NAMB has always and will always only endorse Biblically qualified men as pastors. NAMB is committed to the Baptist Faith & Message, is complementarian by conviction and does not endorse women as pastors.
NAMB also requires that planters endorsed by NAMB align with the practice of the majority of Southern Baptist churches—that only qualified men will hold the office or title of “pastor/elder/bishop/overseer” and, as such, serve as the communicator for teaching and preaching in their main gatherings or worship services.
If an occasion occurs in which a church planter insisted on maintaining a woman in a pastor role or title on staff, NAMB will remove its endorsement and funding.
When we reviewed our endorsed church planters recently, we found a small handful who had women using the word “pastor” in their title, and none were lead pastors. In each case we worked with these churches and planters to model sound ecclesiology in accordance with Southern Baptist’s understanding of Biblical teaching. Unfortunately, in a couple of instances, we could not convince them, and NAMB pulled our funding and endorsement.
Southern Baptists have directed NAMB to help churches plant churches in North America. It is our privilege to work with pastors and churches every day to plant churches everywhere for everyone. Families, neighborhoods and entire communities are being transformed by the hope of the gospel—a gospel being shared by incredible church planting missionaries who long for Christ to be known everywhere. Their work is fueled by the sacrificial giving of a cooperative denomination, whose strength is in our unity.
Questions about a specific church plant can be emailed to NAMB at [email protected].