In what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched leadership contests in Baptist circles, three respected pastors are seeking to become the next president of the Western Baptist State Convention of California, following the passing earlier this year of its longtime leader, Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick. The moment is being widely viewed as both a transition and a test—of leadership, vision, and the convention’s role in a rapidly changing faith and civic landscape.
While the campaign season has traditionally begun in March at the convention’s Annual Mid-Winter Board Session, with the election set for August 2026, early campaigning and endorsement-seeking have accelerated the timeline.
As it presently stands, the race features three pastors with deep roots in the convention and strong followings among clergy and congregants alike: Reginald Payne, Virgil Jones and Bishop Richard Sanders. Together, they represent distinct leadership styles shaped by decades of ministry, organizational service and hands-on community engagement.
“This is a pivotal moment in the life of our convention,” said Reginald Payne, senior pastor of Full Gospel Baptist Church and True Samaritan Baptist Church, reflecting on why excitement is building earlier than usual.
Payne— who in addition to pastoring two churches, mentors at least three others, two of which hold services on his South L.A. property— sees the presidency as an opportunity to strengthen the convention’s collective voice.
“The key and success for the future is through collaborative work,” he said, noting that pastors and churches can accomplish far more together than they can alone. “I am committed to building on our legacy while advancing a clear and strategic vision for the future.”
Bishop Richard Sanders, senior pastor of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Compton, cites nearly four decades of institutional experience. Having joined the convention in 1988, Sanders has served in almost every major leadership role, including more than 30 years as vice president at large. He recalls being recruited into the convention by Hardwick himself, who later publicly and privately identified Sanders as a potential successor.
“That is not to say that I feel like I’m entitled,” Sanders has said. “I don’t feel like I’m entitled. I am engaged, and I’m invested in this convention.”
Sanders points to his authorship of a strategic plan in 2009 as evidence of his long-standing commitment to innovation within the convention. Elements of that plan, including restructuring the convention’s agenda and elevating evangelism from one item on the schedule to the central mission, were later adopted.
“What I want to see is a convention where churches, pastors and believers can come to and they receive more than they give,” said Sanders, who has repeatedly emphasized the importance of restoring the church’s historic role as a catalyst for transformation.
For Virgil Jones, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the campaign is rooted in a call for innovation, renewed energy, and forward motion. Describing himself as “an out of the box thinker,” Jones argues that the convention must modernize its infrastructure and public presence in order to remain effective. He points to the lack of stability and visibility as a fundamental challenge, noting that the convention has struggled with ownership and consistency. “We own nothing—no consistent address so that people know where we are,” he said, adding that leadership must first establish a stronger foundation before growth can occur.
Central to that foundation, Jones says, is expanding the convention’s footprint—particularly in the digital space. “We need a larger footprint, which means our digital footprint,” he explained. “We don’t even have a website.” For Jones, visibility is not about image, but about access, engagement, and relevance in an era where churches and faith leaders must meet people where they are.
Jones also emphasizes a renewed commitment to mission, evangelism, and the next generation, saying the convention has not adequately prioritized young people and young adults. He believes intentional investment in youth is essential to sustaining the future of the organization. His leadership style, he says, is built on action and momentum. “I’m a thoroughbred,” Jones said. “All I know how to do is run.”
Founded in 1890, the Western Baptist State Convention of California is the oldest Baptist convention west of the Mississippi and for a time served as a unifying force for African American Baptist churches across the state, including Northern California, an area several candidates have said must once again be re-engaged and strengthened.
Today, the convention’s footprint stretches across Southern California, with churches in Los Angeles, Compton, San Diego, the High Desert, Oxnard, Ventura and the San Fernando Valley. With an estimated 50-plus active churches currently participating in the convention, the stakes are high. Clergy across the state see the election as more than a leadership change; it is a referendum on how the convention will support pastors, serve communities and assert its relevance in the years ahead.
As anticipation builds toward August, one thing is clear: the legacy of Dr. Hardwick looms large, and the choice before the convention will shape not only its internal governance, but its influence and impact across California’s faith and civic landscape for generations to come.