Albert Mohler has formally launched a renewed effort to prohibit women from serving in pastoral roles within churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), introducing a constitutional amendment during the denomination's 2026 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
Speaking before more than 10,600 messengers gathered for the convention, the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary presented what he has called the "Truth and Unity Amendment," a proposal designed to clarify the SBC's position on women serving as pastors and preaching to assembled congregations.
The amendment would add a sixth requirement to the SBC Constitution's definition of a cooperating church. Under the proposed language, a church would not be considered in friendly cooperation with the convention if it "affirms, appoints, or endorses a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, specifically preaching to the assembled congregation."
Mohler introduced the motion during the opening business session of the annual meeting, receiving applause from attendees as he approached the microphone. He also requested the suspension of Standing Rule 6, a procedural move that would allow the amendment to be debated and voted on during the 2026 gathering rather than being delayed until next year.
The proposal marks the latest chapter in an ongoing debate that has shaped SBC discussions in recent years. While the denomination's confession of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, states that the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture, questions have persisted regarding churches that employ women with pastoral titles or permit women to preach in certain ministry contexts.
Mohler has argued that the amendment is necessary to provide constitutional clarity and preserve doctrinal unity among Southern Baptist churches. Supporters contend the measure simply reinforces beliefs already affirmed by the denomination and provides a clear standard for determining cooperation.
The proposal closely resembles a constitutional amendment approved by SBC messengers in 2023. That effort, commonly referred to as the Law Amendment, sought to specify that cooperating churches must affirm, appoint, or employ only men as pastors or elders. Although it received overwhelming support during its first vote, it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority during a second vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting, preventing it from becoming part of the SBC Constitution.
This year's proposal contains revised language focusing not only on the office of pastor but also on the pastoral function of preaching to the assembled congregation. The wording reflects continuing discussions within the convention regarding how churches define pastoral ministry and whether certain ministry roles should fall under SBC scrutiny.
The issue has become one of the most significant theological and governance debates within the denomination, leading to the disfellowshipping of several churches in recent years over questions involving women serving in pastoral positions.
Under SBC rules, constitutional amendments require approval by a two-thirds majority vote at two consecutive annual meetings. If messengers approve Mohler's proposal in 2026, it would still require a second two-thirds vote at the 2027 Annual Meeting before officially becoming part of the SBC Constitution.
The amendment is expected to generate significant discussion among convention attendees, as Southern Baptists continue to wrestle with questions of biblical interpretation, church autonomy, denominational accountability, and the role of women in ministry. The outcome could have lasting implications for how the nation's largest Protestant denomination defines cooperation and pastoral leadership moving forward.
