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GRAPEVINE—In August 2025, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) Executive Board authorized the creation of a special Constitution and Bylaws Review Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the convention’s governing documents. The committee was charged with reviewing the documents in their entirety to ensure the convention’s polity and affiliation requirements are clearly stated, particularly regarding the office and title of pastor.
The committee consisted of Denny Autrey (chairman), Deron Biles, Dalia Gonzales, Jason Gray, James Jordan, Amy Joslin, Aaron Kahler, Averri LeMalle, and Spencer Plumlee. SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick and Executive Director Emeritus Jim Richards served as nonvoting, ex officio members.
The SBTC has a longstanding practice of periodically reviewing and updating its constitution and bylaws, with the most recent revisions adopted in 2020. These reviews help ensure that the convention’s governing documents remain clear and effective.
“It has been an honor to chair this committee to review and update the SBTC constitution and bylaws,” Committee Chair Denny Autrey said. “Our diverse team was diligent in their efforts to bring greater clarity to our governing documents by reinforcing our commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture, as well as providing language to produce a spirit of unity among the churches within the SBTC and for those churches that desire to affiliate with the SBTC.”
After months of study, discussion, and prayer, the committee presented its recommendations to the SBTC Executive Board. On April 28, 2026, the Executive Board unanimously approved the proposed amendments at its spring meeting and voted to recommend them to messengers at the 2026 SBTC Annual Meeting, to be held in October at First Baptist Church Forney. The proposed amendments include procedural and operational updates, as well as clarifying language. All proposed changes have received legal and parliamentary review.
A few areas of focus include:
- Affiliation Qualifications: The proposed language for Article IV, Section 1, Item (d) of the constitution “affirms the office, function, ordination and title of pastor/elder/overseer to be limited to men as qualified by Scripture. Title shall include any equivalents of the words pastor/elder/overseer, and preaching to the assembled congregation shall be an exclusive function of pastor/elder/overseer or biblically qualified men.”
- Representation at Meetings: The amendment grants every affiliated church at least two messengers for any convention meeting, while churches that contribute through the Cooperative Program or to SBTC ministries during the current calendar year can receive up to eight additional messengers (for a maximum of 10).
- Termination of Affiliation: The proposed language clarifies three options for affiliation termination, including an avenue for termination by the messengers available only after the Executive Board termination process. Written notice for a motion to terminate a church’s affiliation is required. The “Challenged Church” is given an opportunity to respond. If adopted, the matter is placed on the agenda for the following annual meeting.
The complete proposed amendments to the constitution and bylaws can be found here.
To provide further clarity and instruction to the Credentials Committee, the Executive Board authorized the development of an operating guideline containing affirmations and denials to establish the intent of the proposed affiliation qualification amendments.
“On behalf of the Executive Board, I wholeheartedly affirm the recommendations from the Constitution and Bylaws Review Committee,” Executive Board Chairman Wes Hinote said. “We are grateful for the prayerful and diligent work of the committee in bringing forward these recommendations with clarity, conviction, and faithfulness to Scripture. We also want to recognize the faithful service of the Credentials Committee, whose work through the years has helped strengthen and support our convention. As the Credentials Committee continues to work graciously with churches seeking or maintaining affiliation, I believe the proposed revisions provide much-needed clarity and consistency as we move forward together in cooperation and doctrinal unity. I am very thankful for Dr. Autrey, Dr. Criner, and the committees they lead for the time and effort supporting our convention.”
Amendments to the SBTC Constitution require approval by a two‑thirds vote of messengers at two consecutive annual meetings, whereas bylaws amendments may be approved by a two‑thirds vote at a single annual meeting. To allow both constitutional and bylaws changes to take effect simultaneously, the Executive Board will recommend that, if approved, bylaws amendments be held in abeyance during the first year and implemented following final constitutional approval at the second annual meeting.
“I am grateful for the spirit, unity, and diligence this committee has demonstrated in bringing forward these proposed changes,” SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick said. “In today’s cultural climate, clarity is essential, and these changes provide our convention with a meaningful opportunity to continue moving forward in doctrinal unity, strengthening our shared missional focus. I am encouraged and excited about what God has in store for the SBTC.”
The proposed amendments to the constitution and bylaws will be printed in Issue 4 of the Texan magazine, scheduled for release in June.
