What Happened at the SBC?
South Gate Family and Friends,
Every June, Southern Baptists gather for our Annual Meeting. During these two days we worship together, hear God’s Word preached, commission missionaries, celebrate what God is doing around the world, and conduct the business of our Convention. In fact, during these two days, we are a part of the largest business meeting in the world! It was a blessing for South Gate Baptist Church to have seven messengers represent our church in Orlando, Florida this week.
Each year, there seems to be a story that dominates the headlines after the Convention. This year, that story centers on the “Truth and Unity” Amendment, which was approved by nearly 75% of the messengers present and voting. The amendment states that an SBC church “does 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.” If you’re like me, you’ve probably seen social media posts, articles, and headlines surrounding this amendment saying things like “Southern Baptists Ban Women from Ministry” and “Southern Baptists Silence Women from Serving.” Because of that, I wanted to take a few moments to explain what happened, why it happened, and what it means for us at South Gate Baptist Church.
What Happened? Is This Something New?
The first thing to understand is that this amendment does not represent a new belief among Southern Baptists. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 has long stated in Article VI, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” In many ways, the Truth and Unity Amendment is not a change in doctrine but a clarification of cooperation. Southern Baptists have openly confessed this conviction for decades. The amendment seeks to provide constitutional clarity regarding what we have already affirmed in our confession of faith and what many believe Scripture clearly teaches.
More importantly than Convention policies are our biblical convictions. Southern Baptists have historically believed, and continue to believe, that Scripture teaches the office of pastor/elder/overseer is reserved for qualified men. The Apostle Paul writes under inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 3:1–2, “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work. An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…” While there are many qualifications listed for pastors and elders in Scripture, one of those qualifications concerns the office itself. This conviction is not rooted in tradition, politics, or cultural preference. It is rooted in our understanding of God’s Word.
Many people hear conversations like this through the lens of culture and preference. Given the cultural moment we live in today, convictions like these can appear backwards, archaic, or even offensive. Yet the reason this amendment passed by such a wide margin is because Southern Baptists have historically believed, and continue to believe, that God’s Word is clear on this matter. We are not attempting to be provocative. We are seeking to be faithful.
Why Did This Happen?
One of the hallmarks of being a Baptist is the autonomy of the local church. In other words, South Gate Baptist Church is governed by Christ through its congregation - not by Nashville, not by the SBC, and not by any denominational hierarchy. Churches are free to govern themselves according to their understanding of Scripture. At the same time, the Convention is free to determine the beliefs and practices that characterize friendly cooperation. Cooperation means something, and healthy cooperation requires clarity and honesty about our shared convictions.
The Southern Baptist Convention exists so that churches can accomplish together what we could never accomplish alone. Through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists train pastors, plant churches, support disaster relief, and send thousands of missionaries throughout North America and around the world. We cooperate around shared convictions for the sake of the Gospel. Shared mission requires shared beliefs (obviously there is room for differences on many tertiary issues).
Over the last several years, some churches have openly disagreed with the Convention’s historic understanding of the pastoral office and have appealed decisions regarding whether they remain in friendly cooperation with the SBC. The Truth and Unity Amendment was proposed to provide additional constitutional clarity on this issue. Many pastors who voted against the amendment were not arguing that women should serve as pastors. Rather, they believed the Convention already had sufficient processes in place to address these situations. In other words, much of the debate centered on process rather than doctrine.
Whatever one’s opinion of the amendment itself, it is important to understand that this is not a sudden shift in Southern Baptist theology. The Convention has publicly affirmed this conviction for decades. The amendment seeks to make explicit, at the constitutional level, what Southern Baptists have already affirmed at the confessional level.
How Does This Impact Us? Is There a Place for Women in Ministry?
Multiple people have reached out to me over the last few days asking, “What does this mean for us?” The short answer is: nothing. South Gate Baptist Church aligned with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 before this amendment, and we continue to align with it today. We remain convinced that Scripture reserves the office of pastor/elder/overseer for qualified men. Not all men. Not most men. Men who meet the qualifications in Scripture and who aspire for the office. At the same time, we remain deeply grateful for the faithful women God has raised up in our church.
Whenever I arrived at South Gate, I was asked multiple times about my views on women in ministry. I affirm today what I affirmed then: we need faithful women serving in our churches because without them, we wouldn’t have churches. Specifically at South Gate, so many ministries either would not exist or would not be thriving without women who faithfully use their gifts week after week for the glory of God and the good of our church. Praise the Lord for this!
I’ve mentioned before that my mother received her master’s degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has used that degree in multiple churches. Currently, she serves on her worship team and teaches Sunday school. Her church would suffer if she didn’t have the theological education that she had, and especially if she was unwilling to use her gifts to serve in her church.
I think of my wife, who attended Southwest Baptist University with me and graduated with her degree in elementary education. She has the spiritual gifts of mercy and service, and regularly uses those gifts behind the scenes as well as singing on our praise team from time to time. I’m thankful for her desire to use her gifts for the glory of God and the good of our body.
I think of our director of children’s ministries, Kristi Haynes. Kristi has a gift from the Lord when it comes to kids. Lindsey and I are so thankful for her as she goes above and beyond at South Gate to ensure that we have a team of volunteers prepared week after week to teach our kids about Jesus! I could go on and on with examples of women at South Gate and how they use their gifts to serve in a variety of ways in our body. This is ministry. It is not less than. It is not second-class ministry. It is the Great Commission work that Jesus calls us all to do.
The Truth and Unity Amendment does not diminish the value, worth, giftedness, or ministry of women. It seeks to provide clarity regarding what Southern Baptists believe Scripture teaches concerning the office and function of pastor. Men and women are equally created in the image of God. Men and women are equally valuable before Him. Men and women are equally saved by grace through faith in Christ. At the same time, we believe God has designed men and women with complementary responsibilities within the home and the church.
Our culture often assumes that equality requires identical roles. Scripture presents something different: equal dignity alongside complementary responsibilities. As I think of my family, I’m reminded of this reality. Lindsey carried and gave birth to our boys. I cannot do that (praise God!) because God designed men and women differently. God’s design isn’t something to apologize for, it’s something to embrace and trust!
Throughout Scripture, God powerfully uses women. Deborah led Israel. Miriam prophesied. Lydia opened her home for the church at Philippi. Phoebe faithfully served the church. Mary Magdalene was the first witness of the resurrected Christ. Women pray, disciple, evangelize, encourage, and serve throughout the New Testament. The question has never been, “Can women minister?” The answer to that question is an emphatic yes. The question is whether God has reserved the office of pastor/elder/overseer for qualified men. Southern Baptists have historically answered that question “yes,” and we continue to do so today.
How Should We Respond?
Many have reacted passionately against this amendment, not because it is new, but because it is unpopular. We should not be surprised by that. Faithfulness to God’s Word has never guaranteed the approval of the world, in fact, Jesus promised the opposite of this in John 16:33. In every generation, Christians are called to submit themselves to Scripture even when doing so is costly or unpopular.
Our primary calling is not to be famous; it is to be faithful. It is not to be culturally relevant; it is to be Christlike. It is not to have a spotlight; it is to serve.
Some of the loudest voices supporting this amendment are women. Some of the loudest voices opposing this amendment are women. Our goal is not to win arguments or score points. Our goal is to submit ourselves to God’s Word and speak the truth of His Word in love to one another.
My prayer for South Gate Baptist Church is that we would continue seeking first God’s Kingdom, sharing faithfully God’s Gospel, standing firmly on God’s Word, and support fully God’s design as His ways are always for His glory and our ultimate good!
May we be found faithful to Christ and His Word until He comes.
Pastor Joel Hayworth
