By Baptist Message staff
ORLANDO, Fla. (LBM) — Southern Baptist Convention messengers and guests gathered June 9-10 in Orlando, Florida, to conduct business, elect officers, enjoy times of fellowship, receive updates on mission work done by Southern Baptists across the world and hear inspirational messages.
NOLA NAMED 2034 SITE
Messengers learned that New Orleans was chosen as the host site for the 2034 SBC Annual Meeting, June 13-14. Other future sites named include Houston, Texas, 2030; Anaheim, Calif., 2032 and 2037; and Indianapolis, Ind., 2035.
Next year’s annual meeting will be held in Indianapolis, June 15-16.
ELECTIONS
Registration secretary Don Currence reported this year’s meeting made history with nine votes, including the Pastors Conference, representing “52,794 ballots that the team of 55 people counted the last three days.”
— Willy Rice (pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater, Florida), was elected SBC president after defeating Josh Powell (pastor, Taylors First Baptist Church, South Carolina) received 5,217 votes (57.56 percent) to Powell’s 3,821 votes (42.16 percent).
— Craig Carlisle (director of missions, Etowah Baptist Association, Gadsden, Alabama) was elected first vice-president in a runoff vote, defeating Paul Purvis (pastor, Mission Hill Church, Temple Terrace, Florida). Carlisle received 3,338 votes (65.92 percent) to Purvis’ 1,719 votes (33.95 percent). The other candidate in the earlier election was Larry Helms (pastor with Fort Lawn Baptist Church, Fort Lawn, South Carolina).
— Allen Murray (pastor, Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Supply, North Carolina) was elected second vice-president in a run-off vote, defeating Ethan Jago (pastor, 5 Bridges Church, Panama City Beach, Florida. He received 2,342 votes (55.38 percent) to Jago’s 1,876 votes (44.36 percent). The other candidate in the earlier election was Austin Rouse (pastor of families and students, Southern Heights Baptist Church, Russellville, Kentucky).
— Travis Kerns (associational mission strategist, Three Rivers Baptist Association, Taylors, South Carolina) was elected recording secretary in a run-off vote, defeating George Schroeder (pastor, First Baptist Church, Fairfield, Texas). He received 2,966 votes (51.76 percent) to Schroeder’s 2,758 votes (48.14 percent). The other candidate in the earlier election was Jonathan Greer (pastor, Franklin Creek Baptist Church, Moss Point, Mississippi).
— Currence (administrative pastor, First Baptist Church, Ozark, Mo.), was unopposed and re-elected as registration secretary.
MESSENGER COUNT
The Annual Meeting drew 11,692 messengers, including 440 from Louisiana.
Recent messengers counts:
— 2025 (Dallas, Texas), 10,599
— 2024 (Indianapolis, Indiana), 10,946
— 2023 (New Orleans), 12,737
— 2022 (Anaheim, California), 8,133
— 2021 (Nashville, Tennessee), 15,726
