Southern Baptist Convention Votes to Advance Ban on Women Pastors
The Southern Baptist Convention voted at its annual meeting in Orlando on June 9-10 to advance a constitutional amendment that would ban churches from employing women in any pastoral role, including preaching. The measure passed with nearly 75 percent of votes cast, clearing the required two-thirds majority. It must pass a second vote at the 2027 annual meeting to take effect.
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Southern Baptist Convention moved closer to formally banning women from all pastoral roles after messengers at its annual meeting voted June 9-10 to advance a constitutional amendment by nearly 75 percent.
The amendment, introduced by Dr. Albert Mohler of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, goes further than previous restrictions. It would explicitly prohibit women from preaching to an assembled congregation, not just from holding the title of pastor.
The measure cleared the required two-thirds majority at this stage. To become part of the SBC constitution, it must pass a second two-thirds vote at the 2027 annual meeting in Nashville.
Delegates also elected Florida pastor Willy Rice as the convention's new president. His election was backed by a conservative faction that has pushed the denomination toward more traditional positions in recent years.
The SBC reported total membership of 12.3 million, a 3 percent drop and the lowest figure since 1973. Baptism numbers, however, showed a recent uptick.
Advocacy group Baptist Women in Ministry condemned the vote, warning it could increase harassment of female ministers and restrict their ability to serve. Author and speaker Beth Moore, who left the SBC in 2021, has previously argued that the denomination's focus on the pulpit has come at the expense of protecting women and abuse survivors.
The meeting also produced nonbinding resolutions opposing assisted suicide, condemning antisemitism and political violence, and supporting lawful immigration enforcement. Auxiliary sessions covered topics from artificial intelligence in ministry to outreach to indigenous communities.
