The 2026 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando generated no shortage of commentary, but much of what is said about the SBC is difficult to understand apart from Baptist polity, parliamentary procedure, and the purpose of an annual meeting. The SBC is not a church with authority over local congregations, but a voluntary association of autonomous churches that cooperate together for the sake of gospel work.

In these reflections, I consider what took place in Orlando, why theological and doctrinal clarity remains both healthy and costly, and why the slow deliberation of the SBC should not necessarily discourage us. Though there is energetic debate among Southern Baptists, there are also encouraging signs of faithfulness, seriousness, and renewed attention to biblical ecclesiology.

After fourteen years of ministry at Central Baptist Church in Waycross, Georgia, my ministry as pastor has come to an end. The central issue was not merely personal disagreement, but a matter of conviction concerning the Lord’s Supper, the church covenant, and the responsibility of the church to administer the ordinances faithfully.

This reflection seeks to explain the issue with pastoral clarity, theological conviction, and trust in the providence of God. Though this is not how I would have written the story, I remain confident that the Lord is good, His purposes are wise, and every offering made to Him is never wasted.