Delegates attending the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting overwhelmingly voted to advance a constitutional amendment that would formally ban women pastors in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.
More than 11,600 messengers filled the room at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Photo by Roy Burroughs
The measure passed by a vote of 6,028 to 2,026, easily exceeding the required 2-thirds majority. The amendment must receive another 2-thirds vote at next year’s convention before becoming part of the SBC constitution.
The amendment would require the exclusion of any church that affirms, appoints, or endorses a woman serving in the office or function of pastor, elder, or overseer, including preaching to the assembled congregation.
The amendment was sponsored by Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Mohler said the measure would provide constitutional clarity regarding the denomination’s long-held position on pastoral leadership.
Opposition to the amendment was limited. South Carolina pastor Doug Mize argued the SBC already has mechanisms in place to remove churches with women serving in senior pastoral positions.
The Southern Baptist Convention has previously removed churches from membership over disagreements regarding women serving as pastors, including California’s Saddleback Church.
Delegates also approved resolutions condemning political violence, hateful rhetoric, antisemitic violence, and antisemitic conspiracy theories. Another resolution called for humane treatment of immigrants while affirming the legitimacy of immigration enforcement.
The resolution addressing antisemitism also reaffirmed Southern Baptists’ hope that Jewish people will come to faith in Christianity, a position that has generated debate in interfaith circles.
In leadership elections, delegates chose Florida pastor Willy Rice as the denomination’s next president. Rice, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, received 58% of the vote, defeating South Carolina pastor Josh Powell.
Rice supported the amendment regarding women pastors, as did Powell and outgoing SBC President Clint Pressley.
The Southern Baptist Convention remains one of the largest religious organizations in the United States, representing thousands of churches nationwide.
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