February 18, 2002
SBC to cease endorsing ordained female chaplains
___ALPHARETTA, Ga.--The Southern Baptist Convention's Chaplains Commission no longer will endorse female chaplains who have been ordained.
___The policy change was adopted by trustees of the SBC North American Mission Board Feb. 6. The Chaplains Commission falls under the management of NAMB.
___Although the vast majority of Baptist chaplains are hired and paid by their employers, most must be endorsed by a denominational body in order to work as chaplains in the military, at hospitals and in other settings.
___Some employers require chaplains not only to be endorsed but also ordained. For example, hiring policies for United States Army chaplains state, "You must be ordained and endorsed by a church, faith group or denomination that is recognized by the Department of Defense Armed Forces Chaplains Board."
___The Veteran's Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are among other national entities that require chaplains to be ordained.
___While voting to exclude ordained females from SBC endorsement, NAMB trustees pledged to "stand with" female Southern Baptist chaplains in any situation where an employer makes ordination a condition of employment, according to a NAMB news release.
___Other new policies enacted by NAMB trustees already have been criticized in Texas, prompting the Baptist General Convention of Texas to move toward seeking its own certification as an endorsing body. The BGCT recently hired its first full-time chaplaincy coordinator.
___The BGCT opened the door to becoming an endorsing body after NAMB trustees declared all chaplains endorsed by the SBC must affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message doctrinal statement.
___Bobby Smith, director of chaplaincy ministries for the BGCT, expressed concern that the latest NAMB policy could put female chaplains at risk with their employers.
___In addition to female chaplains who work for employers that require ordination, other female chaplains who already are ordained may be at risk of losing their SBC endorsement as chaplains.
___The message local churches need to understand is that NAMB may no longer endorse some of the individuals those churches believe God has called to the chaplaincy ministry, Smith said.
___NAMB trustees noted in their statement that while ordination is a local church action, "endorsement and its requirement is the action of a national agency," and therefore they as trustees have a right to set endorsement policies.
___They adopted the policy change in response to a motion made at last summer's SBC annual meeting. That motion asked that the SBC "stop endorsing women to the chaplaincy and adhere to both the scriptural requirements and the requirements of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message involving the pastorate, the exercise of spiritual authority and ordination."
___NAMB trustees accepted part, but not all of that suggestion. Although denying endorsement to ordained women, the SBC will continue to endorse non-ordained women who affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.
___NAMB trustees affirmed their support for women serving in chaplaincy roles that could not be considered that of "pastor." Such women are "called and gifted to serve in many caring roles and have a tremendous role in evangelism and spiritual care as they minister in the midst of crises," trustees said.
___Although the Baptist Faith & Message does not specifically address the issue of ordination, NAMB trustees said Southern Baptists have followed "Scriptural principles" to develop "a rich and meaningful tradition of ordaining God-called men into the ministry." Ordination, they said, is understood to be for men who are "set aside for the office of pastor."
___"We, as an agency of the Southern Baptist Convention, must follow suit with the positions of our convention," said Barry Holcomb, a trustee from Ashford, Ala., who spoke on behalf of the NAMB trustee executive committee, which drafted the response.
___The measure was approved by a majority vote among trustees, with about eight of 45 trustees voting in opposition. A substitute motion that included the support for women in chaplaincy but not the prohibition on endorsing ordained women failed by a similar margin.
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