Southern Baptist Convention Releases Eight Proposed Resolutions Ahead of Annual Meeting

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has unveiled eight proposed resolutions in advance of its 2025 Annual Meeting, scheduled for June 8–11 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. This early release, mandated by a 2023 bylaw change, ensures Messengers have at least ten days to review the proposals before the meeting.

The resolutions address a range of topics, including:

• Appreciation for the City of Dallas
• The Centennial Anniversary of the Cooperative Program
• The Harmful and Predatory Nature of Sports Betting
• Banning Pornography
• Restoring Moral Clarity through God’s Design for Gender, Marriage, and the Family
• Standing Against the Moral Evils and Medical Dangers of Chemical Abortion Pills
• Advocating for International Religious Freedom
• Honoring the Centennial Anniversary of the Baptist Faith and Message and Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Baptist Faith and Message (2000)

These resolutions are non-binding but serve to express the collective stance of the denomination on various issues. 

One notable resolution calls for a national ban on pornography. Brent Leatherwood, President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), initiated this proposal, emphasizing the need for renewed focus on combating pornography. He stated, "This is a unique time because we now have real data for just how destructive pornography is for communities and families and individuals."

Leatherwood expressed optimism about the Supreme Court's forthcoming decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, a case concerning a Texas law requiring age verification for access to adult content online. He remarked, "I’m pretty optimistic the court is going to come back and say yes, this is an appropriate action to take."

The proposed resolution aligns with recent legislative actions, including the federal Take It Down Act, signed into law on May 19, 2025. This act criminalizes the nonconsensual sharing of explicit images online and mandates their removal within 48 hours upon request.

Additionally, the Supreme Court's pending decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton could have significant implications for online content regulation. The case examines the constitutionality of Texas's age verification law for adult websites, with potential nationwide impact.

The SBC's early release of these resolutions reflects a commitment to transparency and informed discussion among its members. The proposed stances, particularly on issues like pornography and online content regulation, indicate the denomination's engagement with contemporary moral and legal challenges.

Several of the SBC’s proposed resolutions for the 2025 Annual Meeting align with legislative actions taken in Alabama over the past several years. These parallels reflect shared concerns on issues such as pornography, abortion, gender identity, and religious instruction.

The SBC's resolution advocating for a national ban on pornography mirrors Alabama's legislative efforts to restrict access to explicit content. In 2024, Alabama enacted HB164, requiring pornographic websites to verify users' ages via a government-issued photo identification. 

The SBC's stance against chemical abortion pills is similar to Alabama's legislative measures. In 2025, the Alabama House introduced HB611, which sought to prohibit access to abortion-inducing drugs via the internet or other information technology systems. HB611 died in the House Judiciary Committee in this past session.

The SBC's resolution on Restoring Moral Clarity through God's design for gender, marriage, and the family aligns with Alabama's SB79, defining sex-based terms and requiring vital statistics to report sex as male or female at birth. This legislation establishes a policy regarding sex and gender identity, impacting various aspects of public life. SB79 passed in the 2025 session and was signed by Governor Ivey.

The SBC's advocacy for international religious freedom is similar to with Alabama's SB278, mandating that school districts establish procedures for students to attend religious classes off-site for elective credit. This bill would have integrated religious instruction into the educational framework while respecting constitutional boundaries. It passed the Alabama Senate in the 2025 session but died in the House State Government Committee.

For more information on the proposed resolutions and the upcoming annual meeting, visit the official SBC Annual Meeting website HERE.

Alabama has roughly 900,000 Southern Baptists “on the rolls” in some 3,200 churches, according to Jennifer Rash, President and Editor-in-Chief of TAB Media, TAB Media is the parent company of The Alabama Baptist and The Baptist Paper, and is headquartered in Homewood.