Mohler Revises SBC Amendment Ahead of Orlando Meeting
Change narrows language on women preaching as Southern Baptists prepare to debate a major constitutional amendment
Just days before Southern Baptists gather in Orlando for their 2026 annual meeting, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler has revised a proposed constitutional amendment that would further define how the Southern Baptist Convention views women serving in pastoral roles.
The change narrows language in what Mohler has called the "Truth and Unity Amendment," a proposal that is expected to generate significant discussion among messengers when the convention convenes June 9-10.
Mohler first announced the amendment in May, saying it would add a sixth requirement to Article III of the SBC Constitution governing whether a church is considered to be in friendly cooperation with the denomination. The original language stated that a cooperating church would not "act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation."
After receiving feedback from pastors and church leaders, Mohler released a revised version on June 2. The updated proposal replaces the phrase "such as" with the word "specifically," resulting in language that would prohibit churches from affirming, appointing, or endorsing women serving in pastoral functions, "specifically preaching to the assembled congregation."
According to reporting by Illinois Baptist and other Baptist news outlets, Mohler said the revision was intended to provide greater clarity and reflect concerns raised by Southern Baptists who feared the original wording could be interpreted more broadly.
The amendment follows years of debate within the SBC over women serving in pastoral roles. The denomination's Baptist Faith and Message 2000 states that "the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture," but disagreements have continued over how that language should be applied to churches that use women in various teaching and ministry positions.
The issue gained national attention in recent years through disputes involving churches that employed women with pastoral titles and through the failed Law Amendment, a proposed constitutional change that would have explicitly barred churches with women pastors from remaining in friendly cooperation with the SBC. Although that amendment received majority support in two consecutive years, it failed to secure the supermajority required for adoption.
Supporters of Mohler's proposal argue that the amendment would provide constitutional clarity and prevent the convention from revisiting the same debate year after year. Mohler has said the measure would help define a common understanding among cooperating churches regarding the pastoral office.
At the same time, some Baptist leaders and commentators have expressed concerns about the amendment's scope and potential consequences. In an editorial published by The Alabama Baptist (and reprinted by ALPolitics.com), Editor Jennifer Davis Rash urged messengers to carefully examine the proposal before voting.
"Many state the goal is to prevent women from serving as senior pastors of Southern Baptist churches, while others are concerned the wording takes it much farther," Rash wrote. She also questioned how terms such as "endorse," "function," and "preaching" might be interpreted and whether the amendment could affect local church autonomy.
Rash further asked, "Why include 'endorse' and 'function,' and how should those be interpreted? Does 'preaching' include speaking, sharing a testimony or leading a large group Bible study?"
The discussion reflects broader questions that have emerged across Southern Baptist life as churches seek to balance denominational accountability with the historic Baptist principle of local church governance. Supporters view the amendment as a reaffirmation of existing doctrine, while critics worry it could create new standards subject to varying interpretations.
Messengers will have the opportunity to debate the proposal during the SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando June 9–10. If the measure advances through the convention's amendment process, it would require approval at successive annual meetings before becoming part of the SBC Constitution.
Mohler’s video introducing his amendment may be seen on YouTube and below:
