Southern Baptist Convention Votes to Oust Saddleback Church Over Women in the Clergy

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has voted to oust its second-largest congregation, Saddleback Church, from its ranks. Saddleback is a renowned California megachurch founded by pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren. The vote comes after growing tension between the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, which officially opposes women as pastors, and the congregation.

The SBC’s Executive Committee cited Saddleback’s having “a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of pastor,” an allusion to Stacie Wood, wife of the current lead pastor of Saddleback, Andy Wood. The committee 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.

The controversy began in 2021, when Warren ordained three women as pastors, prompting discussions within the denomination about possibly expelling the megachurch. Warren told delegates who debated the issue, “We have to decide if we will treat each other as allies or adversaries.”

The SBC’s decision to oust Saddleback has been met with criticism from some members of the church, who argue that the decision is unfair and outdated. Others have argued that the decision is necessary to maintain the integrity of the denomination.

The ousting of Saddleback Church from the SBC marks a significant shift in the denomination’s stance on women in the clergy. It remains to be seen how the decision will affect the church’s future and the future of the SBC.