Southern Baptists vote to ban women from pastoral positions

Southern Baptists will vote this week on whether or not to ban women from becoming pastors after numerous churches were impeached for having female leaders.

At this week’s Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in New Orleans, a proposal will be presented to some 12,000 voters to ban women in positions of power.

SBC’s executive committee, which has 30 employees and 86 appointed members, approved the vote but formally recommended that “messengers” vote against.

At the convention, the group will also decide the fate of several churches that were recently banned because women led congregations in the denomination.

Pastor Mike Law, a proponent of the ban, says the proposed ruling would give the SBC the “clarity” they “desperately need.”

Pastor Mike Law, a proponent of the ban, says the proposed ruling would give the SBC the “clarity” they “desperately need.” Pictured: Rev. Mike Law

The law calls on voters — “messengers” as they’re called — to vote at their assembly this week to approve the ban.

“The messengers need to make their voices heard on this amendment and I am grateful that they have that opportunity this week,” Law said in a statement Monday.

The pastor and other ultra-conservative members of the denomination fear that allowing women to preach will lead to a liberal drift within the church.

“We must believe what the Bible teaches and put those beliefs into practice. I encourage my fellow messengers to adopt this amendment and reaffirm our commitment to God’s Word,” he added.

According to Joshua Abbotoy, a pastor whose congregation left the denomination, some Southern Baptists have strong, unfavorable views of women leaders.

He said they see women leaders as “an early harbinger of a series of other changes.”

Abbotoy’s conservative organization New Founding published an analysis last year that estimated there were more than 1,800 women pastors in SBC churches.

Opponents of the ban say they believe it could set a dangerous precedent for the denomination and denominations like it.

Executive committee member Dana McCain told USA Today that some voters will vote based solely on their own ideologies and “without perhaps taking the time to consider all the ramifications of the governance issues.”

She also mentioned the “possible unintended consequences.”

Executive Committee member Dana McCain told USA Today that some voters will vote based solely on their own ideologies and “without perhaps taking the time to consider all the ramifications of the governance issues.”

In February, the SBC executive committee voted to impeach Fern Creek Baptist Church, along with several others, because they were headed by a woman.

Each church is considered independent and so the Southern Baptists can’t officially tell them what to do, but they can consider them “not in amicable partnership.”

Fern Creek – which is led by 30-year-old Reverend Linda Barnes Popham – is appealing their decision because Popham says she was called to office.

“When I was 8 years old, I knew God was calling me in a way,” Rev. Popham told WCHS in a recent interview.

Her congregants and fellow Church members—including men—support her and offer their support.

“I’ve never seen anyone with a more devoted heart to the Lord than Linda,” said Rick Pryor, a regular attendee.

California’s massive Saddleback Church is also appealing their decision.

The current pastor, Andy Wood, said in a statement that his church believes women can be pastors as long as male elders are ultimately in charge.

Stacie Wood, Andy’s wife, is currently a pastor at Saddleback.

Fern Creek Church, led by 30-year veteran Rev. Linda Barnes Popham, is appealing their decision because Popham says she was called to her position

California’s massive Saddleback Church is also appealing their decision

Rick Warren – Saddleback’s founding pastor – echoed Wood’s statements in an open letter “to all Southern Baptists.” Pictured: Rick Warren at the SBC 2022

Rick Warren – Saddleback’s founding pastor – echoed Wood’s statements in an open letter “to all Southern Baptists.”

He advocated rejecting divisions and formal policies that other churches follow.

“This is a vote to affirm the God-given freedom of every Baptist to interpret Scripture as a Baptist — by saying no to those who deny that freedom,” he wrote.

Three other churches were banned, but are not attractive.

According to SBC, the denomination is “complementary” and believes that men and women have different roles within the church and life.

Chuck Kelley, Al Mohler and Richard Land wrote in a guide however, for the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message Confession that a “pastor” is one “who performs the pastoral office and performs the functions of the minister.”

“It’s important to understand that the word pastor was chosen precisely because of the clarity among Southern Baptists,” the group explained.

“The statement carefully affirms that both men and women are gifted for service in the church, but the role of pastor is biblically defined and should only be filled by men as qualified by scripture.”