CHRISTIAN POST/ Michael Gryboski-
The Southern Baptist Convention has upheld the removal of Saddleback Church from the denomination due to the California megachurch allowing a woman to serve in the office of teaching pastor.
In results announced Wednesday morning at the SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Saddleback’s expulsion was upheld by 9,437 votes (88.46%) to 1,212 votes (11.36%), with 19 ballots disallowed.
Additionally, the disfellowshipping of Fern Creek Baptist Church of Louisville, Kentucky, and Freedom Church of Vero Beach, Florida, were also upheld by a vote of 9,700 to 806 and 9,984 to 343, respectively.
Fern Creek Baptist had been removed from SBC membership for having a woman serve as pastor of the congregation. Freedom Church was removed because its lead pastor has been credibly accused of sexual misconduct.
In February, the SBC Executive Committee deemed Saddleback, along with five other churches, to not be in “friendly cooperation” with the convention. At issue is Pastor Andy Wood, who succeeded Saddleback founder Rick Warren as lead pastor of the megachurch last year, listing his wife, Stacie, as the church’s teaching pastor.
The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message states that while men and women are both called to spread the Gospel, the office of pastor is limited to men. Continue reading…
