Episode 14: A Conversation with Clint Pressley

PreachingSouthern Baptist Convention
Written By Ben Smith
Clint Pressley

Clint Pressley (Photo Credit: Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC.)

Episode 14 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, is an insightful conversation with Clint Pressley, senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention. In this episode, Pastor Pressley shares how he has strived to grow continually as a preacher and how he prepares to preach each week. He also discusses the state of preaching among Baptist pastors from his perspective as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 14: A Conversation with Clint Pressley

Episode Theme: A Lifelong Labor

In this episode, Pastor Pressley shares how God has shaped and matured him as a pastor and how he continues to strive to be a more effective communicator of God’s word.

Key Highlights:

  • Learning to preach: Clint shares how his early opportunities to pastor and preach were vital opportunities to learn how to communicate God’s word effectively.

  • Handwritten manuscripts: In a world of technology, Pastor Pressley has found it helpful to handwrite his sermon notes. He shares his preparation process and why handwriting is helpful to his preparation and preaching.

  • State of the pulpits in the Southern Baptist Convention: As president of the Southern Baptist Convention, pastor Pressley has a unique perspective on SBC churches and pastors. Pastor Pressley shares his thoughts on the present state and future of SBC pulpits.

  • Recovering a biblical understanding of the office of pastor/elder/overseer: In recent years, the Southern Baptist Convention has struggled to recover a biblical understanding of this office. Pastor Pressley shares his thoughts and perspective on where the SBC is on this issue.

  • Challenges of a multi-campus church: Hickory Grove Baptist Church has multiple campuses. Pastor Pressley shares the advantages and challenges of a multi-site church.

  • The pastor's uniform: Pastor Pressley is well known for being a sharp dresser. Pastor Pressley explains the background of why he dresses as he does and why it is more convictional than preferential.

Join Ben Smith and Clint Pressley for an honest and authentic conversation on how God uses and matures those he calls to preach.

  • Host: Ben Smith

  • Guest: Clint Pressley

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, NC.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

 

Clint Pressley has served as Senior Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, since 2010.

A native of Charlotte, Clint joined Hickory Grove as a teenager before earning a Bachelor of Arts from Wofford College in South Carolina and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisiana. He pastored two churches in Mississippi before returning to Hickory Grove in 1999 as Senior Associate Pastor of Preaching. In 2004, he was called as Senior Pastor of the historic Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. In 2010, he returned to Hickory Grove as Co-Pastor and was installed as Senior Pastor in 2011.

In June 2024, Clint was elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He also served the Convention as Vice President of the SBC Pastor’s Conference in 2013, First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2014-2015, Trustee of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary since 2015, and member of the NC Baptist Board of Directors since 2023.

Clint is married to Connie, and they have two sons.

For more information on Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC, visit https://www.hickorygrove.org/.

You can listen to Pastor Clint Pressley preach on the Hickory Grove Baptist Church sermon podcast:

Texas pastor Michael Criner announced on April 13 his intention to nominate Clint Pressley for a second term as SBC President during the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting, June 10-11 in Dallas, TX. https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/pressley-to-be-nominated-for-second-term-as-sbc-president/

 

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Ben Smith

Originally from Columbus, GA, pastor Ben Smith has served churches in Texas, South Carolina, and Georgia. Ben and his wife Dana make their home in Waycross, GA, where Ben has pastored Central Baptist Church since 2012.

Pastor Ben preaches each Sunday at Central Baptist. An audio podcast of his sermons is published weekly. Pastor Ben also posts weekly to his blog, Ponderings.

https://bensmithsr.org
Next

Episode 13: A Conversation with Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson