WORTH COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — A proposed constitutional amendment approved by the Southern Baptist Convention is prompting conversations in South Georgia about the role of women in church leadership.

Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting recently voted to advance an amendment that would formally prohibit churches within the denomination from having women serve as pastors.

Dr. Karen Carr, senior pastor at Open Door Fellowship Church in Worth County, said the proposal has prompted reactions.

“They may be pushing that envelope a little too far because they’ve gotten reactions out of people, probably not all the reactions that they wanted,” Carr said. “That narrative reaches into the community. It affects a lot of people.”

The proposal builds on the Southern Baptist Convention’s long-standing belief that the office of pastor is reserved for men, a position outlined in the denomination’s statement of faith. The amendment must receive a second consecutive approval at the convention’s 2027 annual meeting before it is added to the denomination’s constitution.

Carr said she has dealt with people who don’t approve of her being a pastor.

“An individual come to me one time and said, I don’t believe in women preachers,” Carr said. “I answered her softly, and I said, that’s okay. That’s your opinion. That’s okay. And it was probably about ten months later she came to me again. She said, I’ve changed my mind. I said, what have you changed your mind about exactly? She said, well, I may not believe in all women preachers, but I believe in you.”

Carr said she is worried about those the proposal could affect.

“I definitely feel for them because there’s times that when you’re in a crowd of people, and you know, at least half of them don’t appreciate what you do, don’t even believe in what you do, is anxiety. It produces intimidation,” Carr said. “And those things can mess with you.”

Carr said she encourages other women to continue to follow their passions and hopes that if enough people speak out, they can make a difference.

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