SBC approves amendment strengthening ban on women pastors
Updated at 2 p.m. ET on June 10, 2026:A second vote will be held at next year's SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, to give final approval to the amendment.
Original:
Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention voted in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment that solidifies the denomination's ban on women serving as pastors, overseers and elders.
The vote marks a significant victory for conservatives one year after a similar proposal failed to gain enough support.
Messengers to the SBC Annual Meeting held in Orlando, Florida, approved the measure, sponsored by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler Jr., known as the "Truth and Unity Amendment," by a vote of 6,028 to 2,026. The amendment received 74.66% support, surpassing the two-thirds majority required for constitutional changes.
Additionally, there were 20 ballots that were disallowed, representing 0.25% of the total vote.
The amendment will still need to pass a second vote at next year's SBC Annual Meeting to be officially added to the denomination's constitution.
The amendment adds a new requirement for churches seeking to remain in friendly cooperation with the SBC. Under the measure, a cooperating church must not "affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation."
Al Mohler on women being called a pastor or holding the office. #SBC26#SBC2026
— Terri Green (@TerriGreenUSA) June 10, 2026
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is an opportunity for the Southern Baptist Convention to speak in truth and unity in conviction consistent with our confession. There’s a great line that divides… pic.twitter.com/JPMeZzwPvd
The vote came after a brief floor debate that highlighted continuing disagreements over how much authority the national denomination should exercise over local churches.
Pastor Doug Mize of First Baptist Church in Greer, South Carolina, argued that the amendment was unnecessary because the SBC already has mechanisms in place to address churches that affirm female pastors: "What we have already works."
“This is over and beyond the reach that we need to have,” he continued, noting the sharp decline in recent years of SBC-affiliated churches that have female senior pastors. “We’ve already said it, it’s in our Baptist Faith and Message,” which limits the office of pastor to men.
Supporters of the amendment argued that the measure provides needed clarity at a time when questions about gender and church leadership continue to generate debate throughout American culture.
Colin Smothers, preaching pastor of First Baptist Church of Maize, Kansas, expressed support for the amendment, calling it “faithful to Scripture” and warning that “the culture is attacking gender on all fronts.”
“We can hardly turn to the right or the left without finding confusion about gender,” said Smothers. “What better way to express our countercultural commitment to the goodness of God’s Word than to affirm God’s creation order related to the office of pastor?”
Soon after speaking, Smothers successfully moved to close debate, clearing the way for a final vote.
One messenger proposed holding a raised-ballot vote on the amendment; his request was denied, as any vote on an SBC constitutional amendment requires a counted ballot vote.
A separate messenger asked outgoing SBC President Clint Pressley whether the amendment could affect women currently serving in various ministry leadership roles, like teachers, directors and missionaries.
Pressley replied, “the amendment says what it says.”
Last month, Mohler announced in a video posted on YouTube that he would propose a motion to amend the SBC constitution “to add an enumerated sixth item, under Article 3, Paragraph 1” of the constitution that says that “a cooperating Southern Baptist church … Does not act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation.”
Mohler said “the need for this is made abundantly clear,” especially “in recent years,” and that the proposal should curb divisive debate, noting that “a generation ago, the SBC took this kind of action in the constitution by making very clear that our cooperation is not extended to those who would endorse or affirm LGBTQ lifestyles and activities.”
“That has clarified the SBC's conviction. It has created even deeper unity in the truth. And that kind of language in the constitution has served the SBC very, very well,” Mohler explained.
“One of the greatest testimonies to that is that this is not an issue of open debate at the SBC year-by-year, and it hasn't been for a generation. That's exactly what we need on the issue of the office of pastor.”
Last year, a similar amendment was defeated at the SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas. Although the 2025 motion received 3,421 votes in favor, which constituted 60.74% of the ballots cast, it failed to get the necessary minimum two-thirds majority.
Pastor James Goforth of First Baptist Church of Ferguson, Missouri, spoke against the motion last year, noting that Southern Baptists "believe in the autonomy of local churches," thus "allowing us to have some differences of practice while still cooperating together for the Great Commission."
While he was opposed to female senior pastors, Goforth said he believed the 2025 motion would force the SBC "to headhunt a bridge too far" and distract the convention from fighting "the real enemy."
On Tuesday, SBC messengers in Orlando voted to suspend a standing rule that allowed for Mohler's amendment to be considered on Wednesday. By doing so, reported The Christian Index, they allowed the amendment to be given its first vote of approvel during this year's annual meeting instead of next year's.
