-Steven Furtick’s Elevation Church Leaves Southern Baptist Church
Steven Furtick’s Elevation Church part ways with the Southern Baptist Church, after 20 years of partnership with the world’s largest Baptist denomination.
The Elevation church parting ways with SBC came just few months after Rick Warren was thrown out of the denomination for appointing female pastors. The SBC’s statement of faith says only men can hold that office.
Earlier this year the Southern Baptist Church expelled 5 churches who were not in friendly cooperation with the Convention due to the churches continuing to have a female functioning in the office of pastor.
In a letter sent to the SBC’s Executive Committee by The Elevation church, it said;
“The Church will be withdrawing its affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention with effective immediately.”
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“You will find that our Statement of Beliefs on our website is very much in line with the Baptist Faith and Message, we have no intention of changing those core beliefs.
“We have no plans to make a public announcement on this decision – we have too much to do in reaching a world that needs the love of Jesus. Should your Credentials Committee decide to make this decision by Elevation public, we will only respond with a copy of this letter to anyone inquiring about the notification.
“Thank you again for the privilege of having been affiliated with the SBC all these years. Please know that our withdrawal from affiliation in no way means that we will withdraw from praying for you and your ministries and mission work in the future – we are all on the same side!
“We pray that we will continue to be able to work alongside many SBC churches in the coming years. We know there is much we can do more effectively in partnership than we can do alone. May God bless the SBC and her churches in the years ahead.”
