The 2026 Southern Baptist Convention is underway where messengers meet for 2 days in the year. 11623 messengers were registered at the convention in Orlando, Florida. The presidential race was one of the most anticipated events going into 2026, with current president Clint Pressley term limited. The presidential race was between anti-establishment firebrand, Willy Rice, and nich celebrity pastor, Josh Powell.
In what is perhaps a stunning upset, Willy Rice won with 57.56% of the vote, dishing out a double-digit victory in the mono-e-mono ballot.
Willy Rice’s campaign benefited from home-field advantage as he is a pastor of Calvary Church in Florida. Additionally, the infrastructure of the Center for Baptist Leadership has been mobilized for Rice this year where they have not gone all in on a candidate in the two prior conventions since their establishment as a meaningful alternative to the now irrelevant Conservative Baptist Network.
Where Willy Rice’s calls for reforms and transparency have fallen on deaf ears in years past, including in how he’s given nomination speeches, this year, Rice had the fire in the belly, and the messengers appeared to have had the appetite for it.
