“We face an inescapable theological responsibility. There are times when the SBC simply has to stand up and say, ‘This is what we believe. This defines the boundaries of our cooperation,’” Mohler went on to say.
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“The SBC, when it was founded in 1845, was in a very different world in many ways,” Mohler said. Notably, the SBC was formed when it split from northern Baptists in order to continue its support of American chattel slavery.
“But I’m very thankful for the founding wisdom at that time of understanding that one of the key issues is churches that are in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention,” Mohler continued. “And I think we all know that in an increasingly secular society, all kinds of pressures are gonna continue to come up against us.”
In light of that reality, Mohler said that “Southern Baptists are going to have to be more clear about doctrine and about what we believe the Bible clearly teaches than was the case in the past.”
“We’re having to say things out loud that previous generations of Southern Baptists didn’t even have to say,” Mohler added. “One of the things we have to say is that the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. There’s an entire pattern of biblical complementarianism, which is very important here.”
Mohler argued that “confusion” over the issue of women serving as pastors is “dangerous” and “subversive to our ability to cooperate.”
“That’s why I believe that it’s very important that we recognize that our confession of faith, the Baptist Faith & Message, comes with very clear assertions, and it comes with consequences,” Mohler said.
Mohler went on to argue that the Law Amendment is vital to ending the debate within the SBC about the role of women in church leadership.
“It isn’t developing anything new for the SBC in terms of conviction but is basically just applying the convictions we’ve been saying for decades,” Mohler said. “I don’t want to set up the Southern Baptist Convention to have to do this year after year after year, as if we don’t know where we stand on this issue.”
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“A church that disagrees with us is free to go associate with churches with whom they’re in full agreement,” Mohler said. Of the upcoming SBC meeting, Mohler said, “I really do trust Southern Baptists, when we get together, to do the right thing—sometimes eventually.”
, Dr. Albert Mohler reiterated his support for an amendment to the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) bylaws that would enshrine a ban on women serving in the office or function of pastor. ){kind=link}