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The 2025 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention has concluded, and to be honest the ending was frustrating.

It’s frustrating because once again our convention missed an opportunity to apply our clear convictions. Our confession of faith is clear about the office of pastor. The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 says: While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

This is an unambiguous affirmation of biblical complementarianism—pushing back against the cultural tide of egalitarianism that has been sweeping through both society and segments of the church for decades. For this clarity, I’m deeply thankful.

And yet, despite this clear doctrinal standard, our convention still failed to reach the required two-thirds supermajority to enshrine this conviction in our definition of cooperation. If you've followed SBC life closely—or even just poked around online—you’ll find various explanations. Some accuse the SBC of liberal drift. Others blame the fear tactics of denominational elites.

Personally, I believe the vast majority of Southern Baptists agree with the proposed amendment. I believe over two-thirds of our pastors and churches would affirm it. The real issue is this: your vote only counts if you're at the convention and in the room when the vote is taken.

Though I’ve only attended five SBC annual meetings, I’m continually surprised by how many registered messengers are not present during key moments. Over 10,000 messengers arrived in Dallas for this year’s convention, but only 5,632 voted on the amendment. That means thousands of voices went unheard simply because they weren’t in the room.

Of course, we can’t say with certainty how those missing votes would have gone. But we can say this: if we’re not engaged, we shouldn’t be surprised by the results. Apathy leads to ambiguity. Lukewarm input leads to lukewarm outcomes.

And therein lies a parable for you, church member. Often, those who feel most disconnected from the church are also the least involved in it. Could it be that the reason many believers feel disengaged, disinterested, and disillusioned is because we’ve stopped showing up—especially for the less glamorous moments like members' meetings, budget votes, or elder affirmations?

The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence, loved ones. It’s greener where we water it.

So yes, I’m frustrated by some of the outcomes of SBC 2025. But I’m not giving up. I’m more resolved than ever to show up, engage, and do the slow, faithful work of shaping the future of our denomination.

We haven’t abandoned our convictions. We haven’t surrendered to the spirit of the age. But we do have work to do. And the work gets done by those who show up, roll up their sleeves, and raise their ballots.

As long as you keep sending me, I’ll keep going.

More important than faithful involvement in a denominational meeting like this is faithful involvement in your local church. Whether that’s PBC or another gospel-preaching church, I hope you’ll resist the lifelong temptation toward apathy and lukewarmness.

Show up (even to the “boring” stuff). Stay engaged. Speak the truth in love. Serve your neighbor with joy. Trust that God will use your steady faithfulness for His glory and the advance of His Kingdom.

See you Sunday!