The issue of women in the pulpit has dominated the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) for several years and has been the reason several congregations are no longer part of the denomination.
Saddleback Church, for example, was disfellowshipped in 2023 for ordaining and hiring women on its pastoral staff.
Now, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Dr. Al Mohler says he will introduce an amendment to Article III of the SBC Constitution that he hopes will settle the matter once and for all.
"The convention needs help with dealing with this question such that it doesn't become a divisive issue, it doesn't continue to be an issue that uses up the convention's time," he says.
The Baptist Faith & Message, which is the SBC's doctrinal standard, already states that a church's "scriptural offices" of pastors and deacons are limited to men. Mohler's "Truth and Unity" proposal would add explicit language saying cooperating churches must not "act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation."
Mohler says this amendment is more specific than previous attempts.
"We're talking about a church that does not either affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office of pastor or of the function," he reiterates. "It's office and function."
SBC President Clint Pressley, both announced SBC presidential candidates, and others like Pastor Mike Law have expressed support for Mohler's proposal. Others like Jennifer Davis Rash, president and editor in chief of The Alabama Baptist, are concerned about what it means in practice.
Mohler says scripture is very clear on the matter. He also points out that the "hermeneutic Left" has used the same verses to take other mainline denominations into "theological liberalism" like adopting pro-LGBTQ+ agendas.
He believes this "crucial issue" of women as preachers is a theological hill to die on.
"I think what really is going to distinguish conservative evangelical Christianity from theological liberalism in all its forms is going to be the fact that we have a rightly ordered ministry, and that means that the office and function of pastor is to be fulfilled by men," Mohler concludes.
In addition to introducing his amendment, Mohler also intends to move that Standing Rule 6, which states that all motions to amend the SBC's governing documents shall be automatically referred to the Executive Committee for review and reported back to the following convention, be suspended so that the Committee on Order of Business would schedule discussion for the motion at next month's meeting in Orlando.
In order to change the constitution, an amendment must get two-thirds of the vote of messengers at two consecutive annual meetings.
