Southern Baptist To Vote On Constitutional Ban On Women Pastors

Although it is commonly thought that the Southern Baptist Convention settled the issue of female pastors in 2000, several SBC churches have female pastors. Occasionally, this gets reviewed for disfellowshipping as in the case of Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church.

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 states, “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” The SBC Amendment spearheaded by Mike Law Jr. looks to strengthen this doctrinal stance.

SBC Amendment

Article III. Composition: The Convention shall consist of messengers who are members of Baptist churches in cooperation with the Convention. The following subparagraphs describe the Convention’s current standards and method of determining the maximum number of messengers the Convention will recognize from each cooperating church to attend the Convention’s annual meeting.

1. The Convention will only deem a church to be in friendly cooperation with the Convention, and sympathetic with its purposes and work (i.e., a “cooperating” church as that term is used in the Convention’s governing documents) which:
   1. Has a faith and practice which closely identifies with the Convention’s adopted statement of faith. (By way of example, churches which act to affirm, approve, or endorse homosexual behavior would be deemed not to be in cooperation with the Convention.)
   2. Has formally approved its intention to cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention. (By way of example, the regular filing of the annual report requested by the Convention would be one indication of such cooperation.)
   3. Has made undesignated, financial contribution(s) through the Cooperative Program, and/or through the Convention’s Executive Committee for Convention causes, and/or to any Convention entity during the fiscal year preceding.
   4. Does not act in a manner inconsistent with the Convention’s beliefs regarding sexual abuse.
   5. Does not act to affirm, approve, or endorse discriminatory behavior on the basis of ethnicity.
   6. Does not affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind.

A Vote Is Incoming

It’s unclear during what session the vote will take place, although it is speculated by Southern Baptist insiders to take place during on of the Executive Committee’s sessions. The SBC Executive Committee opposes the amendment but nonetheless is allowing it to the floor for a vote at the convention.

It seems divided on whether the amendment is expected to pass. Getting the amendment this far was a longshot vehemently opposed by the Southern Baptist establishment who will acquiesce in favor of opposing it publicly. The momentum has shifted in favor of the conservatives, according to William Wolfe.

Evangelical Dark Web will be providing live coverage of the Annual Southern Baptist Convention.