據報導，位於夏洛特的Elevation Church已確認將立即退出與南方浸信會（Southern Baptist Convention，簡稱SBC）的聯繫。在Elevation Church寫給南方浸信會執行委員會的信中，他們表示：“此信是告知您Elevation Church立即退出與南方浸信會的聯繫。在我們網站上的信仰聲明與浸信會信仰聲明非常一致，我們並沒有改變這些核心信仰。”
Elevation Church的退出決定是由於南方浸信會拒絕歡迎幾個有女牧師的教會回歸。所有的浸信會教堂都是獨立的，所以南方浸信會無法命令教堂該怎麼做，但它可以決定哪些教堂“不友好合作”，這是被驅逐的正式措辭。南方浸信會的信仰聲明指出，牧師職位是為合格男性保留的，但這被認為是該會首次因此而驅逐教堂。
在2023年2月，南方浸信會執行委員會投票驅逐了兩個教會，以及另外三個教會因有女牧師而選擇不上訴。多年來，有關女性事工角色的問題一直在南方浸信會中引起騷動。在六月，代表們投票修改憲章，明確規定南方浸信會教堂必須“根據聖經確定，肯定、任命或僱用只有男性資格的牧師或長老”。需要在下一次年度會議上獲得批准方能生效。
這一事件引起了廣泛的關注和討論，對於南方浸信會來說，這是一個重大的轉變和挑戰。這也反映了社會對性別平等和女性領導角色的持續關注。教會的決定退出南方浸信會可能是因為他們認為自己的價值觀和信仰不再與該組織一致，特別是在女性角色和領導的問題上。
這個事件也提醒我們教會內部的意見分歧和不同解讀的存在。信仰和教義的解釋可以因不同的觀點而有所不同，這可能導致分歧和分裂。然而，這也是教會繼續對重要問題進行辯論和尋求共識的機會。
無論如何，南方浸信會和Elevation Church的這一事件都將對浸信會和宗教界產生深遠的影響。它提醒我們要重視性別平等和女性參與的重要性，同時也應該尊重不同教義和信仰的差異。
折疊內容
Elevation Church’s decision to withdraw from the SBC comes after the Christian denomination refused to welcome several churches back into its fold for having women pastors.Jun 30, 2023
by: Ciara Lankford, The Associated Press
Posted: Jun 30, 2023 / 04:39 PM EDT
Updated: Jul 1, 2023 / 12:07 AM EDT
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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS/AP) — Elevation Church confirmed to Queen City News it is withdrawing its affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention, effective immediately.
In a letter to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, on June 26, Elevation Church said in part, “This letter is to inform you that Elevation Church is withdrawing its affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention effective immediately. 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.”
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Elevation Church’s decision to withdraw from the SBC comes after the Christian denomination refused to welcome several churches back into its fold for having women pastors.
All Baptist churches are independent. So the convention can’t tell them what to do, but it can decide which churches are “not in friendly cooperation,” the official verbiage for an expulsion.
The SBC’s statement of faith says the office of pastor is reserved for qualified men, but this is believed to be the first time the convention has expelled any churches over it.
Southern Baptists refuse to take back megachurch because it has women pastors
In February 2023, the SBC’s Executive Committee voted to oust two congregations, along with three others that chose not to appeal, for having women pastors.
For years, questions about women’s ministry roles have caused turmoil in the SBC. In June, the messengers pressed to make those roles more clear by voting to amend the convention’s constitution to specify that Southern Baptists churches must “affirm, appoint or employ only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.”
To go into effect, it needs to be approved at the next annual meeting.
Elevation Church Letter to Executive Committee of the SBCDownload
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