The [Baptist Faith & Message 2000] statement carefully affirms that both men and women are gifted for service in the church, but the role of pastor is biblically defined and is to be held only by men as qualified by Scripture.”
The three leaders write that the 2000 confession “…does not speak to every job category and ministerial title within a local church. But it does specifically define what the Southern Baptist Convention means by pastor, and what we believe the Bible teaches. The word pastor should be reserved for those who fulfill a pastor’s function and office.” They add, “In the Baptist understanding, office and function are inseparable.”
