be at the 2027 annual meeting.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Residents of Indianapolis’s near north side have a chance to help shape the future of their neighborhood.
Crossroads AME Church is hosting two community listening sessions to gather input on revitalizing the 32nd Street and Capitol Avenue corridor in the Crown Hill neighborhood.
The first session is 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, 3266 N. Meridian St. A second session is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the same location.
“We as a congregation do not want to undertake that initiative without getting input from the community,” said Reverend Jerry E. Davis III of Crossroads AME Church.
The corridor, located two blocks west of the Children’s Museum, has long been identified as an area in need of resources. Davis said the church’s research and conversations with community leaders have already surfaced concerns about access to food and pharmacy services. The area has been described by some as both a food desert and a pharmacy desert — a situation that worsened when a CVS near 38th Street and Illinois Street was replaced by a car wash.
“There is one less resource where perhaps within walking distance we can get the pharmaceutical needs that we have satisfied,” Davis said.
The July 14 session is designed as an open forum, with no limits placed on what residents can raise. Davis said the church wants to hear ideas that go beyond what research has already uncovered.
“We want to hear even beyond the numbers,” he said.
The July 30 session will give attendees a chance to return and prioritize the ideas and needs shared at the first gathering. Davis called the two sessions a “both and” opportunity, encouraging residents to attend both.
Both sessions offer in-person and virtual participation options. A free dinner will be provided at both in-person gatherings.
For more information, contact Crossroads AME Church.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Central Indiana is bracing for a prolonged stretch of intense heat as a strong ridge of high pressure becomes firmly established over the region. High temperatures are expected to climb into the low to mid-90s through Thursday, while heat index values — the combination of heat and humidity — will reach between 100 and 105 degrees each afternoon.
Today Through Thursday: Sustained Heat
A well-entrenched upper-level ridge will maintain hot, dry conditions through Thursday. Daytime heating coupled with suppressed atmospheric mixing will keep dew points elevated, and thus heat indices high, especially during peak afternoon hours between noon and 6 p.m.
Storm chances during this period are expected to remain very low as the stable, dry air mass suppresses convective development.
Late Week: Transition and Storm Chances
The heat will begin to subside by the end of the workweek as the high-pressure ridge weakens and shifts eastward. This opens the door for increased moisture return and the development of scattered showers and thunderstorms, particularly Friday and Saturday afternoons.
Models currently show some variation on the timing and extent of this moisture return, so forecasts may adjust as the weekend approaches.
Residual scattered storms will be possible into Sunday and Monday, but the main story shifts away from oppressive heat to more typical summer storm activity.
7 Day Forecast:
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is planning to close a few ramps connecting Interstate 65 and Raymond Street on the south side of Indianapolis later this month.
According to a release, the ramp from northbound I-65 to Raymond Street is due to close. The ramp ties I-65 northbound to both eastbound and westbound Raymond Street.
A ramp from westbound Raymond Street to I-65 northbound will also be shut down.
INDOT reported that the closures will allow crews to reconstruct the ramps with new asphalt. The closures will go into effect on July 24 around 6 a.m. The ramps are slated to reopen in October.
Traffic shift in downtown Indianapolis
In addition to the I-65 ramp closures, INDOT has also announced traffic shifts on Interstates 70 and 65 near downtown Indianapolis. The shifts are part of pavement improvements that are being made to portions of I-65 and I-70 between Fletcher Avenue and Washington Street.
Once the traffic shift is in place, northbound I-65 will be separated by a work zone and a barrier wall. The new pattern will force drivers who want to continue north on I-65 to keep left. Drivers aiming to exit for Washington Street will need to keep right before Fletcher Avenue.
Lane and ramp restrictions will be implemented when crews implement the shift. INDOT is expected to provide additional information on the timelines associated with the shifts next week.
While construction is ongoing, the speed limit on I-65 will be reduced to 45 mph.
The ramp closures and traffic shifts are both part of INDOT’s I-65 Safety and Efficiency project. The goal of the initiative is to replace pavement and add additional lanes along the interstate. Officials believe the project will help increase interstate capacity and improve pedestrian and traffic safety in the area.
-
New Jersey3 minutes agoMorris County, Kirby Foundation award $12 million. See who benefits
-
New Mexico9 minutes agoNew Mexico’s multi-million dollar blunder ends up a pile of rubble
-
North Carolina15 minutes ago‘It’s problematic’: Copper wire theft on the rise across North Carolina, AT&T warns
-
North Dakota20 minutes agoFargo Wrestling 2026 Day 4 Junior Greco-Roman Results, Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Ohio27 minutes agoJoel Klatt believes Ohio State vs. Texas loser is ‘behind the 8-ball’
-
Oklahoma32 minutes agoFarmers, environmental group react to Oklahoma poultry litter settlement
-
Oregon39 minutes ago
Oregon Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 4 results for July 14
-
Pennsylvania45 minutes ago12-year-old boy on e-bike killed in crash with pickup truck in Pennsylvania
