Center for Baptist Leadership

Do Christians have a moral obligation to vote? SBC President Willy Rice sits down with William Wolfe to discuss the U.S. midterm elections. Christians have a duty to speak out and stand up for biblical issues. It's not about right vs. left, it's about right vs. wrong. Abortion, marriage, gender, religious liberty are all issues on the ballot this November.   Follow Willy Rice: https://x.com/WillyR...

In this episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe speaks with Virginia pastor Ben Purves and Ryan Helfenbein of Liberty University’s Standing for Freedom Center about Virginia’s proposed constitutional amendments concerning abortion and marriage. William, Ben, and Ryan explain why they oppose Amendments 1 and 2, and urge pastors and Christians to engage through civic part...

SBC President Willie Rice’s first major address to the Executive Committee set out a vision for renewal, doctrinal clarity, greater transparency, and a renewed commitment to gospel mission. William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead discuss what that vision could mean for the Southern Baptist Convention—and the work ahead as Southern Baptists look toward Indianapolis.   The conversation covers abuse-preventi...

Pastor Michael Clary joins William Wolfe on the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast to unpack Loser Theology—why Christians are told to "lose" and why we need high-agency Christianity instead. They hit Russell Moore, Tim Keller, persecution, SBC "managed decline," and what courageous Baptist leadership looks like now.   In this episode, we cover: How loser theology copes with cultural decline Mi...

Is IVF truly pro-life? Pastor and author Dr. Josh Holler joins William Wolfe on the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast to unpack his book “Misconceiving IVF”—explaining how IVF works, why it violates biblical ethics, and what hopeful, Christ-centered alternatives Christians should pursue instead.   In this episode, we cover: What IVF is and how the process actually works Why embryos are people...

Pastor and author Chase Davis joins us to discuss his new book, "Offensive Christianity: Restoring the Strength of Men in a Feminized Age." Order it here today and use code "CBL" for 10% off: https://press.founders.org/shop/offensive-christianity/   J. Chase Davis (M.Div, Th. M, Denver Seminary) is Lead Pastor of Ministry of The Well Church in Boulder, Colorado. He is the author of Offensive Chris...

SBC Reformers Just Scored Their Biggest Win in Decades. Here’s What It Really Means.   On the heels of the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, Executive Director William Wolfe and attorney Jon Whitehead break down two massive victories for conservative reformers: Willie Rice elected SBC President Al Mohler’s Truth & Unity Amendment passes with 74%   In this episode, we unpack: How lay...

The 2026 Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, Florida is here—and this episode is your go, vote, win battle plan.  Executive Director William Wolfe sits down with Jon Whitehead and Sam Webb to break down the most consequential decisions messengers will make this year: • Willie Rice vs. Josh Powell – what’s really at stake in the SBC presidential race • Why the SBC presidency quietly shapes the...

Megan Basham and Jon Harris join to preview the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting and discuss how Orlando is shaping up to be a major turning point in stopping the last ten years of a woke drift and liberal decline  ––––––   Follow Center for Baptist Leadership across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://twitter.com/BaptistLeaders Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/people/Center-For-Baptist-Leadership/61556...

Is the Southern Baptist Convention about to split over women pastors? In this episode, William Wolfe sits down with Sam Webb and Jon Whitehead to unpack the fight over the pastorate, Dr. Al Mohler’s Truth & Unity Amendment, and the vindication of Mike Law heading into Orlando. From Saddleback to the credentials committee, they explain why this is a first-order issue of biblical authority, anth...

Is a conservative reform wave about to flip the Southern Baptist Convention? In this episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership Podcast, William Wolfe sits down with pastor and writer Michael Clary to unpack his now-famous “taxonomy” of SBC factions—Platform, Loyalists, Reformers, Normies, and Absentees—and why Orlando 2026 could be a make-or-break moment.   They dive into: Why the reformers are...

A local Florida SBC church just held a two‑day “church trial” over the long-running conflict between Will McRaney and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and its president Kevin Ezell—and assessed $80 million in damages. Attorney Jon Whitehead walks through the backstory, the failed civil lawsuit, why the Fifth Circuit said “take it to the church,” how Island Church structured the proceeding,...

The rising tide of egalitarianism will sink the SBC unless messengers act in Orlando! Highlight clip from episode seven of SBC's Weekly Roundup: Coundown to Orlando featuring Jon Whitehead. ––––––   Follow Center for Baptist Leadership across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://twitter.com/BaptistLeaders Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/people/Center-For-Baptist-Leadership/61556762144277/ Rumbl...

In this special "SBC Weekly Roundup" edition of the CBL Podcast, William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead break down seismic news in Southern Baptist life including the ERLC’s new president Evan Lenoe, trustee failures and need for reform, as well as post–Cooperative Program “secret” strategy meetings and what it means for the future of the SBC.   Read Jon Whitehead's Article: https://christoverall.com/art...

SBC Weekly Roundup: Countdown to Orlando | Ep.6   In this special "SBC Weekly Roundup" edition of the CBL Podcast, William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead break down a seismic week in Southern Baptist life—new seminary and ERLC presidents, the future of Baptist politics, and a behind-the-scenes immigration info op. Hard-hitting, insider analysis for conservatives gearing up for Orlando and determined to r...

In this special "SBC Weekly Roundup" edition of the CBL Podcast, William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead are joined by David Schrock, Michael Clary, and Rhett Burns to discuss Christ Over All's monthly focus on "Can the Center Hold? The Southern Baptist Convention in the 21st Century."   Explore the theme: https://christoverall.com/theme/can-the-center-hold-the-southern-baptist-convention-in-the-21st-cent...

In this special "SBC Weekly Roundup" edition of the CBL Podcast, William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead analyze the SBC presidential race between Willy Rice and Josh Powell, paying particular attention to Willy's latest appearance on "The Baptist Review" podcast. They discuss the decline in Cooperative Program giving by 8% in February 2026 compared to the previous year, citing unaccountable entities, lac...

In this special "SBC Weekly Roundup" edition of the CBL Podcast, William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead unpack breaking news within the Southern Baptist Convention, including the Executive Committee’s new $186M Cooperative Program budget and ongoing financial strain on the EC. They discuss the disfellowshipping of two churches over female pastors and broader concerns about egalitarianism. A major focus i...

In this special "SBC Weekly Roundup" edition of the CBL Podcast, William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead dive deep into breaking news about a quiet gathering of roughly 30 of the SBC’s largest Cooperative Program–giving churches and what it may signal about a post–Cooperative Program future for Southern Baptists. Wolfe & Whitehead analyze the growing dominance of designated giving, new SBC legal battl...

In this week's "SBC Weekly Roundup" from CBL, William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead break down the SBC presidential race between Willie Rice and Josh Powell, the growing trust crisis at the ERLC, and serious questions about the future of the Cooperative Program. They examine past statements, current endorsements, financial pressures on the SBC Executive Committee, and proposals to dissolve or radically...

In today's episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe reacts to the shocking incident where an Anti-ICE Mob stormed into a Baptist Church disrupting worship and raising serious concerns about First Amendment rights. Joined by legal experts Will Chamberlain and Jon Whitehead, the conversation delves into the legal ramifications of the mob's actions, the implications for law...

In today's episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe sits down with Joe Rigney, Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrews College and Author of Leadership and Emotional Sabotage, and Andy Naselli, Professor of Systemic Theology at Bethlehem College and Pastor of Christ the King Church, to discuss the recent Minneapolis shooting and how Christians and Pastors should respond....

In today's episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe sits down with Chase Davis, Lead Pastor of The Well Church, to discuss Christian identity in America, revelations from JD Vance's America Fest speech, and why evangelical leadership cannot compromise on critical race theory, DEI, and traditional family values.   Chase Davis (M.Div, Th. M, Denver Seminary) is Lead Pastor...

In today's episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe sits down with Lewis Richerson, Lead Pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church, to unpack his recent interview with the New York Times on biblical justice and immigration.   Pastor Lewis came to Woodlawn in May 2012. He previously served at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in various capacities from 2005-2012 where he...

In today's episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe sits down with Megan Basham, Author of "Shepherd's for Sale" and Jon Whitehead, Attorney and former Trustee of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, to unpack new and disturbing revelations about the SBC's abuse investigation and how it was biased from the beginning.   Megan Basham is a Rotten Tomatoes-ap...