While I have seen no data to show that female pastors are a primary ‘crisis’ in the SBC (and I think the Baptist Faith and Message is sufficient), I support the revised version of the proposed amendment by Dr. Al Mohler. I support it for several reasons.
1. We Are Complementarians
The SBC, both historically and doctrinally, is complementarian. We believe complementarianism is a good doctrine given by a good God for His glory and for human flourishing. The home and the church thrive when men and women play their respective roles, reflecting the gospel as they do so. While Scripture makes it plain that women are equal partners with men in God’s mission, it also teaches that God made men and women with gender distinctives. The challenge for the SBC comes in exactly how complementarianism is applied in the local church context.
2. We believe Scripture
While there are numerous Bible texts that speak into the aforementioned area, probably the dominant one is 1 Timothy 2:12 which reads “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” While space does not allow for a full treatment of this passage, it seems clear that “to exercise authority” relates to the office of pastor/elder (the broader context of 1 Timothy 2:8-3:13).
Since there are other places in Scripture where women prayed and prophesied in the early church (Acts 2:17, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, as well as all the commands to admonish and teach one another that add no gender distinctions), I and others (ex. – John Frame, John Piper, etc.) see 1 Timothy 2:12 as ‘teaching with the authority of the elders.’
In my opinion, Dr. Mohler’s revised amendment comes the closest that I’ve seen (from Law, Mohler 1) to articulating that preaching as an elder/pastor is biblically for qualified men. This somewhat nuanced approach frustrates some but lines up with historical Baptist practice. Many women in Baptist history have exercised “non-elder like” teaching while staying within a complementarian model (examples include Bertha Smith, Betty Criswell, Lottie Moon).
3. A More Defined Function
The first version of Dr. Mohler’s amendment that mentioned “function” but had only preaching as a possible example, was ambiguous because the prohibited function was never defined. That’s like saying “don’t go over the speed limit” but not posting what the speed limit is!
One damaging result of the first version would’ve been not providing needed clarity to the Credentials Committee. By including “function” with no parameters, how does that give clarity? This revision also helps limit folks who would want to impose their subjective application of what functions will be allowed in a cooperating church. This issue is not speculation or hyperbole, as some SBC brothers have been vocal about going much further.
I don’t think the average Southern Baptist wants the convention micromanaging the exact ways they express their complementarian theology (note: that’s why I’d oppose a task force to try to go further in detailing out every possible function when there is no consensus on what all those functions are). That’s also the beauty of documents like the Baptist Faith and Message and the Danvers Statement.
I think the majority of Southern Baptists want women and girls to be encouraged, equipped, and supported as equal partners in the Great Commission and can fulfill any leadership role except what the Bible excludes. A role which the Bible teaches as gender-specific to men is the office of pastor/elder. At this point, the revised amendment by Dr. Mohler is the closest I’ve seen that is theologically precise, while being consistent with polity.
Conclusion
I want to speak directly to what comes next because how we move forward matters as much as how we vote.
Pastors, the women in our congregations and on our staffs are Kingdom partners. They are called and gifted. They open their Bibles with the same hunger we do and obey the same Great Commission we do. They love the same Jesus we do. And far too many of them have spent far too long trying to figure out whether there is a place for them in the local church. Scripture didn't leave them with that question. Our arguments did.
So let's make sure that ends here too. Let's be the kind of pastors and the kind of churches where women are equipped and genuinely valued. Let’s celebrate their calling and cultivate their gifts. Their place in the work is different from ours, but it is not less important. They should never be confused about that.
The local church is God's Plan A, and women have always been part of it. Let's pastor like we believe it.
Editor’s Note: One word in this article as originally published was incorrect as a result of an editorial error. It has been updated to reflect the way the author wrote it.
Editor's Note: As a part of its commitment to fostering conversation within the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist Review may publish editorials that espouse viewpoints that are not necessarily shared by the TBR team or other contributors. We welcome submissions for responses and rebuttals to any editorials as we seek to host meaningful conversations about the present and future of our convention.
Bruce Frank
Bruce Frank is the lead pastor of Biltmore Church in Arden, North Carolina, where he has served since 2008. He holds a B.B.A. from Texas Tech University, an M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from Luther Rice. He and his wife, Lori, have two sons. Bruce chaired the Sexual Abuse Task Force in 2021–2022 and was nominated for SBC president in 2024.