Southern Baptist Convention president Willy Rice called on pastors to become more politically engaged ahead of the 2026 midterms, arguing many public-policy debates are fundamentally theological and moral. He named abortion, marriage, gender identity and immigration as issues that merit faith-based responses and criticized advice encouraging Christians to "be more quiet." Rice also warned against messaging that equates compassion automatically with open immigration and urged a balance between care for the vulnerable and respect for the rule of law.
‘Step Up’: Southern Baptist President Urges Pastors To Reclaim a Political Voice Ahead Of 2026 Midterms
Parishioners worship during Sunday service at Clayton Baptist Church in Clayton, Ga., on June 9, 2024.
Southern Baptist Convention president and pastor Willy Rice urged clergy nationwide to take a more active role in politics as the 2026 midterm elections approach. Rice argued that many contemporary policy debates are fundamentally theological and moral, and that pastors should not withdraw from public conversation on these issues.
Worshipers arrive for Easter Sunday services at Second Baptist Church in Houston on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
Rice acknowledged that some Christian leaders discourage political advocacy from the pulpit, but he said pastors have historically influenced American civic life and should continue to speak into public debates. He contrasted that approach with what he described as a sustained political engagement by those on the theological and political left.
The midterm elections heat up as voters will return to the polls in 2026.
Issues Framed As Theological And Moral
Rice identified abortion, the definition of marriage, gender identity and immigration as examples of matters he considers deeply theological. "These issues are deeply, profoundly theological issues," he said, citing the church's understanding of creation and human purpose in Genesis as a foundation for moral judgment.
PROVO UT - NOVEMBER 08: Voters cast their ballots at the Utah County Justice and Health center on November 8, 2022 in Provo, Utah. After months of candidates campaigning, Americans are voting in the midterm elections to decide close races across the nation. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
"Should pastors engage in the political process? They absolutely should. Because there are many political issues that are, at their heart, theological issues and moral issues that strike at the very center of what we believe to be true and what we believe people need to know in order to flourish personally and as a culture." — Willy Rice
On Political Engagement, Compassion And The Rule Of Law
Rice criticized a trend that he says has encouraged Christians to "be more quiet" or withdraw from politics, noting that, in his view, people on the theological left did not retreat. "Statistics show that people on the political and theological left are actually more politically engaged than those on the right," he said, adding that this resulted in a period of relative silence from some Christian leaders.
Addressing immigration specifically, Rice described the issue as complex and sometimes subject to manipulative arguments. He said compassion for vulnerable people is central to Christian life and that Christian organizations provide significant charitable aid, but he also emphasized the importance of the rule of law and protecting those already in the country. "That is very, very manipulative," he said of attempts to equate compassion automatically with open borders.
Rice's comments come amid ongoing debate among church leaders about the appropriate role of clergy in public-policy discussions and as social issues continue to shape the 2026 midterm landscape.
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