Southern Baptists Elect Conservative Pastor Willie Rice as New President

The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, elected a new president on 9 June. Pastor Willie Rice, based in Florida, received 58% of the vote, defeating Josh Powell of South Carolina. Rice, senior pastor of Calwari Church in Clermont, has pledged to address what he calls the “drift and drift” within the denomination, advocating for a return to traditional conservative values.

Rice’s election reflects the ongoing tensions within the Southern Baptist Convention, which is already known for its conservative stances on issues such as abortion and the role of men in pastoral leadership. The main debate within the denomination centers on how far it should move toward the religious and political right. Rice has aligned himself with groups like the Baptist Leadership Centre, which accuse the denomination’s leadership of becoming “progressive” in matters related to race, gender, and immigration.

On the first day of the two-day annual meeting, Rice called on Southern Baptists to adhere to their foundational beliefs rather than adopt what he describes as the “soft evangelical gold middle.” This stance has drawn support from conservative factions within the denomination, which seek to further shift the organization toward the right.

Last year, Rice led efforts to abolish the Commission on Ethics and Religious Freedom, a public policy body within the denomination. He argued that the commission had not adequately listened to criticism from church members, including accusations that it had received funding from progressive organizations. The proposal to dissolve the commission did not pass.

The Southern Baptist Convention continues to navigate internal debates over its direction, with Rice’s election signaling a continued push toward a more conservative and traditionalist approach. The denomination’s future will likely be shaped by these ongoing discussions and the leadership’s commitment to its core values.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Russian)