The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has voted overwhelmingly to expel two churches from its ranks for having female pastors, and to amend its constitution to specify that only men can be employed as qualified pastors at member churches. The amendment will need a second vote by a two-thirds margin at next year's convention in Indianapolis before it can take effect. The vote was praised by “messengers” and seen as a victory for those who believe that only men should be employed as qualified pastors.
Posts tagged as “The Southern Baptist Convention”
Pat Robertson, a religious broadcaster and founder of The Christian Broadcasting Network, passed away Thursday at the age of 93. He was a former Southern Baptist minister and founded CBN in 1960, making it the first television network dedicated to Christian broadcasting in the U.S. Robertson was a prominent figure in conservative Christian political and entertainment circles, and had a lasting impact on the movement through his contributions to the Christian faith and his Christian Coalition. He also founded Regent University, the American Center for Law and Justice, and Operation Blessing.
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has voted to oust its second-largest congregation, Saddleback Church, due to its ordination of female pastors. The Executive Committee cited Saddleback’s having “a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of pastor” as the reason for the ousting. The decision has been met with criticism from some members of the church, and has sparked a debate about the denomination’s stance on women in the clergy.