Baptists ban women preachers

The Southern Baptist church -- the largest Protestant denomination in the United States -- has voted at its annual meeting in Florida, to ban women preachers.

By a show of hands, a majority of the twelve-thousand delegates at the conference approved a statement limiting the office of pastor to men.

The decision is not binding on the fifty or so women who already lead congregations at Southern Baptist churches around the US.

The delegates also strengthened their stance against homosexuality and abortion.

Correspondents say the vote on women is a sign of the growing influence of conservatives in the Southern Baptist church, following a ruling two years ago that women should obey their husbands.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service