Willy Rice warns pastors success 'rooted in compromise' will 'foreshadow a greater defeat'
Southern Baptist Convention presidential hopeful Willy Rice spoke with fellow pastors ahead of the denomination’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, urging them to prioritize being “faithful” over being “successful.”
At the SBC Pastors’ Conference on Monday, Rice, the senior pastor at Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, preached a sermon centered on the downfall of ancient Israelite King Saul, as recounted in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel.
Rice stressed that “it is not enough to affirm right doctrine,” warning that “if we seek the favor of the world more than the approval of Heaven, if we fear the rejection of men more than we fear the judgment of God, we are already on a dangerous slide.”
“It is not enough for us to engage in religious ritual,” he stressed. “Saul had lost sight of what mattered most: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.”
“If we believe our missional fervency justifies any erosion of doctrinal or spiritual faithfulness, we are mistaken,” he added, drawing applause from conference attendees.
“I want a Southern Baptist Convention that is successful, but I want one that is faithful even more,” Rice continued, again prompting applause from those gathered.
“Faithfulness today will bring fruitfulness tomorrow,” he proclaimed. “But success today, if rooted in compromise, will foreshadow a greater defeat to come.”
Last October, the 62-year-old Rice, who has served as a pastor for more than 40 years, announced his intention to seek the nomination for SBC president at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting.
“The Church is always reforming,” Rice said in his announcement last year. “We receive correction, adjust course and embrace renewal. And it is to that end today that I want to share with my Southern Baptist family my desire for renewal in our time.”
Current SBC President Clint Pressley, who is stepping down this year, nominated Rice for convention president in March 2022 for that year’s annual meeting.
“He loves Southern Baptists, believes in Southern Baptists, and has demonstrated at every level of our convention his ability to lead Southern Baptists,” Pressley told Baptist Press at the time.
However, soon after the 2022 nomination, Rice’s church garnered headlines when it surfaced that it ordained a deacon who, before becoming a Christian, had engaged in sexually abusive behavior.
Rice then withdrew his name from consideration, stating at the time that "I've found myself in an untenable position of watching people I love in a church I love done immeasurable harm simply because my name was being considered for this office."
In addition to Rice, South Carolina Pastor Josh Powell is also expected to be nominated for SBC president this year. Tennessee Pastor Jay Hardwick told Baptist Press earlier this year that he intended to nominate Powell.
“I've known Josh as a close friend for 30 years, and the word I use to describe his character and relationship with God over these 30 years is consistent,” Hardwick said.
“He is a man of integrity, he loves God’s Word, and he is diligent in his personal pursuit of growth as a disciple of Jesus. … He is humble, approachable and wise, all qualities that stem from his walk with the Lord.”
The election for SBC president is scheduled to take place on Tuesday afternoon.
