Suzanne Nadell pushes back on Southern Baptist vote limiting women pastors

Suzanne Nadell says the Southern Baptist Convention’s move to advance a formal ban on women serving as pastors reflects a wider pattern of women being pushed out of church leadership. She ties that trend to a new Barna study showing men now attend church more often than women, the largest gender gap on record.

Why it matters: - Suzanne Nadell argues restrictive church policies do more than limit pulpits. She says they can shape how women see their leadership potential in work, family and community life. - The issue lands at a moment when church attendance patterns are shifting, with men now attending more regularly than women. - Nadell says excluding women from leadership can deprive communities of wisdom, compassion and voices that should be heard.

What happened: - Suzanne Nadell, author of Wired to Lead: Being the Leader the Church Didn't Think You Could Be and CEO of She Leads Church, criticized the Southern Baptist Convention’s vote to advance a formal ban on women serving as pastors. - Nadell framed the vote as part of a broader challenge for women of faith who feel called to lead but are discouraged by traditional religious institutions. - The press release says Nadell is available for interviews.

The details: - A new Barna study found that 43% of men attend church weekly, compared with 36% of women. - The study marks a reversal of a decades-long trend and the largest gender gap in church attendance on record. - Nadell said supporters of the policies believe they are grounded in scripture. - Nadell said the broader biblical narrative shows women have always played vital roles in advancing God’s message and serving their communities. - Nadell says Wired to Lead was written in response to women who feel called to lead but lack support from traditional religious institutions. - Through her writing, Nadell says she provides mentorship, resources and community for women seeking to grow spiritually and embrace their purpose. - Nadell says her mission is to create a place where women of every denomination and faith background can grow spiritually, lead boldly and support one another without fear or shame.

Between the lines: - The release links church leadership debates to broader questions about belonging, participation and retention inside faith communities. - Nadell’s argument is not just theological. She says leadership restrictions can ripple into workplaces, families and communities outside the church. - The release positions women’s leadership as a spiritual calling rather than a gender-based permission structure.

What's next: - Nadell plans to keep promoting Wired to Lead and She Leads Church as resources for women seeking leadership support. - Readers can learn more at Suzanne Nadell’s website and She Leads Church. - The release suggests Nadell will continue speaking publicly about women’s leadership in ministry.

The bottom line: - Nadell is casting the Southern Baptist vote as part of a larger exclusion problem, and she is using her platform to argue that women should not have to suppress a calling to lead.