Southern Baptist Convention ousts Kentucky church for hiring a woman minister

The Southern Baptist Convention has removed Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, Ky., from membership after it hired a woman as senior minister, Immanuel officials said in a Facebook post Tuesday.

The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest protestant denomination in North America.

“Today we learned the Southern Baptist Convention removed Immanuel Baptist Church from membership because we called Reverend Katie McKown in February 2023 as Immanuel’s Senior Minister,” the Immanuel statement said.

The Tennessean reported the SBC Executive Committee announced a decision to disfellowship four churches in a meeting Tuesday in Nashville following an executive session.

“We share our affirmation and support of the decision to call Rev. Katie McKown to serve with and among us,” the Immanuel statement continued. “We pray the SBC may be blessed with wisdom and discernment as it moves forward.”

Southern Baptist Convention officials on Wednesday confirmed to the Herald-Leader that it had disfellowshipped Immanuel Baptist. They said the recommendation included wording that Immanuel “has a faith and practice” that does not closely identify with the Convention’s adopted statement of faith, “as demonstrated by the church having a female lead pastor.”

A news report from the Southern Baptist Convention’s denominational news service said the churches may appeal the executive committee’s decisions at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis in June.-

The Associated Press reported the ouster was part of a series of expulsions, including in 2023 when it ousted a Louisville church for hiring a woman minister.

The Convention’s statement of faith says the office of pastor is open only to men, the AP reported.