In Dallas, the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting saw delegates strongly support measures opposing same-sex marriage and called for the reversal of the United States Supreme Court’s decision made a decade ago that legalized it nationwide. In addition, they urged legislative action to clamp down on sports betting and promote policies advocating for childbearing. The gathering, which included more than 10,000 representatives of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, passed resolutions that urge overthrowing Obergefell v. Hodges and other rulings or laws supporting same-sex marriage. Rather than using the term “ban,” the resolution demanded legal recognitions only for marriage unions strictly between one man and one woman.
Facing no debate—a typical occurrence for the convention known for its conservative leanings—the endorsement reflects a bold stance against the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision. Though the Obergefell decision did not establish a nationwide ban on same-sex marriage, proponents hope to reverse it and dismantle state laws that recognize such unions, despite strong backing in numerous regions. Delegates integrated the marriage discourse into a broader resolution advocating civil law compliance with Biblical creation orders. Additionally, they criticized gender policies that contradict “biological reality” and pushed for recognizing male-female distinctions while promoting laws supporting marriage and childbearing.
The resolution critiqued modern trends—a decline in fertility tied to willful childlessness—framing this as a cultural crisis. The convention’s discourse also included pornography, deemed exploitative and destructive, calling for its prohibition by government powers. Furthermore, legislation was urged against what was labeled “harmful and predatory” sports betting, although a proposed change to differentiate between recreational and addictive gambling failed. Andrew Walker, committee chair, emphasized the convention’s opposition to society’s growing acceptance of same-sex marriage, acknowledging the challenges but advocating for gradual strategies to reverse such legal recognitions.
Overshadowing the meeting was the recent death of Jennifer Lyell, a prominent whistleblower who exposed sexual abuse within a seminary context. Her passing has reignited discussions around the Southern Baptist Convention’s handling of abuse claims, with advocates expressing frustration over perceived slow progress in implementing proper reforms. Despite issuing an apology in 2022 for mishandled allegations, the convention’s executive body has been criticized for delays in establishing a database for tracking accused abusers. Some argue that the lack of effective measures persists, as noted by Christa Brown, a longstanding advocate, who critiqued the convention’s response as superficial.
The meeting also plans to explore pivotal issues such as a proposed constitutional ban on churches with female pastors and discussions around the future of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, criticized for its perceived lack of conservatism. As of Tuesday, over 10,000 delegates were registered, a fraction compared to past meetings, yet still indicative of the ongoing internal debates shaping this significant religious body. On Wednesday, attention will turn to how leaders address these challenges and maintain unity among attendees.