Orlando | What could have been a divisive annual meeting proved to be unified in three ways: Messengers voted by large margins on big issues. They approved two measures bringing new attention to gospel ministry for disabled people. Rejecting a slew of efforts to study secondary issues, the convention kept missions and missionaries at the forefront.
With more registered messengers and guests than any meeting since the first one after Covid, the Southern Baptist Convention drew more than 21,000 people including 11,692 messengers and 5,785 guests. They gathered in Orlando for four days of pre-meetings, business sessions, seminary and mission board gatherings, and a sending celebration that introduced 63 international missionaries who will soon head to global fields.
The work that results from cooperating together eventually overshadowed the theological debate that prompted many to attend: the definition of pastor, and with it the implications for women in ministry. Most votes were by wide margins, reflecting greater unity than was first assumed.
By a vote of 74.60% to 25.09%, messengers approved the constitutional amendment limiting the pastorate to men. As its author, Southern Seminary President Al Mohler said the amendment was intended to bring clarity in two ways: pastoral office and function.
“This amendment makes very clear that a church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention doesn’t have anyone other than a man as pastor in the office of pastor,” Mohler said in his three-minutes at the mic, “and specifies on the functions of the pastor that the key central function of preaching the word of God to the gathered assembly is limited to men by Scripture.”
After brief debate over an issue that has dominated three previous conventions, messengers acted decisively.
At a news conference after the vote, Mohler said he does not believe the constitutional amendment will be expanded to limit other ministry by women. “It speaks specifically in terms of function to a woman preaching to the gathered assembly. I will say that over and over again. You heard me say that ‘specifically’ means ‘specifically.’ I also will tell you that I do not believe that the Southern Baptist Convention has shown any evidence of moving beyond that specific issue in terms of the function question.”
SBC President Clint Pressley said in his sermon the day before the vote, “Convictional clarity gives us the confidence to move forward.” The amendment moves to Indianapolis in 2027 for a second vote that must meet the two-thirds majority rule.
Pressley will be succeeded by Willy Rice, a Clearwater, Florida pastor whose election was by wider margin than earlier predicted. Rice defeated South Carolina pastor Josh Powell by 57.56% to 42.16%.
During the runup to the election, Rice had advocated the use of study groups and task forces to handle complex issues. He specifically advocated a study of the pastoral role as occupied by qualified men, and of the roles available to women. Messengers latched on to this idea and proposed multiple task forces—until one messenger spoke up.
“My concern is that we are overloading the Executive Committee with work and we are not giving them resources to do it,” Benjamin Cole of Lexington, North Carolina said. He called the task forces “extraneous” and “far afield” from the EC’s ministry assignment.
After earlier discussion on cuts in the EC budget, Cole compared the EC to “ancient Israelites whose quota of bricks has been increased while their ratio of straw has been eliminated,” Cole said. “Brothers, sisters, let us not demand more bricks while denying them essential straw.”
Messengers agreed overwhelmingly to table indefinitely five proposed task forces and study groups. Later the Committee on Order of Business recommended tabling three more. So, the EC can focus on its regular work, and Rice comes into office without any task forces to appoint.
With doctrinal debate minimized for the near future, messengers took up the recommendations from a remaining study group on disability ministry. With touching stories about effective ministry to families with special needs members, the panel advocated for ministry on all levels in SBC life, from the local church to international mission fields.
On the first day of the convention, a deaf messenger using an interpreter made a motion about reaching the deaf community, a largely unreached people group. That motion was ruled out of order for parliamentary reasons, with apologies from the Committee on Order of Business, with the hope that the disability ministries recommendations would help address the issue.
In addition to the EC study group recommendations, the Resolutions Committee said churches should expand disability ministry “to ensure that no family is forced to choose between the particular needs of a family member and the fellowship of the church.”
More missions
Overall, the Annual Meeting that could been sidetracked by argument proved to be mostly about missions. IMB President Paul Chitwood announced that the missionary pipeline is “exploding,” noting a 500% increase in recent years. Messengers met 63 missionaries headed to the field, more than half had their voices and images disguised to protect their identities. They join 3,500 IMB missionaries serving in 155 countries.
“With more lost people living on the planet than at any point in human history,” Chitwood said, “now is the time for more Southern Baptists to answer God’s call to the nations.”
The 2027 SBC Annual Meeting will be held in Indianapolis.