Southern Baptist Convention Report

Pastor Ancel Presnell, Jr

Dear Church Family,

Pastor Jody, our wives, and I were privileged to attend the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, Florida, this past week. I have attended every year now for the past 10 years. We attend each year as the voting representatives of our church within our convention.

I began a couple of years back to provide feedback from our time at the convention. The vast majority of the annual convention business consisted of normal checks and balances, reports from various entities within our convention, worship, celebration of victories, and of course, the annual International Mission Board Send-off of newly commissioned missionaries going to the nations. This is my favorite part of the entire convention, and it is truly the main thing that joins such a diverse group of believers together.

There was a constitutional amendment vote that took place within our convention, which was drafted by Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary.

Dr. Albert Mohler’s proposed change to the SBC Constitution is called the “Truth and Unity Amendment.” It is designed to specify that cooperating Southern Baptist churches cannot affirm women in pastoral roles. The verbatim text of the amendment is to add an enumerated 6th item under Article 3, Paragraph 1, stating that a cooperating church:

“Does not act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, specifically preaching to the assembled congregation.”

During the 2026 Annual Meeting in Orlando, the amendment successfully passed its first vote with nearly 75% messenger approval. To officially become a part of the SBC Constitution, the amendment must receive a second, two-thirds majority approval at the 2027 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.

This has been the long-standing position of our Southern Baptist Convention. I have seen many people weigh in on the subject in the news and on social media who are reporting and commenting in error on the matter.

Our SBC is made up of 47,000 churches, and among that many congregations, you will always have some that are practicing things that are inconsistent with who we are as a Confessional Convention. In 2023, the Messengers voted to stand with the Credentials Committee and disfellowship Saddleback Community Church (founded by Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life) and another Kentucky church, Fern Creek Baptist, for ordaining and allowing women to serve in the function and role of pastor.

The percentage of the SBC that voted last week to adopt Dr. Mohler’s amendment is skewed. How so? There is a large percentage of the remaining 25% who did not vote for it who still do not affirm women pastors; they simply feel that our current constitution works as is. For example, we removed those non-cooperating churches in 2023 under the current guidelines. Many of them believe the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 adequately spells out our beliefs and stance on the subject of the pastorate as such:

“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.”

Dr. Mohler’s Truth and Unity Amendment tightens up the terms and parameters for interpretation. This helps guide the Credentials Committee with a more clear description to help shape their decisions when a church is reported to them for review to determine whether they are in friendly and cooperative fellowship with our Convention or not.

Our messengers voted in favor of this amendment this week. Our church and I take a biblical stance on the office of pastor. The Bible makes it clear that this role is for men only. We hold to a strict complementarian view on gender roles within our church. I am pleased that our convention overwhelmingly voted to adopt this new amendment. We shall see whether the necessary two-thirds vote is met again next year to officially adopt it into the constitution.

I am happy to be part of the SBC and also the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. The cooperative effort of our churches within both conventions produces far more good things than things we differ on. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me in the office at 423-207-0362 or email me at pastorancel@strongtowerbaptist.org.

Blessings,

Pastor Ancel