Category: Saddleback Church

Southern Baptists Reject Saddleback Church’s Appeal Over Ouster Due to Women Pastors

The Southern Baptist Convention—a Protestant Christian denomination with over 47,000 churches nationwide—rejected Saddleback Church’s appeal this week to remain a part of it after the Orange County megachurch in Lake Forest, California, was ousted for having women in pastoral leadership roles. In February, the convention’s leaders voted to revoke Saddleback’s membership “on the basis that…


Southern Baptists Vote to Solidify Position Against Female Pastors

The largest Protestant denomination in the United States voted Wednesday, June 14, to uphold an executive committee’s ouster of its second largest congregation and another smaller congregation because women had been elevated to lead and senior pastoral roles. At the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting in New Orleans this week, the SBC also took…


Saddleback Church Appealing Its Ouster From the Southern Baptists on Issue of Women Pastors

Saddleback Church, the Southern California megachurch founded by best-selling author Rick Warren, is appealing its ouster from the Southern Baptist Convention for having women pastors on staff, according to the denomination. Saddleback is asking the annual meeting of the SBC, which convenes next month in New Orleans, to overturn a February decision by the denomination’s…


Man Gets 26 to Life for Killing Stepmother in Lake Forest

FULLERTON, Calif.—A 30-year-old man was sentenced April 3 to 26 years to life in prison for killing his stepmother with a pick axe in Lake Forest nearly a decade ago. Oscar Luis Morlett III was convicted March 2, but because he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, jurors had to determine whether he was…


Southern Baptists Oust Saddleback Megachurch, 4 Others for Appointing Female Pastors

The Southern Baptist Convention—a protestant Christian denomination with over 47,000 churches nationwide—voted Feb. 21 to remove Saddleback Church from its group for recently appointing a woman as a pastor. The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee ousted Saddleback’s membership—along with four other churches—“on the basis that the church has a faith and practice that does not…


Saddleback Church Ousted From Southern Baptist Convention Over Woman Pastor

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has ousted Saddleback Church, its second-largest congregation, for having a woman pastor. The SBC Executive Committee on Tuesday voted to remove the Lake Forest, California megachurch after deeming it to be “not in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention,” Baptist Press reported. The meeting was held in Nashville, Tennessee….


Rick Warren Preaches Final Sermon at Saddleback Church

Pastor Rick Warren would walk to the light wood-colored pulpit Aug. 28 to preach his last sermon as Saddleback Church’s senior pastor, a position he has held for over four decades. “Have I told you lately that I love you?” Warren said at the beginning of the sermon. “As you know by now today is my last…


Saddleback Megachurch Pastor Rick Warren to Retire, Announces Successor

Pastor Rick Warren announced on June 2 that Pastor Andy Wood will take over leadership of Saddleback Church, a Lake Forest, California, congregation with more than 30,000 weekly attendees. Warren, 68, who founded the evangelical Baptist church with his wife Kay in 1980, announced plans to retire and search for a successor last year. Wood,…