Southern Baptist President Urges Pastors to Engage in Politics

Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice is calling on pastors across the United States to become more involved in the political process, asserting that many current political issues are fundamentally theological and moral in nature.

Rice stated that pastors should "step up" and engage, arguing that throughout American history, religious leaders have played a significant role in key political moments. He expressed concern that in recent decades, many Christian leaders have been encouraged to withdraw from political discourse, creating a void that others on the political and theological left have filled.

"Should pastors engage in the political process? They absolutely should," Rice said. "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."

He identified abortion, the definition of marriage, gender identity, and immigration as issues where Christians have a theological basis for their voting decisions. Rice believes these topics are deeply rooted in biblical principles, going back to the creation narratives in Genesis.

Regarding immigration, Rice acknowledged the challenges it presents but emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law alongside compassion. He criticized what he described as a "manipulative" tactic by some to equate Christian compassion with open immigration policies, drawing an analogy to not leaving one's home unlocked or opening jail cells in one's community.

"But there is also the importance of the rule of law," Rice continued. "The protection of people who are in this country. And what you've had is sometimes a very cynical use by some people in power of trying to manipulate Christians by saying, since you must demonstrate compassion, therefore you must embrace open immigration, or you must not insist on the enforcement of the the immigration laws."

Rice noted that while Christians are encouraged to show compassion, this should not preclude the enforcement of laws. He believes that the perception that progressive political and religious groups are more politically engaged than conservatives contributes to the need for greater pastoral leadership in the public square.