Constitutional Amendment at the Upcoming Southern Baptist Convention - Dr. Albert Mohler Weighs In

  

At the upcoming annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Indianapolis, IN (June 11-12, 2024), messengers to the Convention will vote on an amendment to the SBC Constitution. As described in the Baptist Press: "Mike Law, pastor of Arlington (Va.) Baptist Church, originally introduced a motion at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim to add a sixth item to the SBC Constitution, Article III: that cooperating churches would not 'affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind'" [emphasis added]. Messengers to the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans approved the Law amendment with 2/3 vote. In order for the change to be enacted, according to the rules of the Convention, another vote must be taken at this year's SBC, with 2/3 messengers again approving the amendment.

Some leaders within the SBC have been urging a "no" vote, as they feel the Law amendment to be unnecessarily divisive and a possible violation of local church autonomy. I am thankful that, as seen in the video above, Dr. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is urging a "yes" vote. As quoted in the Baptist Press, Dr. Mohler has stated:

I see it as not only something that we need to pass, but we need to just have it as a part of our bylaws in such a way that it settles a question.... Southern Baptists really do believe in the autonomy of the local church. We can’t force any church to be a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. But the SBC also has the responsibility to define what are the boundaries, what is the basis, the foundation for the cooperation that brings us together for common work.