(PatriotPostNews.com) – Southern Baptist churches operate independently without a single unifying mandate, but churches can be expelled from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
The convention does not dictate what churches can and cannot do. The official terminology for being expelled from the SBC network is “not in friendly cooperation.” Churches that reject the SBC are allowed to operate and worship as Southern Baptist churches, however, they lose the ability to vote on the SBC doctrine and lose the support and resources offered by the SBC. Churches “not in friendly cooperation” with the doctrine are functionally exiled.
Reacting to the rise in extremist gender ideology, the SBC has called for a vote to clarify women’s place in the church. Each Southern Baptist church, in cooperation with the SBC, sends a delegate called a “messenger,” who will cast their vote in the name of the church they represent. Churches not in alignment with the SBC are not permitted to send a messenger.
On Sunday, June 9, 2024, the messengers convened at the annual SBC meeting in Indiana. The majority voted in favor of a proposed amendment to the SBC that would dictate what positions women would be allowed to hold in the church. However, the SBC requires that at least two-thirds of the messengers reach a consensus. The threshold was not met this year, but SBC leaders are confident that the vote will pass next year.
If adopted, the amendment would prohibit women from being pastors. Church leaders asserted that the amendment was not clear enough for agreement. There are numerous roles in the church that involve evangelizing or providing spiritual guidance. It remains unclear how restrictive the limitations on women will be. While some speculate that the amendment could restrict women solely from lead pastor positions, others fear it might extend to barring women from all pastoral and leadership roles within the church.
The 2025 SBC Meeting will make the final decision on what positions women can hold.
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