Former Bellevue Baptist senior pastor Steve Gaines dies after cancer fight that reshaped church leadership plans
A prominent Memphis faith leader
Steve Gaines, the longtime senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in the Memphis area and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, has died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 68. Gaines had been receiving hospice care in March 2026 as his condition worsened.
Gaines led Bellevue—among the Southern Baptist Convention’s largest congregations—through a period marked by growth initiatives, regional outreach efforts and a highly visible public presence tied to denominational leadership. He served as Bellevue’s senior pastor for nearly two decades, stepping away from day-to-day leadership as his health declined.
Illness and the timeline to hospice
Gaines disclosed a kidney cancer diagnosis in November 2023. In subsequent updates shared with his church community, he described treatment and changes in prognosis, including the cancer spreading to his lungs. By early March 2026, Bellevue notified congregants that Gaines had begun hospice care.
The move to hospice reflected a shift from curative treatment to comfort-focused care, a transition that often signals a late stage of illness. His death came days after Bellevue publicly acknowledged the hospice decision.
Leadership transition at Bellevue
Gaines’ health challenges unfolded alongside a planned pastoral transition at Bellevue. In September 2024, he announced he would step down from his senior pastor role, framing the decision as a leadership handoff after an extended tenure. The church later moved forward with a new senior pastor, continuing a structured transition process.
The church has also used the title “Pastor Emeritus” in reference to Gaines during the transition period, indicating an honorary status following his primary leadership role.
National denominational role
Beyond Memphis, Gaines was known across Southern Baptist life for serving as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2016 to 2018. He also held other denominational roles over the years, including leadership positions connected to pastors’ conferences and SBC committee work.
What happens next
Bellevue Baptist Church is expected to provide details on memorial arrangements and opportunities for public remembrance.
Local faith leaders and denominational officials typically issue formal statements following the death of a former SBC president; such statements often address both ministry legacy and the church’s ongoing transition.
The church’s existing leadership structure will continue managing weekly operations and pastoral duties established during the transition.
Gaines’ death closes a chapter for a congregation that has been closely identified with its senior pastor’s public ministry and national profile within the Southern Baptist Convention.
Gaines is survived by his wife, Donna, and their family.