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Saturday, June 10, 2023

Saturday Lagniappe: 'In historic vote, Christian and Missionary Alliance approves 'pastor' titles for women' And More


In historic vote, Christian and Missionary Alliance approves 'pastor' titles for women
The Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA), a denomination of over 2,000 churches with a statement of faith that aligns with the majority of Evangelical Christianity, has voted to allow women to serve in pastoral roles. The historic vote was part of CMA's 2023 General Council in Spokane, Washington, last week.

Women in the Christian and Missionary Alliance May Now Be Ordained as Pastors—But Not as Lead Pastors
Women in the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) may now be ordained, hold the title of “pastor,” and—if their local congregations allow—use the designation “reverend.” Women are still, however, not allowed to hold the position of lead pastor and may not be elders.

Over 5,000 UMC churches granted disaffiliation amid schism over homosexuality; 3,000 in 2023
After an active week of United Methodist Church regional conferences, the number of congregations approved to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church in the last two years has surpassed the 5,000 mark.

Disaffiliations approved by annual conferences
The chart...shows UM News’ count of how many church disaffiliations have been approved by annual conferences. The tally comes from a UM News review of U.S. annual conference reports, publicly available journals and reports of special annual conference sessions held in 2022 and this year.

Three churches plan to appeal EC decision, ask for reinstatement to SBC
Three of the six churches deemed not to be in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention in February have announced their plans to appeal the decision made by the Executive Committee. The appeals are scheduled to be heard during the Tuesday, June 13, afternoon business session of the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Confessions of Faith and the Baptist Tradition
One of the most-cited arguments against Baptist standards of doctrine and practice is that Baptists have historically opposed confessions of faith. This anti-confessional argument has been used by certain Baptist leaders over the centuries, but it is a false argument. Confessions have been a consistent feature of Baptist life since the 1600s, though Baptists have often disagreed about the content of these statements of faith.

Former SBC President J.D. Greear Weighs in on Removal of Saddleback From Denomination
Former Southern Baptist Convention president J.D. Greear has weighed in on the controversial disfellowshipping of Saddleback Church from the SBC, a decision that Rick Warren, the church’s founding pastor, will challenge at the denomination’s annual meeting next week.

Have Southern Baptists Ever Been More Divided? 
As Southern Baptists face yet another Convention embroiled in controversy, a sense of nostalgia has begun to fill the air in New Orleans. With issues of gender and so-called liberal drift looming over a competitive election for president, many pastors and parishioners long for the days when the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) wasn’t rocked by the turbulent winds of American culture.

2 churches expelled from Texas Baptist convention for 'affirmation of same-sex sexuality'
Two churches were expelled from the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) last month for allegedly operating "outside of harmonious cooperation with the churches of the convention due to their public affirmation of same-sex sexuality."

As Christian Reformed synod opens, one church awaits its fate 
Last year, the synod voted to declare sexually active gays and lesbians 'unchaste.' This year it will revisit the issue and may take action against a church that ordained a gay deacon.

With Turning Point Faith, pastors use politics as a church-growth strategy
For a growing number of evangelical pastors, embracing right-wing rhetoric is seen as a way to put more people in the pews — and it may be working.

Poll: Most religious Americans believe there are only two genders
Americans’ views of trans people have hardened over the past two years, a new PRRI survey shows.

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