SBC votes to pursue constitutional ban on churches led by women

Thousands of Southern Baptists at the annual convention voted to advance a constitutional amendment that would bar churches that appoint or endorse women as pastors from convention membership; the measure passed 6,028–2,026 and must reach a two-thirds vote next year to become part of the SBC constitution, with the denomination able to expel noncompliant churches such as Saddleback Church; the meeting also elected Willy Rice as president and approved resolutions on immigration and antisemitic violence.