As Southern Baptists prepare to gather in Orlando for the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, seminary president Albert Mohler has revised a proposed constitutional amendment intended to clarify the denomination's position on women serving in pastoral functions.
Mohler, who leads The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, announced the adjustment after receiving feedback from pastors, church leaders, and convention members following the release of the original proposal last month. The amendment seeks to define more clearly what constitutes a church being in "friendly cooperation" with the SBC regarding pastoral leadership.
The most notable revision involves replacing the phrase "such as" with the word "specifically" in language addressing women serving in pastoral roles. Under the revised wording, churches in friendly cooperation with the SBC would not "affirm, appoint or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor, elder, overseer, specifically preaching to the assembled congregation."
According to Mohler, the change is intended to provide greater precision and avoid ambiguity regarding how the SBC applies its longstanding complementarian convictions. He described the issue as a matter of denominational definition and identity, arguing that clear constitutional language helps maintain unity across the convention's thousands of churches.
Mohler compared the proposed amendment to previous constitutional clarifications adopted by the SBC concerning LGBTQ-related issues, saying those measures helped provide consistency and guidance for determining friendly cooperation among member churches.
The seminary president emphasized that the amendment is not designed to create division but to establish a shared understanding of pastoral office and function. He argued that Southern Baptists have historically been united on the question of male pastoral leadership and that the revised language better reflects that consensus.
He also expressed appreciation for the feedback received since first announcing the proposal, noting that conversations with fellow Southern Baptists helped shape the final wording. Mohler said he believes the revised amendment now represents a broader consensus and could gain support from a large majority of convention messengers.
The proposal comes amid ongoing debate within the SBC over the role of women in ministry, particularly concerning preaching, teaching, and pastoral responsibilities. In recent years, several churches have faced scrutiny or disciplinary action over questions related to women serving in ministry positions that some Southern Baptists view as pastoral in nature.
Mohler said his goal is to help the convention move forward with a clear and unified statement regarding its convictions. The amendment is expected to be formally presented when Southern Baptists convene in Orlando next week for the denomination's annual gathering, where messengers will debate and vote on a range of issues affecting the nation's largest Protestant denomination.
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