The topic of women pastors has sparked controversy within the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the US. This year, the convention has expelled five churches that appointed women to lead roles within the church, sparking fear among some evangelicals of a liberal drift. The appointment of women pastors has become a point of contention among Southern Baptists, with some pushing to enforce a strict ban against women in church leadership. At the same time, ultraconservatives are looking to amend the Southern Baptist Convention’s constitution in order to further restrict the role of women in leadership. Specifically, they propose that a church can be Southern Baptist only if it does not affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind.
Although Southern Baptists have historically allowed churches to decide their own leadership structure, the current controversy highlights a growing conservative movement within the denomination that is pushing for more strict adherence to traditional Biblical interpretations. Ultraconservatives within the denomination have denounced what they perceive as a leftward drift among some churches and are now actively working to enforce a ban on women pastors.
However, there are those in the denomination who argue that the Bible does not stipulate gender as a requirement for pastoral leadership. Supporters of women pastors cite examples of powerful women in the Old and New Testaments who acted as leaders or prophets, despite cultural norms at the time.
This debate has led to the expulsion of five churches from the Southern Baptist Convention this year alone. Two of those churches – Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville and Saddleback Church in Southern California – appealed their expulsion before thousands of delegates at the annual convention in New Orleans. Thousands of male pastors and professors also signed a letter supporting an amendment that would enforce the position that women should not lead churches.
This controversy comes at a time when the country is broadly re-examining women’s rights, especially after the overturning of Roe V. Wade. At the same time, victims’ advocates within the Southern Baptist Convention are calling on the denomination to take action against sexual abuse of women and children. This has sparked a debate about whether the move to enforce a ban on women pastors is an attempt by ultraconservatives to reduce women’s influence within the church and silence dissenting voices.
Saddleback Church has become a major focus of attention in the debate over women pastors. Founded in 1980 by celebrity pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback grew quickly during the ’80s and ’90s and was known as a “seeker-sensitive” church, attuned to the questions and preferences of those unfamiliar with or wary of traditional church experiences. However, its appointment of women pastors has come under scrutiny, leading to Saddleback’s expulsion from the convention.
Despite this, Mr. Warren has been working actively to thwart the move to expel Saddleback. In an open letter addressed to all Southern Baptists, he wrote: “This is a vote to affirm the God-given freedom of every Baptist to interpret Scripture as a Baptist – by saying no to those who deny that freedom.”
There has been no clear indication of exactly how many women currently serve as pastors within the Southern Baptist Convention. Estimates range from dozens to nearly 2,000 when all pastoral positions other than senior pastor are included. The role of minister or pastor can have many meanings in different Christian settings; children’s ministers, for example, are often women even in theologically conservative churches.
The changes to the Southern Baptist Convention’s constitution, which would bar women from top pastoral jobs, would require a vote in its favor at both this year’s convention and at next year’s. The delegates are expected to hold the first vote on Wednesday. If the amendment is passed, it would not take effect until next year at the earliest. Three other churches that were expelled for having female pastors chose not to appeal. These churches can continue to operate, but they will no longer be affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention nor participate in its programs.
The controversy surrounding women pastors highlights a growing conservative movement within the Southern Baptist Convention that is pushing for strict adherence to traditional Biblical interpretations. However, it has also sparked debate within the denomination about the role of women in the church and whether ultraconservatives are seeking to reduce women’s influence within the denomination and silence dissenting voices. At the same time, the country is grappling with issues of women’s rights and the impact of religion on those issues. Ultimately, the decision about whether to enforce a ban on women pastors may have long-term implications for the Southern Baptist Convention and its influence within the larger Christian community.
