Jeff Iorg is the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee. He is seen in the video below criticizing the recent tendency of local churches to designate their funding of the convention’s specific, individual entities instead of giving to the “big pot”– i.e., the Cooperative Program. Churches began restricting funds from the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and also from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) because of the woke posture both of these had adopted.
Iorg refers to these decisions by local churches as “expressive individualism”. In fact, Pastor Timothy Pigg, a leader with the Conservative Baptist Network, said today that these decisions by the local church are based on doctrine. For instance, the NAMB is funding woke black churches and also churches with female “pastors”.
In addition, Pigg says the autonomy of the local church has historically been a Baptist distinctive; and Iorg’s comments undermine that principle:
🚨🚨Earlier today, SBC Exec Comm President Jeff Iorg condemned the "expressive individualism" of Southern Baptists who were designating funds to some entities and not others, likening it to CHILDREN CHOOSING THEIR OWN GENDER
— Protestia (@Protestia) September 23, 2025
Instead, he says Southern Baptists need to "surrender… pic.twitter.com/q0fCshvNs1
Addendum: Pastor Tom Ascol responds:
This is, sadly, tone deaf. I had hoped for better leadership from Dr. Iorg. But if this is indicative of how he intends to keep going, he will lead the CP to its utter dissolution.
— Tom Ascol @tomascol (@tomascol) September 23, 2025
It is not expressive individualism that has caused churches to withhold & redirect their missions… https://t.co/KvzfdmYIrd
The issue I see here is whether or not the local Baptist churches have any independence from the fiscal dictates of the SBC or what course they will follow if compromise is not in the cards. Is acquiescence the only alternative ?
Fortunately, Fred, the local church calls all the shots regarding the matter of how much they will give to the SBC, and how they will direct those monies. That is what bothers Iorg so much.