DALLAS, Tex.—10,599 Southern Baptist messengers from across the nation and world gathered June 8-11 in Dallas for the annual Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Oklahoma was in the top ten per state for amount of messengers sent with a total of 650 Oklahoman messengers this year.During this event, the International Mission Board (IMB) sent numerous missionaries, including one Oklahoma Baptist, to proclaim the Gospel in nations across the world.

SBC Messengers voting. Baptist Press photo.

Pastors’ Conference

As a prelude to the convention, the 2025 Pastors’ Conference was held June 8-9. Eight pastors spoke during the event and a panel discussion. They included Caleb Turner, senior pastor of Mesquite, Texas, Friendship Church; John Mark Harrison, pastor of Knoxville, Tenn., Concord First; David Kim, senior pastor at Torrance, Calif., Good Community; Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Seminary and Leavell College; Josh Powell, lead pastor at Taylors, S.C., First; Juan Sanchez, senior pastor at Austin, Texas, High Pointe; Aaron Harvie, senior pastor of Louisville, Ky., Highview; and Robert Smith, distinguished professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University.

Each pastors’ sermon focused on the conference’s theme of “Worth Following,”, based on 2 Timothy. This theme revolved around how Paul described God’s plan for a pastor’s life. Even though the sermons were directed at pastors, the way God has planned for them to live their lives also applies to the members of the churches the pastors serve.

SBC Annual Meeting – Day 1

Emilie, a missionary from Oklahoma commissioned during the IMB sending celebration.

Tuesday, June 10, marked the first day of the 2025 SBC meeting. It began with worship, an opening prayer and then a call to order. After various reports and introductions of 13 new motions, the IMB held its sending celebration. During this event, 58 missionaries from across the nation were recognized and sent to the mission field, one of these included an Oklahoman, Emilie.

Many of the missionaries, including Emilie, stood behind a banner to conceal their identities as the countries they are being sent to are considered secure countries, meaning it is unsafe to openly proclaim the Gospel there.

“This is a primary reason why Southern Baptist and Oklahoma Baptist churches cooperate together,” said Oklahoma Baptists’ Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher on a Facebook post. “To send fully-funded missionaries to take the Gospel of Jesus to some of the most spiritually dark places in the world. We do more together than apart!”

SBC President Clint Pressley was elected for a second term.

Following the sending ceremony, SBC President Clint Pressley delivered the President’s Address. He urged messengers to “hold fast” in their convictions and in their cooperation. With this year being the 100th anniversary of both the Cooperative Program (CP) and the Baptist Faith and Message, Pressley cited these as the guiding rails Southern Baptists run on to carry out their mission.

In the afternoon, Pressley was elected for a second term as president of the SBC, Daniel Ritchie was elected as first vice president, Craig Carlise, current Alabama State Convention president, was elected as second vice president, Nathan Finn was reelected as recording secretary and Don Currence was reelected as registration secretary.

A total of 15 motions were made during the afternoon session. Eleven of the motions made during the morning session were referred to appropriate entities for further consideration, two motions were scheduled to be voted on the following day, Wed., June 11. These were a motion to abolish the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and a motion to adapt the Sanchez Motion which is similar to the Law Amendment from last year’s annual meeting.

Oklahoma Baptists Gather for Fellowship Event

That evening, Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) and Oklahoma Baptists hosted an event for all Oklahoma Baptists attending the SBC Annual Meeting at the AT&T stadium in Dallas. This event provided fellowship for OBU alumni and friends and allowed prospective students to speak with OBU faculty from the various departments.

OBU President Heath Thomas provided updates to the campus’s remodeling and reconstruction from the damage done by the April 19, 2023, tornado. Thomas said that the newly remodeled Shawnee Hall will conduct its opening ceremony in August during OBU’s “The Weekend” homecoming week. The historic Raley Chapel is still undergoing construction and should be completed in 2027. Thomas also reported that the number of new freshmen was up 40 percent from last year.

Fisher also spoke during the event. He thanked all those who had been praying for him during his recovery from the automobile accident he was involved in last year, saying that he was especially thankful for being able to walk this soon. As a token of gratitude for all he has done, OBU presented Fisher a customized jersey. Additionally, a collection of pastoral books and gift baskets were given away to two pastors and their wives to show gratitude for the hard work they have done.

SBC Annual Meeting – Day 2

Wednesday’s session, June 11, began with a time of worship and an opening prayer before proceeding into the next reports, including from the ERLC. There was another time of worship before Tony Wolfe, executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, delivered the convention sermon.

Tony Wolfe preaching. Baptist Press photo.

The sermon, based on Ecc. 11:1-6, urged messengers not to retreat from their calling, which is The Great Commission. Wolfe noted that the CP is a powerful tool in advancing the Great Commission and that messengers should consider what the next generation will see 100 years from now. Following the sermon, Joint Seminary Reports and the second part of the SBC Executive Committee Report was held.

Following this was a time dedicated to handling previously scheduled business. During this time, messengers cast ballot votes on whether the ERLC should be abolished. Numerous messengers gave reasons for and against the ERLC’s abolishment, including a former president of the ERLC. After tallying the votes, the motion to abolish the ERLC failed with a total of 6,581 ballots cast. Of those votes, 2,819 (42.84 percent) voted to abolish and 3,744 (56.89 percent) voted to retain; 18 votes (0.27 percent) were disallowed.

The second item scheduled for voting was on whether the SBC should adopt the Sanchez Motion. This was also cast to a ballot vote but failed to obtain the two thirds majority required to pass; 3,421 (60.74 percent) voted for the amendment and 2,191 (38.90 percent) voted against it.

After the time for previously scheduled business concluded, the North American Mission Board (NAMB), Women’s Missionary Union, the IMB and the Committee on Order of Business provided reports.

Outgoing SBC officers were recognized for their work, including Oklahoma Pastor Brad Graves, of Ada, First, who served a one-year term as SBC first vice president.

The Wednesday afternoon and final session of the 2025 SBC concluded with the election of next year’s convention preacher, alternate preacher, worship leaders and the presentation of officers. Next year’s annual meeting will be held in Orlando, Fla., June 9-10, 2026.