- Journal of the Mississippi Baptist Convention since 1877 December 30, 2025

IN THE MARGINS: How lucky I am

December 30, 2025

By Tony MartinEditor “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — Winnie the Pooh I never expected Winnie the…

Bible Studies for Life: January 4

Bible Studies for Life: January 4

December 30, 2025

Martin to retire as editor of The Baptist Record

Tony Martin is honored at a retirement party at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board on Dec. 4. (Photo credit: Bart Lambright)

Martin to retire as editor of The Baptist Record

December 27, 2025

MAGNOLIA MINDS: ‘We have to get Lottie to the Moon!’

GAs serve breakfast at their Lottie Moon Coffee Shop before Sunday School at Raymond Road church in Jackson. (Photo credit: Aaron Tucker)

MAGNOLIA MINDS: ‘We have to get Lottie to the Moon!’

December 24, 2025

60 years of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

60 years of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

December 23, 2025

Clergy Act advances from House
Ways and Means Committee
DALLAS – On Dec. 10 the House Ways and Means Committee advanced the Clergy Act, H.R. 227, in a bipartisan, unanimous vote. The Clergy Act would provide ministers who opted out of Social Security a one-time window to opt back in. The bipartisan legislation was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by California Congressmen Vince Fong and Mike Thompson, and has gained the support of several co-sponsors. The legislation is supported by GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention and other leaders from a wide variety of large and historic denominational benefit boards. In a news release issued by Rep. Fong’s office, GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck expressed gratitude to Fong for his leadership. The Clergy Act would create a two-year window beginning in 2029 that would allow eligible ministers who have opted out of Social Security to revoke their exemption and begin contributing. Ministers must still meet the standard 10-year contribution requirement to earn full retired-worker benefits, receiving benefits proportional to their contributions.