When the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastor’s Conference wrapped up on June 13, 2022, the headlines weren’t about a new worship style or a flagship mission project. Instead, they focused on a surprising upset: Voddie Baucham—the Zambian‑based dean of theology and a well‑known voice in conservative evangelical circles—fell short by just 82 votes.

In the final tally, Daniel Dickard of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, secured 690 votes, while Baucham garnered 608. The margin may look slim on paper, but the contest was anything but straightforward.

Why the race mattered to both sides of the SBC

For years, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), America’s largest Protestant denomination, has been wrestling with internal tension. On one side, groups like Founders Ministries—a network of pastors and churches that champions a “hard‑line” interpretation of the Baptist Faith and Message—see a cultural drift toward what they label “woke” theology. On the other, leaders pushing for broader engagement with social‑justice conversations argue that the denomination must evolve to stay relevant.

Founders Ministries put Baucham forward as its standard‑bearer, hoping he could steer the conference agenda away from topics such as critical race theory (CRT), gender‑role debates, and intersectionality. In a fiery endorsement, the group warned that the SBC’s “baptisms and evangelism continue their freefall” while leaders “steer our institutions ever closer to the culture.” Their statement singled out CRT as a dangerous import, echoing the themes of Baucham’s recent book, Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe.

Meanwhile, Dickard’s campaign emphasized continuity and unity. He promised to keep the conference focused on traditional preaching, missionary support, and practical ministry training, positioning himself as a bridge between the denomination’s historic core and its contemporary challenges.

Both candidates were backed by a network of pastors who traveled to the annual gathering in Dallas, Texas, to cast their votes. The election process itself became a story.

  • Initial voting was done by a show‑of‑hands stand‑up method, which left the results dead‑locked.
  • Organizers switched to secret paper ballots, a move that sparked confusion and suspicion.
  • During the dinner break, social‑media users posted photos of non‑pastors handling ballots, fueling accusations of ballot stuffing.
  • In the end, 59 votes were declared invalid after a review, but outgoing president Matt Henslee insisted the disallowed votes “would not have changed the results.”

The controversy over the vote count highlighted a deeper issue: the growing mistrust among SBC members about the fairness of their own institutions. For many, the election was the latest flashpoint in a battle over who gets to define what it means to be a Southern Baptist today.

Beyond the numbers, Baucham’s eligibility sparked another debate. Critics argued that his full‑time role at African Christian University in Zambia made him an overseas missionary, potentially disqualifying him from a leadership post that traditionally requires active membership in a local Southern Baptist church. The matter was settled when Baucham’s sending church—a Southern Baptist congregation he founded and still supports—affirmed his continuous membership, clearing the path for his candidacy.

Even though the presidency of the Pastor’s Conference carries limited formal authority, the role is a high‑visibility platform. The elected president helps set the speakers’ roster, selects thematic tracks, and influences the overall tone of the next year’s gathering. In practical terms, that means shaping the dialogue on topics ranging from church planting to theological education, and, importantly for the current culture war, the denomination’s stance on social justice issues.

For the Conservative Baptist Network, which rallied behind Baucham, the loss is a setback but not the end of the fight. The network has already begun mobilizing for upcoming SBC annual meetings, where votes on doctrinal statements and mission priorities will be up for grabs. Their broader strategy aims to place conservative voices in key committees, thereby steering the denomination’s long‑term trajectory.

On the other side, Dickard’s victory is being celebrated as a triumph for those who favor a more measured approach—one that avoids overt political entanglement while still addressing pressing societal concerns. His upcoming term will likely focus on reinforcing traditional biblical teaching, supporting missionary work abroad, and fostering a sense of unity amid the ongoing ideological rifts.

As the SBC community digests the outcome, the conversation is shifting from the ballot box to the conference floor. What kinds of speakers will be invited? Will CRT and related topics be given a stage or quietly sidelined? The answers will unfold over the coming months, but one thing is clear: the Pastor’s Conference remains a pivotal arena where the future identity of the Southern Baptist Convention is being negotiated, one vote at a time.