(SRN NEWS/AP/97.5 GLORY FM) – Thousands of Southern Baptists overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to advance a formal ban on women pastors in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, sending a clear message that men alone should preach to these conservative evangelical congregations.
(As we noted a few days ago in previewing the Orlando meeting, it’s an issue dealt with three years ago by Gainesville’s First Baptist Church when it pulled out of the Southern Baptist Convention. Then-pastor Dr. Rev. Jeremy Shoulta pointed out that First Baptist has “celebrated the presence of women pastors on our staff for some time, and we will not compromise this practice…”)
The amendment would tighten existing restrictions in the Southern Baptist Convention, which already has a faith statement opposing women pastors.
The vote was 6,028 to 2,026 — a 3-to-1 margin — which easily exceeded the required two-thirds majority. It will require a similar two-thirds vote at next year’s meeting to become part of the constitution.
The two-day meeting concluded Wednesday.
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You can read the full story here: Southern Baptists vote to advance a formal ban on churches with women pastors – SRN News
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