(ETH) – Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church just stirred some major controversy recently with a new announcement. Saddleback which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), reportedly announced on Thursday that it has ordained three women as pastors. The announcement was shared by the Church in a Facebook post, proclaiming that it was a “historic night.”
“We ordained our first three women pastors, Liz Puffer, Cynthia Petty, and Katie Edwards! We’re so grateful to share this moment with you. Our best days are ahead of us!”
Why was this so controversial? Appointing women to the position of pastors, traditionally goes against the the strictly male leadership within the SBC.
According to CBN News, Saddleback lists more than 24,000 members and 18 campus pastors, all of whom are males. Despite the selected ordained women that was chosen the move has garnered both support and criticism among many.
Ashley Easter tweeted her support: “I’m glad Saddleback Church ordained 3 of their first women pastors. But don’t forget these women have been with the church since the 90s. That’s how long it takes for a church to say ‘oh, these women are pastoral.’ That’s the hill women have to climb. p.s. still no women elders.”
Then there was, Jason Keith Allen with Spurgeon College called it “a disappointing departure from the clear teaching of Scripture, the BF&M, & long-held SBC consensus & practice.”
User Jamaal 4 Jesus wrote, “Definitely not biblical. The scriptures doesn’t support female pastors. More confirmation to me that Rick Warren’s church is not a true church.”
