The Orlando meeting in 2000 is remembered for adopting a revised confession — that strengthened language on biblical authority, formally limited the office of pastor to men, incorporated the family amendment and added clearer statements on several social and moral issues.
The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message revision was drafted by a 15-member study committee appointed by then-SBC President Paige Patterson and chaired by Adrian Rogers, then-pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, bringing together pastors, seminary presidents, denominational leaders and lay representatives from across the convention. Click here for a list of committee members.
So how did our statement of faith change in 2000? Read a summary below or click here to view a comparison chart of the 1925, 1963 and 2000 versions of the Baptist Faith and Message.
- Stronger language on biblical authority. The 2000 revision added the statement that “all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy” and replaced the 1963 wording that said, “The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.” The new language stated instead that all Scripture testifies to Christ, who is the focus of divine revelation. This was intended to clarify Southern Baptist views on the trustworthiness and authority of Scripture.
- Restriction of the pastoral office to men. For the first time, the confession explicitly stated: “The office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” This language did not appear in the 1963 confession and became one of the most discussed changes in the revision.
- Retention and expansion of the 1998 “Family” article. The 1998 amendment on the family was incorporated into the full confession, including language describing marriage as the union of one man and one woman and outlining complementary responsibilities for husbands and wives.
- More explicit positions on contemporary moral issues. The revised confession added stronger language addressing issues such as abortion, homosexuality, pornography, sexual immorality and euthanasia, reflecting concerns Southern Baptists believed were especially relevant at the turn of the century.
- Additional clarifications. According to the study committee, the goal was to preserve the historic Baptist faith while making Southern Baptist convictions clearer for a new generation. Rogers said the revisions sought to make the Bible’s truthfulness more explicit and to clarify Baptist beliefs in response to contemporary theological and cultural challenges. “The Bible is not merely a record,” said Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary and study committee member, to the SBC messengers that year. “It is a revelation of God. It is always a triumphant moment when this convention states clearly its belief that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God.”
