I am keen on several things, and history is topping the list. Baptist history, military history—you name it. But nothing compares to living through history, and if you’ve ever attended a Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, you’ve experienced just that. Sometimes the history is remembered for decades. Other times, you look back and think, “Wow,” and I don’t mean that in the same way Dr. Chuck Kelley (former president of NOBTS) meant when he referenced that “ancient Hebrew expression.” I mean “wow” as in, “I can’t believe that happened,” or “What were we thinking?”
No matter the moment, you’re witnessing history unfold. That’s why I find it so odd how quickly people in the SBC forget the past. Many think this is the first time something dramatic or divisive has happened. Unlikely. Others claim, “It didn’t used to be this way.” Also, unlikely. Even more amusing is the growing online complaint that “they” can never get anything done at an SBC Annual Meeting—because of “the platform.”
It’s often said, “Where two Baptists are gathered, there will be three opinions.” So what happens when you gather 10,000+ in a business meeting? You get history, shock, weirdness, passion, progress, missional focus—and a few crazy uncles who always find the mic.
So What Is “The Platform”?
Recently, I attended my seventh or eighth Annual Meeting. I went sporadically early in my ministry but have rarely missed since 2018. And this phrase keeps coming up: “the platform. ”What is it? A stage? A power structure? The claim I read most is that “the platform” controls everything—what gets voted on, who gets to speak, and even how the vote will go. It’s described as a conspiracy of elites shutting out the everyday messenger. Don’t get your way? Blame the platform. Didn’t get to speak? Platform. Vote didn’t go your way? Must have been the platform’s fault. This accusation flies around more than the pigeons inside the Dallas Convention Center. But it’s deeply flawed.
Two Problems With the Platform Myth
First, it assumes the worst about those leading the Convention. It suggests that key leaders manipulate outcomes because they “know better.” These assumptions are uncharitable at best—and unbiblical at worst.
Second, and more importantly, it ignores history. Over and over, the will of the messengers—not the platform—has prevailed.
Just as a reminder for the uninitiated: parliamentary procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order don’t give power to the majority—they protect the rights of the minority to be heard. The entire system is built to allow open deliberation.
Exhibit A: The Conservative Resurgence
If you’re old enough, think back to the Conservative Resurgence of the 1980s. If not, you’ve likely all about it and were raised with its benefits. In the 1960s and ’70s, many SBC institutions, especially seminaries, ran from biblical authority. The “platform” of that era was largely moderate. Yet a determined group of Bible-believing conservatives mobilized and began attending annual meetings en masse. They didn’t complain about the platform, they outvoted it.
Adrian Rogers’ election in 1979 marked the beginning of a much needed movement that returned the SBC to its biblical roots. The lesson? If you want change, show up and vote for it. Don’t blame the mic-moderator; bring messengers who share your convictions.
Exhibit B: Dave Miller and the Pastor’s Conference
SBC Voices’ own Dave Miller, the brilliant mastermind behind the motion to print names on both sides of name tags, pitched an idea for the SBC Pastor’s Conference: have small church pastors preach through a book of the Bible.
He rallied support, spread the word online, and used social media to build momentum. The voters agreed. He was elected President of the Pastor’s Conference, and the event featured preachers largely unknown to the broader SBC audience. Some of them, like Bart Barber who later became SBC Convention President. Once again: ideas, not complaints, won the day.
Exhibit C: Defeating the Executive Committee
In 2021 in Nashville, the Executive Committee, arguably “the platform of platforms,” proposed changes to the Business and Financial Plan. The messengers flat-out rejected them. No ballot vote was even needed. Even more telling: the Executive Committee was hesitant to bring substantial sexual abuse reform to the floor. The messengers overrode them, not only bringing it forward but expanding the action.
We can agree or disagree with the outcome of expanded action on abuse reform—either way, the “platform” was against it, and the messengers overruled them.
Fast forward to 2025. A similar proposal came to change the Business and Financial Plan came up. This time, the messengers approved the changes. What changed? The votes of the messenger body. They were informed, engaged, and voted their beliefs. Some may argue that a speech from the platform swayed the vote in 2025. I disagree. Although fantastic speeches can change the room and the votes, when Dr. Iorg addressed the messengers, his speech was informative, but it wasn’t revolutionary like others have been such as James Merritt’s on the confederate flag resolution of 2016. The vast majority of messengers arrived in the room this year, knowing the issues, the plan and how they planned to vote.
Exhibit D: The 2022 SBC Presidential Election
In Anaheim, two men ended up in a runoff for SBC President: Bart Barber and Tom Ascol. Neither pastored a mega-church. Both led ordinary SBC congregations. If “the platform” truly controlled nominations and elections, explain how two men from outside the typical national spotlight ended up in the top two. The answer? Messengers made the call.
So… Is There a Platform?
Sure. Technically, the people on stage are on a raised platform. They present reports, recommendations, and updates. But after that, the messengers respond at microphones around the room with support, opposition, or questions and sometimes even the addition or deletion of an oxford comma or two. Then something incredible happens: we vote. By ballot or raised hands, the messengers, not the platform, decide the direction of our convention. Calling it “the platform’s fault” is just an excuse when the messengers don’t agree with your position.
That’s the beauty of the SBC.
We meet.
We deliberate.
We vote.
And the will of the messengers, not a mythical platform, guides our future. May we continue to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ… together.
Jonathan Raffini serves as the Minister of Discipleship and Administration at First Baptist Church in Big Spring Texas. He has served in that role for six years after serving as Youth Minister for eight years before that, also at FBC Big Spring. Prior to that, Jonathan and his wife Rebekah were NAMB appointed church planting missionaries in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. Jonathan is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, has been married to Rebekah for 18 years and they have two daughters.