October 1, 2026
ORLANDO, Fla. — Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention elected Florida pastor Willy Rice as president Tuesday, choosing the longtime Clearwater pastor to succeed outgoing SBC President Clint Pressley.
Rice, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Fla., received 5,217 votes. Josh Powell, lead pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church in South Carolina, received 3,821 votes.
Registration Secretary Don Currence reported 11,613 registered messengers. Of 9,063 votes cast, 25 ballots were disallowed.
Rice and Powell were formally nominated during the Tuesday afternoon session at the Orange County Convention Center.
Adrian Taylor, pastor of Spring Hill Church in Gainesville, Fla., nominated Rice, describing him as a seasoned pastor with more than 45 years of ministry experience and a clear commitment to Scripture, the Great Commission, and biblical renewal.
Taylor said Rice has served Southern Baptists in multiple capacities, including as president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference in 2015. He also pointed to Rice’s leadership at Calvary Church, where he said more than 700 people have been baptized since January 2025.
“As we gather at an important moment in the life of our convention, I believe we need leadership marked by pastoral wisdom, clear convictions, and Great Commission focus,” Taylor said.
Taylor said Southern Baptists need renewal, but not a renewal that blurs doctrine or ignores problems.
“We need biblical renewal, rooted in repentance, and uncompromised truth,” he said.
He also said the next generation needs to see a convention that is serious about Scripture.
“The calendar may change, the culture may change, and crowds may change, but God’s Word is still immutable, and it will never change,” Taylor said.
Taylor described Rice as a leader with “a pastor’s heart, a preacher’s conviction, and a servant’s humility.” He said Rice understands the need for SBC entities to work collaboratively with shared accountability and transparency.
“The mission is too great, the moment is too serious, and the gospel is too glorious for us to let God down now,” Taylor said.
Jay Hardwick, senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., nominated Powell, pointing to his Southern Baptist roots, denominational service, commitment to the Cooperative Program, and confidence in the messengers.
Hardwick described Powell as a Baptist historian who trusts Southern Baptists to make decisions when they are given the necessary time, information, and opportunity.
“Josh Powell believes Southern Baptists can speak for themselves, and he believes the final word should rest with the messengers,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick also said Powell has led Taylors First Baptist to become the most invested Cooperative Program giving church in South Carolina and would keep Southern Baptists focused on advancing the Great Commission.
Both Rice and Powell entered the annual meeting after publicly voicing support for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler’s proposed constitutional amendment addressing the office and function of pastor, elder, and overseer.
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