At the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination made headlines by overwhelmingly endorsing a resolution to ban same-sex marriage, calling for the reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2015 decision, Obergefell v. Hodges. This resolution, passed by over 10,000 church representatives, or “messengers,” also urged legislators to curtail sports betting and promote policies encouraging childbearing. Yet, the convention was overshadowed by the recent death of Jennifer Lyell, a prominent whistleblower in the SBC’s ongoing sexual abuse scandal, and the lingering discontent among survivors and advocates over the denomination’s failure to implement meaningful reforms. This article delves into the intricacies of the SBC’s resolution, its implications for American society, the denomination’s historical and cultural context, and the unresolved sexual abuse crisis that continues to haunt its legacy.

The 2025 SBC Annual Meeting: A Pivotal Moment

The Southern Baptist Convention, with approximately 13 million members and 47,000 cooperating churches, is a powerful force in American evangelicalism. Its annual meeting, held on June 10-11, 2025, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, drew 10,456 messengers, a significant but diminished turnout compared to the 40,000 who attended a contentious 1985 meeting in the same city. The 2025 gathering was marked by a blend of optimism—celebrated through praise sessions and reports of rising baptisms—and controversy, as the denomination doubled down on its conservative stance on social issues while grappling with its internal failures.

The Resolution on Marriage: A Call to Overturn Obergefell

The resolution titled “On Restoring Moral Clarity through God’s Design for Gender, Marriage, and the Family” was a focal point of the 2025 meeting. It called for the “overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God’s design for marriage and family.” While the resolution avoided the term “ban,” it explicitly advocated for laws affirming marriage as a union between one man and one woman, effectively rejecting same-sex marriage. The resolution passed without debate, signaling a unified conservative front among the messengers.

Obergefell v. Hodges, decided on June 26, 2015, legalized same-sex marriage nationwide by a 5-4 Supreme Court vote. The ruling was a milestone for LGBTQ+ rights, affirming that the 14th Amendment guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. By 2015, 36 states had already legalized same-sex marriage, and public support has since grown, with a 2022 Gallup poll showing 71% of Americans, including 88% of Democrats and 76% of Independents, favoring marriage equality. However, Republican support has waned, dropping from 55% in 2021 to 41% in 2024, reflecting a growing conservative backlash.

The SBC’s resolution draws inspiration from the successful campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, which ended the constitutional right to abortion. Evangelical leaders, including those within the SBC, see this as a blueprint for challenging Obergefell. Andrew Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and chair of the SBC’s Committee on Resolutions, acknowledged the challenges but emphasized a long-term strategy. “I’m clear-eyed about the difficulties and the headwinds in this resolution,” he said at a press conference, noting that incremental steps, such as overturning Obergefell, are necessary. Denny Burk, president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We know we’re in a minority on this issue, but we want to be a prophetic minority.”

The resolution also addressed broader cultural issues, condemning “willful childlessness,” affirming only two genders, and asserting that human life is sacred from conception. It described these positions as “universal truths” essential for a “healthy, just, and free society.” Critics, such as Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out, denounced the resolution as “doubling down on bigotry under the guise of theology,” arguing that it sends a harmful message to LGBTQ+ couples.

Other Resolutions: Sports Betting and Childbearing

Beyond marriage, the SBC passed resolutions condemning sports betting as a “predatory industry” and urging policies to promote childbearing. The gambling resolution called for corporations to cease exploitative practices and for Christians to abstain from betting, though an amendment to distinguish between recreational and addictive gambling failed. The call for pro-childbearing policies reflects the SBC’s concern over declining fertility rates, aligning with its emphasis on traditional family structures. These resolutions underscore the denomination’s shift from a singular focus on abortion—post-Roe—to a broader cultural agenda targeting issues like gambling, gender, and family dynamics.

The Sexual Abuse Scandal: A Dark Cloud Over Dallas

While the resolutions dominated media coverage, the convention was profoundly affected by the recent death of Jennifer Lyell, a former SBC publishing executive who died on June 7, 2025, at age 47 after suffering catastrophic strokes. Lyell, who went public in 2019 with allegations of sexual abuse by a seminary professor, David Sills, became a symbol of the SBC’s failure to address abuse adequately. Her death, announced by advocate Rachael Denhollander on X, cast a somber shadow over the meeting.

Jennifer Lyell’s Story: A Whistleblower’s Burden

Jennifer Lyell’s allegations against Sills, a former professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, detailed a pattern of serial sexual abuse during her time as a student. When she came forward, Lyell faced significant backlash, including from the SBC’s official news agency, Baptist Press, which initially mischaracterized her experience as a consensual affair rather than “sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power.” This misrepresentation exacerbated her trauma, and friends reported that the backlash took a devastating toll on her mental and physical health.

In 2022, the SBC Executive Committee issued a public apology, acknowledging its failure to “adequately listen, protect, and care for Jennifer Lyell when she came forward.” The apology came after a 2022 independent report by Guidepost Solutions, which revealed that SBC leaders had mishandled abuse cases for decades, often protecting perpetrators and silencing victims. The report highlighted cases like that of Paul Pressler, a prominent SBC figure and architect of the denomination’s conservative resurgence in the 1980s, who was accused of sexual abuse by multiple individuals, including Gareld Duane Rollins, who died in early 2025.

Paul Pressler and the SBC’s Conservative Resurgence

Paul Pressler, a former Texas judge, was a central figure in the SBC’s “Conservative Resurgence,” a movement in the 1970s and 1980s that shifted the denomination toward theological and political conservatism. The 1985 Dallas meeting, attended by 40,000 messengers, marked a turning point in this battle, with Pressler and his allies securing control. However, allegations of sexual abuse against Pressler, spanning decades, have tarnished his legacy. Gareld Duane Rollins, one of his accusers, alleged abuse beginning in the 1980s, and his death in 2025 underscored the unresolved trauma of survivors.

The SBC’s handling of Pressler’s case, like Lyell’s, exposed systemic issues. Survivors and advocates, including Christa Brown, criticized the denomination for “hollow words” and “impotent task forces.” Brown, writing for Baptist News Global, described the SBC’s reform efforts as “phony dog-and-pony shows,” pointing to the Executive Committee’s request for $3 million in 2025 to cover legal expenses related to abuse cases as evidence of ongoing mismanagement.

Reform Efforts: Progress or Stagnation?

The 2022 SBC meeting approved measures to track pastors and church workers credibly accused of abuse, prompted by the Guidepost report. However, by 2025, progress stalled. Executive Committee president Jeff Iorg stated that creating a centralized database was not a priority, favoring instead education on abuse prevention and referrals to existing sex offender databases. Advocates like Johnna Harris, who stood vigil outside the 2025 meeting with signs honoring Lyell and Rollins, argued that these measures were inadequate. “It’s not a healthy thing for survivors to be here,” Harris said, emphasizing the need for tangible reform.

The SBC’s Cultural and Political Influence

The SBC’s resolutions and scandals reflect its broader role as a bellwether for conservative evangelicalism. With membership declining from 16.3 million in 2006 to 12.7 million in 2024, the denomination faces challenges but remains influential. Its 2025 resolutions signal a strategic pivot, leveraging the Roe v. Wade reversal to target other cultural issues like same-sex marriage and gambling.

The Obergefell Strategy: A Long Game

The push to overturn Obergefell is not new but has gained momentum post-Roe. Conservative Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have signaled openness to reconsidering Obergefell, though Chief Justice John Roberts, who dissented in 2015, remains a wildcard. The SBC’s resolution aligns with efforts in states like Michigan, Montana, and South Dakota, where Republican lawmakers have introduced measures to challenge same-sex marriage. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, described these efforts as a “deepening of Southern Baptist thinking,” drawing parallels to the decades-long strategy that overturned Roe.

However, public opinion poses a significant hurdle. Unlike abortion, same-sex marriage enjoys broad support, with only a minority of Republicans opposing it. The SBC’s resolution may serve to rally its base and influence conservative policymakers, but its broader impact is uncertain, especially after former President Donald Trump removed opposition to same-sex marriage from the Republican Party platform in 2024.

The Broader Cultural Agenda

The resolutions on sports betting and childbearing reflect the SBC’s attempt to address what it perceives as moral decay. The gambling resolution, which called sports betting “harmful and predatory,” faced minimal debate, though some pastors sought to nuance the distinction between casual and addictive gambling. The emphasis on childbearing aligns with the SBC’s critique of “willful childlessness” and declining fertility rates, positioning the family as a cornerstone of its theology.

Behind-the-Scenes Dynamics

The 2025 meeting was not just about resolutions but also internal power struggles. Proposals to ban churches with women pastors and abolish the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), the SBC’s public-policy arm, highlighted ongoing tensions. The ERLC, led by Brent Leatherwood, faced criticism from ultra-conservatives for not being conservative enough, despite its staunchly traditionalist stance. Leatherwood expressed confidence in the messengers’ support, but these debates underscore the SBC’s rightward shift.

The Role of Advocacy and Protest

The vigil by Johnna Harris and Barry Bowen outside the convention center was a poignant reminder of the SBC’s unresolved issues. Holding signs with photos of Lyell and Rollins, they sought to keep the abuse scandal in focus. Harris, host of a podcast on evangelical abuse, emphasized the need for visibility: “I want people to know there are people who care.” Their presence contrasted with the absence of other survivors, who boycotted the meeting due to frustration with the SBC’s inaction.

Critical Reception and Public Response

The SBC’s resolutions drew mixed reactions. Mainstream media outlets like The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post covered the marriage resolution extensively, noting its alignment with evangelical ambitions post-Roe. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, such as Truth Wins Out, condemned the resolution as discriminatory, while conservative commentators praised the SBC for its “prophetic” stance. On X, posts reflected polarized sentiments, with some users decrying the resolution as regressive and others supporting the SBC’s commitment to traditional values.

The sexual abuse scandal received less attention but was significant for survivors and advocates. The SBC’s statements on Lyell’s death were met with skepticism, with advocates like Rachael Denhollander calling for accountability. The $3 million funding request for legal expenses further fueled criticism, as it highlighted the financial burden of unresolved lawsuits.

Hidden Truths and Lesser-Known Stories

One lesser-known aspect of the 2025 meeting was the absence of debate on the marriage resolution, a departure from the SBC’s historically contentious discussions. This unanimity suggests a consolidated conservative base, but it also raises questions about dissenting voices within the denomination. Additionally, the SBC’s financial struggles, including the stalled sale of its Nashville headquarters, underscore the economic pressures of ongoing abuse litigation.

Another hidden truth is the emotional toll on survivors like Lyell. Her deposition revealed chilling details, such as Sills instructing her to “clean her face and repent” after alleged assaults. The SBC’s initial mishandling of her case, including Baptist Press’s misrepresentation, highlights a culture of victim-blaming that persists despite apologies.

Analysis: A Denomination at a Crossroads

The 2025 SBC annual meeting encapsulates a denomination grappling with its identity. The push to overturn Obergefell reflects a bold but uphill battle against shifting cultural norms. The sexual abuse scandal, meanwhile, exposes a failure to reconcile rhetoric with action. The SBC’s influence remains formidable, but its declining membership and internal divisions suggest a need for introspection.

The resolutions on marriage, gambling, and childbearing are not merely theological statements but political signals, aimed at shaping policy and rallying conservatives. Yet, the SBC’s credibility is undermined by its handling of abuse allegations, which continues to alienate survivors and advocates. The contrast between the convention’s triumphant tone—celebrating baptisms—and the somber vigils outside reflects a deeper tension between progress and accountability.

The Southern Baptist Convention’s 2025 meeting was a microcosm of its strengths and flaws. The resolution to ban same-sex marriage and overturn Obergefell v. Hodges underscores its commitment to conservative values, but it risks alienating a society increasingly supportive of LGBTQ+ rights. The unresolved sexual abuse scandal, epitomized by the tragic loss of Jennifer Lyell and the accusations against Paul Pressler, demands more than apologies—it requires systemic change. As the SBC navigates these challenges, its ability to balance its theological convictions with moral accountability will shape its future in American evangelicalism.