I have started a strange personal tradition of watching the annual Southern Baptist Convention. This SBC is America’s largest protestant denomination, and the convention takes place over the course of two days. I am not part of the SBC, but it still fascinates me.
Each conference, they vote on new resolutions and amendments to those resolutions. These are “expression of opinion or concern” which serve as the public consensus voice of Southern Baptists. Here are some of my observations today from this year’s meeting (June 9-10). Important to note that I didn’t watch the whole conference.
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1. Al Mohler brings his so-called “Truth and Unity” amendment. Mohler has spent several weeks hyping his proposed amendment to the SBC constitution which would allow the SBC to much more easily kick out churches with any women in pastoral roles, rather than having to kick them out individually at conventions. This amendment states “a cooperating Southern Baptist church: Does not act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation.” It is approved with 76% of the vote. (video of Mohler introducing below).
2. There is an attempt to specifically add the name of Charlie Kirk to a resolution against political violence. In response to the messenger’s motion to add Kirk’s name to the resolution, the committee member gives a rousing speech from the mainstage about Kirk. He praises his witness and was and how impactful Kirk was, but he recommends they do not add his name specifically. Kirk’s name not added. Amendment fails after vote. Kirks name to stay off.
3. Resolution condemning amnesty. This seeks to “reject amnesty understood as forgiveness of legal violations for legal aliens.” This passes by vote with an amendment to the language as shown below.
4. Resolution to add some language of compassion for children brought to American as illegal immigrants. This fails by vote.
5. Resolution condemning antisemitism and calling out a “new wave of of antisemitism…violence, cultural hatred” regarding the Jewish people. “Southern Baptists stand resolutely with Israel” says a messenger speaking at a microphone. Two messengers get up to propose changes which they hope would soften the language and make space to recognize some nuance, as opposed to voicing uniform solidarity. This resolution is passed without the word “unfounded” or any other changes being added. *My screen grab makes it look like this gentleman was giving the bird while opposing the language of compassion toward immigrant children. He was not giving the bird (with his finger at least…)
So, from my limited observations today, Southern Baptists are focused on:
- Silencing women in the church and doubling down on not allowing any woman to hold the title of pastor. This measure works to ensure that churches who choose to allow women in pastoral roles cannot be part of the SBC. Rick Warren’s Saddleback church was famously kicked out of the SBC for this reason in 2023, despite appeal. Undoubtedly, there are women across the 47,000 SBC churches who have been functioning in pastoral roles (music pastor, women’s pastor, family pastor, children’s pastor, outreach pastor etc.) who are less confident of their role now. Michael Byrd wrote an article in May 2026 calling Mohler’s amendment “needless” and “baffling.” He further writes of this move to disallow any woman the title of pastor,
The movers of this amendment are requiring people to deny the reality in their faces that women contribute richly and meaningfully to the pastoral care and pastoral ministries in their churches.
- Advocating the legacy of Charlie Kirk as a good representation of “the gospel” with no mention whatever of the seriously problematic, racist, and otherwise hateful ideas and speeches he has given and propped up. While the amendment to add Kirk’s name to the resolution failed, the committee on resolutions member who addressed this proudly stated his close personal relationship with Kirk and praised him as a great champion of the faith.
- Cracking down on any sort of compassionate view of or aid to undocumented migrants, including infants who are brought to the US. This is notably less charitable than the 2023 resolution On Wisely Engaging Immigration. This 2023 resolution made some effort to dignify this population. The 2026 resolution draws a hard line and seems to seek to justify and perpetuate anti-immigrant views among SBC members.
- Holding up both the Jewish people and the nation of Israel as allied to the SBC with, seemingly, unwavering support. This despite the Israeli government continuing to commit horrific war crimes and genocide. In 2021, there was a passed resolution at the SBC convention called On The Uyghur Genocide which spoke out strongly against the mistreatment of the Uyghur people by the nation of China. No such resolution has been passed regarding the genocide of Palestinians by the nation of Israel, and the SBC still stands firmly with Israel it seems.
There were probably some other resolutions as well. For instance, they usually pass one thanking the host city. However, that was what I had time to watch. And that, dear readers, is my journalism for you today.
Be well!
javen.bear. 