NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee will meet via Zoom, April 28, to discuss moving the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting from Charlotte, N.C. to New Orleans, La. Rolland Slade, chairman of the SBC EC told Baptist Press the move was a sign of good news because “attendance at the annual meeting is trending up, which is the primary reason for the move.”
Charlotte was confirmed as the 2023 host city by messengers to the 2016 SBC Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Since that meeting, however, attendance at the annual event has grown, which means the 280,000-square-foot Charlotte Convention Center is not large enough to host the now-anticipated 15,000 messengers and guests, Baptist Press reported, noting that space requirements have recently surged to 400,000 square feet.
Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn was enthusiastic.
“We are excited to welcome back the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2023,” Horn told Baptist Press. “It’s been 11 years since Louisiana last hosted this gathering, and we’ll be ready to roll out the welcome mat for our Baptist family from across the nation. We’ll also be sure and save some of your favorite Louisiana cuisine!”
Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was equally excited.
“NOBTS is thrilled to welcome Southern Baptists to our great city in 2023,” Dew said. “We want to encourage Southern Baptists to come early or stay late to take in the rich food and culture of New Orleans. We can’t wait to have you here with us and show you all God is doing on our campus and in our city.”
Based on reporting by Brandon Porter, SBC EC associate vice president for Convention News.
