NAMB will no longer endorse ordained female chaplains

by   James Dotson                                                                                                                                          Vol. XV, No. 4, April 2002

North American Mission Board trustees decided Feb. 6 that while the agency's Chaplains Commission "is committed to endorse chaplains, both men and women," it will no longer endorse women who have been ordained. The action came in response to a motion from the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in New Orleans that the SBC direct the Chaplain's Commission "to stop endorsing women to the chaplaincy and adhere to both the scriptural requirements and the requirements of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message involving the pastorate, the exercise of spiritual authority, and ordination."

"The Chaplains Commission has not required or considered ordination in the endorsement of chaplains in the past," trustees said in their response. "However, in the future we will refrain from endorsing ordained women to the office of chaplain. We recognize ordination as a local church action, but endorsement and its requirement is the action of a national agency." The Chaplains Commission, which operates under the auspices of NAMB, is the Southern Baptist Convention body recognized by the military and other institutions for granting formal denominational endorsement to chaplains.

In the response, trustees noted that chaplains already are required to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement. Trustees also affirmed their support for women in a chaplaincy role, noting that chaplains "serve in numerous institutional settings and roles that are not that of 'pastor,'" according to the response. "They 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."

As trustees studied the issue, however, it was ordination of women that became a key concern. "The issue of ordination is not addressed in the Baptist Faith and Message, and the Bible does not clearly set forth a detailed description of the practice of ordination as it is commonly observed today," the response continues. "However, Southern Baptists, following Scriptural principles, have developed a rich and meaningful tradition of ordaining God-called men into the ministry. The generally agreed upon understanding held by most Southern Baptists is that ministerial ordination is related to a man's being 'set aside for the office of pastor."

The response further cites a 1984 resolution of the Southern Baptist Convention encouraging "the service of women in all aspects of church life and work other than pastoral functions and leadership roles entailing ordination."

Trustees also pledged their commitment to "stand with" female Southern Baptist chaplains in any situation where an employer tried to make ordination a condition of employment, helping them "obtain their legal rights to not be discriminated against solely because of their religious conviction concerning ordination." Most institutions do not require ordination, although the Veteran's Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are among employers who do have the requirement.

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. [BP]