By Baptist Message staff
ORLANDO, Fla. (LBM) – Messengers elected a new slate of officers during the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.
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, defeating Josh Powell, pastor, Taylors First Baptist Church, Taylors, South Carolina. Rice received 5,217 votes (57.56%) to Powell’s 3,821 votes (42.16%).
— Meanwhile, 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, Fla.). Carlisle received 3,338 votes (65.92%) to Purvis’ 1,719 votes (33.95%). The other candidate in the earlier election was Larry Helms (pastor, Fort Lawn Baptist Church, Fort Lawn, S.C.).
— Allen Murray (pastor, Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Supply, N.C.) was elected second vice-president in a run-off vote, defeating Ethan Jago, pastor, 5 Bridges Church, Panama City Beach, Fla. He received 2,342 votes (55.38%) to Jago’s 1,876 votes (44.36%). The other candidate in the earlier election was Austin Rouse (pastor of families and students, Southern Heights Baptist Church, Russellville, Ky.).
— Travis Kerns (associational mission strategist, Three Rivers Baptist Association, Taylors, S.C.) 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%) to Schroeder’s 2,758 votes (48.14%). The other candidate in the earlier election was Jonathan Greer (pastor, Franklin Creek Baptist Church, Moss Point, Miss.).
— Don Currence (administrative pastor, First Baptist Church, Ozark, Mo.), was re-elected registration secretary. He ran unopposed.
