Pastor Willy Rice of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, has been elected as the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, defeating fellow nominee Josh Powell during the denomination's annual meeting.
According to official election results announced Tuesday afternoon, Rice received 5,217 votes (57.56%), while Powell received 3,821 votes (42.16%). A total of 9,063 messengers cast ballots from the 11,613 registered attendees, with 25 ballots disallowed.
Rice's election follows a campaign that emphasized biblical fidelity, denominational cooperation, and renewed focus on the Great Commission. During his nomination speech, pastor Adrian S. Taylor highlighted Rice's more than four decades of ministry experience and his leadership within Southern Baptist life, including serving as president of the SBC Pastors' Conference in 2015.
Taylor pointed to Calvary Church's evangelistic efforts, noting that the congregation has baptized more than 700 people since January 2025 and has actively supported church planting initiatives. He described Rice as a leader marked by "pastoral wisdom, clear convictions, and Great Commission focus" at a critical moment for the denomination.
The election also drew praise from conservative SBC voices. William Wolfe, executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership, said Rice's victory demonstrated a desire among Southern Baptists for leadership that would address challenges facing the convention while maintaining a strong commitment to gospel ministry and conservative renewal.
Rice prevailed over Powell, the lead pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church in South Carolina. Powell was nominated by pastor Jay Hardwick, who praised his deep Southern Baptist roots, commitment to cooperative missions, and confidence in the role of messengers to guide the denomination's future.
The election comes as Southern Baptists continue to debate issues related to denominational governance, doctrinal accountability, transparency, and the future direction of the convention. Rice now assumes one of the most influential leadership positions in American evangelicalism, where he will preside over SBC annual meetings and appoint members to key committees that help shape the denomination's work and priorities.
As the Southern Baptist Convention looks ahead, Rice's supporters believe his combination of pastoral experience, denominational service, and commitment to Scripture positions him to lead the nation's largest Protestant denomination through a season of renewal and continued mission engagement.
