A megachurch in Texas that supports the ordination of female pastors has officially announced its departure from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas released a statement on Tuesday, noting that a church conference held on Sunday resulted in the decision to disaffiliate from the SBC following a discernment process that lasted several months. The church is reported to have approximately 3,000 attendees on Sundays and over 8,000 registered members.
The statement emphasized that while there were various concerns, the primary focus was on “the autonomy of the local church and the desire to determine the timing and grace of any separation from the SBC." Park Cities Baptist Church affirmed its identity as a “God-glorifying, Gospel-centered, Bible-believing, theologically conservative Baptist church,” noting that its doctrine and beliefs have not changed despite the separation.
The congregation expressed its intention to continue “to work with and support specific projects from” the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, both of which are SBC entities.
Founded in 1939 as part of the SBC, Park Cities Baptist Church has reportedly limited its overall support for the Convention over the past two decades. Notably, while not explicitly stated in the announcement, the church has been advocating for women to serve in pastoral roles, a position contrary to the SBC's traditional stance.
Park Cities Baptist Pastor Jeff Warren has been a vocal supporter of allowing women to serve as pastors and has shared his views in an opinion column in the Baptist Standard last year. He stated, “Jesus did not genderize the Great Commission, nor does God dispense spiritual gifts to his children according to sex. We must release every girl and boy, woman and man into their God-given calling.”
Rick Warren, the former senior pastor of Saddleback Church, further criticized the SBC for relegating women to specific roles within the church, asserting that it limits the potential of a gift-filled congregation and hinders the advancement of the gospel.
Earlier this year, during the SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, delegates failed to pass an amendment that would have permanently banned women from serving as pastors, receiving only 61% support when a two-thirds majority was needed.
In recent years, several churches, including Saddleback Church in California, have been disfellowshipped from the SBC for permitting women to hold pastoral positions.
