SBC Motion to Restrict Female Pastors Falls Short of Approval
The Southern Baptist Convention recently voted on a proposal that would have prohibited member churches from appointing women as pastors. The proposed amendment, similar to a narrowly defeated measure from the previous year, ultimately did not secure the required two-thirds majority at the SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas.
Details of the Proposed Amendment
A motion put forward by Juan Sanchez of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, aimed to alter Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the SBC Constitution. The amendment would have added a clause mandating that churches employ only men as pastors or elders, in accordance with a strict interpretation of Scripture. Although the SBC Baptist Faith and Message of 2000 already specifies that only men should serve as pastors, the motion was intended to guide the SBC Credentials Committee more closely on this practice.
The vote resulted in 3,421 affirmative ballots—approximately 60.74%—with 2,191 votes against, or 38.9% of the total cast. The amendment fell short of the two-thirds majority necessary for ratification.
Perspectives From the Convention
During the proceedings, Juan Sanchez explained that the objective was to reinforce the existing Baptist Faith and Message, not to limit other areas of leadership within the church. He highlighted that his church already benefits from a balance of male and female deacons, emphasizing that the intention was to clarify roles rather than restrict women’s contributions entirely.
Opponents of the amendment raised concerns about local church autonomy. Pastor James Goforth of First Baptist Church in Ferguson, Missouri, argued that the diverse practices among Southern Baptists should be respected. He warned that enforcing this measure could distract the convention from its broader mission and detract from vital ministry work.
On the other hand, Travis Cardwell, lead pastor of University Park Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, supported the proposal. He welcomed the amendment as a means to eliminate recurring debates at annual meetings regarding the role of female pastors, stressing the need for clear guidelines from the Credentials Committee.
Historical and Contextual Background
The Baptist Faith and Message of 2000 defines a pastor as one who fulfills specific pastoral functions, with the office reserved for men as interpreted from Scripture. The proposed amendment, sometimes known as the Law Amendment in honor of Pastor Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia, would have explicitly barred women from serving as either pastors or elders. While some congregations have faced disciplinary action for employing female leaders, earlier estimates suggested that nearly 1,800 member churches had women in pastoral roles.
At last year’s meeting in Indianapolis, a 61% majority supported a similar amendment, but it again fell short of the required supermajority despite receiving even higher support in some contexts. Academic voices, including biblical studies professor Denny Burk of Boyce College, noted that while a significant number of messengers favor the initiative, warnings regarding potential legal complications may have prevented the measure from achieving the necessary threshold.
Former SBC President J.D. Greear also voiced his concerns, describing the amendment as both unwise and unnecessary. He warned that forcing such strict measures might risk alienating minority churches and undermining the established spirit of cooperative ministry within the denomination.
In response to the decision, representatives from Baptist Women in Ministry expressed their relief and celebration. They affirmed that the outcome underscored the belief in the equal value of women in God’s service and in church ministry.
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