A cross and Bible sculpture stand outside the Southern Baptist Convention headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., on May 24. The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention says that several of the denomination's major entities are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Holly Meyer/AP hide caption
A cross and Bible sculpture stand outside the Southern Baptist Convention headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday. Southern Baptist leaders have released a list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse. Holly Meyer/AP hide caption
Willie McLaurin speaks at the 2020 Kentucky Baptist Pastors' Conference in 2020. McLaurin was named the interim president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee on Tuesday, the first African American to lead one of the denomination's ministry entities in its more than 175-year history. Robin Cornetet/Kentucky Today via AP hide caption
In this June 16, 2021, file photo, people attend the morning session of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Humphrey/AP hide caption
A man prays during the executive committee plenary meeting at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual gathering Monday in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Humphrey/AP hide caption
Hartsville, Tenn., resident Rick Bradley, 62, received his first COVID-19 vaccine dose in late March at a local Walgreens, saying, "This is not a summer cold or a conspiracy." He says some neighbors have become so used to COVID-19 that getting vaccinated has fallen off the priority list. Blake Farmer/WPLN hide caption
"I am still a Baptist, but I can no longer identify with Southern Baptists," said Beth Moore, a prominent evangelical teacher and author, last week. Moore is seen here in 2018. Emily McFarlan Miller/AP hide caption
Janene Cates Putman of Athens, Tenn., demonstrates outside the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting on Tuesday, during a rally in Birmingham, Ala. Julie Bennett/AP hide caption
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, photographed at a news conference in 2015, said the Trump administration's policy of separating immigrant children from their families "goes against the values of our nation." Sid Hastings/AP hide caption
Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Southern Baptist Convention meeting on Wednesday in Dallas. Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images hide caption
Paige Patterson makes his opening speech to the Southern Baptist Convention in June 1999 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. John Bazemore/AP hide caption
Paige Patterson, president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, speaks at a meeting in Indianapolis in 2004. Tom Strickland/AP hide caption
Paige Patterson, president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, is scheduled to speak at an upcoming Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Dallas. Here, he speaks in Indianapolis in 2004. Tom Strickland/AP hide caption
The Rev. William McKissic whose resolution to condemn white supremacy was passed at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting on Wednesday in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin/AP hide caption
Russell Moore (left), president of the Southern Baptists' Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, is under attack from some of the religious right figures he criticized during the U.S. presidential campaign. Mark Humphrey/AP hide caption
The UN-run Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan. KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Russell Moore preaching during the first plenary address, "Black, And White And Red All Over: Why Racial Reconciliation Is A Gospel Issue." Alli Rader hide caption
Many Baptist leaders consider marriage to be a foundation for adult life and some are actively encouraging tying the knot earlier. Rosemary Woods/Illustration Works/Corbis hide caption
Pastor Fred Luter, of New Orleans, who's set to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ross D. Franklin/AP hide caption