Thousands of Southern Baptists overwhelmingly voted on June 10, 2026, to advance a formal constitutional ban on churches with women pastors in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. The measure passed with a 3-to-1 margin (6,028 to 2,026 votes), easily exceeding the required two-thirds majority at the annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.
Next Steps and Amendment Details. The proposal, known as the “Truth and Unity Amendment,” must receive a similar two-thirds vote at the June 2027 annual meeting to be officially enshrined in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) constitution. The amendment tightens existing restrictions by explicitly prohibiting churches from affirming, appointing, or endorsing a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor, specifically including preaching to the assembled congregation.
Reactions and Context. Sponsor Albert Mohler framed the vote as a defining line between “liberal and biblical evangelicalism,” while advocates like Baptist Women in Ministry expressed heartbreak over the decision and reported an uptick in harassment against female ministers. Although the SBC cannot dictate policy to self-governing local churches, it holds the power to expel congregations deemed not in “friendly cooperation,” a mechanism previously used to remove churches like California’s Saddleback Church for having women in senior pastoral roles.
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