The Mohler Amendment to the SBC Constitution

[Jerome]

At both the 2024 and 2025 annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Conventions, messengers rejected anti-women-ministers amendments to the SBC Constitution.

The failed 2024 amendment came from Mike Law Jr., a 9Marksist.

The failed 2025 amendment came from Juan Sánchez, a Councilmember of The Gospel Coalition.

The 2026 amendment to disfellowship churches with women ministers will be offered by seminary president Albert Mohler.

 

[canadyjd]

Women as ministers or women as pastors?

Peace to you

 

[Jerome]

Here is the section they want to amend.
Existing disqualifications are in red.
The proposed amendments are in blue.

 

[Jerome]

As you can see, they propose[d] to add the women thing right after the sexual abuse and racism disqualifications.

Seems they could have put it up in #1 with homosexuality?

 

[Jerome]

Women as ministers or women as pastors?

Pastors, ministers, a number of titles got SBC churches put on their 'naughty list'/exposé.

https://web.archive.org/web/2023062...le-Pastors-from-churches.sbc_.net-5.31.23.pdf

 

[Jerome]

Covered as well in the FAQs at the Mike Law Jr Amendment website:

Q 23. Can’t a female pastor just change her title to “minister” to sidestep this amendment?

 

[Ascetic X]

Everyone knows the really big problem in the SBC is

4. Does not act in a manner inconsistent with the Convention's beliefs regarding sexual abuse.

There are so many allegations of coverups and slowness to respond to sex abuse on the part of pastors and ministry leaders. Some women tried to bring attention to this, but they were subverted.

The proposed online database that would list the names of abusive Southern Baptist pastors is now on hold, with no names likely to be added to the website by the denomination’s annual meeting this 2025 summer.

Instead, Southern Baptist leaders working to address abuse in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination say they will focus on helping churches access other databases of abusers and training churches to do better background checks. However, the so-called Ministry Check database, which was a centerpiece of reforms approved by Southern Baptist messengers—or local church representatives—is now on the back burner.

“At this point, it’s not a focus for us,” Jeff Iorg, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, told reporters at a news conference Tuesday during the committee’s annual meeting in Nashville.

Southern Baptists Abandon Abuse Database - Christianity Today

The Executive Committee’s major focus is now recouping $3 million in legal fees related to the crisis.

www.christianitytoday.com

Child sex abuse cover-up allegations rock Southern Baptist Convention | Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman LLP

The Southern Baptist Convention faces allegations of a widespread cover-up of child sex abuse cases. Learn more about this shocking scandal.

galiherlaw.com

 

[Jerome]

In the past Mohler was a prominent opponent of a 'Conservative Resurgence' effort to pass an SBC Resolution against women pastors.
The 1984 resolution, against women having "pastoral functions and leadership roles entailing ordination", passed narrowly 58% to 42%, and Mohler and his spouse who was then going by 'Mary Kahler Mohler' promptly signed their names to a manifesto against the Conservatives' resolution that was published in the Louisville Courier Journal.

 

[Jerome]

Albert Mohler rose to leadership of the Ministerial Association at Samford University. Can you spot him in these yearbook photos?

 

[Ben1445]

In the past Mohler was a prominent opponent of a 'Conservative Resurgence' effort to pass an SBC Resolution against women pastors.
The 1984 resolution, against women having "pastoral functions and leadership roles entailing ordination", passed narrowly 58% to 42%, and Mohler and his spouse who was then going by 'Mary Kahler Mohler' promptly signed their names to a manifesto against the Conservatives' resolution that was published in the Louisville Courier Journal.

View attachment 14124

I wonder why he changed his mind.

 

[canadyjd]

I wonder why he changed his mind.

Can’t speak for him, but I notice the arguments for women pastors is similar to the arguments for homos:xual marriages.

The Bible clearly teaches against both. Those that favor both must undermine the authority of scripture to make their case.

They will say what was taught in the first century (or before) was a “cultural” understanding of the day that doesn’t apply to us.

Once you have no basis of authority, you can teach anything as approved by God.. and they do.

Peace to you

 

[jakethebaptist]

I wonder why he changed his mind.

42 years is a long time for someone to reflect on their interpretation of scripture and how to apply it. I certainly wouldn't hold a position taken that long ago against someone who affirms something differently today. Though were he to expound on when, where, and how he changed his position on the matter it could give opportunity to strengthen the current proposal.

 

[DaveXR650]

Can’t speak for him, but I notice the arguments for women pastors is similar to the arguments for homos:xual marriages.

If you get on Al Mohler's web site he explains the amendment as he makes the comparison with homosexuality's infiltration into the churches. He wants to stop it like the SBC did with homosexuality. Compare them with what happened to several other denominations and the Baptist Global group and they have a point.

On a practical note, I could listen to "sermons" any day by Elizabeth Elliott or Cory Ten Boom, if that were still possible but look around. Most Baptist churches are completely independent and anyone can start one any time. Where are the examples of good, fundamentally sound Baptist churches started by women? In all the independent Baptist churches, who answer to no one's constitution, where are the sound women pastors? By the way, in my working years I worked mainly in hospitals and am completely comfortable and at ease with women in authority from supervisor to CEO so that is not the issue with me.

 

[canadyjd]

….
On a practical note, I could listen to "sermons" any day by Elizabeth Elliott or Cory Ten Boom, if that were still possible…

Let each be convinced in their own mind what is appropriate.

… Most Baptist churches are completely independent and anyone can start one any time….

Yes

By the way, in my working years I worked mainly in hospitals and am completely comfortable and at ease with women in authority from supervisor to CEO so that is not the issue with me.

Scripture speaks against women in authority over men in a church setting.

Secular work doesn’t apply, though I understand folks disagree with that understanding.

I was once interviewing for a job where the woman doing the interview declared “this company is owned by a woman, do you have a problem with that?!?”

I responded, “do the checks come on time? Yes, then I don’t have a problem with that.”

I did get that job.

Peace to you

 

[DaveXR650]

Scripture speaks against women in authority over men in a church setting.

Secular work doesn’t apply, though I understand folks disagree with that understanding.

I was once interviewing for a job where the woman doing the interview declared “this company is owned by a woman, do you have a problem with that?!?”

I responded, “do the checks come on time? Yes, then I don’t have a problem with that.”

I did get that job.

I didn't say it was good. I just said I was used to it.