Ep. 563: A Conversation with SBC President Clint Pressley

Today on the podcast, I’m pleased to welcome Dr. Clint Pressley. Dr. Pressley has been serving as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, since his election in June 2024 — and he was reelected to a second term in June 2025. That means, of course, that he is coming to the end of his tenure as president, and I wanted to sit down with him to reflect on his time as president, and to look at some of the issues facing the SBC and evangelicalism in general. Before stepping into this national leadership role, Clint Pressley has spent decades in pastoral ministry, most notably as the senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he has faithfully shepherded his congregation since 2011. His journey in ministry began in his youth and has taken him across multiple states and church contexts — from Mississippi to Alabama and back to North Carolina — shaping a pastoral heart deeply grounded in Scripture and committed to gospel proclamation. A graduate of Wofford College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Pressley has also served in key denominational capacities for years, including as vice president of the SBC and as a trustee and former chairman of the board for the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Beyond his leadership roles, he is known for emphasizing unity, doctrinal fidelity, and mission focus within the convention. Today, he joins us to reflect on his vision for Southern Baptists, the challenges and opportunities facing the church, and what it means to lead with conviction rooted in faith. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.