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Stanley disagrees with SBC's new stances on wives, women pastors
October 21, 2003 - Volume: 03-95
By Mark Wingfield

FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) -- A former conservative president of the Southern Baptist Convention ridiculed the denomination's mandate that wives should submit to their husbands and doesn't support the denomination's ban on female pastors, according to a Texas newspaper.

Charles Stanley's comments were reported in an Oct. 18 Fort Worth Star-Telegram article. The story, written by veteran religion writer Jim Jones, was based on an interview given during Stanley's visit to Texas to promote his latest book, "Finding Peace: God's Promise of a Life Free from Regret, Anxiety and Fear."

Stanley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, was elected SBC president at the peak of the battle between moderates and conservatives. His re-election victory in Dallas in June 1985, when more than 45,000 messengers registered, is considered a pivotal moment in the denomination's so-called "conservative resurgence."

Both edicts Stanley criticized were additions to the SBC's Baptist Faith and Message doctrinal statement -- the first approved by convention messengers in 1998, and the second in 2000. Those controversial additions were penned and promoted by some of Stanley's allies in the fight to change the direction of the SBC beginning in 1979.

The section on women being submissive to their husbands is based on a misreading of Scripture, and the topic should not have been dealt with in a general statement of doctrine, Stanley told the Star-Telegram.

"If a woman is going to be submissive, she's not going to be submissive because of the Southern Baptist Convention," he told the paper. "It's just ridiculous."

Even though SBC leaders have said the statement is not intended to make women "doormats," that is the impression it gives, Stanley said. "They should never have discussed the issue."

A proper reading of the New Testament book of Ephesians -- the main text SBC leaders used to justify their statement -- leans more toward mutual submission, said Stanley, who is divorced. "Jesus said we are to honor one another. Submission means you should submit yourself one to another."

Stanley disputed the prohibition on women serving as pastors based on his own experience. He told the paper: "Let me put it this way: I was saved by a woman preaching. I was saved at 12 years of age, and I'm still saved."

The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message ignores the fact that in some places around the world, men are not taking responsibility for leading churches while women are, Stanley said. "You can go to India, Japan and other countries and find women are preaching the gospel. People are being saved. Lives are being changed. Big churches are growing up. Are we going to tell these women, 'You can't do that'?" ...