Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler narrowed the language in his to proposed amendment to prohibit women “specifically preaching” in a pastoral capacity. His earlier version, planned for introduction at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando next week, had said that cooperating SBC churches would “not affirm, appoint, or endorse women serving as pastors or elders” by actions “such as preaching to the assembled congregation.”
This version, posted Tuesday night, replaced “such as” with “specifically.” The action came in response to criticism that Mohler’s first version would have allowed limitation of a broader range of activities for women as being pastoral, and thereby reserved for men.
In the meantime, on June 1 the SBC Resolutions Committee published a resolution on male-only pastors and the roles open to women that it will introduce at the convention. That action is independent of Mohler’s proposed resurrection of the Law Amendment and suspension of parliamentary Standing Rule 6, bypassing the SBC Executive Committee and cutting one-year from the approval process. The resolution adds a second opportunity for messengers to vote on the concept of male-only pastors, but without binding action.
A third opportunity may be the creation of a task force to study the issue, which is proposed by SBC presidential candidate Willy Rice. If Rice gets recognized from a floor mic, he is expected to make the motion. He has advocated for two possible study groups. Specifically, Rice wants to affirm women in church life, while limiting the pastorate to men. Rice, and the other presidential candidate, Josh Powell, both endorsed Mohler’s plan for a “truth and unity” amendment.
In all, three possible statements on clarifying the male-only limitation for “pastor/elder/overseer” may serve to confuse the issue if all three go through the mill of parliamentary procedure in just under two days’ time. Past SBC presidents have reflected on the complex nature of guiding debate and navigating the rules in the world’s largest democratic legislative assembly. Current SBC President Clint Pressley will be juggling several motions, with the likelihood of multiple additional motions for amendments.
The resolution, which is a separate matter and one of 11 resolutions publicized, says churches should not allow women to serve in the pastoral capacity of church oversight. Resolutions do not change the SBC Constitution or affect the official criteria used by the Credentials Committee when assessing church affiliation or seating messengers. The resolution also seeks to affirm women, in much the same way Rice has stated, but not extending to pastoral leadership.
As for reaction, social media is alight with opinions. World magazine quotes Pressley’s immediate predecessor, Bart Barber, who handled votes on the Law Amendment that failed to get two-thirds majority approval in Indianapolis in 2024. Barber said he approves Mohler’s narrower language; “however, he wasn’t sure about Mohler’s plan to bypass standard procedure and immediately vote on the amendment. Barber also said he believed the SBC needed to change its process for determining whether a church is cooperating with the denomination’s standards.”
Outspoken Texas pastor Dwight McKissic “said women would preach at his church regardless of the outcome of Mohler’s amendment,” World reported. “He cited biblical instances of women prophesying during the NewTestament church era, and said that spiritual gifts were not spoken of in Scripture as being tied to gender.” McKissic said he is “willing for his church to be removed from the denomination if necessary,” World quoted.
Any vote on a constitutional amendment will require two-thirds majority approval by convention messengers. If Standing Rule 6 is bypassed, a second vote could come in Indianapolis in 2027.
Note: Story originally published by Illinois Baptist.