The church was deeply saddened.
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) recently decided to sever ties with First Baptist Church of Alexandria (FBCA), located in Northern Virginia, due to the church’s support for women pastors. At the SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, messengers voted to declare FBCA no longer in friendly cooperation with the convention, citing a divergence from the SBC’s doctrinal stance outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which restricts the role of pastor to qualified men based on Scripture.
Senior Pastor Robert Stephens expressed disappointment with the decision, noting the church’s nearly 180-year partnership with the SBC and its unwavering commitment to the Gospel mission. Despite the setback, Stephens emphasized FBCA’s resolve to continue forward according to their understanding of God’s calling.
The controversy arose when the SBC Credentials Committee raised concerns about FBCA’s employment of a female pastor for roles involving women and children. Committee chairman Jonathan Sams highlighted that FBCA’s stance contradicted the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, prompting the recommendation to discontinue cooperative ties with the church.
During the annual meeting, SBC messengers narrowly rejected an amendment aimed at permanently barring women from serving as pastors, known as the Law Amendment. Supporters of the amendment argued for its biblical fidelity, asserting that Scripture reserves the pastoral office for men. However, critics, including former SBC president J.D. Greear, opposed the measure, voicing concerns about its potential to disrupt the convention’s cooperative relationships and historical principles.
The decision regarding FBCA echoes previous actions taken at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting, where other churches like Saddleback Church in California and Fern Creek Baptist Church in Kentucky were also removed from friendly cooperation over their employment of female pastors. This ongoing debate within the SBC underscores deep-seated theological and procedural tensions surrounding gender roles in ministry and interpretations of biblical teachings.