The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee said this week that members will vote on a measure that would forbid women from serving as a “pastor of any kind” in SBC churches.
According to The Christian Post, Virginia Pastor Mike Law proposed the amendment to the SBC constitution.
Currently, the denomination’s Baptist Faith & Message 2000 says that “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”
"[I]t is important to understand that the word pastor was chosen precisely because of its clarity among Southern Baptists. The statement carefully affirms that both men and women are gifted for service in the church, but the role of pastor is biblically defined and is to be held only by men as qualified by Scripture," said Chuck Kelley, Al Mohler and Richard Land, who wrote the study guide for the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message Confession.
The SBC Executive Committee voted on Monday to endorse a recommendation to bring the amendment to messengers, or members, for consideration. However, the EC also advised the messengers to vote against the amendment.
“While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture,” the EV wrote in a statement. It added that passing the amendment would suggest that the denomination's "beliefs are most appropriately stated in our adopted statement of faith rather than in our constitution and therefore opposes a suggested amendment to SBC Constitution.”
Law and other pastors, however, said the amendment is necessary for the SBC Constitution.
“We are fully persuaded that it is ‘good when brothers live together in harmony’ (Ps. 133:1),” a letter from the campaign said. “Unity comes from God, and we are called to keep it with the help of God (Eph. 4:3). Often, that means forbearing with others who see things differently than we do.
“That’s the beauty of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is home to countless churches with different views on many things. At other times, however, we must follow Jude 3 and contend for the faith by reaffirming our stated convictions and doctrinal commitments. This is one of those times.”
Earlier his year, the SBC removed California megachurch Saddleback Church and Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, from the membership after the church placed women pastors in lead and senior pastor roles.
Related:
Rick Warren Says Saddleback Is Appealing SBC Ouster over Female Pastors
Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church over Female Pastor
Saddleback Church Stands by Female Pastors amid Disfellowship from SBC
Photo courtesy: ©SBC/Public Domain, used with permission.
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
