Introduction:
In my last post I wrote about what Scripture teaches on male headship and the equality of men and women here Growing Christian Resources: What Does Scripture Teach On Male Headship and Equality of Men and Women?
In this post I want to narrow down the overall Biblical worldview I presented last time to one singular subject: the affirmation of Biblical teaching about male-only Pastors and Elders at the recent 2026 SBC in Orlando, Florida. I then will summarize why I hold to that position.
The recent discussion and debate about the offices of pastor /elder and men and women in the SBC
We travel back to the 2022 SBC convention in Anaheim, California, where discussion ensued over whether women ought to be ordained as staff pastors. A proposal to censure Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church was discussed over his May 2021 ordination of three women on his staff. After much discussion, the issue was tabled until the 2023 convention. Consequently, Saddleback (along with a handful of SBC churches) were expelled by the Convention, however the discussion was far from over.
We fast forward to this year's Southern Baptist Convention, wherein Al Mohler presented what he called "The Truth and Unity Amendment" here Truth and Unity Amendment - AlbertMohler.com.
The goal was to add the amendment to the constitution of the SBC. Its addition would reinforce the convention's position on the matter as spelled out in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Further, the amendment would give a mechanism for holding churches accountable that ordain or appoint women to the office of pastor / elder or any ordained staff positions.
The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 in Article VI on "The Church" states the following on this subject:
"Its two scriptural offices are that of pastor/elder/overseer and deacon. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture."
With these things in mind, the convention convened last week in Orlando Florida, approving Mohler's proposal. According to convention by-laws, anytime a change to the constitution is proposed, passage requires two successive convention meetings to make it permanent.
Consequently, from that discussion came forth a resolution which spells out the details about male-only pastors / elders here On the Office and Function of Pastor/Elder/Overseer - SBC.net I would encourage readers to read over the resolution. According to the SBC, a resolution "has traditionally been defined as an expression of opinion or concern, as compared to a motion, which calls for action. A resolution is not used to direct an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention to specific action other than to communicate the opinion or concern expressed." This resolution on male-only pastors and elders, coupled with Mohler's "Truth and Unity Amendment" brought forth this year clearly states where Southern Baptists land on this subject.
The resolution as I read it is clear, concise, and provides a good summary of what I would affirm myself as an SBC pastor holding to this Biblical position.
Why I advocate male-only pastoral leadership
Over the years I've tried to read books and journal articles by those who promote men and women equally serving in the roles of pastors and elders. In reading the literature, the basis for both genders serving in pastoral / eldership roles (called “egalitarianism”) arises from pragmatic, rather than theological considerations.
When I say “pragmatic”, I mean churches that avow female pastoral leadership for sake of perceived beneficial outcomes for the church and for women. Pragmaticism as an approach to church ministry suffers from the weakness of “the ends justifying the means”, rather than starting out with sound, Biblical principles.
Those who argue for the Biblical and historic case for male-only pastoral/eldership are called “complementarians”. This position states that men and women are equal in God's sight as His image bearers while having distinct roles assigned to achieve God-ordained functions in the family and church. I’ll list four reasons below why I affirm this view as it relates to male-only Pastors/Elders.
1. Pastors/elders are men because the pattern in creation involved male headship. Genesis 1:26-28.
2. Pastors /elders are men because the pattern of redemption involved Christ becoming the second Adam. Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:45-47.
3. Pastor/elders are men because the pattern of the church involves Christ’s Lordship over the church. Ephesians 5:22-33.
4. Pastor/elders are men because the pattern of the new heavens and earth will involve Christ as head of His kingdom. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Revelation 21-22.
The above reasons fit along similar lines I argued for in the last post. There are four key doctrines represented by the above four points represent: creation, redemption, church, kingdom. These four key doctrines are expressed by the complementarity and biologically-based binary genders and the specific way Scripture lays out men as the only office holders of the ordained positions of pastor and elder.
Observe also that male-only pastoral leadership stems from Divinely ordained “patterns” we see in these doctrines, rather than human preferences or pragmatic reasons. When we blur the truth, whether purposefully or unwittingly, the net effect is the same – decline.
We note how this pattern of equality of dignity and distinctiveness of position is revealed by God through Jesus Christ. With reference to His position of authority as Lord over His Church, Jesus Christ as God-in-the-flesh exercises authority by His Word and Spirit to nourish, love, preserve, and unify His Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). The Lord revealed that men are to occupy the Pastoral office to remind themselves and the church body of Christ's Lordship (Ephesians 5:22-26; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).
Simultaneously, with respect to equality of dignity shared by men and women, the church is a coheir with Jesus Christ in union with His humanity. She as His bride, composed of those adopted and regenerated in saving faith (Romans 8:14-17, 28-29; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:8-9) will reign alongside Christ in His Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-3) and for eternity (Revelation 21-22).
This second principle of "equality of dignity" reminds each local church of the invaluable way God has gifted women to serve in the church (with the exception of the pastoral and elder offices, along with the office of Deacon, with which I take 1 Timothy 3:8-13 to speaking of "deacon's wives" rather than "deaconesses). In all, the complementarian understanding of male leadership is grounded in the God of the Bible revealed in Christ, for His church.
Final thought: What I hope will happen at the 2027 SBC Convention
As I close this post, my affirmation of male-only pastoral / elder leadership is meant to express my desire to see the SBC Convention approve once and for all the measure set forth by Dr. Mohler and expressed in the above linked resolution. As an SBC pastor, it is vital for churches to hold to the pattern clearly set forth by Scripture for the sake of fidelity to the Gospel and the Biblical teaching on the office of the Pastor / Elder in the local church.
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