Women pastors, immigration enforcement, antisemitism: 5 proposed SBC resolutions to watch
5. Pastors, elders, overseers
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler Jr. plans to introduce an amendment at the SBC Annual Meeting that seeks to solidify the SBC’s prohibition on female pastors in member churches.
In addition to that proposed amendment, messengers in Orlando will also consider a resolution titled “On the Office and Function of Pastor/Elder/Overseer.”
The resolution quotes the 2000 "Baptist Faith and Message," which states that the church’s “two scriptural offices are that of pastor/elder/overseer and deacon” and that “the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”
“That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 9–10, 2026, reaffirm that the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture,” the resolution declares.
“That we affirm the function of teaching Scripture and preaching the Word to the gathered Church is essentially connected to the office of pastor/elder/overseer and should not be separated from the qualifications for pastoral ministry.”
While stating that women should not become pastors, elders, or overseers, the resolution nevertheless calls on Southern Baptists to “express gratitude for the indispensable service, discipleship, evangelism, missions work, and ministry contributions of women throughout Southern Baptist life and encourage churches to continue affirming and deploying women in biblically faithful ways.”
