“This decision seems not to have given sufficient consideration to the overwhelming voice of the messenger body expressed in 2023 and 2024 on similar cases,” Barber added.
One of the cases to which Barber referred was Saddleback Church, the Southern California megachurch founded by Pastor Rick Warren. Although the church had been a part of the SBC for more than four decades and had grown to become the denomination’s largest congregation, Saddleback Church was ousted after ordaining at least three women to pastoral roles.
In an appeal against the church’s ouster and in public statements thereafter, Warren, who is now retired as pastor of Saddleback, argued for an egalitarian perspective in which women can serve as both pastors and elders. However, Pastor Andy Wood, who currently serves as Saddleback’s lead pastor, maintains the more moderate approach.
It is unclear whether Saddleback would have been disfellowshipped from the SBC on the grounds of Wood’s more moderate approach, which is similar to that of NewSpring. The final decision to disfellowship a church rests on the vote of church delegates, called messengers, at the denomination’s annual meeting.
Several efforts, such as the so-called Law Amendment, have been made to strengthen the more conservative position in the SBC. The Law Amendment would add a ban on women serving as pastors to the SBC’s constitution. However, these efforts have as yet been unsuccessful.
Nevertheless, given this controversy, NewSpring Church has opted to voluntarily leave the SBC despite the inquiry into their fellowship with the denomination being closed.
“This decision is not about disagreement with the SBC’s core commitments but about preserving unity in the body of Christ,” the church said in a statement published to its website. “We don’t want our affiliation to distract from the Great Commission or cause division in churches preaching the Gospel.”
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“This decision is driven by a desire for unity and a commitment to Christ’s mission. We believe it will help us focus on what matters most: preaching the Gospel and seeing everyone everywhere in an every day relationship with Jesus,” the church added. “We remain open to partnering with ministries that share our passion for advancing God’s Kingdom, and we pray God will continue to guide us in fulfilling His mission.”
 despite the fact that the denomination’s Credential Committee reaffirmed its cooperation with the church following an inquiry. ){kind=link}