As war wages in the Southern Baptist Convention over whether or women are qualified to be pastors, the controversy sparked anew after SBC church Saddleback Church commissioned and ordained several pastrixes, Pastor Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, VA, sent an open letter to the SBC Executive Committee, urging them amend the SBC constitution by closing that door once and for all.
The letter, which has been signed so far by nearly 650 SBC pastors, says in part:
I write concerning my motion to amend the SBC Constitution to include an enumerated 6th item under Article III, Paragraph 1 concerning “Composition.” As offered and referred to you at this past June’s annual meeting, the enumerated 6th item would read: “6. Does not affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind.”
Personally, I felt the need to offer this amendment because five Southern Baptist churches, roughly within a five-mile radius of my own congregation, are employing women as pastors of various kinds, including women serving as “Sr. Pastor.” Many others have found that a number of Southern Baptist churches appoint, affirm, or employ women as pastors in their areas, too. These churches often use a modified title – co-pastor, worship pastor, women and children’s pastor, discipleship pastor, or youth pastor – but all trade on the office of “pastor.”
The signatories to this letter join me in urging you to recommend the above amendment at the 2023 annual meeting. This action will bring clarity to the current confusion in our Convention, as well as “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
To see and sign, click the Twitter link or click here.
