About a year ago, I sat in a state pastor’s committee meeting surrounded by some of the most respected church leaders in one of the most conservative states in the country, Louisiana. We were on our lunch break, and small talk and laughter echoed through the room. But then, a friend of mine, a Louisiana Baptist State employee I respect, sat down and tossed out what had become a national conversation in the SBC:
“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be okay to have female pastors,” he said. “I don’t think we should be kicking churches out over this issue. It’s just not a big deal if a church wants to have a children’s or youth pastor who is a woman.”
You could tell he was sincere—he wasn’t trying to stir controversy, just thinking out loud. The table fell quiet. A few uneasy nods. Some hesitant “hmm”s.
And then I knew I had to say something.
Why This Matters More Than It Seems
That moment revealed what I believe is the most common attitude in the SBC today regarding this issue:
We might not be comfortable with women serving as senior pastors, but we don’t see a problem with calling a woman who oversees children or youth “pastor.” It feels harmless. It even feels comfortable. In fact, it’s a big deal—a very big deal—because what’s at stake is not merely a title, but the authority and inerrancy of Scripture itself.
What the Bible Actually Says
Scripture is clear that men and women are equal in worth, dignity, and value before God. Yet Scripture is also clear that their roles in the church and home are distinct. The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says plainly in 1 Timothy 2:12 that he does not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man. A few verses later, in 1 Timothy 3, he lays out the qualifications for the office of elder—and every reference is masculine. That’s not cultural; that’s creation. It goes all the way back to Genesis 2, where Adam’s headship was established before the fall.
The problem is that our churches have confused the office of pastor with the spiritual gift of pastoring. The Greek word poimēn—shepherd—is indeed a spiritual gift that both men and women can possess. But the office of pastor (or elder)—as defined by Scripture—is a position of spiritual authority and oversight that God has clearly reserved for qualified men.
The Real Danger: Eroding the Authority of Scripture
When we blur biblical distinctions, even unintentionally, we chip away at the foundation of our faith—the inerrancy and authority of God’s Word.
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy warns that “the authority of Scripture is inescapably impaired if this total divine inerrancy is in any way limited or disregarded.” Once we decide that clear biblical teaching can be bent to fit cultural trends, we’ve begun a descent that leads not toward liberty, but toward confusion and compromise. We’re not simply talking about who leads children’s ministry. We’re talking about whether we believe God means what He says.
Our Cultural Motivation
Let’s be honest—this drift isn’t coming from deep theological study. It’s coming from cultural pressure. We want to appear inclusive, enlightened, and affirming. We don’t want to be labeled “sexist” or “out of touch.”But obedience to God has never been measured by cultural acceptance. From the prophets to the apostles, faithfulness has always meant standing against the prevailing winds of the age.
As The Danvers Statement put it nearly four decades ago, this confusion comes from “the apparent accommodation of some within the church to the spirit of the age at the expense of winsome, radical biblical authenticity.”
A Call for Clarity
If we want to remain faithful as Baptists, we must be clear in our language and conviction. The title “pastor” should be reserved for men who meet the biblical qualifications of elder. That’s not because women are less gifted or less valuable, but because God has ordered His church with purpose and precision.
Let’s reclaim clarity in our language and conviction in our practice: Men and women are equally valuable but distinct in role.
- The spiritual gift of shepherding can belong to both.
- The office of pastor/elder belongs only to qualified men.
- The title “pastor” should reflect that office—not simply a ministry function
Anything less than this will only accelerate the drift already tugging at the edges of our convention.
Standing on the Word
This isn’t about control, chauvinism, or denominational politics. It’s about submission to the God who designed the church and revealed His will in Scripture. As the Chicago Statement reminds us, “To stray from Scripture in faith or conduct is disloyalty to our Master.”
In the end, the question isn’t, “Can women be pastors?”
The question is, “Will we believe and obey God’s Word?”
Because if Scripture is clear—and it is—then our obedience must be, too.
