The question at the Illinois Baptist each spring is “What do you think will come up at the convention?” Some things are obvious, because they’re on the agenda—such as the presidential election. Pastors Josh Powell and Willy Rice are in the ring. There have been no surprise announcements so far, unlike 2024 when we had six probable candidates at this point.
But it’s the things that aren’t on the agenda that draw greater speculation. With online debate about Al Mohler’s call to settle the issue of male-only pastor qualification once and for all, we’re wondering how that will come to the floor.
We’re also wondering about these items:
The (task) force be with you
During his two terms as SBC President, North Carolina Pastor Clint Pressley hasn’t appointed a task force or study group, while his immediate four predecessors each appointed at least one. But the task force could make a comeback.
Candidate and Florida pastor Willy Rice promises to appoint two task forces if elected—one on the use of the term pastor and understanding of the office, and another on denominational accountability. Fellow candidate and South Carolina pastor Josh Powell hasn’t proposed any study groups, instead focusing on strengthening faith in the Baptist Faith and Message (2000) and focus on the Great Commission.
ERLC’s reception
With attention again on women in pastoral roles, there’s not a lot of scuttle about the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Interim ERLC President Gary Hollingsworth, a respected pastor and state convention executive, has spent the better part of a year smoothing the waters and repairing relationships with pastors and SBC entity heads.
Incoming ERLC President Evan Lenow will come to the platform in Orlando with a clean slate and the public support of Al Mohler, Willy Rice, and others who had sought to defund the SBC’s public voice. Lenow also takes the post with a clearly defined, transparent relationship with his trustee board and published guardrails for his issues and stances.
Resolution style
With Illinois’ Andrew Walker leading the Resolutions Committee last year, and his heavy involvement prior to that, the slate of resolutions has been deep and wide. The list had complicated issues that produced floor debate (such as IVF two years ago). Last year, the list of eight included multiple contemporary moral issues and lengthy litanies of the “whereas’s.” While Southern Baptists’ stance on the issues is not likely to change, will different leadership will produce resolutions with different length, complexity, or tone?
The list will be posted around May 30.
Preaching vs. practical
In partnership with Lifeway and other sponsors, the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference (SBPC) will host a practical “Micro-Conference” during the Monday morning and afternoon sessions. According to founding pastor M.E. Dodd, the SBPC began in 1935 to “deal definitely with pastors’ problems, spiritual, missionary, evangelistic, doctrinal, (and) practical.” But in the years since, it has morphed into a “preaching conference,” with the sessions almost entirely filled by preaching and worship.
In an era where nearly all preaching is readily available on YouTube, will practical breakouts addressing worship, discipleship, student, and kids’ ministries be the bigger draw? IBSA has offered such breakouts for a decade. Let’s see if it catches on.
Home base conventions
Willy Rice released a video in April arguing upcoming annual meetings should be relocated from areas he considers outside the core Southern footprint where SBC churches are concentrated. He cited travel costs for messengers from smaller churches to attend Northern and West Coast conventions. Scheduled stops for the SBC are Indianapolis (2027), St. Louis (2028), San Antonio (2029), and Houston (2030).
Beyond that, extended proposals include St. Louis (2033, 2038), New Orleans (2034), and San Antonio (2038). Rice questioned a possible return to Anaheim, California—the site of the 2022 event. Meeting locations are determined by the SBC Executive Committee and approved by the messengers.
Farewell, Sandy
The Orlando convention will be Sandy Wisdom-Martin’s last platform appearance as Executive Director of Woman’s Missionary Union. The beloved Illinoisan has navigated a tremulous decade by saying often that the women’s auxiliary is about missions and “that’s all we do.” Wisdom-Martin announced her retirement, planned for the end of the year. With a lifetime of missions commitment, we hope she has words of wisdom for those who come after her—and for all of us in the SBC.
– From the Editors