October 1, 2026
There was a time when many Southern Baptist leaders emphasized a simple truth: what they were entrusted with did not belong to them. Men like Adrian Rogers and W.A. Criswell often spoke of leadership as a stewardship, not a throne. They understood that trust takes years to build and can be lost quickly. That is why many grassroots Southern Baptists today feel that it’s time for a serious self-examination.
Let me be clear from the outset. The SBC has never been about defending abuse. Abuse is evil, predators should be exposed, crimes should be prosecuted, victims should be protected, and churches should operate with integrity. The issue has never been whether abuse should be confronted. The issue is how SBC leaders chose to respond.
A Watching World
To show sincerity before a watching world, some SBC leaders appeared willing to set aside principles that earlier generations worked hard to set up and defend. One of the most concerning examples was the decision to waive attorney-client privilege during the abuse investigation process. For generations, attorney-client privilege has been a foundational legal protection. It allows individuals and organizations to seek counsel openly and honestly. Once abandoned, many Southern Baptists worry it may create a precedent that weakens an important safeguard during periods of intense public pressure. The concern, however, was never merely legal.
Many began asking a deeper question: If leaders are willing to set aside established principles when pressure mounts, what principles are nonnegotiable? What followed only intensified those concerns for many observers. The atmosphere within parts of the SBC appeared to change. In some cases, accusation carried more weight than evidence, and public condemnation often arrived before the facts were fully known. Pastors, leaders, and faithful servants of Christ sometimes found themselves judged by headlines, social media narratives, and public opinion before meaningful processes had run their course. That raises serious concerns about justice. Justice needs facts, due process, and impartiality. It should not assume guilt simply because of an accusation.
The Word of God is the Standard
The Bible is clear: “He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Yet many Southern Baptists felt they were watching conclusions take shape before investigations were completed and judgments made before all the facts were known. As a result, many pastors and church members came to believe some SBC leaders and institutions were prioritizing public sentiment at the expense of biblical principles. The consequences have been significant.
Trust in SBC leadership has declined among many Southern Baptists. Churches have grown increasingly skeptical of Nashville, and some pastors who once viewed the Convention primarily as a cooperative mission effort now see it as a political battlefield. Many ministers are left wondering whether SBC leadership is focused on advancing the Great Commission or preserving institutional influence.
Perhaps, the greatest irony is that many of today’s leaders inherited victories they did not personally win. The Conservative Resurgence was not inevitable. It required sacrifice, perseverance, and a commitment to preserving biblical authority, doctrinal fidelity, and accountability to the churches. Those who fought that battle understood that institutions can drift when leaders become more concerned with cultural approval than biblical conviction. That is what many grassroots Southern Baptists fear may be happening today. The greatest challenge facing the SBC may not come from outside the Convention. It may come from within.
Power is a dangerous thing.
Those who inherit influence can sometimes assume it will always be there, while those who fought to earn it understand how quickly it can be gone. When leaders become disconnected from the churches that give them their authority, institutions often suffer. The Southern Baptist Convention does not belong to executives, committee members, platform personalities, or denominational insiders alone. It belongs to the churches. Every dollar given through the Cooperative Program originates in a local church. Every messenger who gathers at the annual meeting comes from a local church. Every entity exists because local churches choose to support it. The churches are not servants of the entities. The entities should be servants of the churches.
The future of the Southern Baptist Convention will not be decided by those who control microphones on convention platforms. It will be determined by faithful pastors who open their Bibles every Sunday, by churches that preach the Gospel without apology, and by congregations that continue winning souls, baptizing believers, making disciples, and supporting missions.
Hope for Renewal
If there is hope for renewal, it will not come primarily through another committee or public relations strategy. It will come when Southern Baptists remember who we are. We need accountability instead of bureaucracy, churches before institutions and the truth before the narratives continue. Faithfulness to Christ should be paramount before approval from the culture. Southern Baptists do not simply need leaders who are skilled at managing public relations. We need leaders who have the courage to stand for truth when standing for truth is costly. Because when trust diminishes in the pursuit of the preservation of power, both trust and influence can eventually suffer. And rebuilding trust is always far harder than losing it.
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Pastor Johnny Nix is the Senior Pastor of Pickett's Mill Baptist Church in Dallas, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Theology and a Master's Degree from the Crown College of the Bible. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Ministry and a Ph.D in psychology and counseling from Bethany Divinity College and Seminary.
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