Baptist Convention Will Vote on Regional Leadership

Delegates will elect three regional vice presidents at the upcoming Tennessee Baptist Convention meeting.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in People

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Tennessee Baptist Convention delegates will hold an election for three new regional vice president roles during their annual meeting this November in Sevierville. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Tennessee Baptist Convention delegates are set to vote on three regional vice president roles during their annual meeting scheduled for November 16-17, 2026. This election will occur at the Sevierville Convention Center following the 2025 introduction of the position.

Why it matters

The creation of these leadership roles in 2025 signals a structural shift in how the organization manages statewide regional coordination. The upcoming election will determine which candidates will fill these seats to oversee regional ministry and association outreach.

The convention will elect three regional vice presidents during the November session. This follows the 2025 establishment of the position, which was first held by Shane Johnston for East Tennessee.

The players

Brandon Johns

Senior pastor at Soddy Daisy First Baptist Church with seven years of tenure and experience as a moderator for the Hamilton County Baptist Association.

Matthew Daniel

Senior pastor at First Baptist Church Whitwell who is leading the nomination for a regional vice president role.

Tennessee Baptist Convention

A religious organization overseeing regional ministry and church associations across the state.

The details

The nomination process requires a pastor to formally propose a candidate for the regional vice president role during the annual meeting. Brandon Johns, who currently leads Soddy Daisy First Baptist Church, has been slated for nomination by Matthew Daniel, pastor of First Baptist Church Whitwell. Delegates representing member churches will cast votes to finalize these leadership appointments.

Timeline

  1. The regional vice president role was introduced in 2025.

  2. The Tennessee Baptist Convention will hold its annual meeting on November 16-17, 2026.

Market Landscape

This election follows the pattern of institutional decentralization established by the 2025 restructuring of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The shift marks a departure from centralized governance by adding regional oversight roles to the organizational hierarchy.

Operators in the nonprofit and religious sector should note how the organization manages its regional outreach through these newly established vice president roles. Monitoring the election results will provide insight into the leadership strategy that will influence regional association operations.

The takeaway

This election represents a significant shift in the operational structure of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Stakeholders should track the November 16-17 outcomes to understand the new leadership’s approach to regional ministry collaboration.

What happens next

The election vote is scheduled for November 16-17, 2026, at the Sevierville Convention Center.

Further reading

For more on industry leadership and governance, visit People.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Timesfreepress.

Baptist Convention Will Vote on Regional Leadership