Dilbeck said the constitutional amendment applies to SBC churches and not to churches that GuideStone serves outside the SBC. “We trust Southern Baptists to make a final decision and respect the will of the Convention,” Dilbeck told RNS.
The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention meets Sept. 18, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. RNS photo by Bob Smietana
GuideStone will only work with SBC churches that are in good standing with the denomination or one of its state conventions. That would rule out churches that have been expelled from the denomination, even if they previously did business with GuideStone.
Churches that are no longer part of the SBC but remain part of a state convention could still work with GuideStone, a spokesperson told RNS. Churches that are no longer part of the SBC could also apply to part of the same program as the Global Methodist Church.
Law told RNS that the Bible, not the amendment he backs, bars women from the pastorate. However, he did not see the amendment affecting GuideStone’s work.
“God limits the pastorate to men in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, not an amendment,” said Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia. “The proposed constitutional amendment addresses which churches may send Messengers to the SBC’s annual meeting. It does not address who GuideStone serves, that decision is left to the trustees of GuideStone.”
Boyette said the GMC is confident in its choice of GuideStone.
“The Global Methodist Church has been assured by the leadership of GuideStone that decisions made by the Southern Baptist Convention on issues such as the ordination of women or women serving in any clergy role do not and will not impact the services that GuideStone provides to the Global Methodist Church.”
(This story has been updated with additional information from Guidestone about churches expelled from the SBC.)
This article originally appeared here.
