Missouri Baptists affirm task force report limiting biblical office of pastor to men

Messengers to the 191st annual meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) gathered in Branson voted overwhelmingly to adopt a task force report affirming that the biblical office of pastor is reserved for men.

The report, prepared by a task force of the MBC Credentials Committee, addressed the “office of the pastor, specifically as it relates to a woman’s role in ministry.” It was released in writing on Oct. 22 and distributed ahead of the meeting at the Branson Convention Center Oct. 27-28, where 1,365 Missouri Baptists and 361 guests from 478 churches gathered.

The move is in contrast to the failure to approve a similar proposal to prohibit women pastors serving in Southern Baptist churches – referred to as the “Law Amendment” – at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in June. The amendment received 3,421 to 2,191 votes, which at 61% fell short of the two-thirds support needed to initiate a constitutional ban.

MBC president Wesley Vance said the action provided clarity at a time when Southern Baptists nationwide are debating the issue.

“Missouri Baptists overwhelmingly affirmed their historic commitment to the office of pastor/elder/overseer as being reserved for men,” Vance said. “They affirmed both the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 and provided a framework for the Credentials Committee to evaluate the partnership of local churches with the Missouri Baptist Convention.”

The task force was created in response to a 2024 motion by Jeremy Sells of First Baptist Church, Scott City, calling for guidelines to help the Credentials Committee evaluate churches’ alignment with Baptist identity, particularly regarding the office of pastor.

In its conclusions, the task force stated: “In accordance with The Baptist Faith & Message 2000, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is reserved for biblically qualified men. The title ‘pastor,’ regardless of qualifier, denotes this biblical office and should be reserved for those fulfilling its teaching, spiritual, and leadership responsibilities.”

The report also recommended amendments to the Credentials Committee’s Rules and Procedures, requiring affiliated churches to reserve the pastoral office exclusively for biblically qualified men. The changes outline a process for addressing questions about a church’s eligibility for affiliation.

Messengers adopted the report and its recommendations, which now move to the MBC Executive Board for review and approval.

Source: Missouri Baptist Pathway

Related:

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• What is the Law Amendment proposal and the debate regarding women in ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention about?

• Megachurch withdraws from SBC over question of women pastors after a denominational review deemed it in ‘friendly cooperation’