Discussion about the role of women in the US-based Southern Baptist Convention is continuing after a major step was taken towards formalising restrictions on their role in church leadership.
The Truth & Unity Amendment, brought forward by SBC president Al Mohler, which seeks to explicitly ban female pastors in SBC churches, was passed with 75% of the vote at the 2026 Convention. Mohler called it “a definitional issue for the SBC” – a denomination of around 48,000 cooperating churches across 50 states.
The amendment means cooperating churches will be required to “not act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/ overseer, specifically preaching to the assembled congregation.”
The denomination’s existing doctrinal statement (the Baptist Faith and Message) already strictly limits the office of pastor to “men as qualified by Scripture” (churches who appoint women are expelled).
Mohler said the motion was necessary as “an act of convictional unity – to say, ‘this is where we stand’. We also need the efficiency of having really clear language in our constitution that expresses that conviction”. To become a permanent change, the amendment will need to be ratified by a two-thirds majority at next year’s SBC convention.
However, there are also concerns that the meaning of terms such as “preaching”, “assembled congregation” and “pastor” – which are not defined in the amendment – will be interpreted differently.
Critics describe the move as an attack on women and a cause for disunity. Ahead of the vote Doug Mize, pastor of Greer First Baptist Church, South Carolina, commented: “What we have already works … this [amendment] is over and beyond the reach that we need to have.”
Al Mohler’s restrictive view of women speaking to an “assembled congregation” appears to extend further than corporate church gatherings.
Speaking on his daily podcast, The Briefing, in response to a listener’s question on 15 May, he said that a woman discussing the previous Sunday sermon on a podcast with the pastor and other staff members is “a problem”.
He considered that the woman is “teaching”, therefore it’s implied that she’s “assuming the role of a pastor” and said: “I do see that as a problem”. He added: “I don’t think the church should ever lean into offering confusion on this issue but should lean into clarity.”
en has approached Mohler for comment on whether a podcast, which anyone can choose whether or not to listen to, can be equated to the corporate church gathering.
The amendment looks set to be fully ratified at next year’s convention.
