The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is sharply divided over a proposed amendment to ban affiliated churches from allowing women to serve as pastors and elders. A vote on the amendment will take place at the annual SBC meeting this Tuesday. While there is a general theological consensus that senior pastor roles should be exclusively filled by men, opinions vary widely on the broader implications of what is being referred to as the “Law amendment.”
The amendment, proposed by Arlington Baptist Church pastor Mike Law, would insert new language into article three of the SBC’s governing document, which outlines the requirements for churches in the SBC.
“A church [is] in friendly cooperation with the Convention . . . which . . . ‘6. Affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture,’” the amendment states.
“Cooperation with the convention” means a church can send voters to the annual meeting and participate in SBC business, among many other privileges.
Supporters argue that the amendment will enforce the doctrinal statement of the Baptist Faith and Message, which asserts, “the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” Churches within the SBC are fully autonomous and expected to “closely,” but not strictly, follow this statement, and interpretations vary. Most churches apply this limitation to all pastoral roles, while some restrict it only to the senior pastor.
“For a long time, contrary to our Convention’s statement of faith, women have served as pastors in
