File photo / Van Payne

INDIANAPOLIS — Messengers to the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting are being asked to weigh in a second time on whether to add to the SBC Constitution an amendment regarding churches that employ women in pastoral roles.

The amendment’s proponents have often cited a June 2023 report, which listed 99 Southern Baptist churches with female pastors and a total of 149 female pastors from a sample size of 3,847 “randomized” churches. When extrapolated to the then-figure of 47,614 cooperating churches (now 46,906), the report estimated 1,844 female pastors serving in 1,225 churches.

Of those 99 original churches, nine listed women with the singular title of “pastor.” Another one was the “lead” pastor while two more used the term “senior pastor.” Seven are “co-lead” with one titled “senior leader” (lead pastor with husband). The remaining 73 women serve in an associational role or a role designated as a particular ministry. [Read more…]

INDIANAPOLIS — Three Tennessee Baptist pastors are scheduled to speak during the 2024 Pastors Conference in Indianapolis June 9-10 preceding the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The theme for the event is “Faithful: Pursuing Your Mission,” based on Revelation 17:14.

Orr

Tennessee pastors speaking at the event include Adam Dooley, Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson; Steve Gaines, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova and former SBC president; and Bartholomew Orr, Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Southaven, Miss.  [Read more…]

Editor’s Note: Mike Law, senior pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia, introduced an amendment to the SBC Constitution that was approved on first vote at the SBC annual meeting last year in New Orleans. It must pass by a two-thirds majority at the SBC annual meeting this year in Indianapolis in order to go into effect. The amendment has divided many Southern Baptists. The Baptist and Reflector asked Mike Law to respond to a series of questions which he agreed to on the condition I run his responses unedited. I agreed to do so.  — Lonnie Wilkey

Baptist and Reflector: The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 provides a clear biblical definition of what a pastor is. Why is the Law Amendment to the SBC Constitution imperative?

Mike Law: In 2022, the Credentials Committee requested clarification on who may serve in the pastoral office. The context of that request was at the intersection of the Baptist Faith & Message and the SBC Constitution. The Credentials Committee request should be answered, which is what the constitutional amendment does. It affirms that the practice of seating Messengers at our Convention should be in line with the Bible and the Baptist Faith & Message.  [Read more…]

Matt Queen — photo by The Baptist Paper

While the current Department of Justice investigation of the Southern Baptist Convention and its entities stemmed from the Guidepost Solutions report released in May 2022, an indictment handed down yesterday (May 21, 2024) focuses on a situation that took place after the report. The Guidepost report detailed how allegations of sexual abuse were handled by SBC leaders during the previous 20-year period.

Matt Queen was charged with obstructing justice in a sexual misconduct case and arraigned May 21.

Queen served as a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, from August 2010 until June 2023. He allegedly gave the FBI falsified information in 2023 about reported sexual misconduct by a student at the seminary’s undergraduate-level Texas Baptist College in November 2022. Various news outlets noted attempts to reach Queen, who also served as SWBTS’ interim provost from January to June 2023, but he had not provided public comments by press time. [Read more…]