Willy Rice Elected SBC President at 2026 Annual Meeting in Orlando

Florida pastor Willy Rice was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the denomination's annual meeting in Orlando on June 9, 2026. Rice defeated South Carolina pastor Josh Powell in the vote, succeeding outgoing president Clint Pressley.

Rice has been a vocal supporter of a constitutional amendment that would bar churches from being in "friendly cooperation" with the SBC if they affirm, appoint, or endorse women serving as pastors, elders, or overseers. The amendment was introduced by Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and marks the fourth consecutive year the convention has taken up the question.

Previous attempts to pass similar language in 2023, 2024, and 2025 each fell short of the required two-thirds supermajority. Supporters argue that written constitutional language is needed to give the denomination clear, binding criteria for church membership, rather than relying on case-by-case debates.

The 2026 meeting also addressed resolutions on antisemitism, immigration, and political violence. On immigration, messengers approved language that condemned "nativism, racial or ethnic hostility, ethno-nationalism, and discrimination" while supporting lawful enforcement.

Lifeway Christian Resources released a new AI ministry statement at the meeting, offering guidance for pastors and church leaders on how to apply artificial intelligence tools in ministry settings.

The gathering followed the release of membership statistics showing the SBC has reached its lowest membership level since 1973, continuing a multi-year decline. Attendance and baptism numbers, however, showed modest improvement compared to recent years.