(OPINION) Rick Warren, the founder of Saddleback Church, said in part one of a video series posted online ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention that he has felt compelled to reject both the complementarian and egalitarian views of a woman’s role in the Church and in ministry after a three-year journey that led him to realize both beliefs “have unbiblical weaknesses.”

In the video released as part of his four-part series titled “SBC at the Crossroads,” Warren weighed in on complementarianism, the theological framework that says women have distinct roles in the family and church and are forbidden from holding certain offices in the church, and egalitarianism, which contends that Scripture does not warrant such restrictions.

“There are biblical alternatives to both complementarianism and egalitarianism,” he said. “And while both of those positions have strengths, they both, in my opinion, have unbiblical weaknesses, and they ignore important Bible verses.

So actually, I’m neither. I’m neither one of them, I reject them both. Now, if you’re honest, you’ll have to admit that Paul often says things about women in Scripture that appeared to contradict each other.

So tell me what you want to believe … and I’ll show you the verses you have to ignore or rationalize away.” The SBC holds to the belief that the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

Rick Warren, the founder of Saddleback Church, said in part one of a video series posted online ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention that he has felt compelled to reject both the complementarian and egalitarian views of a woman’s role in the Church and in ministry after a three-year journey that led him to realize both beliefs “have unbiblical weaknesses.”

In the video released as part of his four-part series titled “SBC at the Crossroads,” Warren weighed in on complementarianism, the theological framework that says women have distinct roles in the family and church and are forbidden from holding certain offices in the church, and egalitarianism, which contends that Scripture does not warrant such restrictions.

“There are biblical alternatives to both complementarianism and egalitarianism,” he said. “And while both of those positions have strengths, they both, in my opinion, have unbiblical weaknesses, and they ignore important Bible verses. So actually, I’m neither. I’m neither one of them, I reject them both.

Now, if you’re honest, you’ll have to admit that Paul often says things about women in Scripture that appeared to contradict each other. So tell me what you want to believe … and I’ll show you the verses you have to ignore or rationalize away.” The SBC holds to the belief that the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. (READ MORE)