Messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting in Orlando voted 6,028 to 2,026 on June 10 to approve the Truth and Unity Amendment, a constitutional change barring cooperating churches from affirming, appointing, or endorsing a woman serving as pastor, elder, or overseer, including preaching to the assembled congregation. The nearly 75 percent approval easily cleared the two-thirds threshold required for a constitutional amendment.
Supporters said the change closes ambiguity that had let some churches interpret the denomination's existing statement of faith loosely. Opponents argued the current rules already addressed the issue. A second two-thirds vote at next year's Annual Meeting in Indianapolis is required before the amendment takes effect.