Albert Mohler said he’s admittedly frustrated but also understands the context of why the questions for clarification about his proposed Southern Baptist Convention constitutional amendment continue to surface.
The group of a dozen or so reporters meeting with the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary early Wednesday afternoon (June 10) followed suit with multiple versions of the same question seeking understanding: How can Baptists be assured this amendment won’t be expanded beyond the stated purpose (office of pastor and function of preaching being limited to men as qualified by Scripture)?
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Much of the confusion stems from various individuals and organized groups connected to SBC life discussing publicly their intentions to take the restrictions further. Mohler remains adamant his intention is precisely as he has stated it, however.
The Baptist Paper team will continue to monitor actions by others related to the confusion and has reached out to Mohler’s team to ask if he had any involvement in the decision by a messenger in favor of the amendment to “call the question,” which ultimately ended debate quickly Wednesday morning.
‘Specifically’ means ‘specifically’
The proposed amendment, which will need a two-thirds majority approval by messengers to the 2027 annual meeting in Indianapolis in order to be added to the SBC constitution, states:
A cooperating 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.“
“I’ve tried to say as carefully as possible, but I’ll say it again now. It speaks specifically in terms of function to a woman preaching to the gathered assembly,” Mohler said. “I will say that over and over again. You heard me say that ‘specifically’ means ‘specifically.’ I also will tell you that I do not believe that the Southern Baptist Convention has shown any evidence of moving beyond that specific issue in terms of the function question.
‘Doesn’t intend to’
“I don’t think it says anything about anyone teaching Sunday School or missionary service. … And by that I mean it doesn’t intend to. It’s not addressing those situations at all.”
When Southern Baptists’ confessional statement, the Baptist Faith and Message, was updated in 2000, the pastoral office section was revised to state the office of pastor is limited to men.
Mohler served on the committee preparing the revision and stated publicly 26 years ago when the BFM 2000 was adopted that the restriction applied only to the senior pastor position.
However, a lot has changed in 26 years, he said, such as social media and the digital revolution, which provides easier access into knowing more about larger numbers of churches.
‘Wake-up call’
Some churches are very active on social media, and “they draw attention to things that the average Southern Baptist, I don’t think, would have known about at another time,” Mohler said. “But that’s a moral issue. Now you know about it,” he said as he answered a question about whether Beth Moore sharing on social media that she would be speaking at Saddleback Church in California in 2019 started the conversation about amending the SBC constitution.
“And I was not honestly aware at the time of all the churches that would show up on a list still identified with the Southern Baptist Convention. So, in one sense, it was something of a wake-up call to a good many Southern Baptists who just kind of assumed that these churches were not considered a cooperating church,” he added, referencing without calling the name of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. CBF grew out of the rift among Southern Baptists in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Also, “new to the equation would be the idea that a woman would preach to the gathered assembly and not have the title pastor. That was really not envisioned in 2000. I was on the committee. I can tell you it never came up. But that’s something new.”
‘Most visible dividing line’
Mohler confirmed he believed the BFM 2000 and the SBC structure currently in place has worked regarding assessing whether a church can remain in cooperation with the SBC, but he believes the convention would prefer not to deal with it at the annual meeting.
“Yes, it has been dealt with, but it has taken the convention’s time,” Mohler said. “We need to say this and say it in the right way. … This is not a new doctrine. This not a new understanding. This is something Southern Baptists shouldn’t have to deal with over and over again.
“This is concretely perhaps the most visible dividing line between liberal and conservative Christians,” he said, adding he does not see any type of crisis nor “fear an army of women preachers in the SBC.”
It’s strictly for efficiency, consistency and clarity, he said, even though messengers could possibly still need to handle a future situation. Churches deemed not in friendly cooperation by the Credentials Committee and affirmed by the Executive Committee still have the right to appeal their case during the next SBC Annual Meeting.
‘Careful with words’
While he did not commit to standing at an annual meeting mic to remind future messengers of the intended meaning of his proposed amendment, Mohler emphasized “specifically” means the singular item specified.
“I think those of you in this room, some of you have known me for decades, you know that I’m very careful with words. And I have to live with a lot of words. I don’t want to speak words I don’t want to live with,” Mohler said, noting he sought expert counsel on the phrasing.
