Southern Baptists refuse to take back megachurch because it has women pastors

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Southern Baptist Convention has refused to welcome Saddleback Church back into its fold, rejecting an appeal by the California megachurch over its February ouster for having women pastors.

https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-saddleback-vote-women-pastors-new-orleans-7ee6606b57d0bf0c4c7ed91316af12b1?

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Southern Baptists are poised to ban churches with women pastors At the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting this week in Indianapolis, representatives will vote on whether to amend the denomination’s constitution to essentially ban churches with any women pastors — and not just in the top job. That measure received overwhelming approval in a preliminary vote last year. Read more.

Why this matters: By some estimates, the proposed ban could affect hundreds of congregations and have a disproportionate impact on predominantly Black churches. The controversy complicates the already choppy efforts by the denomination to diversify and overcome its legacy of slavery and segregation.   In a Baptist tradition that prizes local church autonomy, critics say the convention shouldn’t enshrine a constitutional rule based on one interpretation of a non-binding doctrinal statement that says only men can be pastors. They also say the amendment would amount to a further narrowing in numbers for the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.   The convention can decide which churches are in and which are out. And even without a formal amendment, its Executive Committee has begun telling churches with women pastors that they’re out, including one of its largest churches, Saddleback Church of California.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Donald Trump tells a group that calls for banning all abortions to stand up for ‘innocent life’   How this Maryland pastor ended up leading one of the fastest-growing churches in the nation   From women pastors to sexual abuse to Trump, Southern Baptists have a busy few days ahead of them

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Southern Baptists narrowly reject formal ban on churches with any women pastors

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Southern Baptists narrowly rejected a proposal Wednesday to enshrine a ban on churches with women pastors in their constitution after opponents argued it was unnecessary because the denomination already has a way of ousting such churches.

https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-churches-women-pastors-34edfd1578e609c3acb187ab90f0255e?

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Oops. Southern Baptist agency announces firing of its leader, then retracts that announcement

In under 48 hours, the head of the staunchly conservative public-policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention rankled fellow Baptists by applauding President Joe Biden’s “selfless act” of withdrawing his candidacy for re-election. Then, his agency reported he was fired — and now they have reaffirmed his leadership.

https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-public-policy-arm-conservative-leadership-6ee78020117041514fc927b5c53db35d?