CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – Elevation Church, a prominent megachurch based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has announced its decision to sever ties with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States. The church, known for its popular music and charismatic pastor, sent a letter to the SBC’s executive committee and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, informing them of its immediate withdrawal from the SBC.
The letter, which was subsequently published by Baptist Press, an official SBC publication, stated that Elevation Church had chosen not to make a public announcement regarding its decision. Instead, they emphasized their dedication to spreading the love of Jesus and expressed that they had too much work to do in reaching out to the world. However, they did mention that if the SBC’s Credentials Committee made their decision public, Elevation Church would respond with a copy of their withdrawal letter to any inquiries.
While Elevation Church did not provide a specific reason for their departure after more than two decades of affiliation with the SBC, recent controversies surrounding the ordination of female pastors within the convention may have played a role. Earlier this year, several congregations, including the prominent Saddleback Church, were expelled from the SBC due to their inclusion of female pastors, a practice that goes against the SBC’s statement of faith, which stipulates that only men can hold pastoral office.
Holly Furtick, the wife of Elevation’s pastor Steven Furtick, is described as a church co-founder and regularly delivers sermons. Some influential SBC leaders, such as seminary President Albert “Al” Mohler, adhere to the belief that women should not preach during worship services, citing biblical teachings.
According to data submitted by Elevation Church to the SBC, the megachurch boasts an average weekly attendance of 10,185 people and received $103 million in donations in 2021. The church had also contributed $10,000 to the SBC’s Cooperative Program. Additionally, a recent study revealed that Elevation Church is one of four megachurches whose music dominates the contemporary worship music market.
The departure of Elevation Church is a significant development for the already declining SBC, which has experienced a continuous decrease in membership and baptism numbers over the past decade. In 2022 alone, the SBC lost nearly half a million members, and the total membership has dropped from 16.3 million in 2006 to 13.2 million in 2022. Elevation Church’s exit, along with other notable departures, is likely to exacerbate these challenges for the SBC.
Despite withdrawing from the SBC, Elevation Church has expressed its intention to continue partnering with Southern Baptist churches. Chunks Corbett, a leader at Elevation, stated in the letter that the church’s decision to disaffiliate does not diminish their support and prayers for the ministries and mission work of other Southern Baptist churches.