Church ousted by SBC for having female minister

PADUCAH, Ky. (WPSD) – A Kentucky church has now been ousted from the Southern Baptist Convention because of it having a female pastor, a role the SBC says “is only open to men.”

Six years ago, Katie McKown addressed women in leadership roles in the church during an interview with the Kyle Lake Center of Preaching. She shared her experiences and argued growth in church leadership will only happen one way:

“By inviting women into our pulpit, to allow them to preach, in particular to men who pastor, that they’ll have a woman come and preach so people will be exposed,” she said.

Today, she’s not the only female leader at Immanuel Baptist.

Their website shows 85% of the staff are women, but it’s only her role that the SBC cited as the reason for their removal.

Six years ago, McKown addressed that when it comes to that issue, not everyone will agree.

“If we can come to the table and talk about that honestly, and also allow them to hear the voice of a gifted minister who happens to be female, maybe things will move along,” she said.