Center for Baptist Leadership

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...

Alongside SBC 2025 at CBL's "For the Faithful Majority" Conference, Dusty Deevers, Chase Davis, Brent Money, and Dr. Scott Colter sit down to discuss "Baptists with Backbone in the Public Square." Panelists emphasize Christ's sovereignty over all areas of life, including politics, and criticize the church's historical passivity. The speakers call for Christians to be bold, active, and unapologetic...

Alongside SBC 2025 at CBL's "For the Faithful Majority" Conference, Dr. David Allen, Dr. Lewis Richerson, Mark Coppenger, Dr. Tom Ascol, and Sam Webb sit down to discuss how to work across the calvinist divide for the good of the SBC convention. ––––––   Follow Center for Baptist Leadership across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://twitter.com/BaptistLeaders Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pe...

Alongside the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting 2025 the Center for Baptist Leadership hosted the "For the Faithful Majority Conference," William Wolfe emphasized the importance of the SBC's strength and fidelity to the Bible. He highlighted the 40th anniversary of W.A. Criswell's sermon and his personal conversion story. The event featured keynote speaker Steve Deace, sponsor booth...

In today's episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe sits down with Judd Saul of Equipping the Persecuted about ongoing crisis in Nigeria where Muslims are slaughtering Christians.   Judd Saul is the founder and executive director of Equipping The Persecuted, a nonprofit organization based in Sioux City, Iowa, established to assist persecuted Christians in Nigeria. His jo...

In today's episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe sits down with Tom Buck, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Lindale, TX for an SBC Roundup on the fight against wokeness and women pastors.   Tom Buck is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Lindale, Texas. He is a passionate advocate for the local church and expositional preaching and holds degrees from Mood...

In today's episode of the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, William Wolfe sits down with Michael Clary, to discuss Charlie Kirk and the cognitive dissonance of the Christian elites.   Michael Clary is the Lead Pastor of Christ the King Church in Cincinnati, OH, co-founder of King’s Domain ministries, and author of God’s Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexual...