SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando Expected to Draw 20,000 Attendees

The Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting in Orlando is on track to draw 20,000 attendees, according to SBC officials, making it one of the denomination's largest gatherings in recent years.

The meeting, scheduled for June 2026, will include votes on denominational policy, missions funding allocations, and elections for key leadership positions. Messengers from SBC churches across the country will participate in the proceedings.

SBC President Bart Barber said the strong registration numbers reflect continued engagement from member churches despite years of controversy and membership decline. The denomination has lost millions of members over the past two decades, though the pace of decline has slowed in some regions.

Key agenda items include discussions on the Cooperative Program budget, which funds SBC seminaries and international missions through the International Mission Board. Delegates are also expected to debate proposed constitutional amendments related to church membership standards.

The Orlando meeting follows several years of contentious annual gatherings that addressed sexual abuse reform, racial reconciliation, and theological disputes. SBC leaders say they hope this year's meeting will focus on evangelism and church planting.

The World Cup 2026 outreach campaign will also be highlighted at the meeting. The initiative aims to equip 100,000 Christians and mobilize 10,000 churches to share the gospel during the tournament, which is being held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.

Registration for the Orlando meeting opened in March and filled quickly, with churches from all 50 states represented.