SBC Weekly Roundup: Countdown to Orlando | Ep.1

Feb 9, 2026

46:47

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In this week's "SBC Weekly Roundup" from CBL, William Wolfe and Jon Whitehead break down the SBC presidential race between Willie Rice and Josh Powell, the growing trust crisis at the ERLC, and serious questions about the future of the Cooperative Program. They examine past statements, current endorsements, financial pressures on the SBC Executive Committee, and proposals to dissolve or radically restructure the ERLC ahead of the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando.

Follow CBL's "SBC Weekly RoundUp" to stay informed on:

SBC Presidential Race
Entity Controversies (ERLC, Executive Committee, seminaries, and more)
The future of the Cooperative Program
How your church can prepare to engage faithfully and effectively at the SBC Annual Meeting

Timestamps:

00:40 – New! Weekly SBC Roundup: All Eyes on Orlando

02:20 – State of SBC Presidency, ERLC, Cooperative Program

03:40 – Who Is Willie Rice? Background and Endorsements

06:58 – Willie Rice Announcement Clip: “No Mushy Middle”

09:04 – Willie Rice vs. Josh Powell

16:05 – Josh Powell’s Record: George Floyd, Abuse Crisis, and Big Eva Pressure

23:21 – Wokeness and Weaponized Empathy

29:27 – What’s Wrong with the ERLC? Trust, Mission Creep, and Messenger Backlash

36:11 – Should the ERLC Be Dissolved? EC Money Problems and Future of the SBC

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The Center for Baptist Leadership Podcast is powered by American Reformer, recorded remotely in the United States by William Wolfe, and edited by Jared Cummings.

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