Indianapolis | The “Law amendment” to the SBC constitution failed to net a two-thirds majority vote from messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis on Wednesday, June 12, meaning there will be no addition to the constitution limiting the pastorate to males only.
The tally in the vote was 5,099 in favor of the amendment (61.45%) to 3,185 opposed (38.38%), but a two-thirds margin was required for the change to be made to the constitution.
Virginia pastor Mike Law, who first proposed the amendment last year, made an impassioned plea with messengers to vote in support of the constitution change on its second reading. “Let’s be exceptionally clear,” Law said. “This amendment is not about women in ministry, it’s specifically about women in pastoral office…. We must side with Scripture. Let us vote for biblical faithfulness.”
Among the 8,298 present at the time of the balloting, 5,532 votes would have been required for passage; the measure fell 433 votes short.
Two messengers spoke for the amendment prior to the vote, only one spoke against it before Law called the question and ended debate.
The failed amendment does not alter the Convention’s doctrinal stance on women serving in ministry roles, which states in the Baptist Faith and Message, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”
The announcement of the results came just before the lunch break, which was a surprise. SBC President Bart Barber returned to the podium after the benediction and asked messengers to stay in place while recording secretary Don Currance read the results.
Official response from Barber, who opposed the amendment, and incoming SBC President Clint Pressley who supported it, and whose own victory after a third ballot in the six-man race was announced this morning, is expected at a news conference after the convention closes at 5 p.m.