The Southern Baptist Convention has ousted its second-largest church — Saddleback Church — for having a woman pastor
The vote by the convention's Executive Committee culminates growing tension between the nation's largest Protestant denomination — which officially opposes women as pastors — and a congregation whose story has been one of the biggest church-growth successes of modern times.
It voted to approve a recommendation from the denomination's Credentials Committee that Saddleback be deemed “not in friendly cooperation with the Convention" — the terminology used for ousting a church. While Southern Baptists' statement of faith officially opposes women as pastors, each congregation is self-governing, so the main enforcement mechanism is to oust it from membership.
Wood told The Associated Press last year that the Bible “teaches that men and women were given spiritual gifts by God.” His wife has served as teaching pastor for Saddleback. The five churches ousted for having women as pastors “have been valued, cooperating churches for many years, and this decision was not made lightly,” Committee Chairman Jared Wellman said in a statement."However, we remain committed to upholding the theological convictions of the SBC and maintaining unity among its cooperating churches.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Southern Baptists oust Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church over woman pastorThe Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday ousted its second-largest congregation — Saddleback Church, the renowned California megachurch founded by pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren — for having a woman pastor.
Read more »
San Diego lands 8 teams in CIF Southern California water polo playoffs, which start Tuesday nEl Camino claims top spot in Division II bracket, will host Coronado at Oceanside's new William Wagner Aquatic Center
Read more »
Georgia church where Jimmy Carter taught Sunday school pays homage to ex-presidentHis niece read a quote from the 98-year-old ex-commander-in-chief to the church worshippers in Carter’s hometown of Plain, Georgia.
Read more »