The Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention appear to have one controversial thing in common.
In a new Reuters report, it was noted that the Vatican doubled down on its rule that only a deacon or an ordained priest may give a sermon during a Catholic Mass. This decision comes as German bishops requested that the church “broaden the practice and allow sermons by women or other laypeople.”
According to Reuters, a press release by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stated, “The current discipline cannot be dispensed from…The reservation of the homily to a priest or deacons is not a merely disciplinary norm but derives from the very nature of the liturgy.” Laypeople, are, however, permitted to give sermons for prayer services that are not part of Mass.
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The timing of the Vatican’s decision is particularly noteworthy. It comes just days after Southern Baptists overwhelmingly approved Albert Mohler’s amendment, further solidifying the SBC’s position that the office of pastor is reserved for qualified men as outlined in Scripture.
While Catholics and Southern Baptists differ dramatically on doctrine and church governance, both bodies have now made headlines for drawing firm boundaries around who may occupy certain teaching roles within the church.
These developments highlight an ongoing conversation taking place across multiple Christian traditions regarding the role of women in ministry and church leadership. It is quite clear that this topic will continue to garner significant attention within Christianity in the years to come.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
