A similar proposal failed just a year ago.
The measure sponsored by Southern Baptist Theological President Albert Mohler Jr., known as the “Truth and Unity Amendment,” passed by a vote of 6,028-2,026. That’s a support level of 74.66%, easily surpassing the two-thirds majority required for changes to the constitution.
The amendment says SBC churches in good standing will not “affirm, appoint or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation.”
Baptist Press Editor Brandon Porter tells AFN the amendment will "specify a little bit more strictly who can serve as an elder and pastor and overseer of a local church."
Messengers also elected Willie Rice to lead the denomination for 2026 and likely the next year as well. Rice, 62, pastors Calvary Church, a large congregation in Clearwater, Florida.
He tells AFN the SBC has been through a tough couple of years, but has rebounded nicely.
“There have been some stresses in the last decade in SBC life that have created both the appearance and in some cases the reality that there were some things that weren't as grounded as they needed to be,” Rice said. “There were concerns messengers had. I think over the last couple of years that they've sent the message that the Southern Baptist Convention is not eroding, we're not equivocating, we're enduring, we're standing. We want to be a people who are rooted in our conviction and our mission and our message.”
Messengers also voted to send the majority of Cooperative Fund dollars to the International Mission Board.
The Cooperative Program is the unified financial plan of the SBC, established in 1925, through which cooperating churches contribute a percentage of their undesignated receipts to support missions and ministries at the state, national, and international levels.
According to The Baptist Paper, the SBC distributes funds among a number of other ministries including the North American Mission Board, six Southern Baptist seminaries, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and the SBC Executive Committee.
“Southern Baptists believe that’s going to show that their heart truly is behind missions,” Porter said.
