Baptist Women in Ministry (BWIM) placed a billboard in Orlando, FL on the Beachline Expressway (SR 528) near Sand Lake Road (SR 482) to affirm women called to ministry ahead of the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting.
Message: The billboard reads, “God calls women to pastor, preach, and minister. Matthew 28:8, Acts 2:17-18.”
Context: The placement coincides with the SBC meeting (June 7–10), where delegates are debating a proposed constitutional amendment to limit pastoral offices to men and prohibit women from fulfilling pastoral functions.
Purpose: BWIM Executive Director Meredith Stone stated the billboard is a public witness for women navigating the potential impact of the amendment, asserting that their calling is determined by God rather than denominational policy.
In Summary:
The Billboard Campaign: Baptist Women in Ministry (BWIM) has purchased a prominent billboard on the Beachline Expressway in Orlando to greet messengers attending next week’s Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting. The billboard reads: “God calls women to pastor, preach and minister. Matthew 28:8, Acts 2:17-18.”
Proposed SBC Restriction: SBC influencer Al Mohler plans to propose an amendment to the SBC Constitution that explicitly bans women from serving as pastors and prohibits them from fulfilling the “function” of a preaching or teaching pastor. If passed, congregations where women preach or minister in roles interpreted as a “pastoral function” could be disfellowshipped.
BWIM’s Mission and Stance: Originally formed as Southern Baptist Women in Ministry before broadening its scope across US Baptist traditions, BWIM advocates for the full affirmation of women in leadership. BWIM Executive Director Meredith Stone emphasized that the billboard aims to counter “harmful theology” and remind women that their callings and worth are determined by God, not by a denomination.
