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Last week I was privileged to join over 11,000 Southern Baptists for our annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Here are several other reasons I'm thankful for our time in Orlando:

I am thankful for PBC's faithful giving that allowed us to attend. I was joined by Sterling Tollison and my lovely wife, Holly, as PBC's three messengers. We were able to attend only because of your faithful giving, so thank you for supporting Christ's church and the work of the Southern Baptist Convention.


I am thankful that the Lord of the Harvest is still sending workers to the ends of the earth. Seeing so many men, women, and families commissioned as missionaries with the International Mission Board is always encouraging.


I am thankful for new and old friends. Over a dozen pastors from our Pillar Network region were present at this year's meeting, and it was great to spend time with many of them. It was also a blessing to reconnect with friends from other churches and places where I have served through the years.


I am thankful for a less contentious meeting. Back in 2020, when controversies surrounding social justice were creating significant division in the SBC, some of our elders wondered aloud whether PBC was still a good fit for the convention. Rather than pulling away, we decided to lean in. We sent messengers to Nashville in 2021 and have remained actively involved ever since. Looking back, I'm thankful we stayed engaged. The 2026 meeting was probably the least contentious annual meeting I've attended. Debates surrounding critical race theory, sexual abuse reform, and the ERLC have largely subsided, allowing Southern Baptists to focus more attention on our shared mission.


I am thankful we took a stand for biblical clarity. The past six years have included a flurry of controversies related to women serving as pastors in some SBC churches. While the SBC has faithfully removed these churches whenever the issue has arisen, it seems prudent to many to amend our constitution so this doesn't become an annual point of debate.


In a second attempt to address this concern, we voted on an amendment to the SBC constitution. Dr. Albert Mohler presented the amendment, which aimed to clarify our longstanding convictions that the office of pastor/elder is meant to be filled by biblically qualified men (see the full amendment here).


Thankfully, nearly 75% of messengers voted to affirm this amendment, but we're not out of the woods yet. Constitutional amendments must receive two consecutive approvals by a two-thirds majority at successive annual meetings. The amendment will therefore come before the convention again in Indianapolis next year. I expect opposition to be stronger in 2027, so please pray that Southern Baptists will finish the process and bring clarity to this issue once and for all.

I am especially thankful for the fellowship we enjoy through the Pillar Network. One of the greatest blessings of these annual meetings is spending time with like-minded pastors and church leaders who share our commitment to healthy churches, faithful preaching, elder leadership, meaningful membership, church planting, and the advance of the gospel. In many ways, the Pillar Network has become our tribe within the larger Southern Baptist family, and I am grateful for the encouragement, friendship, and partnership we enjoy together.


By God's grace, I returned home from Orlando thankful for our church, thankful for our convention, and thankful for the many brothers and sisters laboring together to make Christ known among the nations.