This week, Al Mohler presented a petition to the Southern Baptist Convention asking messengers to support an amendment excluding women from the role of pastor, elder, or overseer. The approval of the body (more than 76% voted to affirm his petition) moves this proposal one step closer to ratification in 2027. As someone who holds all three of those roles in my own denomination, I obviously have an interest in the message projected by this decision. I look on with concern for the Body of Christ but without offense. Here’s why:
- Clarity is kind. All those years we contended for orthodoxy in our Methodist world (and contend still), we did so hoping maybe things might change. Because our denomination was light on theology and heavy on institutional loyalty, we were left with misplaced hopes about where things might land. We learned the hard way that fuzzy theology is deeply wounding for everyone — no matter which “side” of any given issue they are on. When what a tribe believes is not well stated and lived out in every congregation, folks are left believing that what you believe really doesn’t matter. That leads to false hopes or a temptation toward ignoring sound theology altogether. So while I don’t believe the SBC is reading the Bible accurately when it comes to women in ministry leadership, I can respect their clarity. Now at least, every Southern Baptist knows where the denomination stands (though in fact, we already knew this; it isn’t a new position). Its leadership has been clear: women will not lead churches. With that kind of clarity, everyone connected to a Southern Baptist church can make their choice. There are other denominations, the Global Methodist Church among them, that will be happy to receive those who can’t live with the SBC’s decision.
- Discipleship is always the issue. It may well be that every messenger (the term the SBC uses for delegates to their general assembly) is a solid student of the Bible who understands all the arguments for defending the place of women in ministry leadership. My experience, however, makes me suspicious. Many folks I encounter have no idea why they believe what they believe and are in need of discipleship around what the Bible actually says about gifts and call, not to mention human design. This decision by the SBC is a good reminder to all of us in ministry leadership that our people need appropriate discipleship so they can both read and defend the Bible accurately. Global Methodists should not be “blown about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). Let this moment become an opportunity for discipling every willing soul so they can go where Jesus leads and intelligently defend his Word.
- Eyes on Jesus (and on your own paper). As tempting as it would be to throw stones at those who disagree with solid Methodist theology, our energy is better spent tending to our own witness and heeding the promise of Jesus, who teaches us that change happens over time. It is the little bit of yeast leavening the whole loaf. I hope this moment spurs us on more intently toward mentoring women and men who hear the call of God to lead/plant/serve churches, and toward making disciples who make disciples and planting churches that plant churches. Rather than wading in the shallow end of offense, let’s be about the slow, organic work of raising up the next generation of pastors, elders and overseers who can clearly articulate the faith and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
And that’s why I’m not offended. I am moved by the choice of the SBC to up my game so I’m not missing the opportunities right in front of me to raise up every woman and man who is called by God to welcome and advance the Kingdom of God.
