withdraw

CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: Richmond’s First Baptist Church Withdraws from Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) over Proposed Male-only Pastor, Elder Amendment: ‘Not About to Give Up Our Female Pastors’ [#FirstBaptistRichmond #FBCRichmond #RichmondFirstBaptist]

https://fbcrichmond.org/
Source: Richmond’s First Baptist Church Website, fbcrichmond.org

Special Announcement:

Congregation approves deacon recommendation to separate from the Southern Baptist Convention, ending a 179-year relationship

In a special called business meeting held on Sunday morning, May 19, the congregation of Richmond’s First Baptist Church voted overwhelmingly to follow the deacons’ recommendation to separate from the SBC. The meeting was held during the church’s regular Sunday School hour, and was co-facilitated by Pastor Jim Somerville and Deacon Chair Daniel Hocutt. Chairman Hocutt opened the meeting with prayer and a re-statement of the motion, followed by Dr. Somerville, who shared the historical context for the decision. After 30 minutes of open and respectful discussion the matter was put to a vote. Those in favor were enthusiastic in their response, with only a few dissenting votes.

” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>UPDATED RFBC Motion and Congregational Fact Sheet

Richmond’s First Baptist Church (FBC) has voted to withdraw from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) due to a proposed amendment requiring all pastors and elders to be men, ending its almost 180-year membership.

According to a press release from First Baptist, the decision was made on Sunday, May 19, during a special business meeting.

“The motion to withdraw was recommended by the church’s board of deacons in response to the SBC’s proposed constitutional amendment requiring pastors and elders of its cooperating churches to be men,” the press release states.

The choice to end 179 years of SBC membership was not easy, but it was made in solidarity with female pastors, whom First Baptist refused to lose.

Richmond’s First Baptist now employs 2 female pastors, Lynn Turner and Allison Collier.

If the SBC had passed this amendment, both of them would have been dismissed from their positions.

“What that meant for First Baptist is that the SBC didn’t want us anymore, because we are not about to give up our female pastors,” stated First Baptist Pastor Jim Somerville.

“Lynn Turner and Allison Collier have those titles, but we have a number of other female ministers on our staff. We’re not giving them up either.”

Somerville stated that the decision was not met with celebration or tears; rather, it was a complicated moment for the church given its long history with the SBC, but one made in the cause of the “cherished Baptist principle” of local church autonomy.

“What I felt from the room was a mixture of quiet grief and gratitude, along with a sense that we had done the right thing,” he stated.

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Richmond’s FBC Withdraws from SBC: ‘NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP OUR FEMALE PASTORS…’ | Christian Breaking News!