(AgapePress) - Missionaries sent out by the Southern Baptist Convention will soon be asked to affirm the specifics of their beliefs with a signature.

The SBC is asking its missionaries to uphold the beliefs outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message. Revised two years ago, the BF&M points to Jesus as the only way to salvation, states that women -- according to Scripture -- are not to hold the office of pastor, and encourages wives to be submissive to their husbands. SBC leaders say the step is only to ensuring the doctrinal accuracy of 5,043 missionaries in 185 countries.

Dr. Bill Merrill is vice president of convention relations for the Southern Baptist Convention. He says it is important to be sure that missionaries share the same beliefs as outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message.

"In this day, there are many who profess to be Christian who have very aberrant views of things," Merrill says. "It is very common to pick up the newspaper and read of some Christian bishop, pastor, teacher, or missionary ... making the most outlandish claims about faith and about Christianity. We believe it is a good way for us to give testimony and give witness to our confidence in the Holy Scripture."

Merrill says all SBC missionaries are being asked to affirm the beliefs outlined in the BF&M with their signature. "There has been a tremendous degradation of the condition in the health of faith among many people who have called themselves Christians," he says, "and it makes it very, very important -- in fact, I think it's imperative -- for us to identify not only within the body of Christ, but to those who are outside, what our confidence is in. And Southern Baptists' confidence is in the Word of God."

According to Baptist Press, all missionaries under the SBC's International Mission Board are thoroughly screened on their beliefs, and for many years have been asked to sign a statement affirming the BF&M before they are appointed. IMB president Jerry Rankin says signing the affirmation will "disarm those who may be trying to use the BF&M to divide Southern Baptists" and permit his agency to move beyond any possible distraction from its task of fulfilling the Great Commission.

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