Marriott challenged Texas Baptists churches to “show the world the strength of unity amid diversity” during his president’s address

In his President’s Address during the Tuesday morning business and worship session of the 2025 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting, Convention President and Pastor of First Baptist Church Richardson, Ronny Marriott, called churches to be unified amongst diversity.   

He expressed his gratitude to Texas Baptists for being a convention that “will come alongside us as an individual, local church and help us craft what [their church growth] strategy is.” 

“...that’s Texas Baptists commitment to us, to assess where we are, help us identify and recognize and admit where we are, and to show us how we can grow, how we can improve, how we become healthier. Because the truth is, healthy things grow,” said Marriott. 

Marriott said a healthy church understands its mission, has a strategy and can be unified amidst diversity.

“One of the strengths of our convention is our diversity,” said Marriott. “I think we as Texas Baptists and Texas Baptists churches have an opportunity to show an unbelieving world how a diverse people can be unified.” 

Referencing John 17:20-23, Marriott asked attendees to consider, “Will our disagreement be more prominent than our cooperation?” 

“We have to commit to unity above uniformity,” said Marriott. “Unity is defined in this way: the union or harmony of a group of people focused on one cause… diplomacy, civility and respect, it brings health.” 

“We are to be one, as Jesus and the Father are one, that only happens spiritually and cannot be manufactured,” said Marriott. “The Great Commandment says, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. But then Jesus said, ‘The second is like this: love your neighbor as yourself.’ … If we're honest, it's a lot easier to love the people outside of our church than it is to love the ones inside of it [but] Jesus said we are to love one another.” 

Marriott pointed out that “we live in diverse times” where “most of our churches have labels put on it right by our community.” He asked when our churches get labeled, “What do we want them to say?”

“Again, I think we have an opportunity in our churches and our convention to show how 5,300 churches that make up Texas Baptists can be unified, can accomplish one goal, can be of one heart, the world can see you can do this,” said Marriott. 

Marriott said, “Many of our churches have become echo-chambers.” He encouraged attendees, “Have we considered the diversity of thought?”

“Diversity of thought can be risky and can be challenging, but I believe it's a healthier move for our communities of faith to be able to have dialogue discussions with debate in a civil manner,” said Marriott. “My job is to point people to Jesus. And can't we all do this? Whatever side you're on, can that be our focus and that be our purpose? We are called to protect and promote the unity of our congregations.”

Marriott concluded his address with a challenge to Texas Baptists churches to “show the world the strength of unity amid diversity for the glory of God.” 

“My hope for the future of our convention is that we will take advantage of the opportunity to show the unity of 5,300 churches. That we can be diverse, we can disagree, yet we still love each other and work towards the common goal to strengthen every Texas Baptists church, to carry out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment as God has created them to do,” said Marriott.