Southern Baptist Convention messengers voted June 9 to advance an amendment that would bar cooperating churches from affirming, appointing or endorsing women serving as pastors, elders or overseers, sending the proposal to debate Wednesday morning. The motion by Albert Mohler was scheduled for 8:45 a.m. June 10 after messengers suspended a rule that would have sent it automatically to the Executive Committee.
The procedural vote mattered because the SBC Committee on Order of Business had recommended referral, which would have delayed direct consideration until the next meeting cycle. Instead, messengers voted on a raised ballot to suspend Standing Rule 6 and take up Mohler’s Truth and Unity amendment at this year’s Annual Meeting.
Mohler’s proposal would amend Article 3 of the SBC Constitution to make clear that a cooperating Southern Baptist church does not affirm, appoint or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of pastor, elder or overseer, specifically one preaching to the assembled congregation. If adopted, it would add formal constitutional language to a debate that has already divided parts of the denomination over how closely churches should align with women in pastoral leadership.
The same session showed that messengers were also unwilling to hand more work to the convention’s committees. They voted not to refer five motions asking for task forces to the Executive Committee, then voted to indefinitely postpone all five. Two other motions were automatically referred because they dealt with changes to the convention’s governing documents, and one request for a task force on transparency and accountability was sent to all entities and the Executive Committee.
Benjamin Cole argued the convention had grown weary of adding assignments without giving the Executive Committee enough support, saying it had become like ancient Israelites whose quota of bricks had been increased while their ration of straw had been eliminated. He added: “Brothers, sisters, let us not demand more bricks while denying them essential straw.” The remarks fit the mood in the hall as messengers moved quickly to clear out task force proposals and get to the constitutional fight.
That leaves Wednesday’s debate as the next test. Mohler’s amendment was on the calendar for 8:45 a.m., and the vote will show whether the SBC is ready to put a formal ban into its constitution or whether the proposal meets resistance once messengers are asked to decide on the substance.
