Samford University graduate elected Southern Baptist president

The Southern Baptist Convention has a new leader with Alabama roots. The Rev. Willy Rice, a 1985 graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, was elected president of the convention on Tuesday.

Rice brings extensive experience to the role, having served as senior pastor of the 10,000-member Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, since 2004. During his election, Rice secured 5,217 votes (57.56 percent), defeating the Rev. Josh Powell, lead pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church in South Carolina, who earned 3,821 votes (42.16 percent).

A Foundation in Alabama

Before rising to prominence as a Florida megachurch pastor, Rice served congregations within Alabama. His early ministry included stints as pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Dora from 1984 to 1987 and Gladeview Baptist Church in Anniston from 1992 to 1997. In addition to his undergraduate degree from Samford, he holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Call for Unity and Doctrine

Speaking at the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference in Orlando on Monday, Rice emphasized that the denomination's unity must be anchored in biblical truth. Reflecting on 1 Samuel 15, he cautioned against prioritizing religious tradition over obedience. "If we are not together in doctrinal truth, then nothing else will keep us together," Rice told attendees. He stressed that while Baptists are noted for their mission work and success in statistics, those efforts cannot justify a compromise on doctrine.

Debate Over Church Governance

As Rice prepares to take the gavel this Wednesday, the convention continues to navigate internal debates regarding church roles. Samford graduate and seminary president Dr. Albert Mohler proposed a constitutional amendment this week aimed at tightening restrictions on women serving as pastors. The proposal would disfellowship churches that use the term "pastor" for women on staff. This issue remains a focal point for the denomination, which previously disfellowshipped the influential Saddleback Church in 2023 over similar concerns, a move that prompted an impassioned defense from Rick Warren.

The 2026 Resolutions Committee, led by Hunter Baker, has formally proposed a resolution to uphold the denomination's historical stance on the matter, citing the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and scripture, as detailed in their official filing. These debates unfold as the convention faces broader challenges, including a reported decline in membership for the 19th consecutive year, with the total count dropping to approximately 12.33 million members in 2025.