NEW ORLEANS (BP and local reports) – Messengers to the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting have upheld the convention’s Executive Committee decisions that declared three churches not in friendly cooperation with the SBC.
— In voting during the June 14 morning session, the Executive Committee action on Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, Calif., was sustained by a 9,437 – 1212 (88.46% – 11.36%) vote.
Saddleback Church was deemed not to be in friendly cooperation with the SBC statement of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (Article VI) due to “the church continuing to have a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of a pastor.”
The Executive Committee pointed to the teaching pastor role of Stacie Wood, wife of senior pastor Andy Wood, as well as the ordination of three other women with the title of pastor in May 2021.
— The messenger vote on Fern Creek Church, Louisville, Ky., sustained the Executive Committee action by a 9,700 – 806 (91.85% – 7.63%) vote.
The Executive Committee deemed Fern Creek Church not in friendly cooperation in February for violation of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (Article VI). Linda Popham has pastored Fern Creek full-time since April 4, 1993, after a near three-year term as interim pastor.
— Freedom Church, Vero Beach, Fla., was deemed not to be in friendly cooperation after the church failed to cooperate in resolving concerns regarding an abuse allegation. The messengers sustained the Executive Committee action by a 9,984 – 343 (96.46% – 3.31%) vote.
Freedom Church denied the charge to Baptist Press, saying the matter was investigated and resolved by the Anglican Church of North America.
However, the Executive Committee stood by its decision to oust the church, saying the pastor admitted to sexual misconduct and pointing to the fact that the local Baptist association and the Florida Baptist Convention have also removed the church from their rolls.
Calvary Church, Jackson, was also expelled from the SBC in February for having a woman in the position of pastor. The church chose not to appeal the ruling.
