Southern Baptists vote to advance a formal ban on churches with women pastors

Southern Baptists vote to advance a formal ban on churches with women pastors

Thousands of Southern Baptists overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to advance a formal ban on women pastors in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, sending a clear message that men alone should preach to these conservative evangelical congregations.

Southern Baptists advance ban on women serving as pastors

The vote is the first step toward banning women from teaching scripture or preaching to churches within the nation's largest Protestant denomination.

SBC overwhelmingly approves stricter ban limiting women from serving as pastors

Southern Baptists took a step toward enshrining a ban on female pastors. The proposed amendment will need to pass a two-thirds majority next year.

Southern Baptists advance measure to enshrine ban on women pastors

The nation's largest Protestant denomination made the first of two required votes at its 2026 annual meeting on a proposed constitutional amendment.