What Made the Southern Baptist Convention Cut Rick Warren's Church Loose?

PJ Media ^ | 02/25/2023 | Chris Queen

[SeekAndFind]

Earlier this week, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) cut ties with Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church. The influential Southern California-based congregation had been part of the SBC since its founding, but the denomination dismissed Saddleback over a decision that founding pastor Warren made shortly before he retired.

In 2021, Warren ordained three women as pastors, which caused the SBC to consider disciplining the church or kicking it out of the denomination. One of those women, Stacie Wood, the wife of lead pastor Andy Wood, is a “teaching pastor.”

On Tuesday, the SBC Executive Committee deemed Saddleback to be “not in friendly cooperation with the Convention,” which is the terminology for removing a church from the convention. The committee cited the fact that Saddleback has “a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of pastor” in its decision.

The ordination of women at Saddleback goes against the Southern Baptist bylaws according to “Baptist Faith & Message 2000,” which unambiguously states, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

Interestingly enough, the only pastors listed with photos on the church website are the “leadership,” which includes Andy Wood, Warren, and the various campus pastors, who are all men. However, the bio for Andy Wood mentions “Pastors Andy and Stacie Wood.”

With over 23,000 in attendance and campuses throughout Southern California and in several other countries, Saddleback was the SBC’s second-largest congregation, and Warren’s influence as a pastor and author probably wasn’t lost on the Executive Committee, either. Needless to say, it was a decision that the SBC didn’t make lightly.

[SeekAndFind]

The committee stated that Saddleback “has a faith and practice that does not closely identify with the Convention’s adopted statement of faith,” citing the presence of Stacie Wood in a pastoral role.

[SeekAndFind]

For its part, the church hasn’t said whether it will appeal the decision, although many in the know believe that it will appeal.

Saddleback now has the option to appeal, which appears likely. That appeal would happen on the floor of the annual meeting in New Orleans and decided by the messengers. This was the heart of the room; to let the messengers of the SBC decide.
Any named church may appeal.

— Mike Keahbone (@keahbone) February 21, 2023

“We love and have always valued our relationship with the SBC and its faithful churches,” the elders of Saddleback said in a statement. “We will engage and respond through the proper channels at the appropriate time in hopes to serve other like-minded Bible believing SBC churches. Meanwhile, we remain focused on following God’s leadership to love and serve our church family and the communities around our campuses.”

“Friends worldwide: I’m so touched by your love!” Warren said in a tweet that he later deleted. “We’ll respond to #SBC in OUR time & way thru direct channels.”

At the denomination’s annual convention last year, Warren stood firm on his decision to ordain women, telling those in attendance that “We have to decide if we will treat each other as allies or adversaries.”

Some churches and ministries believe in ordaining women into pastoral roles, while others — like the SBC — believe that, while there’s room for women to serve in many ways, the role of pastor isn’t one of them.

[lasereye]

“We have to decide if we will treat each other as allies or adversaries.”

That’s some misdirection, i.e. dishonesty, by Pastor Rick. The prohibition on the ordination of women is not about treating women as adversaries. He must know that.

[SoConPubbie]

Well, Rick Warren’s ministry has always been spurious.

So that statement is par for the course.

[Guenevere]

Presbyterian Church, PCA also will NOT ordain women, and I support that…..
……as a member for over 30 years

[sauropod]

.

[fwdude]

I remember years ago when Rick Warren‘s “purpose-filled” book was standard reading in a multitude of Southern Baptist churches. My mother gave me a copy, and I could only read a couple of chapters before I almost threw up. It is so me-centered it is ridiculous. And certainly not biblical.

So, such a development doesn’t surprise me a bit.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Prosperity gospel: "Name it and claim it!"

[WKTimpco]

Blab it and grab it.

[ConservativeMind]

I was given it by an older female friend, and it did the same to me.

[Nachoman]

It was a purpose driven excommunication.

[Nifster]

Oh excellent

[justme4now]

Why didn’t they have a problem when the guy started hanging with Muslims and preaching that Christians and Muslims worship the same God!?

[wardaddy]

Exactly

[LS]

I”m with ya. I find lots of things theologically wrong with PDL.

Warren has been on the edge of heresy for quite a while.

[daniel1212]

This should be the only reason needed:

►ARE WOMEN PASTORS BIBLICAL?For PDF click here

TABLE OF CONTENTS (click on titles in Web version)

1. Two books of the Bible are named after women.	6. Women first to share good news.	11. Aquilla and Priscilla co-pastors	16. Woman to learn in silence not applicable.
2. Redemption negates these effects of the fall.	7. Old Testament male positional supremacy abolished.	12. Women were fellow preachers with Paul.	17. All Christians exhorted to teach.
3. Male pronoun universal.	8. John ch. 4; Use of women evangelist allows being a pastor.	13. Women in church prophesying/preaching	18. Requirement for female silence not universal.
4. Deborah a womenjudge.	9. God is no respecter of persons.	14. Speech restrictions on women not applicable..	19. Requirements for bishops not gender specific.
5. Female prophets = pastors over men.	10. Women pastored church in Phillippi	15. No difference between male or female.	20. Abigail
			21. 1 Cor. 14:34, 35 22. Commentaries
Summation