The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) adopted a series of significant resolutions during its 2026 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, addressing some of the most pressing moral, cultural, and theological issues facing churches and society today. From reaffirming the sanctity of life and condemning antisemitism to clarifying biblical teaching on pastoral leadership and commemorating America's 250th anniversary, the resolutions reflected the denomination's ongoing efforts to articulate a distinctly biblical response to contemporary challenges.
Resolutions approved by messengers are considered formal expressions of the Convention's convictions and concerns. While they do not direct SBC entities to specific actions, they serve as public statements representing the collective voice of the denomination on important issues.
Assisted Suicide Resolution Reaffirms Sanctity of Life
Among the most discussed measures was the resolution titled "On Assisted Suicide and the Sanctity of Life." The resolution reaffirmed the SBC's longstanding commitment to the value of human life from conception until natural death, emphasizing that every person is created in the image of God and therefore deserves dignity, protection, and compassionate care.
During debate, Pastor Glenn LaRue of University Baptist Church in Middletown, Ohio, proposed a friendly amendment that expanded the theological rationale behind the resolution. The amendment highlighted the eternal implications of death, stating that those outside of Christ face eternal judgment while believers are sustained by God's grace to persevere faithfully through suffering.
LaRue argued that the amendment directly challenged the growing cultural narrative that portrays assisted suicide as an act of compassion.
"It cannot be compassionate if we are accelerating and sealing someone's eternal destiny in Hell if they are lost," he said, according to Baptist Press.
The amendment was adopted, strengthening the resolution's emphasis on both the sanctity of life and the Christian understanding of suffering, hope, and eternity.
SBC Condemns Rising Antisemitism
Messengers also overwhelmingly approved a resolution denouncing antisemitism amid growing concerns about increasing hostility toward Jewish communities around the world.
The resolution specifically referenced the rise in antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and sparked the ongoing conflict in the region.
The statement condemned conspiracy theories that falsely portray Jewish people as controlling media, finance, politics, culture, or even weather events. Convention leaders described such claims as modern expressions of historic antisemitic falsehoods that have fueled persecution for centuries.
The resolution declared that these forms of hatred violate both biblical truth and the Christian conviction that every person possesses God-given dignity.
Messengers further called on Southern Baptists to actively oppose antisemitism through biblical teaching, meaningful friendships with Jewish neighbors, public advocacy, prayer for the peace of Jerusalem, and evangelistic concern for the salvation of the Jewish people.
Convention Reaffirms Male-Only Pastoral Office
Another major resolution addressed the biblical office of pastor, elder, and overseer.
The statement reaffirmed the SBC's position that Scripture establishes two church offices-pastor/elder/overseer and deacon-and that the office of pastor is reserved for qualified men.
The resolution closely followed action taken earlier during the Annual Meeting when messengers approved a constitutional amendment designed to strengthen the Convention's existing restrictions regarding women serving in pastoral roles. The amendment would formally specify that cooperating SBC churches must affirm that the offices of pastor, elder, and overseer are limited to men as taught in Scripture.
Because constitutional amendments require approval at two consecutive annual meetings, the measure must receive a second affirmative vote in 2027 before becoming part of the SBC Constitution.
Supporters argued that the action provides greater doctrinal clarity and reinforces the denomination's historic complementarian convictions regarding church leadership.
Resolution Marks America's 250th Anniversary
In anticipation of the United States' 250th anniversary, messengers adopted a resolution recognizing both the nation's founding and the significant role Baptists played in shaping American religious liberty.
The resolution highlighted the contributions of influential Baptist leaders such as Isaac Backus and John Leland, who championed freedom of conscience and opposed state-established religion during the nation's formative years.
According to the resolution, Baptist advocacy helped influence the eventual adoption of the First Amendment, which protects the free exercise of religion while prohibiting the establishment of a national church.
Messengers celebrated this historic legacy while encouraging continued vigilance in defending religious freedom for all people.
Political Violence Resolution Sparks Debate
A broad resolution condemning political violence generated some of the most notable discussion during the meeting.
The statement denounced violence motivated by political ideology and called for Christians to model civility, peace, and respect even amid deep disagreements.
During debate, messenger William Wolfe proposed an amendment that would have specifically recognized conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed in September 2025 while participating in an open-forum event at Utah Valley University.
Supporters of the amendment argued that Kirk's death represented a significant example of political violence against Christians and conservatives. However, the proposal ultimately failed.
Many messengers believed the resolution should remain broad and avoid naming individual victims, allowing it to serve as a universal condemnation of political violence regardless of ideology or circumstance.
Additional Resolutions Adopted
In addition to the headline measures, messengers approved resolutions honoring volunteer and bivocational pastors, encouraging greater evangelistic outreach among people with disabilities, and addressing immigration.
The immigration resolution called for compassionate treatment of immigrants while also affirming the importance of enforcing existing immigration laws and maintaining secure national borders.
Collectively, the resolutions adopted in Orlando provide a snapshot of the SBC's priorities in 2026, reflecting its commitment to biblical authority, the sanctity of life, religious liberty, and engagement with contemporary social and cultural issues through a distinctly Christian worldview.
