One faction argues the SBC should step back from its role in electoral politics in order to broaden its reach and reverse a 15-year decline in membership. Another faction says the denomination has been drifting to the left, and the way to retain and attract members is to recommit to its conservative roots and stay politically engaged. Each side accuses the other of straying from the SBC’s core mission... “Do we want to be a Gospel people or a Southern, Republican culture people?” Mr. Greear said in a February speech. “We ought not make it hard for Democrats to come to Jesus.”... On the other side, a group called the Conservative Baptist Network formed last year to combat what its members see as drift away from biblical orthodoxy toward liberalism. Their candidate, Mike Stone, says the convention’s leaders have pushed social justice causes that undermine the denomination’s mission, and are out of touch with Southern Baptists in the pews... Lewis Richerson, who attended an event with Mr. Stone near his Baton Rouge church, said he would be in Nashville this year. He said he supported Mr. Stone, in part because of his clear message opposing ideologies like critical race theory. “Southern Baptists should thank God for Donald Trump, ” Mr. Richerson, 40, said. “He smoked out the liberals in the convention.”