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.”
