A group of clergy members at the Southern Baptist Congress (SBC) are calling for denominations to reconsider an amendment that would forever prohibit women from serving as pastors of member churches. Last year, the amendment known as a legal amendment failed to fall five percentage points below the two-thirds of the support required to pass last year. Christian Post Report. Many SBC figures and ministry leaders are urging the denomination of “open letters to our Southern Baptists” to reconsider future revisions. SBC Annual Meeting This June, in Dallas, Texas.
“The revision would have made it clear. The treaty only considers the church to be friendly cooperation. 'Affirm, appoint or employ only men as any kind of biblical pastor or elder.'” It is listed Open letter.
“It's clear that the Credentials Committee needs clarification this An amendment would have been provided. Thereforesupports new efforts to amend the SBC Constitution. ”
The pastors revealed that they “supported efforts to adopt the same language that most of the last two practices wanted, rather than offering a new language. Be handed over. ”
To advance the amendment, the pastor urges the annual meeting to “suspend the standing rules in the hands of executive committees who may or may not report the amendment the following year.”
“We are already discussing this language in the last two treaties, so we don't think we need to wait for the Executive Committee to decide whether to make an amendment before the treaty for a vote,” they continued.
They shared they wanted to vote for the proposed amendment.Messenger They will give final consent at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting.
“We want to be a practice of friendly cooperation with the Church that closely equates with the confession of faith, including clearly stated beliefs about the biblical qualifications of the idyllic office,” they added.
at the momentNate Akin, executive director of Pillar Network. Rev. HB Charles of the Silo Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Pastor Jed Copper, First Baptist Church, Cumming, Georgia. Pastor Aaron Hervey of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Pastor Brian Payne of Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama. Rev. Juan Sanchez of High Point Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. The letter was signed by Rev. Kreismith, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia.
According to Baptist Faith and Message 2000“Pastor” is defined as someone who fills an idyllic office and performs the functions of a pastoral person.The pastor's office is limited to men who are eligible for Bible. ”
The legislative amendment, named after the Rev. Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia, has amended the SBC constitution to make it clear that he cannot serve as an elder or pastor of a member church.
SBC has recently cut ties with the church by awarding women's leads and pastors, but the law shows women. It was serving As a pastor with approximately 1,800 member members.
Former SBC president JD Greener criticized the revision, phone It is “unwise” and “unnecessary” and warns that minority churches will leave the sect for this reason.
“I continue to oppose this revision, not because of its content; That attempt To undermine our historical principles of cooperation,” Greer wrote to him. Website Before last year's vote.
Meanwhile, a woman from the Texas-based Baptist Women's Ministry. belongs to Many Baptist denominations celebrated the failure of the proposed amendments.
“We are grateful to the churches and messengers represented by the SBC. The SBC came to send a message that women have equal values to God. We know that others opposed the correction for other reasons. Your message of support for a female pastor will be amplified“The group said in a statement.
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It was originally published on March 7th, 2025.
