{"id":19797,"date":"2026-06-11T10:04:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T04:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/southern-baptists-pass-a-ban-on-women-pastors-again-this-time-they-hope-it-sticks\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T10:04:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T04:34:40","slug":"southern-baptists-pass-a-ban-on-women-pastors-again-this-time-they-hope-it-sticks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/southern-baptists-pass-a-ban-on-women-pastors-again-this-time-they-hope-it-sticks\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Baptists pass a ban on women pastors again. This time, they hope it sticks."},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p><iframe title=\"Everlit Audio Player\" src=\"https:\/\/everlit.audio\/embeds\/artl_JagLNU21nYP?ui_title_intro=Listen+now%3A&amp;client=wp&amp;client_version=3.1.5\" width=\"100%\" height=\"136px\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS) \u2014 A proposal by the nation\u2019s largest Protestant denomination to ban churches that have women pastors or let women preach on Sunday mornings passed overwhelmingly on Wednesday (June 10), marking the first step toward enshrining the ban in the Southern Baptist Convention\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n<p>Almost three-quarters (74.6%) of local church delegates, known as messengers, voted in favor of the so-called Truth and Unity Amendment during a Wednesday morning session of the SBC\u2019s annual meeting.\u00a0A quarter (25.09%) voted against the measure.<\/p>\n<p>Under the denomination\u2019s rules, any change to its constitution must be approved by a two-thirds majority in two consecutive years. Two previous attempts to approve the ban had failed.<\/p>\n<p>Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, has said the ban will keep the SBC from getting too liberal. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a great line that divides liberal and biblical evangelicalism, and you can see it on this very issue,\u201d said Mohler, who wrote and proposed the amendment. \u201cThe trajectory of liberal denominations is clear.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<div id=\"attachment_4263377\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 750px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4263377\" src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926-427x285.jpg 427w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926-807x538.jpg 807w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando16-060926-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\"\/> <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text edd-enabled\"><span class=\"caption\">Thousands of people attend the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<\/span><span class=\"credit\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wftv.com\/news\/local\/billboard-orlando-highlights-womens-calling-ministry-southern-baptist-churches\/A7L4F5BH7NAU3PRYK5QBTCMRHQ\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ahead of the SBC meeting<\/a>, Baptist Women in Ministry, which provides support and resources for women in ministry, paid for a billboard to go up in Orlando \u2014 where the SBC gathering is being held \u2014 defending women who teach and preach the Bible.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<span>Women in ministry deserve affirmation, respect, and the opportunity to follow God\u2019s call,\u201d the group <a href=\"https:\/\/bwim.info\/BWIMResponsetoSBC\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said in a statement<\/a> after the vote\u2019s results were made public. \u201cWe are heartbroken that they have been denied those fundamental freedoms in the process of this vote.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The SBC\u2019s statement of faith, known as the Baptist Faith and Message, has held since 2000 that only men can be pastors. However, until 2021, <span>the SBC took no national action to expel churches with women pastors. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Then, a couple of social media posts changed everything.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>First, Bible teacher Beth Moore, then a Southern Baptist, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialappeal.com\/story\/news\/2019\/06\/09\/southern-baptist-convention-beth-moore-sparks-debate\/1332128001\/\">tweeted<\/a><span> about speaking at a church on Mother\u2019s Day in 2019, which\u00a0set off an online firestorm over the issue of women preachers and pastors. Then, in 2021, Saddleback Church, one of the largest churches in the SBC,<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/religion\/2021\/05\/11\/saddleback-ordain-women-sbc\/\">ordained<\/a><span> several women on staff as pastors. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYesterday was a historic night for Saddleback Church in many ways!\u201d read a post on the California megachurch\u2019s Facebook page at the time.<\/p>\n<p>In a press conference, Mohler said that social media has made it possible for Southern Baptists to know what is going on in local churches\u2014especially churches that allow women to preach or have women pastors.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4263370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 750px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4263370\" src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926-427x285.jpg 427w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926-807x538.jpg 807w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando09-060926-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\"\/> <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text edd-enabled\"><span class=\"caption\">The Rev. Al Mohler addresses the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<\/span><span class=\"credit\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>All of a sudden, he said, churches said, \u201cWait a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That led to a move in the SBC to expel churches like Saddleback and to change the denomination\u2019s constitution to make clear that similar churches were no longer welcome.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSaddleback has taken actions that place itself in direct conflict with the stated doctrines of the Southern Baptist Convention,\u201d Mohler told Religion News Service in an interview at the time.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, Saddleback <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2023\/02\/24\/how-did-saddleback-get-kicked-out-of-the-sbc-its-complicated\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">was expelled from<\/a> the SBC. It\u2019s one of 10 churches deemed out of \u201cfriendly cooperation\u201d \u2013 an SBC term for removing churches \u2014 over the issue of women pastors, according to the report from the SBC\u2019s credential committee.<\/p>\n<p>Jonathan Sams, chair of the credentials committee, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baptistpress.com\/resource-library\/news\/sbc-credentials-committee-report-provides-details-on-inquiries-findings\/\">told<\/a> SBC messengers that over the past seven years, 44 SBC churches were found to have women pastors on staff. Of those, 20 left on their own, while 10 were expelled. The committee gave no details about what happened to the other churches.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rns-gallery-host\"><rns-gallery data-layout-style=\"embed\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery-slides\">\n                    <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263419\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"middle-center-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando28-061026.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando28-061026.jpg\" data-is-title-card=\"true\"><\/p>\n<p>By Kit Doyle \u00b7 June 10, 2026<\/p>\n<p>                    <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"middle-center-text\" data-type=\"text\" data-embed-src=\"\" data-fullscreen-src=\"\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        The Southern Baptist Convention\u2019s annual meeting gathered June 8-10, 2026, in Orlando, Fla.<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263419\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando28-061026.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando28-061026.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Messengers vote during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Bob Smietana)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263368\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando07-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando07-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        People mingle during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263271\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-Willy-Rice-SBC-2026.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-Willy-Rice-SBC-2026.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Fla., in a sermon at the 2026 SBC Pastors\u2019 Conference on June 8, 2026, in Orlando. (Photo by Luc Stringer\/Baptist Press)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263386\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando26-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando26-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        The Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263374\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Thousands of messengers attend the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263382\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando22-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando22-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        The exhibit hall during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263378\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando17-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando17-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Thousands of people attend the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263376\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        President Clint Pressley at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263384\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando24-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando24-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Attendees at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263320\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando06-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando06-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Attendees hold up their ballots while voting on a motion during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando. (AP Photo\/Phelan M. Ebenhack)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263380\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando19-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando19-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Attendees visit the exhibit hall during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263265\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando05-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando05-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        People attend the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Bob Smietana)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263262\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando02-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando02-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        The Rev. Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., speaks from the floor during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Bob Smietana)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263420\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando29-061026.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando29-061026.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Messengers vote during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Bob Smietana)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263385\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando25-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando25-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Attendees visit during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263264\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando04-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando04-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee meets Monday, June 8, 2026, in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Bob Smietana)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263383\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando23-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando23-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Attendees visit the exhibit hall during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263381\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando21-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando21-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        The exhibit hall during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263379\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando18-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando18-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Attendees visit the exhibit hall during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263373\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando12-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando12-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Thousands of messengers attend the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263371\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando10-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando10-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel Akin speaks at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263418\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando27-061026.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando27-061026.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        President Clint Pressley, on video screen, calls a vote during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Bob Smietana)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>                        <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"4263263\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"bottom-right-text\" data-type=\"image\" data-embed-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando03-060926.jpg\" data-fullscreen-src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando03-060926.jpg\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n                        People attend the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando. (RNS photo\/Bob Smietana)<br \/>\n                        <\/rns-gallery-slide><\/p>\n<p>            <rns-gallery-slide data-attachment-id=\"\" data-text-color=\"#ffffff\" data-background-color=\"#000000\" data-text-position=\"middle-center-text\" data-type=\"text\" data-is-end-card=\"true\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.religionnews.com\" class=\"logo-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/rns-photo-gallery\/rnslogofullwhite.svg\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>            <\/rns-gallery-slide>\n        <\/div>\n<p><\/rns-gallery><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, a Texas church <a href=\"https:\/\/baptiststandard.com\/news\/baptists\/motions-to-unseat-arlington-church-ruled-out-of-order\/\">changed the titles<\/a> of some women on staff from pastor to minister.<\/p>\n<p>Some churches have claimed that the rule limiting the pastoral office to men only applied to a church\u2019s senior leader and have given women staff the title of pastor.\u00a0Other churches have also allowed women to preach during the Sunday services, something that proponents of the amendment say should not be allowed.<\/p>\n<p>Willy Rice, a Florida pastor who <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2026\/06\/09\/willy-rice-florida-pastor-and-abuse-crisis-skeptic-wins-sbc-presidential-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">won the SBC\u2019s presidential election on Tuesday<\/a>, blamed what he called \u201csloppy ecclesiology\u201d and \u201ccultural pragmatism\u201d for misuse of the title \u201cpastor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe started handing out titles indiscriminately, and pastor, you\u2019re a pastor, you\u2019re a pastor, you\u2019re a pastor,\u201d he told a group of SBC pastors on Tuesday. \u201cWe lost the meaning of the word \u2018pastor.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A similar amendment to ban women pastors was <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2023\/06\/14\/southern-baptists-start-constitutional-step-naming-only-men-as-pastors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first passed<\/a> by Southern Baptists in 2023 but<a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2024\/06\/12\/southern-baptists-dont-get-votes-to-add-only-men-pastors-language-to-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> failed<\/a> to get a two-thirds majority in 2024. Last year in Dallas, a proposed amendment on the same issue also failed.<\/p>\n<p>In Orlando, the messengers were eager to vote again. They lined up at microphones around the meeting hall, waiting to have their say about the amendment. Several pushed a button to alert outgoing SBC President Clint Pressley that they wanted to speak before the amendment was even up for debate.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4263376\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 750px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4263376\" src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926-427x285.jpg 427w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926-807x538.jpg 807w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando15-060926-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\"\/> <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text edd-enabled\"><span class=\"caption\">President Clint Pressley at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<\/span><span class=\"credit\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Pressley finally warned messengers to let the meeting get on with the business. \u201cThen from there, we\u2019ll open it up for a free-for-all,\u201d \u00a0Pressley told messengers.<\/p>\n<p>After a brief debate, one of the messengers called for the question, a parliamentary procedure to force a vote. The other messengers agreed and the vote went on.<\/p>\n<p>In other business, messengers approved a $186 million budget for 2026-2027, of which more than half (51%) will go to the SBC\u2019s international mission board. That budget requires cuts from the SBC\u2019s seminaries and other agencies, including $600,000 from the SBC\u2019s Executive Committee.<\/p>\n<p>The most spirited debate came during a discussion of future sites for the SBC meeting, with a number of messengers objecting to planned future meetings in Anaheim, California, which is far from most SBC churches. Abel Galvan, a bivocational pastor from La Palma, California, defended the proposed meetings on the West Coast, which were eventually approved.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just want to invite you to come back to California. I know it looks like a mess, but there are many of us who love Jesus there,\u201d he told messengers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4263374\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 750px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4263374\" src=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926-427x285.jpg 427w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926-807x538.jpg 807w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/webRNS-SBC-Orlando13-060926-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\"\/> <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text edd-enabled\"><span class=\"caption\">Thousands of messengers attend the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (RNS photo\/Marty Jean-Louis)<\/span><span class=\"credit\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n        <\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2026\/06\/10\/southern-baptists-pass-a-ban-on-women-pastors-again-this-time-they-hope-it-sticks\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS) \u2014 A proposal by the nation\u2019s largest Protestant denomination to ban churches that have women pastors or let women preach on Sunday mornings passed overwhelmingly on Wednesday (June 10), marking the first step toward enshrining the ban in the Southern Baptist Convention\u2019s constitution. Almost three-quarters (74.6%) of local church delegates, known as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}