The Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee recently voted to expel four congregations for different reasons. One church, Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky, was ousted for having a woman as its senior minister, which goes against the denomination's official statement of faith that restricts the office of pastor to men. The church defended its decision, citing Baptist principles of autonomy.
Grove Road Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, was expelled for allegedly failing to cooperate in addressing a concern related to the mishandling of a sexual abuse allegation by its pastor. West Hendersonville Baptist Church in North Carolina faced expulsion for not complying with the denomination's beliefs on sexual abuse and having a pastor deemed 'biblically disqualified.'
