doctrinal statement

The Baptist’s doctrinal statement already restricts the office of pastor to males.

“If doctrinal disagreements between Baptists are considered sin, we all get kicked out,” he reminded the famously contentious Baptists, adding that the denomination’s doctrinal statement contains more than 4,000 words.

The Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, responded to Mr. Warren’s appeal by citing the history of the doctrinal statement limiting the pastoral role to men.

Mr. Warren, a fourth-generation Baptist preacher, said his congregation agrees with “99.99999999999%” of the doctrinal statement, differing only with “one word” in that document.

The governing body said the church’s doctrinal statement — known as the “Baptist Faith and Message” — already establishes that prohibition.