Pastor Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia, urged Southern Baptists not to leave the nation’s largest Protestant denomination after his amendment to the SBC’s constitution failed to be ratified at the annual meeting on Wednesday (June 12).
The change would have added a doctrinal position that is stated in the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (BFM) but is not present in the convention’s constitution. Because Law crafted and introduced the amendment at the 2022 annual meeting in Anaheim, California, it was nicknamed the Law Amendment.
The Law Amendment was affirmed at the 2023 annual meeting in New Orleans. However, a two-thirds affirmation at two consecutive meetings is required to ratify a constitutional amendment.
Over 10,000 messengers voted in Indianapolis on Wednesday, but only 5,099 voted in favor of the amendment passing, resulting in a 61.45% to 38.38% vote—just shy of the two-thirds requirement.
Following the vote, Law sent a message to supporting churches, expressing his gratitude and encouraging Southern Baptists that “now is not the time to leave, but to lean in.”
“I am grateful to God for you,” Law said. “Yes, I am disappointed in the results, but I am not disheartened. 61% of Southern Baptists voted for the Amendment, that is a majority, that is encouraging, and that is something we can build upon.”
Law urged Southern Baptists to “realize that leaving loses the ground gained,” and that their “labors for this Amendment were not in vain.” Therefore, he continued, “my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).”
“Now is not the time to leave,” Law added. “But to lean in, lead, and labor for Biblical faithfulness, while believing the best about brothers and sisters who came to a different conclusion on this Amendment.”
“So, let us continue to love Christ and one another (John 13:34),” Law concluded. “Let us give thanks for the work God has done among us, and pray for our delight in Jesus while giving ourselves to his message and mission.”