October 2, 2026
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – McConnell Memorial Church Lead Pastor Steve Taylor is expected to be a nominee for vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention at the annual meeting in November.
“Steve is a family man who loves the Lord, his family, and his church,” said Wade Lott, senior pastor at Macedonia Baptist Church in Hiawassee who has announced his intent to make the nomination. “Steve also has a great love for our community. He is active and involved in supporting and serving the needs of the community.”
The annual meeting is set for November 13-15 at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, and the registration portal is open for churches to sign up messengers.
The Georgia Baptist Convention, made up of 3,600 churches with 1.4 million members, holds a business meeting each November. People attend from across the state, drawn as much by the fellowship, preaching, and singing as by any business matters on the agenda.
In that meeting, messengers will elect a new president and first, second, third and fourth vice presidents. The rankings of the vice presidents are based on the number of votes they receive.
Taylor has led the Hiawassee church for the past eight years and has been in ministry more than 34 years. He became a follower of Christ as an 8-year-old.
A graduate of Western Carolina University, Taylor began his career as a teacher and coach in public schools before moving into the pastorate. With a Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University, he has pastored churches in western North Carolina, the upstate of South Carolina, and in north Georgia.
“Steve's love for the Lord is evident through his passionate preaching and through his cooperative work with the other churches of the Hiawassee Baptist Association,” Lott said. “Steve is a leader who has over 30 years of faithful leadership experience in the local church. He is one that never seeks attention for himself but, instead, seeks to honor Christ through his service to others.”
At McConnell Memorial, Taylor has led the church to give 12.5% of its budget to Great Commission causes, including 5% – $70,000 – given through the Cooperative Program last year.
Lott said Taylor’s church has baptized more than 130 people since he arrived there.
Taylor serves on the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee and is chairman of the Church Membership Committee.
Taylor and his wife, Desi, have two children and five grandchildren.
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