Serving God’s purpose in our generation

I write to you from Orlando where the Southern Baptist Convention has gathered for its annual meeting. A small group of our staff has been at the Texas Baptists exhibit area interacting with attendees, sharing about GC2 Strong, promoting GC2 Press materials and providing information about KingsCover property and casualty insurance for churches.

During the sessions of the SBC annual meeting, entities presented reports, resolutions were considered and motions were made. Nevertheless, the item that has received the most attention in the media is an amendment to the Constitution of the SBC presented by Al Mohler. I will reflect on what transpired in Orlando below, but first I will share about a special event we celebrated on Sunday.

This past Sunday, Texas Baptists celebrated our annual Legacy Day at the Independence Baptist Church, which was established in 1839. Joel Allison and Chris Simmons were the recipients of the Texas Baptists Legacy Award. Jerry Carlisle, president of the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, preached a message based on Acts 13:36.

Just as David served God’s purpose in his own generation, Joel Allison, retired corporate executive officers of Baylor Scott & White Health, and Chris Simmons, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dallas, have been lifelong examples of serving God’s purpose. We are thankful for them. 

Texas Baptists celebrates individuals who have contributed to the Texas Baptists legacy of cooperation, which continues on this 140th anniversary year. These examples of faithfulness to God’s mission inspire us and encourage us to stay focused on God’s redeeming purpose. Living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission is our most important mission.

Now, I return to the SBC annual meeting. 

The amendment to the SBC Constitution proposed by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Al Mohler, would add a sixth requirement for churches in friendly cooperation with the SBC: a church must not "affirm, appoint or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, specifically preaching to the assembled congregation."

Messengers to the convention approved a second motion to suspend the standing rules, which would have referred the motion to the Executive Committee, allowing the assembly to debate and vote on the amendment earlier this morning. Messengers approved the “Truth and Unity” amendment with an affirmative 74.66% vote.

The amendment will be brought for its second vote at the 2027 SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis. The vote to suspend the rules and the margin by which the initial amendment vote was approved indicate that an overwhelming majority of messengers present in Orlando this week are in support of this measure.

Over 20,000 people participated in this year’s SBC annual meeting at some level, with well over 11,000 serving as messengers. I greeted several individuals from Texas Baptists churches. Although not all Texas Baptists churches are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, a majority of them are.

There has been extensive discussion on the nature and merits of this measure, particularly online. It is not my intention here to discuss it further. Messengers to Texas Baptists annual meetings have spoken on the matter of women in ministry, including pastoral ministry, multiple times, as have I. 

What I do want to address here is the question of how this amendment to the SBC constitution affects Texas Baptists. The simple and shortest possible answer is this: this action does not change the way in which churches relate to the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Texas Baptists consider that the role of women in ministry, including position, title and function, are matters for each local church to decide. The BGCT does not deem the state convention’s role to be to determine what these should be or to require uniformity in order to cooperate together for the sake of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

There are Texas Baptists churches that do not have women in pastoral ministry roles, while there are others that allow women to serve in multiple pastoral ministry roles. Some churches are grateful for the vote today and others are grieving. Both sentiments are present in the Texas Baptists family today. I do pray that women in our Texas Baptists churches feel valued and know we are blessed greatly by the many ways they contribute to the body of Christ as they use their gifts to serve the Lord. 

It is important for us to move forward with a spirit of cooperation. The problem of lostness is simply too great for any one group to address it alone. It takes all of us. 

In our Texas Baptists booth, we gave away custom embroidered bandanas to visitors and listened to the remarkable ways God has moved in their lives as they’ve launched from or spent formative time in Texas. And more than a few hope to return! 

At our small dessert fellowship just last night, I talked with pastors of both rural and urban Texas Baptists churches, Directors of Missions from associations across the state, with new and exciting ministries seeking to partner and more.

Thank you, Texas Baptists, for your kingdom-mindedness. May we, as the people of God, focus our energy and attention on the lostness in Texas, living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as our greatest priority. 

Let’s live GC2 Strong!