2026 Assemblies

Southern Baptist Convention Elects New President, Advances Constitutional Amendment at Orlando Meeting

The Truth and Unity Amendment—which would restrict SBC cooperation to churches where only men preach and hold the pastoral office—cleared its first required two-thirds vote.

More than 11,000 registered messengers gathered June 7–10, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando for the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting, one of the largest in the denomination's recent history.

The meeting's defining moment came with the Truth and Unity Amendment, championed by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler. The constitutional change would restrict SBC friendly cooperation to churches that limit the office and function of pastor—including the preaching role before an assembled congregation—to men only. It cleared the first of two required two-thirds votes; a second vote at a future annual meeting is needed before it takes effect. The African American Fellowship called for extended dialogue before that second vote.

Messengers elected Florida pastor Willy Rice as SBC president with 57 percent of the vote over South Carolina pastor Josh Powell. They also approved a landmark funding shift, directing 51 percent of national Cooperative Program receipts to the International Mission Board beginning in 2026–2027. IMB President Paul Chitwood described the missionary pipeline as exploding, with 63 newly commissioned missionaries sent to the nations during the opening session.

Resolutions addressed the sanctity of life, the pastoral office as limited to men, the dignity of bivocational ministers, immigration enforcement alongside immigrant dignity, and the importance of in-person church attendance. The 2027 SBC Annual Meeting is set for Indianapolis.

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