We know what happened in Orlando. The expanded team coverage in this issue of the Illinois Baptist will illustrate the many annual rituals that drew more than 20,000 people to Florida for Southern Baptists’ big family gathering. But one topic dominated discussion going into the convention—What is a pastor and who is called to be one?
And coming out of the convention, the question is whether a 74% vote for a constitutional amendment limiting the pastorate to men settles the issue.
We know how the messengers voted, but, going forward, what does it mean? Where does it stand now?
First, The issue isn’t settled—yet. Constitutional amendments require affirmative votes in two successive annual meetings, by two-thirds majority. As the world’s largest legislative body, the SBC requires two votes, usually over two years. This usually prevents tidal wave decisions or knee-jerk reactions.
The convention returns to Indianapolis in 2027 where the second vote will be held. That is the same city where in 2024 the Law Amendment, an earlier version of this same male-only pastoral definition, received only 61% of the vote—and failed.
Whether holding the convention outside the Deep South means less attendance by Bible Belt messengers or more influence of frontier Baptists might be a factor.
In Orlando, there were attempts to prevent locating future annual meetings in California. The 2026 winner of the SBC presidency, Florida pastor Willy Rice, has advocated moving distant meetings back to the South, since more SBC churches are located there. The cost of travel is often cited.
Attempts to reroute away from Anaheim failed, but one messenger from Georgia stated his objection to non-South locations clearly. He said the convention should be held where more conservative Southern Baptists live.
Midwest influence, whatever its perceived bent, will be felt in neighboring Indy in 2027 and just across the River in St. Louis in 2028.
It is noteworthy that a 74% vote in Orlando affirming this amendment is 13 points higher than the Indianapolis vote two years ago. It may be that the opinion of messengers in Orlando reflects a shift in the convention as a whole in favor of settling finally and definitively the issue of women in pastoral roles. There’s also the issue of debate fatigue. This is the fourth time an amendment on women’s roles has been brought forward in five years.
Second, this amendment is narrower than the Law Amendment. Before bringing his constitutional amendment to the floor, Louisville messenger and Southern Seminary President Al Mohler changed two words: “such as” became “specifically.” By doing that, Mohler limited the action by women that would disqualify a church from “friendly cooperation” with the SBC and allow its dismissal to one thing—preaching to the gathered church.
“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 on the floor as he presented the motion, “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.”
A messenger prepares to fill out her ballot at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting June 10. | BP photo by Luc Stringer
At a news conference afterward, Mohler said, “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.’”
Third, can this amendment be used to expand further the ministries prohibited to women, and thereby expand the causes for the SBC Credentials Committee to dismiss churches? Mohler says no.
His amendment addresses the office of pastor, but also by identifying preaching, it speaks to the functions which would identify a person as a pastor.
“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 (preaching) in terms of the function question,” Mohler said.
Al Mohler presents his motion on the office of pastor at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting.
Fourth, can a woman ever speak from the pulpit? That would be up to the local church pastor. This amendment does not address sharing testimonies, verbal participation in worship, or speaking in such a way that is not equated with the pastoral function of preaching.
Fifth, can a woman have some other “pastoral” title, such as Children’s Pastor, Worship Pastor, or Associate Pastor? To those who say the Baptist Faith and Message (2000) and the Mohler Amendment, now half-approved, limits the office of “pastor/elder/overseer” to men, the answer is clear: No.
Women should not be called “pastor.” An assistant told this reporter that Dr. Mohler would prefer women use another title, such as “director.” However, the amendment doesn’t exactly legislate that.
In contrast, and those who see a distinction between a senior or lead pastor (with biblical responsibility for spiritual oversight of the local congregation) and other types of associate roles may still wish to argue the point.
We have a year to discuss it.