Southern Baptists rejected a proposal Wednesday to ban churches from having female pastors in their constitution after opponents argued it was unnecessary because of the denomination. there was a way to overthrow such churches.
The measure received support from 61% of delegates, but it did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority. The action overturned a preliminary vote last year in favor of a formal ban.
But it still departs from the Southern Baptist Convention with its official doctrinal statement saying that the office of pastor is limited to men. Even opponents of the ban say they support that doctrinal statement but don't think it's necessary to entrench it in the constitution.
Opponents note that the SBC has been able to overturn churches that affirm women can serve as pastors — as it did last year and again Tuesday night.
The vote was perhaps the most anticipated of the annual meeting, reflecting years of debate within America's largest Protestant denomination. It was the final day of the SBC's two-day annual meeting in Indianapolis, where Southern Baptists also elected a new convention president and passed a nonbinding resolution, warning Inform couples about the use of in vitro fertilization.
