ORLANDO, Fla. — The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, took a significant step Wednesday toward formally banning female pastors by overwhelmingly approving an amendment aimed at reinforcing male-only pastoral leadership. The measure passed with a vote of 6,028 to 2,026, exceeding the two-thirds majority required for advancement. It must receive a similar supermajority vote at next year’s annual meeting to be enshrined in the denomination’s constitution.

The amendment, sponsored by Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, seeks to clarify and tighten existing restrictions regarding women in pastoral roles. While the SBC’s current faith statement, the Baptist Faith and Message, has long opposed female pastors, the amendment explicitly prohibits churches that “affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, specifically preaching to the assembled congregation” from remaining in “friendly cooperation” with the convention. Southern Baptist churches govern themselves independently, but the convention has the authority to expel congregations deemed inconsistent with its doctrinal positions.

The annual gathering, held over two days at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, drew more than 11,000 delegates, known as messengers. The event combined worship services with legislative procedures typical of the SBC’s meetings. Debate over the female pastor ban was brief and largely devoid of opposition, with the lone dissenting voice coming from South Carolina pastor Doug Mize, who argued that the denomination’s existing disciplinary mechanisms were sufficient.

Supporters emphasize biblical interpretations that reserve pastoral leadership roles for men. Mohler described the vote as marking a clear theological boundary between what he called biblical evangelicalism and more liberal denominations, stating, “This is an opportunity for Southern Baptists to speak in truth, in unity, in conviction.” Opponents, including organizations such as Baptist Women in Ministry, criticized the amendment, calling the decision harmful to women in ministry and expressing concern over “hateful rhetoric” and restrictive theology. They cited biblical passages affirming the equality of men and women and the biblical calling for women to preach the gospel.

Over recent years, the SBC has expelled churches that have appointed women as senior pastors, including prominent congregations like Saddleback Church in California. The debate reflects ongoing tensions within evangelicalism regarding gender roles, standing in contrast to more liberal Protestant denominations that ordain women and allow female leadership in top church offices. The Catholic and Orthodox churches, meanwhile, continue to restrict priesthood to men.

In addition to the amendment on female pastors, the SBC messengers adopted resolutions condemning political violence and hateful speech. They also passed a resolution advocating for humane treatment of immigrants while upholding legitimate immigration enforcement, and a resolution denouncing antisemitic violence and conspiracy theories linked to recent conflicts in the Middle East. That resolution also reaffirmed the denomination’s longstanding hope for Jewish conversion to Christianity, a stance that has historically drawn criticism from Jewish leaders.

On Tuesday, ahead of the constitutional vote, delegates elected Florida pastor Willy Rice as the SBC’s next president. Rice won with 58% of the vote, defeating South Carolina pastor Josh Powell. Both candidates supported the amendment banning female pastors. Rice, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, has received backing from groups critical of what they view as the SBC leadership’s recent shifts on social issues including race, gender, and immigration.