{"id":2265102,"date":"2024-06-11T15:04:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T19:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southern-baptists-clash-as-vote-looms-over-amendment-to-ban-female-pastors\/"},"modified":"2024-06-11T15:09:44","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T19:09:44","slug":"southern-baptists-clash-as-vote-looms-over-amendment-to-ban-female-pastors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southern-baptists-clash-as-vote-looms-over-amendment-to-ban-female-pastors\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Baptists Face Conflict Ahead of Vote on Female Pastor Ban Amendment"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsouthern-baptists-clash-as-vote-looms-over-amendment-to-ban-female-pastors%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2265102&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Southern Baptist\u200b Convention (SBC) \u200dfaces a sharp internal division regarding a proposed amendment \u200cthat would prevent SBC-affiliated churches\u200c from allowing women to serve as pastors and elders. This amendment, brought \u200bforward by Pastor Mike Law \u2063of Arlington Baptist Church,\u200d seeks\u200b to revise the SBC&#8217;s governing document to clarify that only men can serve \u2063as pastors or elders, aligning closely with the Convention&#8217;s\u200c statement of faith. Despite a prevailing theological belief in complementarianism\u2063 \u2014 the view that men \u200cand women\u200b have distinct,\u2064 complementary roles, with pastoral positions held solely by men \u2014 the proposal has met opposition, even from respected figures \u2064within the movement who worry about unintended consequences. \u200dFormer SBC \u2062President J.D. Greear and current SBC President Bret \u2063Barber have expressed concerns that the amendment \u2062might needlessly alienate churches that characterize some women&#8217;s roles\u2064 with pastoral titles, although they&#8217;re not in lead pastoral\u2062 positions.\u2064 The \u2064upcoming vote on this amendment is seen by some as\u200d a critical point that could impact the \u2064unity and future direction of\u200c the SBC, amid fears that too stringent a stance might push the Convention\u2064 towards a \u2064conservative extremity akin to that experienced by other denominations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure>                         <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is <a href=\"https:\/\/ministrywatch.com\/sbc-presidential-candidates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sharply divided<\/a> over a <a href=\"https:\/\/sbcamendment.org\/home-2\/frequently-asked-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">proposed amendment<\/a> to ban affiliated churches from allowing women to serve as pastors and elders. A vote on the amendment will take place at the <a href=\"https:\/\/sbcannualmeeting.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">annual SBC meeting<\/a> this Tuesday. While there is a general <a href=\"https:\/\/sbcamendment.org\/home-2\/frequently-asked-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">theological consensus<\/a> that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/radical-democrat-raphael-warnock-oversaw-church-camp-that-abused-a-child-threw-urine-on-him\/\" title=\"Radical Democrat Raphael Warnock Oversaw Church Camp that Abused a Child \u2013 Threw Urine on Him\">senior pastor<\/a> roles should be exclusively filled by men, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/smug-photo-of-governor-tina-kotek\/\" title=\"Arrogant picture of Governor Tina Kotek\">opinions vary widely<\/a> on the broader implications of what is being referred to as the \u201cLaw amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/sbcamendment.org\/home-2\/frequently-asked-questions\/\">amendment<\/a>, proposed by Arlington Baptist Church <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arlingtonbaptist.com\/sermons\/speakerbio\/p\/4894\/mike-law\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pastor Mike Law<\/a>, would insert <a href=\"https:\/\/sbcamendment.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new language<\/a> into article three of the SBC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbc.net\/about\/what-we-do\/legal-documentation\/constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">governing document<\/a>, which outlines the requirements for churches in the SBC.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA church [is] in friendly cooperation with the Convention . . . which . . . \u20186. Affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture,&#8217;\u201d the amendment states.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCooperation with the convention\u201d means a church can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbc.net\/about\/what-we-do\/legal-documentation\/constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">send voters<\/a> to the annual meeting and participate in SBC business, among many other privileges.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters argue that the amendment will enforce the doctrinal statement of the <a href=\"https:\/\/bfm.sbc.net\/bfm2000\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Baptist Faith and Message<\/a>, which asserts, \u201cthe office of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southern-baptists-vote-to-remain-faithful-to-biblical-teaching\/\" title=\"Southern Baptists affirm commitment to biblical doctrine.\">pastor\/elder\/overseer<\/a> is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.\u201d Churches within the SBC are fully autonomous and expected to \u201cclosely,\u201d but not strictly, follow this statement, and interpretations vary. Most churches apply this limitation to all pastoral roles, while some restrict it only to the senior pastor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor a long time, contrary to our Convention\u2019s statement of faith, women have served as pastors in our Convention,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/sbcamendment.org\/home-2\/frequently-asked-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Law wrote<\/a> in a letter to the SBC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-carolina-gop-votes-to-censure-rep-rice-over-impeachment-vote\/\" title=\"South Carolina GOP Votes To Censure Rep. Rice Over Impeachment Vote\">executive committee<\/a>. \u201cThe problem is clear. The Bible is clear. Our Confession is clear.\u00a0Now it is time for our Constitution to be clear, which will help secure our unity in the truth as a Convention.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At the heart of the amendment is <a href=\"https:\/\/swbts.edu\/news\/the-complementarianism-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">theological disagreement<\/a> over the role of women in church leadership. The <a href=\"https:\/\/sbcamendment.org\/home-2\/frequently-asked-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vast majority<\/a> of SBC churches hold to \u201ccomplementarianism,\u201d the belief that men and women have different roles in the church and pastoral ministry is limited to men.<\/p>\n<p>However, many prominent complementarians within the SBC have opposed the amendment. <\/p>\n<p>They <a href=\"https:\/\/jdgreear.com\/a-time-to-come-together-the-unintended-effects-of-the-law-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warn of collateral damage<\/a> for churches that adhere to complementarian doctrine but have a nomenclature problem. These churches may title women as pastors even though they are not actually serving in lead roles, such as children\u2019s pastors.<\/p>\n<p>J.D. Greear, <a href=\"https:\/\/jdgreear.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">former SBC President<\/a> and pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, <a href=\"https:\/\/jdgreear.com\/a-time-to-come-together-the-unintended-effects-of-the-law-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shares this concern<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cComplementarian churches with inaccurate titling for some of their women in ministry are put into the same category as those harboring known sex abusers or marrying gay couples,\u201d Greear wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/jdgreear.com\/a-time-to-come-together-the-unintended-effects-of-the-law-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blog post<\/a>. \u201cSouthern Baptists may well end up pushing away some churches that are actually with us theologically but choose to use a term that most of us believe is not biblically accurate for a particular ministry role \u2013 just as if they were either unrepentant racists\u2026\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Like Greear, current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbc.net\/sbc-president\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SBC President Bret Barber<\/a> agrees the amendment is not the way to enforce complementarianism.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that when we face extremely confusing and convoluted questions, we ought to just let the messenger body pray about it and sort that out,\u201d he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baptistpress.com\/resource-library\/news\/barber-discusses-sexual-abuse-law-amendment-other-issues-at-fbc-jacksonville\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said in an interview<\/a> at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. \u201cWe have the framework in place right now without any amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The amendment comes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/when-we-see-a-withdrawal-we-will-believe-in-a-de-escalation-ukraine-reacts-to-russia-withdrawing-some-troops\/\" title=\"\u2018When We See A Withdrawal, We Will Believe In A De-Escalation\u2019: Ukraine Reacts To Russia Withdrawing Some Troops\">amidst growing concern<\/a> that allowing female pastors will cause the SBC to drift toward liberalism. Law describes the issue as a \u201ccanary in the coal mine,\u201d noting the decline of conservatism in the Episcopal Church USA and United Methodist Church after they permitted female pastors. Others have noted that many Pentecostal denominations ordain women but still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrc.org\/resources\/stances-of-faiths-on-lgbt-issues-pentecostals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">maintain<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.org\/Beliefs\/Position-Papers\/Homosexuality-Marriage-and-Sexual-Identity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">conservative theology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The nominees for SBC president, all conservative-leaning, <a href=\"https:\/\/ministrywatch.com\/sbc-presidential-candidates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remain<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brnow.org\/opinions\/voices-opinion\/first-person-the-law-amendment-is-understandable-but-unnecessary-unclear-and-potentially-the-unraveling-of-the-sbc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">split<\/a> on the issue. The SBC\u2019s Executive Committee previously recommended that the amendment be declined.<br \/>Tuesday\u2019s vote comes after the amendment was <a href=\"https:\/\/baptistcourier.com\/2023\/06\/sbc-2023-constitutional-amendment-on-women-serving-as-pastors-approved\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">overwhelmingly approved<\/a> at the 2023 annual meeting. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbc.net\/about\/what-we-do\/legal-documentation\/bylaws\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SBC bylaws<\/a>, constitutional updates require a two-thirds vote at two consecutive meetings. If approved this year, the SBC\u2019s \u201ccredential committee\u201d would begin the task of determining whether churches are qualified to send voters to the next annual meeting. Therefore, the amendment <a href=\"https:\/\/sbcamendment.org\/home-2\/frequently-asked-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">will not take full effect<\/a> until 2025.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Monroe Harless is a summer intern at The Federalist. She is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in journalism and political science.<\/p>\n<div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is deeply split on a proposed amendment to prohibit affiliated churches from appointing women as pastors and elders. The vote is scheduled for this Tuesday at the SBC&#8217;s annual meeting. There is broad theological agreement that senior pastor positions should be male-only<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3175,"featured_media":2265103,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/14701718418_dbc02b95e4_k-e1718132563874.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2265102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/14701718418_dbc02b95e4_k-e1718132563874.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2265102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3175"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2265102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2265102\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2265103"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2265102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2265102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2265102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}