Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Hoping and praying this email finds you well. It is important to discuss the outcome of the state convention. What is a pastor? Many are confused in a world where anything goes, there must be some clarity. Southern Baptists are not confused, for they are people of the book. The Credential Committee (CC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) questioned the definition for a “pastor” in SBC21 and asked for clarification on what a pastor is. The SBC24’s ending brought many to ask, what just happened? USA Today reported, “Southern Baptists reject ban on women pastors in a historic vote,” well this is an untrue statement and deceptive. “Baptist Women in Ministry offers appreciation to all the messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) who voted against the Law amendment, because of their commitment to support and affirm women serving as pastors of all kinds in the SBC.” How did it come to this travesty of the compromise of biblical truth which emboldens deep rebellion and the promotion of women being pastors, with news like this how are Southern Baptists to respond?
There was a push to change the constitution of the SBC Constitution in SBC23. Since there was some confusion of what a pastor is by the CC, an amendment was brought by Mike Laws, that added a simple phrase of clarification under Article III “6. Does not affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind.” The article was overwhelmingly approved even though the amendment was not supported by the platform. This vote needed 2/3 vote for two consecutive years. Well, the amendment failed in the second year to receive the 2/3 votes to ratify it.
First, it is important to note that just because the Law Amendment failed to reach the 2/3 vote with an outcome of 61% for and 39% against, it must be noted that the bulk of the SBC messengers were united in the goal to clarify what scripture says about who a pastor ought to be. The question is, does the SBC already allow women to be pastors of any kind? The answer is no, and this answer is simply seen in the fact that before the vote on the Law Amendment, FBC Alexandria in Virginia was disfellowshipped because they were out of step with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BF&M2K). The church was brought forth by the CC and after a brief defense of their position as a church to allow women preachers they were removed from being a church in right standing according to the BF&M2K.
Those who did not want the amendment argued that because First Baptist Church Alexandria was removed with 91% to disfellowship and 9% against and removing FBCA was the evidence that the amendment was not needed. The question is why were SBC messengers reluctant to ratify the Law Amendment into the governing constitution?
This is a complicated matter. On the one hand the messengers were being told that there are not a lot of women pastors in the SBC, and that there is no problem to see here, and to not pay attention to the man behind the curtain. On the other hand, there was a fear of a mass exodus, like Elevation church, with Stephen Furtick, that voluntarily chose to leave because of its egalitarian view. The powers that be in one breath said that there is no problem and in another they are saying that the fall out of existing churches is going to be great. Which is it?
The SBC is a complementary association of churches, but pragmatics trumped biblical fidelity. The push was for the SBC to focus on missions and let churches run their structure as they see fit. Bruce Frank one of the SBC presidential candidates intimated that doctrinal precision will not matter in the end, the only important thing is how many trusted in Christ through missions. This sounds good, but does not doctrinal precision drive missional strategy? If the Great Commission is not predicated on doctrinal truth, then what gospel is being preached? Missions over doctrine is never the answer for doctrine drives mission endeavors.
The BF&M2000 states, “Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of a pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” It is crystal clear as to whether women can be pastors, elders, and bishops, but some are claiming that a woman can hold to pastoral roles if they are not the senior pastor. This is not true; the SBC is either what they have been deemed to be “People of the Book” or they are not. Either the SBC will cling to the Word because it is a biblically rooted body or it will go by way of the PCUSA, UMC, and others.
Nathan A. Finn wrote, and rightly so, that “Southern Baptists have been debating those issues and will no doubt continue to do so. But if you desire a convention that takes an ‘I’m okay, you’re okay’ approach to female pastors, you misunderstand who Southern Baptists are and what nearly all of us believe. You are part of a tiny, ever-shrinking minority in the SBC because we are a convention of complementarian churches.” It was good to read this article at a time when discouragement was setting in. “And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9) He continued regarding those churches challenging, “It is always worth doing hard things to align your faith and practice with Scripture. I sincerely want your church to remain in friendly cooperation… At the same time, you must understand that we are a convention of complementarian churches.”
Brothers , what will it be? Give up and surrender or stand up and fight for the biblical fidelity of the SBC? Some say it does not matter what the SBC does, because all SBC churches are autonomous and that is true, but have you thought of the ramifications? The 6 SBC Seminaries educate 33% of pastors as goes the convention so goes the pastorates for where will pastors come from? There is already a deficiency of qualified pastors, the problem will increase exponentially. As goes the SBC, so goes evangelicalism. The SBC is the largest and last bastion of the protestant church and the only one to come back from the brink of liberalism. What will it be? Prayer was removed from schools because Christians remained silent and refused to fight, will Southern Baptist be silent again?
Will His church, His associations of churches, His state conventions, and His SBC stand upon pragmatics over doctrine, this remains to be seen. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8) People of the Word, or people of the world? is the only question that needs an answer. Here is the issue at hand, either the SBC has a book and are people of the book, or not. “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach.” (1 Tim. 3:14) This may be a simple argument, but a bishop, a pastor is the husband of one wife, a one-woman man, not a spouse of one’s spouse. Will it be forever decided that Baptist are people of the book.
Sincerely,
Tommaso (Tom) Pasquarella
Interim Pastor of Canal Point Baptist Church
Association Missions Strategist
Canal Point Baptist Church 