Program-Order of Business
| 8:10 | Pre-Session Music | Frank Jones |
| 8:15 | Special Music | Alabama Singing Men and Women |
| 8:35 | Prayer | Michael Wallace |
| 8:40 | Call to Order | Jarman Leatherwood |
| Greetings | ||
| Birmingham-Metro Baptist Association | Chris Crain | |
| First Baptist Church, Trussville | Buddy Champion | |
| Congregational Singing | Guy Anderson | |
| 8:50 | Enrollment of Messengers | Debbie Oliver |
| 8:55 | Committee on Order of Business | Rusty Sowell |
| 9:00 | Committee Appointments | Jarman Leatherwood |
| 9:05 | Memorial Service | David Byrd |
| 9:15 | Introduction of Resolutions | Jesse Reeder |
| 9:20 | Special Music | Alabama Singing Men and Women |
| 9:30 | Theme Interpretation: The Reason for Encouragement | Tim Cox |
| 9:55 | Entities Discussion | |
| The Alabama Baptist, Jennifer Davis Rash; Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, Wendy Westerhouse | ||
| Committee Reports | ||
| 10:10 | Committee on Committees | Donnie Payne |
| 10:20 | Committee on Boards and Commissions | Ben Hayes |
| Recognitions | ||
| 10:30 | Recognition of Former Convention Presidents | Rick Lance |
| 10:40 | Recognition of New Pastors and New Church Staff Members | Mike Jackson |
| 10:45 | Celebrating the Cooperative Program | Jay Stewart |
| 10:55 | Entity Discussion | |
| The Baptist Foundation of Alabama, John Ashworth; Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center, Russell Klinner; Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries, Rod Marshall | ||
| 11:15 | Miscellaneous Business | |
| 11:20 | Presentation of Convention President | Rick Lance |
| 11:25 | Special Music | HHR Praise Team |
| 11:30 | President’s Address | Jarman Leatherwood |
| 12:00 | Benediction | Ross Clemmons |
Worship
| 1:30 | Congregational Music | Mason Aldridge, Clay Campbell |
| 1:40 | Prayer | Jesus Navarro |
| 1:45 | Executive Director Report: Living a Compelled Life | Rick Lance |
| 2:00 | State Board of Missions Recommendations and Convention Recognitions | |
| 2:45 | Congregational Singing | John Woods |
| 2:50 | Theme Interpretation: The Responsibility of Encouragement | Stanley Williams |
| 3:15 | Entities Discussion | |
| Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union, Candace McIntosh; Alabama Citizens Action Program, Greg Davis; Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers, Ken Schroeder | ||
| 3:35 | Miscellaneous Business | |
| Committee Reports | ||
| 3:40 | Resolutions Committee | Jesse Reeder |
| 3:55 | Committee on Time, Place, and Preacher | Chris Crain |
| 4:00 | Audit and Insurance Committees | Mike Jackson |
| 4:05 | Benediction | Morgan Bailey |
| 4:30-6:00 | Reception for Rick and Pam Lance |
| 6:15 | Special Music | Frank Jones |
| 6:30 | Welcome, Prayer, and Recognitions | Buddy Champion |
| 6:35 | Congregational Worship | Charles Billingsley |
| 6:40 | A Time of Celebration and Appreciation for Dr. Rick Lance, Featuring Musical Guest, Charles Billingsley | |
| 8:00 | Benediction | Robert Smith |
| Worship | ||
| 8:30 | Congregational Music | David Inestroza |
| 8:35 | Prayer | Theron Hawkins |
| 8:40 | Theme Interpretation: The Results of Encouragement | Justin Hall |
| 9:05 | Election of Officers | |
| 9:15 | Previously Scheduled Business | |
| 9:45 | Resolutions Committee Report | Jesse Reeder |
| 10:00 | Entitie Discussion | |
| University of Mobile, Charles Smith; Samford University, Beck Taylor | ||
| 10:15 | Election of Officers | |
| 10:25 | Congregational Music | David Vaughn |
| 10:30 | Introduction of Convention Preacher and Alternate Preacher | Jarman Leatherwood |
| Special Music | Mason Aldridge | |
| Scripture | Mark Bethea | |
| 10:40 | Convention Sermon | Steven Fraser |
| 11:10 | Introduction of Convention Officers | Rick Lance |
| 11:15 | Benediction and Adjournment | Daniel Atkins |
Interpretation for the Deaf will be provided for each session of the Annual Meeting and the Pastors Conference.
Messengers
Pre-registration for the 2026 Alabama State Convention Annual Meeting is now open and will once again be done on the SBC Workspace website. If you do not know your SBC username and password, you can obtain it from your local Association Office or by calling the State Board of Missions Office of Communications & Technology Services at (334) 613-2266.
What does it mean to be a messenger?
The Alabama Baptist Convention consists of members known also as messengers. Messengers are members of Southern Baptist churches cooperating with the Convention. Messengers are elected annually by the church where they are members and sent to the annual convention as their churches representative.
How many can a church send?
There are actually two formulas to determine this:
Numerical Basis: Every church is allowed one messenger. One additional messenger is allowed for every two hundred, or fraction thereof, members in excess of two hundred.
Financial Basis: One messenger is allowed from each church for any part of the first one thousand dollars contributed to the Alabama Baptist State Convention during the Convention’s preceding fiscal year. One additional messenger is allowed for the next one thousand dollars above the first one thousand dollars contributed to the work of the Convention, and one additional messenger for each two thousand dollars contributed to the work of the Convention above the first two thousand dollars.
No church will have more than twenty‑five messengers though.
How do you become one?
Contact your Southern Baptist church and ask to be sent as a messenger to the Alabama Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. Every church is autonomous and decides how their messenger allotment will be filled. Many will hold a business meeting before the convention for the church to vote on those wishing to be considered as messengers.
Hotel Guide
The following hotels have offered special rates to those attending the 2026 State Convention Annual Meeting. Rates listed do not include taxes and/or fees. This information is provided as a service and not intended to be a recommendation of any kind. If you have problems making a reservation or securing the posted rate at any of these hotels, please contact Amy Nelson at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 2231, or anelson@alsbom.org. Please note the deadlines for each hotel. No rates are guaranteed after the deadline for booking and those rates are based on limited availability. Make your reservations early to get the best rate.
Convention Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn
3230 Edwards Lake Parkway
Birmingham, AL 35235
(205) 655-5222
Distance from Convention: 3.0 miles
Courtyard by Marriott
3665 Roosevelt Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35235
(205) 661-2280
Rate: $109.00
Deadline: October 16, 2026
Hampton Inn Birmingham/Trussville
1940 Edwards Lake Road
Birmingham, AL 35235
(205) 655-9777
Rate: $132.00
Deadline: November 1, 2026, 5:00pm
Holiday Inn Express Trussville
5911 Valley Road
Birmingham, AL 35173
(205) 655-2700
Rate: $108.00
Deadline: October 15, 2026
About
The Alabama Baptist State Convention was founded on October 28, 1823, as the third permanent state convention organized in the South. … The Baptists, though the largest religious group in the state, were weak and widely scattered. They numbered about 5,000 and had about 125 churches and 75 ministers.” (Baptists in Alabama: Their Organization and Witness, by A. Hamilton Reid. Montgomery, Ala.: Paragon Press, 1967).
Today, the State Convention has grown to more than 3,200 churches with approximately one million members. Each November, the Alabama Baptist State Convention convenes as a two-day meeting of messengers elected by affiliated churches. Messengers and invited guests hear reports about Great Commission ministries.
Between annual meetings, Convention bylaws provide that the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions will be the “executive, administrative, fiduciary, and promotional agency of the Convention.”
Both the State Convention and State Board of Missions support the missional efforts of a family of Alabama Baptist entities and auxiliary, including:
- Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries
- Alabama Baptist Historical Commission
- Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers
- Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (auxiliary)
- Board of Aid to Students in Church Related Vocations
- Christian Life Commission
- Education Commission
- Shocco Springs Conference Center
- The Alabama Baptist newspaper
- The Baptist Foundation of Alabama
- University of Mobile
The Convention also provides primary support for ALCAP (Alabama Citizens Actions Program), “Alabama’s moral compass” regarding biblical and moral concerns.
In addition, the Convention continues to honor the historic relationship with Samford University dating back to 1841.
Future Sessions
November 16-17, 2027 | Eastmont Baptist Church, Montgomery
November 14-15, 2028 | First Baptist Church, Trussville
2025 Annual Meeting Video Archive
Session One
Session Two
Session Three
Session Four
Additional Videos
Convention Annual Reports
2025 Reports
2024 Reports
2023 Reports
2022 Reports
Convention Bylaws
Convention Officers
Jarman Leatherwood
President
Ryan Whitley
First Vice President



