Convention votes cannot undo what God has done.
WACO, TEXAS (June 10, 2026)—Baptist Women in Ministry laments the actions of the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention.
The SBC voted this morning to amend its constitution, dictating that a Southern Baptist church does not affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, specifically preaching to the assembled congregation. A second vote will occur at the 2027 SBC Annual Meeting for the amendment to be put into effect.
Baptist Women in Ministry loudly proclaims that:
Convention votes do not decide who is called to pastor, preach, or minister.
Convention votes do not dictate whose callings churches can affirm.
Convention votes do not determine women’s value to God or the church.
However, we are grieved that:
Convention votes do amplify messages of inequality.
Convention votes do cause congregational conflict.
Convention votes do hurt women and girls.
We express our solidarity with the women in ministry who have been harmed by this vote, the hateful rhetoric and propaganda leading up to the vote, and the damaging theology the vote represents.
Women in ministry deserve affirmation, respect, and the opportunity to follow God’s call. We are heartbroken that they have been denied those fundamental freedoms in the process of this vote.
We further express our disdain for the dangerous messages amplified by the SBC which condone women’s subjugation.
Women and girls, within the SBC and outside of it, deserve empowering messages which celebrate that women are made in God’s image and worthy of equal treatment and opportunity.
We call on advocates for women’s equality among Baptists to speak loudly and act boldly in the days following this highly publicized and harmful decision.
Even though patriarchal theology and its enforcement are not new to the SBC, we will not ignore acts of injustice. Every woman and girl is worthy of someone speaking up on her behalf.
We stand by the message we made visible to millions on an Orlando billboard–God calls women to pastor, preach, and minister. We pray its message was seen by those who needed its support and encouragement, and we will continue to work so that every Baptist woman knows she can listen for and follow God’s call when it comes.
About Baptist Women in Ministry
BWIM is a national organization that supports women who pursue ministry and leadership, and advocates for the full affirmation of women in ministry in Baptist life. For more information, visit bwim.info.