SBC 2026 Observations
What is Not Reported
Just something I have observed.
I was at this year’s Southern Baptist Convention, and inevitably I am seeing a bunch of false and biased articles about the SBC. I am reminded of the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect.
This is a cognitive bias where a person reads a news article on a topic they know well, spots glaring errors or inaccuracies, and gets frustrated. However, they then turn the page and read articles on unfamiliar topics with complete trust, forgetting the unreliability they just witnessed.
Many of us are guilty of this.
So I want to give you some firsthand information about the Southern Baptist Convention.
We are the largest conservative, Bible-believing denomination in the United States. Some of the things being shared and discussed are simply saying, “Can you believe this group of Christians believes what Christians have believed for the last 2,000 years?”
Many articles focus on the belief that the office of pastor is limited to qualified men, a position that for Baptists goes back to our founding in the early 1600s and, for the church as a whole, goes back to Scripture itself. We believe God has distinct roles for men and women in the home and the church.
What was voted on was an amendment intended to protect our convention from the liberal drift that has affected so many mainline denominations. Whether you agree with that amendment or not, it is important to understand what was actually being debated rather than the caricatures that are often presented.
Yet I would add that in the SBC we do not see what many critics describe as patriarchy keeping women out of ministry. In the SBC, we see women leading and serving all over the convention. We have thousands of female missionaries, professors, counselors, teachers, authors, and ministry leaders. Women are gifted by the Holy Spirit and commanded to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and serve the body of Christ.
What is not reported?
It is not reported that Southern Baptists currently support more than 3,500 missionaries serving around the world. In 2025 alone, IMB missionaries and their partners shared the Gospel with more than 2 million people, saw nearly 200,000 professions of faith, and helped plant more than 7,600 churches.
It is not reported that our North American Mission Board helped plant 684 new churches across North America.
It is not reported that our seminaries provide ministry education for men and women through accredited institutions at some of the most affordable costs available.
It is not reported that Southern Baptists are often among the first on the scene when disaster strikes.
It is not reported that Southern Baptists recorded more than 250,000 baptisms, the highest number in years.
It is not reported that we spoke loudly and clearly against the evils of racism. It is not reported that we affirmed both compassion for immigrants and the responsibility of nations to maintain secure borders. It is not reported that we spoke against antisemitism.
It is not reported that we are a convention of churches taking major strides in loving those with disabilities. This year our Executive Committee worked diligently to provide recommendations to our entities and churches on how to better love and serve one of the most underserved populations in our nation. I had the blessing of serving on this committee. A bold call was made in these recommendations to local churches, encouraging them to do the following:
Understand that 15–20 percent of the population has a disability, yet they remain underrepresented in our churches, making this a significant opportunity to reach families with the hope of the gospel.
Identify key church leaders and families in the congregation impacted by disability to help address potential physical and social barriers that may be preventing special-needs families from attending church.
With help from Southern Baptist entities and/or parachurch organizations, develop a plan for inclusion for children, teens, and adults with disabilities that includes evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and service opportunities.
Build trust within communities to reach families affected by disability by meeting practical needs and pointing them to Jesus, who meets their deepest need.
As a father of children with disabilities, I was greatly encouraged that these recommendations were received unanimously. We are a denomination committed to serving people in both truth and love.
There is so much more that can be said, both good and bad, about this convention of churches. We are not perfect and have not always reflected Christ well, but we are a group of churches committed to working together to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
That is why I am reminded of the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect. If the stories you see about the SBC bear little resemblance to the convention I attended, perhaps it is worth asking what else the headlines might be missing.
We love our neighbors. We preach Jesus. We believe the Bible. We are not perfect, but we serve a perfect Savior.