After expelling a Kentucky church last year, Southern Baptists are poised to ban all churches with women pastors

WUKY | By Associated Press,

Published June 6, 2024 at 11:59 AM EDT

The Rev. Linda Barnes Popham, center, laughs with members of Fern Creek Baptist Church after a service, Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. In February, Fern Creek was one of five churches disfellowshipped from the Southern Baptist Convention because they have female pastors. But Fern Creek and Saddleback Church of California have decided to appeal. The challenge will be voted on at the upcoming SBC annual meeting. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

Even without a formal ban last year, the Southern Baptist Convention ousted a small Kentucky Church and one of its largest congregations, Saddleback Church of California, for having women pastors. Now it’s poised to vote on a constitutional ban.

Saddleback and Fern Creek Church in Louisville both unsuccessfully sought to a decision kicking them out for employing women pastors in 2023.

At the convention’s annual meeting this June 11-12 in Indianapolis, representatives will decide 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.

The denomination's statement of faith says the office of pastor is reserved for men. However, that statement is non-binding.

By some estimates, the proposal could affect hundreds of churches with women as either lead or associate pastors. The denomination can't tell its independent churches what to do, but it can boot them out.