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Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, told members on Sept. 22 that the denomination is making steady progress on reform while continuing to face legal and financial headwinds. Iorg made the remarks during the EC’s recent meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, with The Baptist Paper reporting on Iorg’s speech.
Iorg said the SBC is taking “purposeful incremental steps” toward rebuilding trust in the wake of several high-profile legal battles and calls for sexual abuse reform. He also announced upcoming initiatives related to trustee training, ministry for special needs, and financial transparency.
Financial Challenges
According to Iorg, the Executive Committee is in a stronger financial position after SBC messengers voted in June to prioritize $3 million in Cooperative Program funding to help pay off the EC’s legal and operational bills. He said staffing and program improvements remain on hold until long-term financial uncertainty is resolved.
SBC Building Sale Discussions
The EC continues discussions to sell its downtown Baptist Building but is no longer urgently pursuing the sale due to the financial cushion provided by the special budget allocation. Iorg said the sale, if it happens, will be a strategic decision, not a financial necessity.
Ongoing Legal Cases
Iorg said several lawsuits remain pending. In the case involving Johnny Hunt, the former SBC president who allegedly sexually assaulted the wife of another pastor in 2010, all but one claim has been dismissed. The remaining claim involves a social media post and is awaiting a court ruling.
Regarding David Sills’ lawsuit against the SBC and others, Iorg said the case continues despite the June passing of Jennifer Lyell. Motions have been filed to discontinue claims against Lyell’s estate, but the lawsuit against the SBC and other defendants continues. Trial preparation is underway for a 2026 start.
In the Preston and Kellie Garner case, the Tennessee Supreme Court has accepted the matter for consideration, and the EC is awaiting next steps.
Iorg also noted that 12 lawsuits in North Carolina naming the SBC and EC as defendants have been dismissed. Two similar lawsuits in Oklahoma were also dismissed. However, lawsuits in New York, Louisiana, and Texas remain pending, with hearings set to consider dismissal motions.
“These cases remind us of the continued need for meaningful progress in sexual abuse prevention and response,” Iorg said.
Sexual Abuse Prevention Initiatives
Since June, the SBC EC has launched a new helpline and a new website featuring resources aimed at sexual abuse prevention. The EC is also translating materials into multiple languages to reach more communities. A training event was hosted in Dallas this past June, with another planned for next year’s annual meeting.
Business and Financial Plan Implementation
Iorg reported progress on implementing the SBC’s revised business and financial plan, which was adopted at the previous annual meeting. He said entity leaders are collaborating to ensure transparency and that the first accountability reports will be published in 2026.
New Trustee Training Course
Beginning in 2026, the EC will roll out a three-hour trustee training course developed in consultation with SBC entities and legal counsel. The course will be publicly available to improve onboarding and standardize expectations.
Special Needs Ministry Task Force
On Tuesday, the EC is expected to approve a recommendation to form a special needs ministry task force. Tom Stolle of the Maryland/Delaware Baptist Convention has agreed to chair the group, which will deliver a report next spring.
Cooperative Program Allocation Changes
The EC is reviewing a referral that would increase the International Mission Board’s portion of the Cooperative Program allocation to 51 percent. Although the change would take effect in the 2026–2027 budget year, Iorg acknowledged the difficulty in adjusting budgets accordingly.
He added that the EC does not anticipate requesting any additional priority Cooperative Program allocations for that year.
Challenges to Cooperative Giving
Iorg warned that shifts in how churches and state conventions define Cooperative Program giving are complicating fund distribution. In 2025 alone, the EC has received gifts in 33 different configurations, often omitting or redirecting funds to specific entities.
He said this trend undermines the original intent of the Cooperative Program and returns the SBC to a model of societal giving previously deemed inadequate by past leaders.
“Cooperation means working willingly with people who do not agree with you on everything,” Iorg said. “My dream tonight is that Southern Baptists will recommit to cooperation in all its messy splendor and focus on our overarching mission of getting the gospel to the nations.”
If you or someone you love is a survivor of sexual abuse connected to the Southern Baptist Convention, you may have legal rights. Learn more with our SBC Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide.
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