Megachurch in North Carolina Leaves Southern Baptist Convention Over Women Pastors

Elevation Church, a North Carolina megachurch known for its contemporary Christian worship music, has withdrawn its affiliation from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) less than a month after the SBC expelled another large church for having women pastors. Elevation Church's decision comes after the SBC affirmed the expulsion of Saddleback Church and Fern Creek Baptist Church for the same reason. The SBC's statement of faith limits the role of pastor to qualified men, while Elevation Church's pastor's wife, Holly Furtick, preaches to both men and women. The church's withdrawal highlights the ongoing debate within the SBC over women in ministry and may prompt other churches to follow suit.