Joe and Amy Holmes, Sherry Schools, and Hannah Walker were RBC’s Messengers (representatives) at the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting & Pastors’ Conference. The annual event serves as the SBC’s primary gathering for worship, fellowship, equipping, and cooperative decision-making.
The Pastors’ Conference (June 7–8) focused on spiritual encouragement, preaching, and practical equipping for pastors and church leaders under the theme “TOGETHER” from Ephesians 4:1–6. It featured worship, main sessions, and micro-conferences on discipleship, worship, student ministry, and kids ministry to strengthen local church leadership.
The core purpose of the Annual Meeting (June 9-10) was to bring together messengers from cooperating SBC churches to conduct the Convention’s business. This included electing officers (such as the new president William “Willy” Rice); approving budgets and programs (like the Cooperative Program allocation for missions); passing resolutions on theological, cultural, and ministry issues; and celebrating global missions efforts—including a very moving missionary sending celebration.
Additionally, an exhibits hall contained numerous Christian-related vendors, programs, colleges, and other interesting exhibitors. Overall, there were 21,144 attendees, including 11,692 messengers, 5,785 guests, and 3,667 exhibitors. That’s a lot of Southern Baptists in one location doing the work together!
Our time was very encouraging. We were all amazed to see the level of care for doctrine and the authority of Scripture. And it was truly inspiring to sing with thousands of fellow believers. Hannah captured it well by saying, “It feels like what I expect heaven will be like!”
We participated in all voting activities. One major vote was on Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler’s proposal to amend Article III of the SBC Constitution. Specifically, the amendment moved to add language stating a Southern Baptist church “does not act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation.” For additional amendment details, see what Pastor Vic wrote about this in the 5 June Newsletter. Messengers approved the amendment by the required two-thirds supermajority, but to be adopted it must also be approved by messengers at next year’s annual meeting.
Two other highlights were participating in worship and hearing awesome preaching. During morning worship there were several thousand voices singing praises to our Lord. While there was a band and choir, it did not feel like a concert … it was pure worship! Similarly, during two 9Marks breakout sessions we joined about 2,000 believers singing a cappella—amazing! Hannah also attended a worship leader micro-conference and was excited to see the emphasis on the authority of Scripture as the basis for governing musical worship. One sermon traced the command for God’s people to sing praises through the entire Bible—a command that appears over 400 times.
Hannah also attended a session that discussed the alarming decline in biblically trained worship leaders. One cause may be the decreased priority the arts receive across much of our educational system. As the current leader of RBC’s youth worship band, this reminded her how important it is instill in our students the desire to worship God through song and to train them to do so skillfully and biblically (or as one book she read put it, with a guitar in one hand and a Bible in the other). Hannah urges those of you with children to keep them learning music — the church is commanded to sing praise corporately, and we need young people we can raise up to lead the next generation in worshiping well.
Another awesome encouragement was the focus on missions and the urgent call to share the gospel with the world’s people by both the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the International Mission Board (IMB). Unfortunately, in the U.S. and across the world there are many challenges regarding the alignment of truth and scripture. God’s Word is being altered to fit secularized ideology, and Christians face government suppression, violent persecution (even in the US), and death. Christian preaching and teaching must stand in authority to Christ and how He taught us to share the gospel.
Both NAMB and IMB take great care in training missionaries and pastors to be gospel witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The SBC actively supports pastors and those in preaching ministry by connecting churches and mission fields with partners who can mobilize teams to meet both ministry and physical needs. Christ said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matt 9:37), emphasizing that ALL believers are called to share the gospel regardless of location. Sherry said, “Talking with NAMB and IMB field workers it became apparent that much more support is needed and we, as an incredible association of like-minded churches, can make an eternal impact preaching the gospel and working side by side.”
Other highlights included visiting with numerous exhibitors and attending several other breakout conferences and presentations—both as a group and separately. Space prohibits details, but some examples included NAMB’s luncheon, Pillar Network’s panel discussion and luncheon, two 9Marks panel discussions, and several others. If you have any questions or want more information, please chat with any of the 2026 Messengers.
Overall, it was a joyful experience! The next conference is in Indianapolis, IN, June 3-16, 2027. If you are interested in being a 2027 Messenger, please see Christine, Pastor Vic, or Joe Holmes.